Degrees and Programs

The College of Natural Sciences offers the following undergraduate degrees:

1. Bachelor of Science and Arts, with majors in astronomy, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, human development and family sciences, human ecology, nutrition, mathematics, neuroscience, and physics.
2. Bachelor of Science degrees in astronomy, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, human development and family sciences, mathematics, medical laboratory science, neuroscience, nutrition, physics, public health, and textiles and apparel.
3. Bachelor of Arts, Plan I, with majors in astronomy, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, human ecology, mathematics, and physics.

The Bachelor of Science and Arts degree offers a cross-disciplinary experience for students who want to combine a strong core science experience with coursework in areas such as business, communications, fine arts, and the liberal arts. Students choose a major comprised of forty-eight hours of science and mathematics. Students choose either a fifteen-hour minor in a field of study outside of sciences, or an eighteen to twenty-four hour transcript-recognized certificate such as business foundations, core texts and ideas (studying books that shaped western civilization and thought), food and society, forensic science, pre-health professions, teaching, and textile conservation, among others.

The Bachelor of Science degrees provide deep exploration of science fields for students preparing for graduate science programs and careers as specialized scientists. The degrees contain between eighty to ninety hours of science and mathematics, and typically have multiple specialized options that reflect niche areas of study.

The Bachelor of Arts, Plan I, is shared with the College of Liberal Arts.

A student may not earn more than one Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Arts, or Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science degree from the University. A student may earn only one undergraduate degree in a particular field of study from the College of Natural Sciences. A student who holds a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science and Arts degree from the University may earn a second major designation in another field of study that will appear on the University transcript. 

The title of a graduate's degree appears on his or her diploma, but the major does not. The degree, the major, and the transcript-recognized certificate appear on the graduate's University transcript.
A natural sciences student who wishes to add another major in the college must meet the criterion described in the Admission and Registration section.

Applicability of Certain Courses

Physical Activity Courses

Physical activity (PED) courses and Kinesiology 119 may not be counted toward a degree in the College of Natural Sciences. However, they are counted as courses for which the student is enrolled, and the grades are included in the grade point average.

ROTC Courses

ROTC units are maintained on campus by the Departments of Air Force Science, Military Science, and Naval Science. Information about each program is available from the chair of the department.

Courses Taken on the Pass/Fail Basis

No more than sixteen semester hours taken on the pass/fail basis may be counted toward the Bachelor of Arts, Plan I. No more than six semester hours taken on the pass/fail basis may be counted toward the Bachelor of Science and Arts degree and the Bachelor of Science degrees. In general, only electives may be taken on the pass/fail basis. Complete rules on registration on the pass/fail basis are given in the General Information Catalog .

Courses in a Single Field

For the Bachelor of Arts, Plan I, no more than thirty-nine hours may be counted in any one field of study, including the major, unless major requirements state otherwise. Additionally, for the Bachelor of Arts, Plan I, no more than thirty-nine hours may be counted in any one college or school other than the College of Liberal Arts or the College of Natural Sciences.

College Algebra

Algebra courses at the level of Mathematics 301 or the equivalent may not be counted toward a degree in the College of Natural Sciences.

Transcript-Recognized Certificate Programs

Undergraduate certificate programs encourage students to explore academic areas that support and extend their degree plans. The following certificates require at least eighteen 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.

Certificate in Computational Science and Engineering

Information relating to the Certificate in Computational Science and Engineering can be found in The University section.

The Elements of Computing Program

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 eighteen hours, including:

1. Three to six hours of forensic science, chosen from Anthropology 301, 324L (approved topics), and 366.
2. Six to twelve 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
3. To achieve the minimum of eighteen hours required for the certificate, up to eight hours may be selected from any of the following courses:
   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: 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.

Certificate in Scientific Computation 

The Certificate in Scientific Computation 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 Web site .

The certificate program requires eighteen 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 eighteen 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 eighteen 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.

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 Management
      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

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. The composition of the science major track is one-half science coursework and one-half coursework from a theme related to healthcare. 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 and completion of one of the following: Statistics and Data Sciences 302, Mathematics 408C, 408K, or 408N. 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 eighteen hours. Each course presented for the certificate must be completed with a grade of at least C-.

Science Major Track

1. Complete up to nine hours chosen from the following:
   1. Biochemistry and Chemistry: Chemistry 220C, 320M, 320N, and Biochemistry 369
   2. Biology: Biology 311C, 311D, and 206L
   3. Physics: Physics 302K, 102M, 302L, 102N; 317K, 117M, 317L, 117N; 301, 101L, 316, 116L; 303K, 103M, 303L, 103N.
   4. Statistics: One of the following courses: Mathematics 316, Statistics and Data Sciences 302, 304, 306, or 328M.
2. Complete a minimum of nine hours chosen from the following themes relevant to healthcare:
   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, 324K, 325K, 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 307M, 319, 336D, 354K, 358D, 368D, and 369K
      6. Urban Studies 350 (Topic: 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 (Topic: Biobehavioral Health Processes Across the Family).
      4. Nursing 310.
      5. Psychology 301, 308, 332C, 341K (Topic 4: Health Psychology), and 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 312, 218, 326, and 331

Non-science Major Track

1. Complete a minimum of eighteen hours from the following:
   1. Biology: Biology 311C, 311D, and 206L
   2. Chemistry: Chemistry 302 and Chemistry 204.
   3. Physics: Physics 302K, 102M, 302L, and 102N. The following physics sequences may substitute if they are already completed: Physics 317K, 117M, 317L, and 117N; Physics 301, 101L, 316, and 116L; Physics 303K, 103M, 303L, and 103N.
2. Students who successfully complete the Non-Science Major Track in requirement 1 will be eligible to enroll in the following courses according to the professional field they intend to enter. These additional courses are not required to earn the Pre-Health Professions Certificate.
   1. Pre-dental preparation: Biochemistry 369; Biology 320, 325, 326M; Chemistry 320M, 320N, 220C
   2. Pre-medical preparation: Biochemistry 369; Biology 320, 325; Chemistry 320M, 320N, 220C
   3. Pre-occupational therapy preparation: Biology 325, 446L, 365S, 165U; Mathematics 316
   4. Pre-optometry preparation: Biochemistry 369; Biology 325, 326M, 226L, 446L, 365S, 165U; Chemistry 320M, 320N, 220C; Mathematics 316
   5. Pre-physical therapy preparation: Biology 325, 446L, 365S, 165U; Mathematics 316
   6. Pre-physician assistant preparation: Biochemistry 369; Biology 320, 325, 326M, 226L, 344, 446L, 365S, 165U; Chemistry 320M, 320N, 220C; Mathematics 316; Nutrition 306.
   7. Pre-pharmacy preparation: Biology 325, 326M, 226L, 446L, 365S, 165U; Chemistry 320M, 320N, 220C; Mathematics 316
   8. Pre-veterinary preparation: Biochemistry 369; Biology 325, 326R, 226L, 344; Statistics and Data Sciences 321 or 328M

Certificate in Textile Conservation and Museum Studies

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 304W
8. Information Studies 335W

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. Eighteen hours of professional development coursework, consisting of:
   1. Curriculum and Instruction 650S
   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 forty-eight semester hours of coursework, consisting of twenty-four hours in one science, twelve 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