Evidence and Inquiry Certificate
The Evidence and Inquiry Certificate, pursued by students in the Polymathic Scholars Program and open by application to others, allows students to design an area of study shaped by questions that require evidence and methodologies outside their major. Students work with faculty 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 reviewed by three members of the program's faculty steering committee. Students complete an original research thesis in their final year. Those who plan to pursue the certificate must apply 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 website.
Total Hours Required: 22
Requirements
Requirements are listed in the table below. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum. Students should also review the University's Undergraduate Minor and Certificate Requirements and Policies.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| UGS 303 | First-Year Signature Course | 3 |
| NSC 109.4 | Polymathic Capstone Field Invention (Topic 4: Polymathic Capstone Field Invention) | 1 |
| Additional Coursework | ||
| Complete four additional courses, including at least six semester hours of upper-division coursework, from the student's approved evidence and inquiry area of study. | 12 | |
| Senior Capstone Sequence | ||
| NSC 323.1 | Polymathic Capstone Thesis Preparation Seminar | 3 |
| NSC 371 | Capstone Thesis Seminar | 3 |
| College Requirements - Natural Sciences | ||
| Undergraduate Minor and Certificate Requirements and Policies | ||
| Total Hours | 22 | |
Additional Requirements and Policy
- At least 11 hours must be completed in residence.
- 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 22 hours required for the certificate may be in addition to the number of hours required for the degree.