Minor and Certificate Programs

Minor

The transcript-recognized undergraduate academic minor must be completed in conjunction with an undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin. For more information regarding the requirements for achieving a minor, including a comprehensive list of minors, please visit the Minors and Certificate Programs  section of the Undergraduate Catalog.

Certificate Programs

Undergraduate certificate programs encourage students to explore academic areas that support and extend their degree plans. The following certificates require at least 18 semester hours of coursework, some of which may also be used to fulfill degree requirements. Undergraduates who complete the certificate requirements in conjunction with their degree requirements or within one year after earning the degree will receive a certificate and recognition on their University transcript. A maximum of nine hours in the certificate program may be taken after completion of the undergraduate degree. At least half of the required coursework in the certificate program must be completed in residence at the University.

Applied Statistical Modeling Certificate

The certificate in Applied Statistical Modeling equips undergraduate students with the tools necessary to understand how to apply statistics to their primary field of study. This certificate program is designed to complement diverse degree programs and to appeal to students across the University in engineering, science, economics, mathematics, and many other disciplines. Certificate students will complete a two-course sequence in the mathematical foundations of statistics, a two-course sequence in applied statistics, data mining, and machine learning, and six additional hours in statistics, machine learning, econometrics, and other relevant courses from the approved list below.

Admission to the certificate is by application only. Students may download an application from the Department of Statistics and Data Sciences webpage. Students seeking the certificate must also complete the prerequisite course Mathematics 408C or 408L with a grade of at least C-.

The certificate consists of 18 hours. Students must receive a grade of at least C in each course applied toward the certificate and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in the courses presented to fulfill the certificate. Students must contact the Department of Statistics and Data Sciences to apply for the certificate in the semester in which they are completing the requirements and graduating.

1. Sequence in the mathematical foundation of statistics:
   1. Choose one of the following: Electrical Engineering 351K, Mathematics 362K, or Statistics and Data Sciences 321
   2. Choose one of the following: Mathematics 378K, Statistics and Data Sciences 323, or 378
2. Sequence in applied statistics, data mining, and machine learning:
   1. Choose one of the following: Economics 329, Educational Psychology 371, Mathematics 358K, Psychology 418, Sociology 317L, Statistics 309, Statistics and Data Sciences 302, 304, 306, or 328M
      b. Choose one of the following: Economics 341K, Mathematics 349R, Statistics 371G, 371H, 375, Statistics and Data Sciences 325H, or 352
3. Six hours of additional coursework chosen freely from the following lists. Of the six hours, a minimum of three hours must be upper-division.

Students are encouraged to select courses within their own majors or colleges as appropriate. The Statistics and Data Sciences courses listed in requirement 3a are available to students in all majors.

a. Courses in the College of Natural Sciences: Computer Science 343, Mathematics 339J, 349P, and 362M, Public Health 354, Statistics and Data Sciences 323, 348, 353, 374E, 375, and 379R

b. Courses in the McCombs School of Business: Statistics 372 (Topic 5: Financial and Econometric Time Series Modeling)

c. Courses in the Moody College of Communication: Advertising 344K, and Communication Studies 348

d. Courses in the College of Education: Health Education 343 and 373, and Kinesiology 376

e. Courses in the Cockrell School of Engineering: Electrical Engineering 361M and Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering 378

f. Courses in the Jackson School of Geosciences: Geological Sciences 325K and 365N

g. Courses in the College of Liberal Arts: Economics 350K (Topic 4: Advanced Econometrics) and 354K, and Psychology 325K

Computational Science and Engineering Certificate

The Computational Science and Engineering Certificate program is sponsored by the Cockrell School of Engineering, the Jackson School of Geosciences, the College of Liberal Arts, and the College of Natural Sciences; it is administered by the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences (ICES). Information regarding the specific requirements of the Certificate can be found in the Cockrell School of Engineering's Minor and Certificates section of the Undergraduate Catalog.

