The University of North Texas plans to phase out or consolidate several programs as the university faces a $45 million budget shortfall.
The university plans to close or merge various degrees, majors and minor programs, along with ending several certification pathways, per the UNT website. Students already enrolled in these programs will be able to complete their degrees, but new students will not be allowed to enroll in the majors or minors, per UNT.
Some context
The decision to end or merge programs comes after university officials announced a roughly $45 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2025-26. UNT President Harrison Keller cited several reasons for the shortfall, including a drop in international graduate student enrollment and changes to the state funding formula.
A message to UNT staff from Keller said university officials were considering eliminating low-enrollment courses, freezing hiring for some vacant positions and increasing teaching loads to address the shortfall.
Sorting out details
The university's Department of Linguistics and the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures will merge as all degrees offered by the Department of Linguistics will be phased out, per UNT. The linguistics department has seen a decline in enrollment in its undergraduate and master’s program since 2021. The university also cites a lower time to value and higher costs of instruction for reasons behind the merger.
In addition to the linguistics degrees, the university will close and teach out the master's in Media Industry and Critical Studies degree, the master's in Women’s and Gender Studies degree, and the master's in Early Childhood Education through the Teacher Education and Administration department. For other master's programs, the university plans to merge Creative Writing with English, merge master tracks for biology programs and merge Interdisciplinary Studies.
The university will also end its undergraduate major of Latino and Latin American Studies.
UNT plans to phase out 25 minor programs, including, but not limited to:
- Africana Studies
- Asian Studies
- Dance
- Geology
- LGBTQ Studies
- Mexican American Studies
- Peace Studies
- Special Education
- Women's and Gender Studies
Some language minors will also be cut, including Arabic, Italian and Latin.
The university cites low enrollment for the reasoning behind minor cuts, citing the programs had average enrollments of 20 students or fewer, per the announcement.
The university will also be phasing out a total of 44 graduate and undergraduate academic certificates, including International Business, Urban Studies and Fashion Entrepreneurship, among others. The university states the graduate and undergraduate certificate programs being closed have average enrollment below two students per year.
A full list of the program closures and merges can be found at ww.unt.edu/budget-updates/academic-programs-update.html.
