Texas A&M discontinues Women’s Gender Studies program due to lack of interest

Texas A&M Cuts Women’s and Gender Studies Program

Texas A&M University announced on Friday that it will be discontinuing its women’s and gender studies degree program, attributing this decision to “limited student interest” and adherence to university policy. Current students in the program will be allowed to finish their degrees.

“For 150 years, Texas A&M has been a leader in Texas higher education, and that mission hasn’t changed,” said Interim Chancellor Tommy Williams. He emphasized the importance of strong oversight and standards to uphold academic integrity and maintain public trust in the university’s degrees.

According to reports, Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Simon North, along with Cynthia Werner, senior associate executive associate, communicated this decision to faculty via email. Administrators acknowledged the difficult nature of this decision, claiming that one of their key responsibilities is to effectively manage public funds. Even small programs need significant investment in faculty, staff, and administration.

Texas A&M previously offered a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Bachelor of Science degree, an undergraduate minor, and a graduate certificate in women’s and gender studies. The program had around 25 students majoring and 31 minoring in it.

The university is currently undergoing a broad course review for the spring 2026 semester, examining 5,400 syllabuses to ensure compliance with civil rights and academic freedom policies. Hundreds of syllabuses across its colleges have been revised to align with policy standards, and deans were given the option to request exemptions for courses outside the core curriculum, with 48 of 54 such requests granted.

This review was launched following a viral video that showed a student being removed from a class while questioning transgender-related content. In the video, the student referenced legal concerns around teaching gender ideology, prompting a response from the instructor that the class material wasn’t illegal.

The Texas A&M University System Board of Governors then called for an audit of courses to ensure compliance with applicable laws, stressing their commitment to preserving the university’s reputation and taking decisive action against any misconduct affecting it.

In November 2024, the Board of Regents had already moved to eliminate 52 “low-productivity” minors and certificate programs, which included the LGBTQ studies minor associated with the Department of Women and Gender Studies. The university’s request to keep that program was turned down by the president.