The Elements of Computing Program Certificate

The Elements of Computing Program, administered by the Department of Computer Science, is designed to support computational work in disciplines other than computer science and to provide students with skills in the use of computer applications. Any non-computer science major may take any elements of computing course for which he or she meets the prerequisite. No application process is required.

Forensic Science Certificate

The Forensic Science Certificate provides an interdisciplinary perspective for students interested in careers in forensic science.

Students seeking employment in forensic science laboratories upon graduation are encouraged to select biology and chemistry courses. Some of these courses may require introductory biology and chemistry courses as prerequisites.

No admission to the certificate is required. Students must contact the dean's office in the College of Natural Sciences to apply for the certificate during the semester in which they are completing the requirements. The certificate consists of 18 hours, including six upper-division hours, with grades of at least C-:

1. Three hours of physical anthropology:  Anthropology 301
2. Six hours chosen from any of the following courses relevant to forensic science:
   1.  Criminalistics: Sociology 302, 325K, and 325L
   2.  Behavioral Science: Psychology 301, 308, 319K, and 352
   3. Pharmacology: Neuroscience 365D
   4. Forensic Science: Anthropology 366
3. Nine hours chosen from any of the following areas:
   1. Anatomy and Physiology: Biology 309D or 365S, 446L, 361T, 165U, and 371L
   2. Chemistry: Chemistry 220C, 320M,320N, 455, and Biochemistry 369
   3. Genetics and Microbiology: Anthropology 349C, Biology 325, 325L, 325T, 226L, and 326R
   4. Statistics and Computation: One course chosen from the following: Biology 321G, Statistics and Data Sciences 302, 304, 306, 328M, or Mathematics 316
   5. Additional coursework in criminalistics, behavioral science, pharmacology, and forensic science. A course may not count toward both requirement 2 and requirement 3

Scientific Computation and Data Sciences Certificate

The Certificate in Scientific Computation and Data Sciences helps undergraduates equip themselves with the mathematical, statistical, and computer-based tools necessary to investigate complex systems in a variety of applications. It is designed to appeal to students across the University in science, engineering, economics, premedicine, sociology, and many other disciplines. The program is administered by the Department of Statistics and Data Sciences. To be admitted, a student must be in good standing in an approved undergraduate degree program and must have earned a grade of at least C- in each certificate course he or she has completed. Students may apply for admission to the program at any point in their undergraduate study; they are encouraged to apply as early as possible so that they can be advised throughout the program.

Evidence and Inquiry Certificate

The Evidence and Inquiry Certificate allows students to design an area of study shaped by questions that require evidence and methodologies outside their major. Students work with faculty and academic consultants to identify interests, map them onto academic disciplines at the University, and determine questions related to those interests that might be answerable by research that combines expertise from at least two disciplines. Students describe their area of study, identify primary questions, name two University of Texas at Austin faculty members with research experience relevant to their field, and justify the courses they would take in a written proposal that must be approved by a member of program's faculty panel. Students have the opportunity to present an original research project in a capstone seminar. Those who plan to pursue the certificate should apply to the program for admission no later than the end of their third long semester. More information about the Evidence and Inquiry Certificate is available on the College of Natural Sciences website .

The certificate program requires 18 semester hours of coursework, including at least nine hours completed in residence. Students must meet the following requirements:

1. Critical thinking or research methods course from an approved list available from the adviser. The approved list may include Undergraduate Studies 303, (One of the following subjects: Originality in the Arts and Sciences; Research Methods; or Critical Thinking for the 21st Century). Other subjects or courses may be eligible for substitution by petition.
2. Four additional courses, including at least six semester hours of upper-division coursework, from the student's approved evidence and inquiry area of study
3. Senior Capstone Seminar: Natural Sciences 371

In the College of Natural Sciences, the Evidence and Inquiry Certificate may be used to complement any major. Some certificate courses will also fulfill degree requirements established by the student's major department and are given later in this section; however, some of the 18 hours required for the certificate may be in addition to the number of hours required for the degree.

