Admission and Registration
Admission Policies of the College
Admission and readmission of undergraduate students to the University is the responsibility of the director of admissions. Information about admission to the University is given in General Information, available at http://registrar.utexas.edu/catalogs/.
The Entry-Level Major
All new freshman and transfer students are admitted into the College of Natural Sciences in an entry-level major. After completing a specified set of entry-level mathematics and science courses required for the degree with a grade of at least C- in each course, students are admitted to the major and option they plan to pursue.
Admission-to-Major Requirements
The Major in Computer Science
Several programs are available to undergraduates who wish to major in computer science. Each program involves an admission process in addition to the student’s application for admission to the University. All students may apply to the University as entry-level computer science majors and later seek admission to one of the computer science programs as described in this chapter; those seeking admission to the Turing Scholars program may also apply to that program when they apply for admission to the University.
Admission requirements for the Bachelor of Arts with a major in computer science, the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, option I, and the Integrated Program are given below. Those for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, option II, Turing Scholars honors, and option III, computer science honors, are given in Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Option I and Option V
To apply for admission to either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, option I or option V degree programs, the student must earn a grade of at least C in each of four entry-level courses: Computer Science 312 or 312H, 313K, 314 or 314H, and Mathematics 408D or 408S or 408L. Students must complete at least three of these courses in residence at the University, and must earn a grade point average of at least 2.5 in the four entry-level courses taken in residence and a grade point average of at least 2.0 in all courses taken in residence. These requirements apply to entry-level computer science students seeking admission to one of these two computer science programs.
Students are evaluated after the end of each fall semester, spring semester, and summer session by the Department of Computer Science Admission Committee. Students should consult advisers in the College of Natural Sciences Department of Computer Science for information about admission to the major.
The Integrated Program in Computer Science
The Integrated Program is a curriculum of undergraduate and graduate coursework that allows the student to earn the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and the Master of Science in Computer Science degrees at the same time. The curriculum includes the same coursework as the traditional master’s degree program, as well as the opportunity for research.
Students in the Integrated Program are expected to become leaders in the profession. Highly motivated students with the personal qualities and intellectual capacity to establish successful careers in higher education and industry are encouraged to apply.
Undergraduates typically follow option I, II, or III for their first three years, then enter the Integrated Program in their fourth year. Admission is granted only for the fall semester; January 2 is the application deadline for those who wish to begin the program the following fall. By the end of the spring semester in which they apply, students must have completed at least sixty semester hours of coursework, including Computer Science 345 or 345H, 429 or 429H, and 353 or 357 or 357H.
Admission is based on the applicant’s grade point average, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and SAT Reasoning Test or ACT scores, as well as other relevant examples of academic ability and leadership. An applicant with a University grade point average of less than 3.50 is unlikely to be admitted. Admission may be restricted by the availability of instructional resources. Application materials and information about deadlines are published by the Department of Computer Science, available at http://www.cs.utexas.edu/.
Before beginning the fifth year, students in the Integrated Program must be admitted to the Graduate School. Application forms must be completed by January 2 of the student’s fourth year. Before the application deadline, students must have completed the prescribed work common to all Bachelor of Science in Computer Science options. They must earn an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examinations General Test (GRE) and must have their test scores reported to the University. Students usually take the GRE in the fall semester of their fourth year.
The Coordinated Program in Dietetics
Freshman and transfer applicants to the University who plan to enter the Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CPD) should begin in the entry-level major in nutrition. When they have met the requirements described below, students may apply for admission to the CPD.
Prior to applying for admission to the CPD, students must complete at least sixty semester hours of the coursework required for the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, option I, including Biology 325 or 325H, and 365S; Chemistry 369 or both 339K and 339L; and Nutrition 307, 107L, 312 or 312H, 112L or 312R, 315, and 326. A list of other recommended courses is available from the School of Human Ecology. Students must have a grade point average of at least 2.70 in coursework taken in residence at the University. Students should consult advisers in the School of Human Ecology for information about the application process and deadlines. Application materials are available from the school.
