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.

Hebrew Minor

At least 15 hours of Hebrew, at least three of which must be upper division, including:

Requirements		Hours
HEB 506 & HEB 507	First-Year Hebrew I and First-Year Hebrew II	6-10
or HEB 601C	Intensive Hebrew I
HEB 412K & HEB 412L	Second-Year Hebrew I and Second-Year Hebrew II	6-8
or HEB 611C	Intensive Hebrew II
Three hours upper-division Hebrew		3

History Minor

Fifteen semester credit hours of coursework in history including at least six hours of upper-division.

Islamic Studies Minor

Fifteen semester credit hours, including:

Requirements		Hours
ISL 310	Introduction to Islam	3
ISL 340	Topics in Islam	3
Nine additional hours of upper-division Islamic studies, chosen from:
ISL 340	Topics in Islam	3
ISL 372	Topics in Islamic Cultures	3
ISL 373	Topics in Middle Eastern Islamic Cultures	3

Italian Minor

Eighteen semester credit hours of Italian, of which six must be upper-division, including:

Requirements		Hours
ITL 601C	Beginning Italian	6
ITL 611C	Intermediate Italian	6
ITL 328	Composition and Conversation	3
Three additional semester credit hours of upper-division Italian		3

Korean Minor

Latin Minor

Nineteen semester credit hours in Latin, consisting of: 

Requirements		Hours
LAT 506 & LAT 507	First-Year Latin I and First-Year Latin II	10
LAT 311 & LAT 312K	Intermediate Latin I and Intermediate Latin II	6
LAT 322	Advanced Latin I	3

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Sexualities Studies Minor

by admission only

Fifteen semester-credit hours, including:

Requirements		Hours
WGS 303	Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies	3
or WGS 305	Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies
WGS 335	Topics in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies	3
Six semester credit hours chosen from:
WGS 335	Topics in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies	3
An upper-division WGS course
Another course approved by Research Cluster chair

Middle Eastern Studies Minor

Fifteen semester credit hours, consisting of:

Requirements		Hours
MES 301K	Introduction to the Middle East: Religious, Cultural, and Historical Foundations	3
MES 301L	Introduction to the Middle East: Adjustment and Change in Modern Times	3
Nine hours of upper-division MES coursework chosen from:		9
MES 341	Topics in the Middle East: Social Science	3
MES 342	Topics in the Middle East: Arts and Humanities	3
MES 343	Topics in the Middle East: History	3

Persian Minor

At least 15 semester credit hours of Persian, at least six of which must be upper-division.

Requirements		Hours
For students new to the Persian language:
PRS 601C	Intensive Persian I	6
PRS 611C	Intensive Persian II	6
PRS 322K	Intermediate Persian I	3
PRS 329	Topics in Persian Language, Literature, and Culture	3
For heritage speakers of Persian:
PRS 612C	Intensive Persian for Heritage Speakers	6
PRS 322K	Intermediate Persian I	3
Six semester credit hours of Persian 329, Topics in Persian Language, Literature, and Culture		6

Philosophy Minor

Fifteen semester of hours of coursework in philosophy including at least six hours of upper-division and at least nine hours in residence. 

Philosophy of Law Minor

Requirements		Hours
PHL 304 & PHL 347	Contemporary Moral Problems and Philosophy of Law	6
Three hours chosen from one of the following:
PHL 312	Introduction to Logic	3
PHL 313	Introductory Symbolic Logic	3
PHL 313Q	Logic and Scientific Reasoning	3
Three hours chosen from one of the following:
PHL 318	Introduction to Ethics	3
PHL 318K	Introduction to Political Philosophy	3
Six hours chosen from:
PHL 325C	Environmental Ethics	3
PHL 322K	History of Ethics	3
PHL 325K	Ethical Theories	3
PHL 325L	Business, Ethics, and Public Policy	3
PHL 325M	Medicine, Ethics, and Society	3
PHL 342	Political Philosophy	3
PHL 354	Philosophy in Context (Topic 5: Origins of Liberalism) Prerequisite: upper-division standing	3
PHL 318	Introduction to Ethics (If not taken for 3 hours, above)	3
PHL 318K	Introduction to Political Philosophy (If not taken for 3 hours, above )	3