Food and Society Certificate

Though food-related issues vary widely in focus, they are all linked by their complexity and are deeply interdisciplinary nature, each relating to topics of health and nutrition, genetics, politics, culture, the environment, economics, and business. Students will be able to appreciate the full range of these interdisciplinary ties and apply new perspectives to their primary academic majors and careers.

Students completing the certificate will be able to apply a more comprehensive understanding of the implications of their food-related actions and decisions; find better solutions to today's complex problems; formulate more effective public policy; become better informed and active citizens; and make healthier choices for themselves and their families.

No admission to the certificate is required. Students must contact the advising office in the School of Human Ecology to apply for the certificate the semester before the certificate requirements are met. The certificate consists of 18 hours, of which nine hours must be in upper-division coursework. Courses must be completed with minimum grades of at least C- unless the course is offered only on the pass/fail basis. Students also seeking the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition may count a maximum of six hours in nutrition toward the food and society certificate.

Some of the courses may contain prerequisites that are in addition to the coursework for the certificate.

1. Three hours of introductory nutrition, chosen from Nutrition 306, 312, or 312H
2. Fifteen hours selected from a minimum of two themes chosen from a, b, and c. No more than nine hours in a single theme may be applied toward the certificate.
   1.  Nutrition and Health
      1. Nutrition 307, Introductory Food Science
      2. Nutrition 315, Nutrition through the Life Cycle
      3. Nutrition 218, Assessment of Nutritional Status  and Nutrition 118L, Assessment of Nutritional Status Laboratory 
      4. Nutrition 330, Nutrition Education and Counseling
      5. Nutrition 321, International Nutrition: The Developing World
      6. Nutrition 334, Foodservice Systems ManagemenM
      7. Nutrition 353, Field Experience in International Nutrition
      8. Nutrition 365  (Topic 4: Obesity and Metabolic Health)
      9. Sociology 308S, Introduction to Health and Society
      10. Nursing 309, Global Health
   2. ​Culture and History
      1. Nutrition 316, Culture and Food
      2. American Studies 370  (Topic 26: American Food)
      3. Anthropology 307, Culture and Communication
      4. Asian Studies 379  (Topic 7: Cuisine and Culture in Asia)
      5. Classical Civilization 340  (Topic 6: Food, Health, and Culture in the Ancient Mediterranean)
      6. Classical Civilization 348  (Topic 14: Ancient Greek Medicine)
   3.   Politics, Economics, and Environment
      1. Nutrition 331, International Nutrition: Social and Environmental Policies
      2. Nutrition 332, Community Nutrition
      3. Geography 331K, Nature, Society, and Adaptation
      4. Geography 344K, Global Food, Farming, and Hunger
      5. Geography 339K, Environment, Development, and Food Production
      6. Government 370L  (Topic 21: Politics of Food in America)
      7. Marine Science 308, Humans and a Changing Ocean
      8. Marine Science 367K, Human Exploration and Exploitation of the Sea

Marine Science Certificate

The Marine Science transcript-recognized certificate enables students to explore the field of marine science. The certificate provides a foundation of basic competency in the fundamentals of marine science, along with specialized upper-division coursework in aquatic science. The knowledge of aquatic science that students gain through the certificate will help them to be competitive for employment or graduate study in this field.

The certificate consists of a minimum of 19 hours with grades of at least C-. Most of the courses in the certificate contain prerequisites of one year of general biology and one year of general chemistry.

Marine and Freshwater Biology and Marine and Freshwater Science majors are not eligible to earn the certificate. Environmental Science majors may count no more than nine hours of degree requirements toward the Marine Science certificate.