The number of applicants to the CPD may exceed the number that can be adequately instructed by the faculty and accommodated within available facilities. Admission decisions are based on the student’s biology, chemistry, and nutrition grade point average, his or her University grade point average, and other factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the difficulty of the student’s coursework, work or volunteer experience, leadership, commitment to the profession of dietetics, and personal interview. Students whose applications are denied may reapply.
The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
Students must be admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science degree program; they may apply for admission after completing the following requirements:
The student must earn a grade of at least C- in Biology 311C, Chemistry 301, Mathematics 408C or 408N; and a grade of at least B- in Geological Sciences 401 or 303. To be competitive for admission, the student must have a grade point average of at least 2.75 in these four courses.
Applications are evaluated after the end of each fall and spring semester. Students whose applications are denied may reapply through the supplemental admission process the following semester. Admission decisions are based on the student’s grade point average in the basic sequence courses, his or her University grade point average, and other factors; these factors include, but are not limited to, the difficulty of the student’s course load, course repetitions, and proven mathematical ability. Students should consult advisers in the College of Natural Sciences Transitional Advising Center (TRAC) for information about the application process and application deadlines.
More information about the degree program is given in Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science.
The Major in Public Health
To apply for admission to the public health degree program, the student must have earned a grade of at least C- in Biology 311C and 311D or 315H; Chemistry 301 or 301H and 302 or 302H; and Mathematics 408C or 408N; and a grade of at least B- in Public Health 317. To be competitive for admission, the student must have a grade point average of at least 2.75 in these six courses.
Applications are evaluated after the end of each fall and spring semester. Students whose applications are denied may reapply through the supplemental admission process the following semester. Admission decisions are based on the student’s grade point average in the basic sequence courses, his or her University grade point average, and other factors; these factors include, but are not limited to, the difficulty of the student’s course load, course repetitions, and proven mathematical ability. Students should consult advisers in the College of Natural Sciences Transitional Advising Center (TRAC) for information about the application process and application deadlines.
Students who plan to follow option II, public health honors, must be admitted to the Dean's Scholars Honors Program.
To apply for admission to option III, the student must already be admitted to option I. The option I student may apply for admission to option III upon completion of the fourth semester with a grade point average of at least 3.4. The eligible option I student may apply to option III and the Master of Public Health program following the admission schedule and policies of the School of Public Health at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston. The application is typically completed during the fifth semester of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Option I. Admission to option III requires approval by the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin and the School of Public Health at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston at the Austin Regional campus.
The Major in Textiles and Apparel
Admission to the Field Experience Programs
All textiles and apparel students must complete a field experience. Admission to the field experience programs is subject to the approval of the faculty admission panel. Option I, apparel design and conservation, includes a three-semester-hour field experience, the Apparel Design or Conservation Internship Program, offered as Textiles and Apparel 352D; students usually complete the internship during the senior year. The student must apply for admission to the internship program the semester before he or she plans to enter it. Application forms are available from the School of Human Ecology. Before they apply, students must complete the following courses with a grade of at least C- in each: Textiles and Apparel 205, 105L, 212K, 212L, 316L, 219C, 119L, 126, 226L, 164K (Topic 1: Flat Pattern), and 264L (Topic 1: Flat Pattern).
Option II, retail merchandising, includes a nine-semester-hour field experience program, the Retail Merchandising Internship Program, offered as Textiles and Apparel 315K, 352M, and 355P; students normally complete the internship during the senior year. The student must apply for admission to the program the semester before he or she plans to enter it; materials, information about deadlines, and directions for application are available from the School of Human Ecology. Before they apply, students must complete the following courses with a grade of at least C- in each: Textiles and Apparel 205, 105L, 212K, 212L, 316Q, 219C, 119L, and 376; Marketing 320F or Advertising 318J; Accounting 310F; Mathematics 408C, 408N, or the equivalent; Mathematics 316, Statistics and Scientific Computation 302, 303, 304, 305, or 306 or Educational Psychology 371; and Communication Studies 306M. Before beginning the internship, students must successfully complete competitive interviews with representatives from participating retail establishments.