CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
The University
CHAPTER 2
School of Architecture
CHAPTER 3
Red McCombs
School of Business
CHAPTER 4
College of Communication
CHAPTER 5
College of Education
CHAPTER 6
College of Engineering
CHAPTER 7
College of Fine Arts
CHAPTER 8
College of Liberal Arts
CHAPTER 9
Graduate School of
Library and
Information Science
CHAPTER 10
College of
Natural Sciences
CHAPTER 11
School of Nursing
CHAPTER 12
College of Pharmacy
CHAPTER 13
School of Social Work
CHAPTER 14
The Faculty
Texas Common Course Numbering System
(Appendix A)
APPENDIX B
Degree and Course Abbreviations
10. College of Natural Sciences
--continued
Computer Sciences Honors Program
Majors who plan to seek special honors in computer sciences should apply to the honors adviser for admission to the honors program at least two semesters before their expected graduation. A University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in all courses in computer sciences and all other courses counted toward the computer sciences major and minor requirements are required for admission. The requirements for graduation with special honors are (1) Computer Sciences 379H, Computer Sciences Honors Thesis, with a grade of at least B; (2) a University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in courses in computer sciences and all other courses counted toward the computer sciences major and minor requirements; (3) a thesis, written on the subject of the student's research and approved in comprehensive examination by a committee consisting of at least three faculty members, including the honors adviser; and (4) completion at the University of at least sixty semester hours of coursework counted toward the degree.
Geological Sciences Honors Program
Majors who plan to seek special honors in geological sciences should apply to the honors adviser for admission to the honors program when they have completed sixty semester hours of coursework and twelve hours of upper-division coursework in geological sciences. A University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average in geological sciences of at least 3.50 are required for admission. The requirements for graduation with special honors are (1) Geological Sciences 379H, Honors Tutorial Course; (2) satisfactory performance on examinations given by the supervising committee; (3) a University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average in geological sciences of at least 3.50; and (4) completion at the University of at least sixty semester hours of coursework counted toward the degree.
Human Development and Family Sciences Honors Program
Majors who plan to seek special honors in human development and family sciences should apply to the Departmental Honors Committee for admission to the honors program no later than the beginning of the senior year. The requirements for admission are a University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in coursework in the Department of Human Ecology that is required for the degree. The requirements for graduation with special honors are (1) all requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences; (2) Human Development and Family Sciences 379H, Honors Tutorial Course; this course may be repeated once for credit; (3) completion of an honors thesis and an accompanying presentation, both of which must be approved by a committee consisting of the research supervisor and another faculty member; (4) a University grade point average of at least 3.00, a grade point average in Human Development and Family Sciences 379H of at least 3.00, and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in coursework in the Department of Human Ecology that is required for the degree and for honors; and (5) completion at the University of at least sixty semester hours of coursework counted toward the degree.
Human Ecology Honors Program
Majors who plan to seek special honors in human ecology must follow the requirements of the Honors Program in Human Development and Family Sciences, Nutrition, or Textiles and Apparel.
Mathematics Honors Program
Majors who plan to seek special honors in mathematics should apply to the honors adviser for admission to the honors program at least two semesters before their expected graduation. A University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average in mathematics of at least 3.50 are required for admission. The requirements for graduation with special honors are (1) Mathematics 379H, Honors Tutorial Course; (2) a thesis on the subject of the student's research or project approved in comprehensive examination by a committee of at least three faculty members; (3) a University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average in mathematics of at least 3.50; and (4) completion at the University of at least sixty semester hours of coursework counted toward the degree.
Nutrition Honors Program
Majors who plan to seek special honors in nutrition should apply to the Departmental Honors Committee for admission to the honors program no later than the beginning of the senior year. The requirements for admission are a University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in coursework in the Department of Human Ecology that is required for the degree. The requirements for graduation with special honors are (1) all requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nutrition; (2) Nutrition 379H, Honors Tutorial Course; this course may be repeated once for credit; (3) completion of an honors thesis and an accompanying presentation, both of which must be approved by a committee consisting of the research supervisor and another faculty member; (4) a University grade point average of at least 3.00, a grade point average in Nutrition 379H of at least 3.00, and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in coursework in the Department of Human Ecology that is required for the degree and for honors; and (5) completion at the University of at least sixty semester hours of coursework counted toward the degree.
Physics Honors Program
Majors who plan to seek special honors in physics should apply to the honors adviser for admission to the honors program near the end of the third year. A University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average in physics of at least 3.50 are required for admission. The requirements for graduation with special honors are (1) Physics 379H, Honors Tutorial Course; (2) a written honors thesis approved by faculty readers assigned by the department; (3) a University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average in physics of at least 3.50; and (4) completion at the University of at least sixty semester hours of coursework counted toward the degree.