1. Three hours chosen from: Biology 311C, 311D, 315H, Chemistry 301, 301H, 302, 302H
2. Marine Science 310, Fundamentals of Marine Science
3. Marine Science 320, Marine Ecology
4. Marine Science 120L, Marine Ecology Laboratory
5. Choose nine hours from the following list, including at least six hours at the Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, Texas:
   1. Marine Science 440, Limnology and Oceanography
   2. Marine Science 152L, 252L, Principles of Marine Science:  Laboratory Studies
   3. Marine Science 152S, 252S, Principles of Marine Science:  Undergraduate Seminar
   4. Marine Science 152T, 252T, Principles of Marine Science: Special Topics
   5. Marine Science 348 (Topic 1:  Research Training Cruise(s): Research in Biological Oceanography)
   6. Marine Science 352, Principles of Marine Science
   7. Marine Science 352C, Estuarine Ecology
   8. Marine Science 352D, Marine Botany
   9. Marine Science 352E, Marine Conservation Biology
   10. Marine Science 353, Topics in Marine Science
   11. Marine Science 354, Marine Invertebrates
   12. Marine Science 354C, Biology of Fishes
   13. Marine Science 354E, Aquatic Microbiology
   14. Marine Science 354J, Marine Chemistry
   15. Marine Science 354Q, Marine Environmental Science
   16. Marine Science 354T, Biological Oceanography
   17. Marine Science 354U, Biology of Sharks, Skates, and Rays
   18. Marine Science 355C, Physiology of Fishes
   19. Marine Science 356, Ecosystems Oceanography
   20. Marine Science 357, Marine Phytoplankton Diversity
   21. Marine Science 367K, Human Exploration and Exploitation of the Sea
   22. Marine Science 170, 270, 370, Special Studies in Marine Science

Pre-Health Professions Certificate

The Pre-Health Professions Certificate assists students in preparing for post-baccalaureate, healthcare professional programs.

Students are encouraged to work closely with the Health Professions Office to select healthcare themes relevant to their professional career goals. Some of the courses may contain prerequisites that are in addition to the coursework for the certificate.

Majors in the College of Natural Sciences must seek the Science Major Track. No admission to the track is required. 

Majors outside of the College of Natural Sciences must seek the Non-Science Major Track. The composition of the non-science major track is science coursework necessary for admission to post-baccalaureate, healthcare professional programs. Non-science majors may apply to the certificate program upon completion of the following courses with grades of at least B-: Chemistry 301 or 302, and one of the following: Statistics and Data Sciences 302, Mathematics 408C, 408K, 408N, or 408R. Upon admission, the ability to progress in the certificate is dependent on completion of the certificate courses with satisfactory grades. Non-science majors who complete the certificate may be eligible to enroll in select upper-division courses necessary for application to the health professions programs to which they are applying.

Students must contact the dean's office in the College of Natural Sciences to request the certificate during the semester in which they are completing the requirements. The certificate consists of a minimum of 18 hours. Each course presented for the certificate must be completed with a grade of at least C-.

Science Major Track

1. Complete 18 hours chosen from the following themes relevant to healthcare. Students pursuing the science major track may substitute a maximum of nine hours chosen from the optional lists that follow requirement 1.
   1. Cultural Awareness:
      1. Anthropology 322M  (Topic 5: Indians of Mexico and Guatemala)
      2. Asian American Studies 301  and Asian American Studies 310 (Topic 1: Psychological Perspectives on Asian American Identity)
      3. African and African Diaspora Studies 301
      4. Latin American Studies 324L  (Topic 16: Mexican Immigration Cultural History)
      5. Mexican American Studies 307
      6. Middle Eastern Studies 301L
   2. Health and Anatomy:
      1. Classical Civilization 306M
      2. Educational Psychology 363  (Topic 3: Human Sexuality) or Health Education 366
      3. Health Education 335 , 343, 352K, 370K, and 373
      4. Kinesiology 320 , 424K, 425K, and 326K
      5. Psychology 301 , 308, 332C, Psychology 341K (Topic 4: Health Psychology), Psychology 346K, and Psychology 353K
   3. Healthcare Policy:
      1. Communication Studies 322E
      2. History 350R  (Topic 18: Women in Sickness and Health)
      3. Philosophy 325M
      4. Nursing 309  and Nursing 321
      5. Sociology 319, 336D, 354K, 358D, 368D, and 369K
      6. Urban Studies 350  (Topic 2: Human Health and the Environment)
      7. Geography 357 
      8. Public Health 317 
   4. Human and Societal Development:
      1. Communication Studies 310K  and 322E
      2. Educational Psychology 369K  (Topic 10: Educational Neuroscience)
      3. Human Development and Family Sciences 304 , 313, 335, 342, 351, and 378K (approved topics)
      4. Nursing 310
      5. Psychology 301 , 308, 332C, 341K (Topic 4: Health Psychology), and Psychology 346K
      6. Sociology 302  and 330C
   5. Nutrition:
      1. Communication Studies 322E
      2. History 350R  (Topic 5: American Cultural History of Alcohol and Drugs)
      3. Nutrition 306, 312 , 218, 326, and 331