Philosophy of Mind and Language Minor

Requirements		Hours
PHL 332	Philosophy of Language (Prerequisite: 6 hours of PHL completed)	3
PHL 313	Introductory Symbolic Logic	3
or PHL 313Q	Logic and Scientific Reasoning
PHL 303M	Mind and Body (Prerequisite: 6 hours of PHL completed)	3
or PHL 323M	Philosophy of Mind
Six additional hours chosen from:
PHL 344K	Intermediate Symbolic Logic (Prerequisite: PHL 313, 313K, or 313Q)	3
PHL 358	Philosophical Logic (Prerequisite: PHL 313, 313K, or 313Q)	3
PHL 365	Selected Problems in Philosophy (Topic 2: Introduction to Cognitive Science)	3
PSY 305	Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (Prerequisite: PSY 301 with a grade of at least a C)	3
PHL 327	Contemporary Philosophy (Topic 4: Interpretation and Meaning) Prerequisite: upper-division standing	3
PHL 303M	Mind and Body (if not taken above)	3
PHL 323M	Philosophy of Mind (if not taken above) Prerequisite: 6 hours of PHL completed	3
LIN 306	Introduction to the Study of Language	3
LIN 350	Special Topics in the Study of Language (Topic 2: Language and Thought) Prerequisite: upper-division standing	3
LIN 353N	Natural Language Processing	3
LIN 372L	Syntax and Semantics: The Structure and Meaning of Utterances (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and LIN 306)	3

Portuguese Minor

by admission only

Students outside the College of Liberal Arts should contact their dean’s office for permission to complete a minor program and for the applicability of minor requirements toward their individual degrees. Students in the College of Liberal Arts may complete the Transcript-Recognized Portuguese minor program within consultation of their major adviser and a Spanish-Portuguese Department adviser. Students must complete the Transcript-Recognized Portuguese Minor application at the latest by the 12th class day of their expected graduation semester or summer session.

The Transcript-Recognized Portuguese Minor requires students to take between 15 and 21 hours through the Spanish and Portuguese Department at UT Austin or an accredited institution with the Study Abroad Office. At least nine hours should be categorized as in-residence.

Requirements		Hours
Lower-division Portuguese for non-Spanish speakers:
POR 601D	First-Year Portuguese I	6
POR 610D	First-Year Portuguese II	6
POR 611D	Second-Year Portuguese	6
Lower-division Portuguese for Spanish speakers:
POR 610S	Portuguese for Spanish Speakers I	6
POR 611S	Portuguese for Spanish Speakers II	6
Upper-division Portuguese for both non-Spanish speakers and Spanish speakers:
POR 327C	Advanced Grammar and Writing in Context	3

In order to apply for the Transcript-Recognized Portuguese Minor, please visit the Spanish and Portuguese Advising Office at BEN 2.108 to speak with an adviser.

Primatology Minor

by admission only

Requirements		Hours
ANT 301	Biological (Physical) Anthropology	3
And 12 hours from the following:
ANT 310L	Introductory Topics in Anthropology (A list of approved topics is available from the Anthropology Academic Advisor)	3
ANT 432L	Primate Anatomy	4
ANT 346L	Primate Social Behavior	3
ANT 346M	Comparative Primate Ecology	3
ANT 347C	Methods in Primate Biology	3
ANT 348K	Current Topics in Biological (Physical) Anthropology (Topic 10: Primate Conservation)	3
ANT 348K	Current Topics in Biological (Physical) Anthropology (Topic 12: Sex and Human Nature)	3
ANT 350C	Primate Sensory Ecology	3
ANT 351E	Primate Evolution	3

A minimum of nine hours must be upper-division.

