Key Points:
- Ohio State University plans major academic restructuring, ending eight majors and cutting over 350 courses.
- Low-enrollment courses and programs are being paused, merged, or reviewed under Senate Bill 1 rules.
- Waiver requests are submitted to maintain specialized programs while advising support guides affected students.
Ohio State University is preparing major academic changes as it moves into full compliance with Senate Bill 1, the statewide higher-education law that reshapes program requirements across public institutions. Ohio State University records from a recent Board of Trustees committee meeting show that eight majors are expected to be discontinued and more than 350 courses will be removed or restructured as part of the transition.
The Academic Affairs and Student Life Committee met on Nov. 20 and approved actions affecting 409 low-enrollment courses, with 366 slated for phase-out. An additional 18 courses will be paused, while 25 remain under review. Under the same plan, 27 academic programs will be combined into five broader majors, and eight programs are expected to close entirely. These changes reflect new enrollment thresholds and program performance criteria established under the law.
Majors Identified for Discontinuation
The Ohio State University outlined eight majors that will likely be deactivated across two colleges. In the College of Arts and Sciences, the affected programs include the integrated mathematics and English major, medieval and Renaissance studies, music theory and musicology. In the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the majors set for discontinuation include biochemical science, landscape horticulture and two sustainable agriculture degree tracks.
Ohio State noted that it typically labels courses enrolling fewer than 18 students over two semesters as low-enrollment offerings. Of the 409 courses identified through this review, 43 remain listed as pending while departments await further direction.
Ohio State University Course Pauses and Program Consolidation
Most of the courses marked for temporary pause are connected to the College of Nursing, which accounts for 16 of the 18 paused classes. Two paused courses fall under the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. Courses still under review include graduate-level business offerings, rural sociology classes and several nursing-related courses.
The Ohio State University is also preparing significant restructuring within its language, cultural studies and humanities programs. A combined French and Italian major and a unified Spanish and Portuguese major will replace separate degree tracks in those languages. Ancient history and classics will operate under the existing classics major alongside modern Greek. Religious studies and world literature will be consolidated within comparative studies, while Arabic, Hebrew, Jewish studies and Islamic studies will be merged into a new Near Eastern and South Asian studies major.
Waiver Requests and Next Steps
Although Senate Bill 1 outlines enrollment-based requirements, institutions can request exemptions for programs that operate with naturally small cohorts. Ohio State submitted waiver requests for 12 programs and temporary waivers for 20 more. These include courses that rely on labs, studios or specialized instruction and programs offered through regional campuses or internships. The Ohio State University is awaiting decisions from the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
The course and program adjustments have advanced through the Academic Affairs and Student Life Committee, signaling that the full Board of Trustees will likely finalize the measures during its Dec. 4 meeting. Students and faculty are expected to receive further guidance once timelines and department-level plans are confirmed.
The Ohio State University has not announced specific transition dates for students currently enrolled in affected majors, but officials noted that academic pathways and advising support will be provided as changes progress.