Optional: If additional hours are needed to complete the 18 hours for the certificate, a maximum of nine hours chosen from the following may be applied to the science major track.

• Biochemistry and Chemistry: Chemistry 220C, 320M, 320N, and Biochemistry 369
• Biology: Biology 311C, 311D, and 206L
• Physics: Physics 302K, 102M, 302L, 102N; 317K, 117M 317L, 117N; 301, 101L, 316, 116L; 303K, 103M, 303L, 103N
• Statistics: One of the following courses: Mathematics 316, Statistics and Data Sciences 302, 304, 306, or 328M
• Additional upper-division coursework in biochemistry, biology, and chemistry by approval of the undergraduate certificate adviser

Non-science Major Track

1. Complete 18 hours from one of the following areas of health professions preparations, chosen from a.i through h.i. Upon completion of the certificate, students may enroll in the advanced coursework associated with their introductory preparation, chosen from a.ii through h.ii.
    
   1. Pre-dental preparation:
      1. Certificate Coursework: Biology 311C, 311D, 206L;Chemistry 204; Physics 302K, 102M, 302L, 102N*
      2. Advanced Coursework: Biochemistry 369; Biology 320, 325, 326R**; Chemistry 320M, 320N, 220C
   2. Pre-medical preparation:
      1. Certificate Coursework: Biology 311C, 311D, 206L;Chemistry 204; Physics 302K, 102M, 302L, 102N*
      2. Advanced Coursework: Biochemistry 369; Biology 320, 325, 326R**; Chemistry 320M, 320N, 220C
   3. Pre-occupational therapy preparation:
      1. Certificate Coursework: Biology 311C, 311D, 206L;Chemistry 204; Statistics and Data Sciences 302; Physics 302K, 102M*, and one hour of additional coursework approved by the certificate adviser
      2. Advanced Coursework: Biology 325, 446L, 365S, 165U
   4. Pre-optometry preparation:
      1. Certificate Coursework:Biology 311C, 311D, 206L;Chemistry 204; Statistics and Data Sciences 302; Physics 302K, 102M, 302L, 102N*
      2. Advanced Coursework: Biochemistry 369; Biology 325, 326R**, 226L, 446L, 365S, 165U; Chemistry 320M, 320N, 220C
   5. Pre-physical therapy preparation:
      1. Certificate Coursework: Biology 311C, 311D, 206L;Chemistry 204; Statistics and Data Sciences 302; Physics 302K, 102M, 302L, 102N*
      2. Advanced Coursework: Biology 325, 446L, 365S, 165U
   6. Pre-physician assistant preparation:
      1. Certificate Coursework: Biology 311C, 311D, 206L;Chemistry 204; Statistics and Data Sciences 302; Nutrition 306, and two hours of additional coursework approved by the certificate adviser
      2. Advanced Coursework: Biochemistry 369; Biology 320, 325, 226L, 326R** 344, 446L, 365S, 165U; Chemistry 320M, 320N, 220C
   7. Pre-pharmacy preparation:
      1. Certificate Coursework: Biology 311C, 311D, 206L;Chemistry 204; Statistics and Data Sciences 302; Physics 302K, 102M*, and one hour of additional coursework approved by the certificate adviser
      2. Advanced Coursework: Biology 325, 226L, 326R**, 446L, 365S, 165U; Chemistry 320M, 320N, 220C
   8. Pre-veterinary preparation:
   9. Certificate Coursework: Biology 311C, 311D, 206L;Chemistry 204; Physics 302K, 102M, 302L, 102N*
   10. Advanced Coursework: Biochemistry 369; Biology 325, 326R, 226L, 344; Statistics and Data Sciences 321 or 328M

