General Information
Arts and Sciences Education
The academic program offered cooperatively by the College of Natural Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts provides what is sometimes referred to as a “liberal arts” or an “arts and sciences” education. No matter what area of knowledge a student intends to specialize in, the program of study will require courses in both colleges. The colleges work together to ensure that the individual interests and needs of the students pursuing an arts and sciences program are met.
Guidelines for developing a coherent plan of study are provided by major requirements, by sequential prerequisites, and by optional patterns of emphasis. Departmental majors, areas of specialization, and interdepartmental programs are designed to enable every student to study at least one field in depth. These programs are sufficiently broad in scope to allow students in the same major to develop quite different plans of study in pursuit of their individual interests and goals. Each student should choose courses that are intellectually challenging and that contribute to his or her long-term objectives.
Arts and sciences students are required to take a certain number of courses in the natural sciences, the social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities. Consequently, whatever their fields of study, they have the opportunity to learn something about the basic differences in the ways questions are raised and answered in several fields of inquiry, and about the techniques for validating the answers and putting the results to use. At the same time, they may gain some of the philosophical and historical perspectives that illuminate and give form to general or specialized knowledge and help to reveal its relevance.
Both teachers and students sometimes make the assumption that independent and creative study is exclusively for the gifted. In fact, the primary requirement is that the student be highly motivated, although he or she must also demonstrate ability. The departments that make up the two arts and sciences colleges encourage all qualified students to work independently in special honors courses and seminars and in conference, studio, or laboratory work. The student is free to define a major, to determine whether a given assignment will be an adventure or a chore, free to develop its latent possibilities or merely satisfy its explicit demands. True creativity presupposes more than a gift for innovation; it requires an unceasing commitment to thinking and working at one’s highest level.
As competence is gained in a chosen field, the mind should be progressively sharpened, disciplined, and enriched. The student who leaves arts and sciences studies with an enhanced understanding of self and humankind, of cultural and historical heritage, of the world and the universe, and of the moral values that make it possible to live a meaningful life, will have made the most of education, having gained something over and above the objective of vocational preparedness.
Financial Assistance Available through the College
A number of scholarship funds established by individuals, foundations, and industrial or research organizations are available to students in the college. Awards are made for reasons ranging from academic promise to financial need. More information about scholarships is given at http://cns.utexas.edu/honors/scholarships-fellowships .
Student Services
Academic Advising
Academic advising is a responsibility shared by advisers and students. Advisers help students clarify their values and goals, assist with the selection of courses, and monitor and evaluate students’ progress toward their degrees. Each student is assigned an academic adviser in his or her proposed field of study; students are expected to communicate with their advisers before registration each semester.
Career Design Center
The Career Design Center is a multidisciplinary hub for students to explore the next phase of their professional or educational career. Additional information is given on the Career Design Center Web site .
Study Abroad
Students are encouraged to incorporate an international experience into their course of study. In addition to the traditional study abroad programs, students may take advantage of programs specifically designed for science study, including faculty-led courses, Maymester courses, and research abroad. The Office for Honors, Research, and International Study provides information sessions, one-on-one advising, and resources for science students interested in these programs.
Student Programs
The College of Natural Sciences offers additional programs to supplement the degree plans. Additional information is given at http://cns.utexas.edu/ .
Biology Scholars Program
The Biology Scholars Program (BSP) is designed to provide lower-division biology students with a broader understanding of the study of biology and a strong sense of community as they begin their academic careers. Throughout the two-year program, BSP provides academic support, resources for peer-led study, and community service opportunities. Each semester, BSP students take a specialized critical thinking seminar on topics that range from the study of biological sciences to graduate and professional careers in biology. These classes emphasize working in small groups and help BSP students develop strong problem-solving and study skills.
Emerging Scholars Program
The Emerging Scholars Program (ESP) is designed to help highly motivated mathematics, science, and engineering students toward continued academic success in essential first-year math and science courses. ESP students work closely with faculty members and with other high-achieving students in a supplemental workshop designed to enrich their course experience and intensify their understanding of the course material. The ESP experience is currently available in calculus and chemistry. Students are invited to participate during the spring of their senior year of high school on the basis of strong academic credentials and history of achievement in mathematics and sciences.
Freshman Research Initiative
The Freshman Research Initiative introduces undergraduate students to the world of scientific research at the beginning of their academic careers by integrating a three-semester research experience into coursework required for the degree. All students begin with an introductory research methods course in the first semester, followed by two semesters of work on real, cutting-edge research projects in fields like biology, biochemistry, nanotechnology, molecular biology, astronomy, physics, mathematics, and computer science. After finishing the course sequence, interested students are assisted in joining faculty or other research laboratories for further work.
Texas Interdisciplinary Plan
The Texas Interdisciplinary Plan (TIP) transforms the learning experience for its students by creating small academic communities that promote academic excellence and leadership. TIP offers a collection of selective academic programs that serve about nine hundred students each year, including TIP Scholars, TIP Fellows, Getting Ready for Advanced Degrees (grad), and the TIP Mentor Academy. While each program is unique, all incorporate assisted registration for courses, mentoring, tutoring, and academic and social connections. Admission criteria differ for each program. More information is available from the TIP office.
Undergraduate Research
One advantage that the University offers undergraduates is the opportunity to participate in state-of-the-art research with some of the world’s most respected scientists. Each department in the College of Natural Sciences supports undergraduate research programs in which students may earn University credit. Students may also earn special departmental honors for exceptional research. The college holds an annual Undergraduate Research Forum to recognize and reward students who participate in research. Additional opportunities vary from department to department; information is available in the Office for Honors, Research, and International Study.
UTeach-Natural Sciences
UTeach-Natural Sciences is an innovative teacher preparation program that allows students to pursue middle grades and secondary school teacher certification within a four-year mathematics, science, or computer science degree program. While learning the subject matter of their majors, students also learn how to teach. Upon completing the program, students graduate with a bachelor’s degree and are recommended for a middle grades or secondary school teaching certificate. The UTeach-Natural Sciences program invites students to explore their interest in teaching as early as the freshman year. Through courses taught by some of Texas’s most respected secondary school math and science teachers, students learn quickly whether they are suited to the profession. More information about teacher certification requirements is given in the UTeach Teacher Certification of Degrees and Programs.
Women in Natural Sciences
The Women in Natural Sciences (WINS) Honors Residential Program is designed to promote the involvement and success of women in the sciences. Students live together in an honors dormitory during their first year and participate in socially and educationally enriching activities. In their first semester they take an innovative small seminar class in which they are introduced to faculty members in their areas of interest. Through the seminar and a wide range of academic, cultural, and social events, WINS students are connected with other students and faculty members who share their interest in science.