Houston, Texas, May 14, 2026 — Houston Christian University (HCU) is proud to announce the launch of its newly reimagined Core Curriculum, designed by HCU faculty under the guidance of Dr. Emily Stelzer as Dean of the Core Curriculum. This milestone reflects the University’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence, holistic personal formation, and the integration of faith and learning across all disciplines, in alignment with its foundational commitment to knowing God as articulated in HCU’s Ten Core Convictions.
Dr. Stanley Napper, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, said the redesign was inspired by a desire to help students see the deeper connections and enduring value within a liberal arts education.
“As a former engineering student who became an academic administrator, I am keenly aware that professional success is built on the patterns, themes and understanding derived from the liberal arts,” said Dr. Napper. “When the general education curriculum becomes a miscellaneous menu of mandatory requirements, students may not fully see the beauty, inspiration and significance of foundational, life-shaping concepts. I am very proud of the resulting framework and literacies that will be both implicit and explicit in the new versions of each of our core courses.”
Dr. Stelzer, a respected scholar and dedicated educator in the College of Arts & Humanities, brings extensive experience in curriculum development and interdisciplinary teaching. In her role this past year, she has led the redevelopment of 14 courses in HCU’s Liberal Arts Core Curriculum, working closely with faculty across the University to ensure a cohesive and transformative academic experience for all undergraduate students.
“I’m thankful for the dedicated, excellent faculty members who collaborated on this project, and for the support we’ve received from HCU President [Robert] Sloan, the Office of the Provost, our Online Division and many others,” said Dr. Stelzer.
Developed through broad collaboration among HCU faculty and academic leaders, the renewed Core Curriculum reflects the University’s mission as a Christian liberal arts institution committed to forming the whole person intellectually, spiritually and morally. The project was organized around a three-part mission to guide students to more fully know and make known God, His creation in its complexity and humans as His image-bearers. Within this three-part framework, the curriculum emphasizes nine core outcomes: biblical literacy, Christian wisdom, theological proficiency, scientific literacy, quantitative literacy, aesthetic literacy, recognition of human dignity, engagement with human interdependence and the cultivation of human flourishing.
Grounded in Scripture and the historic Christian tradition, the curriculum equips students to engage thoughtfully with both enduring truths and contemporary challenges. Students develop scientific and quantitative competence alongside theological understanding, aesthetic awareness and a deeper appreciation for the historical, social and cultural fabric of human life. Central to this formation is the conviction that every person bears the image of God, shaping how students engage ideas, communities and their future vocations.
Dr. Napper also praised the faculty members who helped bring the initiative to life. “I am grateful to the team of faculty who wrestled with significant practical goals and constraints to produce this landmark curriculum,” he said.
Each redesigned course includes “Signature Assignments” intended to be courage-building, character-forming, community-cultivating and Christ-honoring. Faculty intentionally integrated Christian wisdom across disciplines ranging from General Chemistry and College Algebra to Psychology, History, Philosophy and Music Appreciation.
“There were already many good reasons to choose HCU’s liberal arts core curriculum as a solid foundation for a bachelor’s degree,” noted Dr. Stelzer. “The work we completed this year to refresh our core curriculum demonstrates how seriously and intentionally HCU embraces its mission and identity as a Christian liberal arts university. I am excited to see how this work bears fruit in the lives of our students.”
HCU faculty will pilot some of the new courses this summer and have also developed a two-volume anthology, “Persuasion and Poetics,” which has been used for more than a year in freshman-level English courses. The reader features topically arranged Scripture, prose and poetry, with writing assignments designed to help students engage reflectively with the mission and framework of the revised curriculum.
The new Core Curriculum will be fully implemented beginning in the Fall semester, with some piloted courses already receiving high praise from students and faculty. Ongoing assessment and refinement will ensure the curriculum continues to meet the evolving needs of HCU students and society.
For more information about the Core Curriculum and academic programs at HCU, please visit Houston Christian University Academics and Curriculum.
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About Houston Christian University
For more than 60 years, Houston Christian University has equipped students to lead, collaborate, and embody a deep sense of spiritual purpose. The University offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, as well as NCAA Division I athletics in the Southland Conference. Located in the heart of one of the nation’s largest metropolitan centers, HCU’s culture of excellence prepares students to think critically and biblically as they impact the world.