Weber State University announces degree program cuts

OGDEN — Weber State University is making some changes to the school’s academic programs in compliance with HB265.

The legislation, passed earlier this year, requires Utah’s public universities to review and update how funding is used to best support students and the state’s workforce needs.

Read more: Weber State freezes tuition and fees for associate degrees

In an email to current students confirmed to KSL NewsRadio by Weber State, President Brad Mortensen wrote the changes were determined by different factors guided by data, program reviews and stakeholder input. 

“Our goal has been to keep WSU accessible to students from all walks of life, invest in growing programs and ways to help our students be successful, and streamline where needed,” Mortensen wrote in the email.

What happens with students currently enrolled in affected programs

Students currently enrolled in the programs affected will be able to finish out their degrees or certificates, but they will not accept any new students starting in the 2025-2026 school year.

Students will also have the option to switch to the related program.

“We know change can feel uncertain, but we want you to know that you won’t be left behind,” Mortensen’s email said. “If you’re in a program that’s being phased out, you can finish your degree as planned or explore similar options that might be a better fit in light of the changes.”

Teaching degrees will see the biggest changes

Specialized teaching degrees will be restructured into broader categories to “simplify licensing and support collaboration.”

A new secondary science Education major will include biology, chemistry, physics, physical science and earth science. A new world languages education major will include Spanish, French and German. The social science education major will add history, political science, psychology, sociology and geography.

A broader list of majors affected 

Several programs will be eliminated, downsized, or altered. The Bachelor of Arts majors that will be affected include art education, French for the professions, geography, German and German for the professions. The Bachelor of Science majors that will be affected include applied physics and construction management with the facilities emphasis.

According to the university’s email, here are some other majors affected:

• Computer science teaching
• Electronic engineering technology
• English with the professional and technical writing emphasis
• French translation in business and industry
• Mathematics will be combined with applied mathematics.
• Master of Science in Respiratory Therapy
• Physical education (non-teaching)
• Physical science
• Workplace communication & writing

The following minors are affected:

• Ethnic studies 
• French for the professions
• German for the professions
• Linguistics
• Public administration
• Queer studies Spanish for the professions
• Women & gender studies

The following certificate programs are also affected:

• Biotechnician
• Ethics
• Facilities management
• Forensic science fundamentals
• Field botany
• Jazz studies
• Music entrepreneurship 

The email also says the following will be combined and/or reduced:

• Dance and theatre will merge.
• Music will de-emphasize pedagogy and performance.
• Economics will consolidate into four majors from six.
• Geography will be reduced to four tracks. 
• Anthropology, geography, and sociology will become a combined department.
• Elementary and special education will combine into one program.
• Manufacturing systems engineering will change to either mechanical or manufacturing engineering.
• Communication emphases will be reduced. 

Other universities have announced similar cuts, as the deadline to comply with the law gets closer.