A minimum of nine hours must be completed in residence.

A student must earn a grade point average of at least 2.00 in courses taken at the University and counted toward the minor requirements.

Religious Studies Minor

A student may not earn a minor in the same field of study as his or her major, and at least nine of the hours required for the minor must include coursework not used to satisfy the requirements of the student’s major. However, courses in the minor may fulfill other degree requirements such as general education requirements or required elective hours.

Requirements		Hours
R S 310	Introduction to the Study of Religion	3
Twelve hours of course work from an approved list
At least six hours of upper-division coursework
Fifty percent of coursework to be taken in residence
Specified coursework cannot include unnumbered topics

Rhetoric and Writing Minor

Fifteen hours, including at least nine hours of upper-division coursework, as follows:

Requirements		Hours
RHE 321	Principles of Rhetoric	3
Three hours chosen from one of the following:
RHE 330C	Advanced Studies in Digital Rhetoric	3
RHE 330D	History of Rhetoric	3
RHE 330E	Rhetorical Theory and Analysis	3
One of the following upper-division courses:
RHE 330C	Advanced Studies in Digital Rhetoric	3
RHE 330D	History of Rhetoric	3
RHE 330E	Rhetorical Theory and Analysis	3
RHE 325M	Advanced Writing	3
RHE 328	Topics in Professional and Technical Writing for Liberal Arts Majors	3
RHE 360M	Rhetoric and Writing for Teachers of English	3
RHE 368E	Editing for Publication	3
And two additional courses, either upper-division (see list above) or lower-division (RHE 309K, 309S, 310, 312, 315, or 317)		6

Russian Minor

Requirements		Hours
At least 15 semester credit hours in Russian, three of which must be upper-division, including:
RUS 506 & RUS 507	First-Year Russian I and First-Year Russian II	6-10
or RUS 601C	Intensive Russian I
RUS 412K & RUS 412L	Second-Year Russian I and Second-Year Russian II	6-8
or RUS 611C	Intensive Russian II
RUS 324	Third-Year Russian I	3

Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Minor

Requirements		Hours
REE 301	Introduction to Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies	3
REE 301L	Introduction to Russian Literature	3
REE 325	Topics in Language, Literature, and Culture	3
Six additional semester hours of upper-division coursework in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies		6

Slavic and Eurasian Languages Minor

The Slavic language minor is for students wishing to pursue the study of Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, Czech, Polish (or another Slavic or Eurasian language, such as Ukrainian) at intermediate and advanced levels. Required courses:

Requirements		Hours
For Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian:
S C 506	First-Year Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian I	5
S C 507	First-Year Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian II	5
S C 312K & S C 312L	Second-Year Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian I and Second-Year Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian II	6
S C 325	Third-Year Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian I	3
For Czech:
CZ 506	First-Year Czech I	5
CZ 507	First-Year Czech II	5
CZ 412K & CZ 412L	Second-Year Czech I and Second-Year Czech II	8
CZ 325	Third-Year Czech I	3
For Polish:
POL 506	First-Year Polish I	5
POL 507	First-Year Polish II	5
POL 312K & POL 312L	Second-Year Polish I and Second-Year Polish II	6
POL 325	Third-Year Polish I	3
Other Slavic and Eurasian Languages:
SEL 506	First-Year Slavic and Eurasian Languages I	5
SEL 507	First-Year Slavic and Eurasian Languages II	5
SEL 312K & SEL 312L	Second-Year Slavic and Eurasian Languages I and Second-Year Slavic and Eurasian Languages II	6
or SEL 611C	Intensive Slavic and Eurasian Languages II
Three hours of upper-division coursework in Slavic and Eurasian Languages		3

Sociology Minor

Fifteen semester hours of coursework in sociology, including Sociology 302 and at least six hours of upper-division coursework. Nine of the required semester hours must be taken in residence.