Textiles and Apparel Honors Program
Majors who plan to seek special honors in textiles and apparel should apply to the Departmental Honors Committee for admission to the honors program no later than the beginning of the senior year. The requirements for admission are a University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in coursework in the Department of Human Ecology that is required for the degree. The requirements for graduation with special honors are (1) all requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Textiles and Apparel; (2) Textiles and Apparel 379H, Honors Tutorial Course; this course may be repeated once for credit; (3) completion of an honors thesis and an accompanying presentation, both of which must be approved by a committee consisting of the research supervisor and another faculty member; (4) a University grade point average of at least 3.00, a grade point average in Textiles and Apparel 379H of at least 3.00, and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in coursework in the Department of Human Ecology that is required for the degree and for honors; and (5) completion at the University of at least sixty semester hours of coursework counted toward the degree.
Graduation
Special Requirements of the College of Natural Sciences
All students must fulfill the general requirements for graduation given in chapter 1. Students in the College of Natural Sciences must also fulfill the following requirements.
- The University requires that the student complete in residence at least thirty semester hours of the coursework counted toward the degree. For the Bachelor of Arts, Plan I, these thirty hours must include at least eighteen hours in the major. For all other degrees offered by the College of Natural Sciences, these thirty hours must be taken in the College of Natural Sciences or the College of Liberal Arts.
- All University students must complete in residence at least twenty-four of the last thirty semester hours counted toward the degree. For students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science, this rule applies to the academic work.
- The University requires that at least six semester hours of advanced coursework in the major be completed in residence. Additional hours in the professional or major sequence in many cases are required by individual degree programs.
- An Air Force, Army, or Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps student who elects the basic and/or advanced program in air force science, military science, or naval science will not be approved for graduation until the student's government contract is completed or the student is released from the ROTC.
Applying for a Degree
An electronic degree audit is created for each student each semester. The student should view the audit through IDA, the University's Interactive Degree Audit system. The degree audit tells the student the courses he or she must take and the requirements he or she must fulfill to receive the degree. The degree audit normally provides an accurate statement of requirements, but the student is responsible for knowing the requirements for the degree as stated in a catalog under which he or she is entitled to graduate and for registering so as to fulfill all these requirements. The student should seek an official ruling in the Student Division Office before registering if in doubt about any requirement.
In the semester or summer session in which the degree is to be conferred, the candidate must be registered at the University and must file a graduation application form in the Student Division Office. This should be done during the first week of classes, if possible, but in no event later than the deadline to apply for an undergraduate degree; this date is given in the official academic calendar. No degree will be conferred unless the graduation application form has been filed on time.
Degrees
The College of Natural Sciences offers the Bachelor of Arts, Plan I, and several bachelor of science degrees. The requirements of the Bachelor of Arts, Plan I, begin below. For this degree students may major in any of the departments of the College of Liberal Arts or the College of Natural Sciences; these majors are listed under the heading "Degree Programs" in chapter 1. The College of Liberal Arts also offers the Bachelor of Arts, Plan II, an honors program. Plan II emphasizes the humanities but also permits a concentration equivalent to a major in science.
The bachelor of science degrees are listed in chapter 1. The requirements of these degrees are given in this chapter.
Marine Science Program
The Department of Marine Science does not offer an undergraduate degree. However, students who are interested in marine science may pursue the Bachelor of Science in Biology, option III, marine and freshwater biology. The department also offers a number of courses that may be counted toward bachelor's degree requirements; with the approval of his or her major department, any University student may minor in marine science.
Marine science courses are taught both on campus and at the Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas.
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 among 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. For information about each program, consult the chair of the department concerned.
Nine semester hours of coursework in air force science, military science, or naval science may be counted toward any degree in the College of Natural Sciences. Such credit may be used only as electives and/or to fulfill the substantial writing component requirement, and only by students who are commissioned by the University ROTC program.
Bible Courses
No more than twelve semester hours of Bible courses may be counted toward a degree.
Admission Deficiencies
Students admitted to the University with deficiencies in high school units must remove them by the means prescribed in General Information.
Correspondence and Extension Courses
Credit that a University student in residence earns simultaneously by correspondence or extension from the University or elsewhere or in residence at another school will not be counted toward a degree in the College of Natural Sciences unless specifically approved in advance by the dean. No more than 30 percent of the semester hours required for any degree offered in the College of Natural Sciences may be taken by correspondence.
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. In general, only electives may be taken on the pass/fail basis. Complete rules on registration on the pass/fail basis are given in General Information.
Courses in a Single Field
No more than thirty-six hours may be counted in any one subject, including the major, unless major requirements state otherwise. No more than thirty-six hours may be counted in any one college or school other than the College of Liberal Arts or the College of Natural Sciences.
Bachelor of Arts, Plan I
The requirements for the Bachelor of Arts under Plan I are designed to give each student flexibility in the selection of courses to meet individual needs.
Summary
The following is a brief overview of the Bachelor of Arts, Plan I; for detailed regulations see "Degree Requirements, Specific" below.
