The university will eliminate majors in integrated mathematics and English, medieval and renaissance studies, music theory, musicology, biochemical sciences, landscape horticulture and two sustainable agriculture programs, according to a report approvedy the institution's Academic Affairs and Student Life Committee.
The Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, which became effective in June, mandates that state universities discontinue programs averaging fewer than five graduates over three years. Meeting documents indicate Ohio State identified the affected programs during summer 2024, and the state has already accepted their removal.
Beyond outright eliminations, the Columbus-based institution is proposing mergers that would combine related low-enrollment programs. These include consolidating French, Italian and romance language programs into a single French and Italian major; merging Spanish and Portuguese offerings; and incorporating religious studies and world literature into the existing comparative studies major. Ancient history, classics and modern Greek would combine under an expanded classics program, while Arabic, Hebrew, Jewish studies and Islamic studies would form a Near Eastern and South Asian studies major.
The university has also requested two-year waivers for approximately a dozen programs, including music composition, vision science, world language education, agricultural systems management, entomology, environmental and natural resources, and professional golf management. The state has not yet approved the proposed mergers or waiver requests.
The Academic Affairs committee's report also identified approximately 360 courses for phase-out. Booker noted that most removed courses were associated with outdated curricula and previously discontinued programs, and that the course elimination represents part of a state-required triennial review conducted independently of the new legislation.