Turkish Minor

Between 15 and 21 hours of Turkish, at least three of which must be upper division, including:

Requirements		Hours
TUR 506 & TUR 507	First-Year Turkish I and First-Year Turkish II	6-10
or TUR 601C	Intensive Turkish I
TUR 412K & TUR 412L	Second-Year Turkish I and Second-Year Turkish II	6-8
or TUR 611C	Intensive Turkish II
Three hours upper-division Turkish		3

UTeach-Liberal Arts Minor

by admission only

The University recommends students for teacher certification to TEA. To be recommended for a certificate to teach in secondary school, an undergraduate student must earn a degree as well as complete an approved teacher certification program, of which the coursework below is only a part.

Admissions Requirements

• The UTeach-Liberal Arts undergraduate program requires at least a four long-semester commitment.
• The program is open to current UT Austin undergraduates and incoming transfer students.
• Students are eligible to enter the program second semester freshman year through senior year.
• Admission to UTeach-Liberal Arts requires a minimum overall UT GPA of 2.5.

Application Process

1. Complete the UTeach-Liberal Arts Undergraduate Program Application. Our Program Advisor will notify you about your admissions status via email within 5-10 business days of your application submission.
2. Once Admitted, you will receive instructions on how to reserve a spot for UTL 101 "Introduction to Teaching", the first UTeach course.

Once you have reserved a spot, you may register for the course during your normal registration access period. Failure to register for your spot will result in losing your reservation in UTL 101.

Fifteen semester hours of required UTeach coursework must be completed as follows:

Requirements		Hours
UTL 101	Introduction to the Teaching Profession	1
UTL 202	Introduction to Teaching in the Middle School	2
EDP 363M	Personality and Mental Health (Topic 3: Adolescent Development)	3
Six hours chosen from:
UTL 640 Teaching in Secondary School-LOTE		6
UTL 640 Teaching in Secondary School-English		6
UTL 640 Teaching in Secondary School-Social Studies		6
Three hours chosen from:
ALD 322 Individual Differences-SEC		3
ALD 322 Individual Differences		3

Coursework for the UTeach-Liberal Arts program is dictated by the State Coordinating Board for Higher Education and the State Board for Educator Certification, not by University catalogs. Therefore, changes in requirements may be independent of major and university requirements and may take place at any time.

Women's and Gender Studies Minor

by admission only

Requirements		Hours
Three hours chosen from one of the following:
WGS 301	Introductory Topics in Women's and Gender Studies	3
or WGS 303	Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies
or WGS 305	Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies
WGS 340	Cross-Cultural Topics in Women's and Gender Studies	3
WGS 340	Cross-Cultural Topics in Women's and Gender Studies (Different WGS 340 topic from that counted above, or other upper-division course in Women’s and Gender Studies)	3
WGS 350	Feminist Theory (or other upper-division courses in Women's and Gender Studies)	3
Three additional hours of Women's and Gender Studies		3

Certificate Programs

The College of Liberal Arts offers several certificate programs, which are open to all degree-seeking University undergraduates. Undergraduates who complete certificate requirements in conjunction with their degree requirements or within one year after earning the degree receive recognition on the University transcript; students in integrated undergraduate/graduate programs must complete certificate requirements within one year after they complete their undergraduate degree requirements. A maximum of nine semester hours of certificate coursework may be taken after the student has earned the undergraduate degree. At least half of the required certificate coursework must be completed in residence at the University; some programs may require more work in residence.

A student may not earn a certificate in the same field as his or her major, and may not count the certificate towards their minor requirement if more than six hours of the certificate's coursework may also be counted toward the requirements of the major. A certificate counted in place of a minor must meet the minimum requirements for a minor. However, certificate courses outside the major may be counted toward other degree requirements. For certificates not counting toward the minor requirement, at least one certificate course must be outside the requirements of the major.

Students should apply for the certificate when they apply for graduation or when they complete the certificate program, whichever is later. Transcript recognition is awarded at the end of that semester or summer session.

