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 the General Information Catalog .

Freshman and transfer students wishing to enter the College of Natural Sciences must apply for admission with the Office of Admissions. The College of Natural Sciences works jointly with the Office of Admissions to identify applicants who have demonstrated preparation and interest in mathematics and sciences. A student must be admitted to the college to pursue a degree program described in this section. A student who is denied admission to the college may seek to enter another college or school.

Freshman Admission

Applicants should be prepared to make the necessary placements scores on the placement exams for calculus or statistics upon admission into the college. Mathematics, in the form of calculus or statistics, is required for all natural sciences degrees. To enroll in a calculus or statistics course in college, students must first take the mathematics placement exam. Information about scores necessary for placement are posted by the Student Division .

Internal Transfer

Students enrolled in other colleges or schools at the University may apply by April 15 to be considered for admission into an entry-level major in the following fall semester. If April 15 falls on a weekend or an official university holiday, the application is due on the next business day.

Admission to the college is limited and competitive. To be competitive, students should:

1. Complete a minimum of twenty-four semester hours in residence
2. Achieve a grade point average of at least 3.00 in residence
3. Complete one of the following courses in residence with a grade of at least B-: Mathematics 408C, 408D, 408K, 408L, 408M, 408N, 408S, or Statistics and Data Sciences 302.
4. Complete two of the following courses in residence with grades of at least B-: Biology 311C, Chemistry 301, 302, Physics 303K, and 303L, or majors level equivalents.
5.  Submit an essay describing how the intended major would impact achievement of the educational and career goals.

Students may also submit evidence of scientific achievements in the form of a resume or other document, if desired.

External Transfer

Students enrolled at other universities who wish to enter the College of Natural Sciences must apply for transfer admission through the Office of Admissions. Students must meet transfer admission deadlines and requirements.

Admission to the college is limited and competitive. To be competitive, students should:

1. Complete a minimum of thirty transferable semester hours.
2. Achieve a grade point average of at least 3.00
3. Complete one of the following courses with a grade of at least B-: Mathematics 408C, 408D, 408K, 408L, 408M, 408N, 408S, and Statistics and Data Sciences 302.
4. Complete two of the following courses with grades of at least B-: Biology 311C, Chemistry 301, CH 302, Computer Science 311, 312, Physics 303K, and 303L, or majors level equivalents.
5. Submit an essay describing how the intended major would impact achievement of the educational and career goals.

Meeting all of the criteria does not guarantee admission. Students who do not meet all of the criteria are welcome to apply. Students may also submit evidence of scientific achievements in the form of a resume or other document, if desired.

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 unless the major or option has special admission-to-major requirements.

Students who wish to pursue computer science but who were not admitted to the entry-level major by the Office of Admissions must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.50 in residence at the University to transfer into the entry-level major. If a student completes transfer courses approved as substitutes for the entry-level courses, he or she may also count the grades of the approved substitutes toward the minimum overall grade point average of 2.50 for admission into the entry-level major. A student who is not admitted may submit an appeal to the department for consideration.

Adding a Simultaneous Major or Changing Majors

Students interested in declaring a simultaneous major must first discuss the impact of the simultaneous major on their progress toward degree and develop a timely graduation plan with their academic advisers. Students approved to declare a simultaneous major must follow the application procedure and meet admission requirements that have been established for the simultaneous major. At minimum, students must complete thirty semester hours of coursework in residence at the University. Students interested in changing majors must meet the entry-level or admission requirements of the major they wish to enter.

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 section; those seeking admission to the Turing Scholars program may also apply to that program when they apply for admission to the University. Students who were not admitted to the entry-level major by the Office of Admissions must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.50 in residence at the University to transfer into the entry-level major. A student who is not admitted may submit an appeal to the department for consideration.

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.

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 Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, Option I

Prior to applying for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, option I, degree program, the student must earn grades of at least B- in Neuroscience 330 or 365R, and 335. Neuroscience 330 or 365R , and 335 must be taken in residence. The student must also complete any of the four following courses, with grades of at least C-: Biology 311C, 311D, 315H, 325H; Chemistry 301, 301H, 302, 302H, and 204; Mathematics 408C, 408D, 408N, 408S, 408M, 427K, and 427L; and Physics 301, 316, 303K, 303L, 317K, and 317L. To be competitive for admission, the student should have a combined grade point average of at least 3.00 in the six courses required for admission. Entry-level majors are encouraged to take Neuroscience 330 in the fall of their first year, and Neuroscience 335 in the spring of their first year.

To apply, the student should consult advisers in the Center for First-Year Advising for information about the application process and deadlines. Applications are evaluated after the end of each fall and spring semester by the Department of Neuroscience. Students whose applications are denied may reapply twice through the supplemental admission process. Admission decisions are based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the student's grade point average, course load difficulty, and written statement about their commitment to a future in the field of neuroscience.

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 Center for First-Year Advising 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 3.40. 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 Department of Molecular Biosciences 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