* A completed calculus-based physics sequence may substitute for the purpose of earning the certificate

** Previously completed Biology 326M may substitute for Biology 326R

Textile Conservation and Museum Studies Certificate

The Certificate in Textile Conservation and Museum Studies helps undergraduates equip themselves with the fiber science, exhibition planning, textile conservation, and museum management skills necessary to conserve textiles in various settings. It is designed to appeal to students across the University in science, history, information science, computational science, merchandising, fiber science and apparel design, and many other disciplines. The program is administered by the Division of Textiles and Apparel in the School of Human Ecology. To be admitted, a student must be in good standing in an approved undergraduate degree program and must have earned a grade of at least C- in each certificate course he or she has completed. Students may apply for admission to the program at any point in their undergraduate study; they are encouraged to apply as early as possible so that they can be advised throughout the program.

The following coursework is required:

1. Textiles and Apparel 205  and 105L
2. Textiles and Apparel 219C  and 119L
3. Textiles and Apparel 325L
4. Textiles and Apparel 325M
5. Textiles and Apparel 355D
6. Textiles and Apparel 352C
7. Information Studies 304D
8. Information Studies 335C

UTeach Natural Sciences Secondary Teaching Option Certificate

The UTeach Natural Sciences program offers a secondary teaching option certificate to students who intend to teach at the middle or high school level.

The following coursework is required, with grades of at least C-:

1. One of the following courses: Biology 337 (Topic 2: Research Methods: UTeach), Chemistry 368 (Topic 1: Research Methods: UTeach), or Physics 341 (Topic 7: Research Methods: UTeach)
2. History 329U  or Philosophy 329U
3. Eightee hours of professional development coursework, consisting of:
   1. Curriculum and Instruction 651S
   2. Curriculum and Instruction 365C  or UTeach-Natural Sciences 350
   3. Curriculum and Instruction 365D  or UTeach-Natural Sciences 355
   4. Curriculum and Instruction 365E  or UTeach-Natural Sciences 360
   5. UTeach-Natural Sciences 101, 110 , and UTeach-Natural Sciences 170
4. In addition, students must meet the following requirements to graduate and be recommended for certification:
   1. University grade point average of at least 2.50
   2. Successful completion of secondary teacher certification and identified discipline specific content courses
   3. Successful passing of final teaching portfolio review, conducted by the UTeach Program in Natural Sciences

Special Requirements
Students who successfully complete this certificate may be eligible for recommendation for state teaching certification if they have met all professional development and discipline specific content courses. Students seeking middle grades certification must also complete the following courses with grades of at least C-: Educational Psychology 363M (Topic 3: Adolescent Development) or Psychology 301 and 304; and Curriculum and Instruction 339E. Students must adhere to the current state certification requirements, even if they differ from those listed in a University Catalog. For more information about these requirements, students should consult with the UTeach-Natural Sciences academic adviser. 

UTeach Teacher Certification

UTeach-Natural Sciences prepares students in the College of Natural Sciences and the Jackson School of Geosciences for single-field teacher certification in mathematics or computer science or for composite certification with biology, chemistry, geological sciences, or physics as the primary teaching field. Composite certification that includes engineering is also available through UTeach-Engineering, in collaboration with the Cockrell School of Engineering. Composite certification requires 48 semester hours of coursework, consisting of 24 hours in one science, 12 in a second science, and six each in two additional sciences.

Professional Development Sequence

All students seeking teacher certification must complete the following courses:

Supporting Courses

1. One of the following:
   Biology 337  (Topic 2: Research Methods: UTeach)
   Chemistry 368  (Topic 1: Research Methods: UTeach)
   Physics 341  (Topic 7: Research Methods: UTeach)
2. One of the following:
   History 329U, Perspectives on Science and Mathematics
   Philosophy 329U, Perspectives on Science and Mathematics