Students outside the College of Liberal Arts should contact their dean’s office for permission to complete a certificate program and for the applicability of certificate requirements toward their individual degrees. Students in the College of Liberal Arts may complete certificate programs offered through other colleges. These are described in Transcript-Recognized Certificate Programs  and by each college that offers a transcript-recognized certificate program. Certificate programs that do not lead to transcript recognition are also described in the respective college's catalog section.

African Studies Certificate

The African Studies Certificate allows students to engage with scholarship on African peoples, cultures, and history through the theoretical lens of black studies. Through the certificate, undergraduates develop interdisciplinary expertise in African studies related to the student’s personal field of interest. The African and African Diaspora Studies undergraduate adviser (AADS) is available to steer certificate candidates towards areas of interest, which can include: expressive cultures, gender and sexuality studies, literature, language, history, politics, and society as these topics relate to theories of blackness on the African continent. 

The certificate program requires 18 semester hours of coursework, including at least nine semester hours completed in residence. 

Students must fulfill the following requirements: 

1. African and African Diaspora Studies 304, Introduction to the Study of Africa , or an alternative course taken with approval from AADS 
2. African and African Diaspora Studies 310K, Introduction to Modern Africa , or an alternative course taken with approval from AADS 
3. Twelve additional semester hours (upper- or lower-division) chosen from courses on an approved list or with prior approval from AADS 
4. One of the courses listed in requirement 3 must carry a writing flag from the School of Undergraduate Studies and/or place an emphasis on research and writing, such as African and African Diaspora Studies 372G or an alternative course taken with approval from AADS 
5. Earn a grade of at least C in each of the courses taken to fulfill the African Studies Certificate requirements 

Each semester the list of approved courses that meet the requirements above is available in the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies undergraduate advising office. 

Courses the student has completed at the time of application to the program may be counted toward the certificate. Students may not earn a certificate in the same field of study as their major and at least one course counting toward this certificate must be taken outside of the requirements of the student’s undergraduate degree. Students apply for transcript-recognized undergraduate academic certificates at the time they complete their undergraduate degree or the certificate program, whichever comes later. Transcript recognition is awarded at that time.

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.

Core Texts and Ideas Certificate

The certificate program in core texts and ideas is designed to provide a coherent path through the University’s core curriculum with an integrated, interdisciplinary sequence of courses on great works of philosophy, literature, science, and the arts that emphasizes debates about fundamental questions of enduring human concern. The program provides a grounding in the major ideas that have shaped the Western world and gives students the opportunity to study Eastern works as well. Students complete courses in four required areas and two elective areas. The four required areas are the philosophy and literature of the ancient world, especially Greece; basic texts of major world religions; the history of political philosophy; and the principles that formed the basis for the founding of the United States. Elective areas include philosophy, the arts, history, literature, and the history and philosophy of science and mathematics.

The certificate program requires 18 semester hours of coursework, including at least 12 hours completed in residence. Students must fulfill the following requirements:

1. The requirements of an undergraduate major
2. The following 12 semester hours of coursework:
   1. Philosophy and literature of the ancient world: Core Texts and Ideas 301, Ancient Philosophy and Literature
   2. History of political philosophy: Core Texts and Ideas 302, Classics of Social and Political Thought or Core Texts and Ideas 303, Competing Visions of the Good Life
   3. Basic texts of major world religions: Core Texts and Ideas 304, World Religions: Traditions and Texts
   4. Principles of the founding of the United States: Government 312P, Constitutional Principles: Core Texts
3. Six additional semester hours of coursework chosen from a list of approved electives available from the academic adviser in the Thomas Jefferson Center for Core Texts and Ideas

All courses must be taken on the letter-grade basis. Each semester a list of approved alternatives to the courses in the four required areas is available from the academic adviser in the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Study of Core Texts and Ideas.

