Florida Board of Education removes Sociology courses from general education at 28 state colleges

April 17, 2026 - 23:14

In a significant shift for higher education in the state, the Florida Board of Education has voted to remove introductory Sociology as an option for fulfilling core general education requirements. The decision impacts all 28 public colleges operating under the Florida College System, which serve hundreds of thousands of students.

The board approved the amendment during a recent meeting, striking Sociology from the list of approved social science courses that satisfy the general education component of an associate degree. The course will be replaced by a general American History class. This change aligns the college system's core curriculum with that of the state's public universities, where a similar move was authorized last year.

Proponents of the change argue it ensures consistency across the state's higher education institutions and reinforces the study of foundational American principles. The decision means incoming students will no longer be able to select introductory Sociology to meet their social science credit requirement, potentially altering academic pathways and course offerings within sociology departments at these institutions. The adjustment takes effect for the upcoming academic year.