Creative Writing Certificate

The Creative Writing Certificate is intended for any University student interested in advanced study of creative writing, both as reader and as writer. Those who plan to pursue the certificate should apply to the program adviser for admission no later than the end of their sophomore year. More information about the Creative Writing Certificate is given at the Department of English website .

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

1. The requirements of an undergraduate major
2. Six semester hours of coursework from English, theatre and dance, or radio-television-film. 
3. Creative Writing 325F,  325M, or 325P
4. Creative Writing 330
5. Creative Writing 340F , 340P, or 660 (part A). 
6. Creative Writing 355F , 355P, 660 (part B), or three hours of coursework chosen from a list of approved courses available from the program adviser. 
7. Earn a grade of at least C- in each course taken to fulfill the Creative Writing Certificate requirements. 

Honors Option 

To earn an Honors Creative Writing Certificate, students must fulfill the following additional requirements: 

1. Creative Writing 370H, Honors Creative Writing Project
2. A University Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.66 in the coursework required for the Creative Writing Certificate and a cumulative University GPA of at least 3.33.

History and Philosophy of Science Certificate

The History and Philosophy of Science Certificate provides students an opportunity to gain a coherent, cross-disciplinary command of the methods and findings that the liberal arts have contributed to our understanding of the sciences. Students analyze the dynamic development, concepts, and roles in society of various sciences, as well as the personal, dramatic struggles of famous scientists. Students must complete four courses in two required areas: history of science, and philosophy of science,  as well two electives to be selected from a list of pre-approved courses in history, philosophy, astronomy, physics, or core texts and ideas. 

The certificate program requires 18 semester hours of coursework, of which at least 12 semester hours of coursework must be upper-division, and including at least nine semester hours completed in residence. 

Students must fulfill the following requirements:

1. History 322D, The Scientific Revolution of the Seventeenth Century , and History 322M, History of Modern Science
2. Philosophy 313, Introductory Symbolic Logic , or Philosophy 363, Scientific Method
3. Philosophy 316K, Science and Philosophy , or Philosophy 322, Science and the Modern World
4. Six additional semester credit hours, chosen from an approved list 

Each semester, the list of approved courses that meet the requirements above is available in the Department of History undergraduate advising office.

Courses the student has completed at the time of application to the program may be counted toward the certificate. Students apply for transcript-recognized undergraduate academic certificates at the time they complete their undergraduate degree or the certificate program, whichever comes later. Transcript recognition is awarded at that time.

Indigenous Studies Certificate

The main goal of the indigenous studies certificate program is to encourage active intellectual and community engagement with indigenous peoples and cultures. The program allows undergraduate students to develop interdisciplinary expertise in indigenous studies and comparative approaches to their primary field of interest. Each student develops a specialization within the program that is tailored to his or her academic and professional development. Students concentrate their studies in two of the following eight strands: Mayan culture, Mesoamerica, indigenous arts, indigenous peoples of Latin America, indigenous peoples in the United States and Canada, indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous politics and human rights, and indigenous writing and language.

Courses the student has completed at the time of application to the program may be counted toward the certificate. Upon completion of the course requirements, the student writes a three- to four-page essay that describes his or her intellectual work in the program and how the experience contributed to his or her academic career at the University.

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

1. The requirements of an undergraduate major
2. Three semester hours in a lower-division introductory or foundational course with indigenous studies content, such as English 314V (Topic 5: Native American Literature and Culture), History 317L (Topic 3: Introduction to Native American History), or other courses from an approved list
3. Six semester hours of approved coursework in each of two of the following eight strands: Mayan culture, Mesoamerica, indigenous arts, indigenous peoples of Latin America, indigenous peoples in the United States and Canada, indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous politics and human rights, indigenous writing and language
4. An approved upper-division capstone course in indigenous studies chosen from courses on an approved list
5. At least three courses must be taken in a field of study outside of the student’s major department

Each semester a list of approved courses that meet the requirements above is available in the Department of Anthropology undergraduate advising office.