A total of 120 semester hours is required for the degree. Of the 120 hours, thirty-six must be in upper-division courses. At least thirty hours, including eighteen hours of upper-division coursework, and at least twenty-four of the last thirty hours must be taken in residence at the University. Provided residence rules are met, credit may be earned by examination, by extension, by correspondence (up to 30 percent of the hours required for the degree), or, with the approval of the dean, by work transferred from another institution. A maximum of sixteen semester hours of classroom and/or correspondence coursework may be taken on the pass/fail basis.
Three categories of work must be completed: prescribed work; major requirements, including minor requirements, if any; and electives to provide a total of 120 semester hours.
Prescribed Work
For all majors for the Bachelor of Arts, Plan I, there are four specific area requirements that make up about half of the degree program:
Area A (English composition and literature, writing, and foreign language): Rhetoric and Composition 306 and English 316K and two courses certified as having a substantial writing component are required. The foreign language requirement is stated in terms of proficiency; the actual number of hours varies with the language selected and previous knowledge of the language.
Area B (social sciences): Eighteen semester hours must be completed, including courses in four subjects. Of these eighteen hours, six hours must be in American history and six hours must be in American government, including Texas government.
Area C (natural sciences): Eighteen semester hours are required, including three hours of mathematics. Lists of courses that may be used to fulfill this requirement are available in the Student Office.
Area D (general culture): Six semester hours are required. Lists of courses that may be used to fulfill this requirement are available in the Student Office.
Courses in the major may be used to fulfill area requirements unless expressly prohibited. A course taken to meet the requirements of one area may not also be used to fulfill the requirements of another area. The only exception to this rule is that a course taken to fulfill another area requirement may also be used to fulfill the requirement for courses having a substantial writing component, if the course is so certified. No courses used to fulfill area requirements may be taken on the pass/fail basis.
Major
Each candidate must select a major. The number of semester hours required in the major varies with the field selected. Some majors require specific courses in other subjects as well. At least eighteen hours of coursework in the major, including six hours of upper-division coursework, must be completed in residence at the University.
Electives
The remaining coursework to make the required total of 120 semester hours consists of electives. A maximum of sixteen hours of elective work may be taken on the pass/fail basis.
Degree Requirements, Specific
Specific requirements for the Bachelor of Arts, Plan I, are divided into four areas: A, B, C, and D. With the dean's approval, interdepartmental courses, courses offered by other colleges and schools of the University, and credit by examination may be used to meet these requirements; however, these courses may not be used to meet the requirements of special programs or majors without the approval of the program director or the department chair. A course taken to meet the requirements of one area may not also be used to fulfill the requirements of another area; the only exception to this rule is that a course taken to fulfill the Area A foreign language requirement or the Area B, C, or D requirement may also be counted toward the writing requirement in Area A, if the course is certified as having a substantial writing component. No courses used to fulfill area requirements may be taken on the pass/fail basis.
In addition to the following requirements, the student must fulfill the University requirements for graduation given in chapter 1 and the requirements of the College of Natural Sciences in this chapter.
Prescribed Work
Area A
English composition and literature: Rhetoric and Composition 306 and English 316K.
Writing: In addition to Rhetoric and Composition 306 and English 316K, in taking courses to fulfill other degree requirements, each student must complete two courses certified as having a substantial writing component. One of these courses must be upper-division. If the writing requirement is not fulfilled by courses specified for the degree, the student must fulfill it either with electives or with coursework taken in addition to the number of hours required for the degree. Courses used to fulfill the writing requirement may be used simultaneously to fulfill other area requirements or major requirements. Courses with a substantial writing component are identified in the Course Schedule.
Foreign language: Students must complete four semesters in a single foreign language.
The foreign language requirement is the attainment of a certain proficiency rather than the completion of a specified number of hours; however, the courses taken to gain this proficiency are not electives and may not be taken on the pass/fail basis. Any part of the requirement may be fulfilled by credit by examination. Students may accelerate their progress at any point in the sequence by means of credit by examination.
To achieve proficiency in a foreign language as rapidly as possible, qualified students are urged to take advantage of the intensive foreign language study program. Information about this program is available from the appropriate language department. Courses used to fulfill the foreign language requirement must be language courses; literature-in-translation courses, for example, may not be counted.
Area B
Eighteen semester hours, distributed among at least four of the fields of study listed below. None of the courses used to fulfill Area B requirements may be taken on the pass/fail basis. Courses in anthropology, geography, linguistics, and psychology used to fulfill Area B requirements may not also be used to fulfill Area C requirements.
- Six hours in each of the following fields of study:
- American government, including Texas government
- American history
- Three hours each from any two of the following fields of study:
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Geography
- Linguistics
- Psychology
- Sociology
Area C
Each student must have credit for three semester hours in a course offered by the University of Texas at Austin Department of Mathematics, excluding Mathematics 301, 316K, and 316L. Algebra courses at the level of Mathematics 301 or the equivalent may not be counted toward the Area C requirement or toward the total number of hours required for the degree. Students who enter the University with fewer than three units of high school mathematics at the level of Algebra I or higher must take Mathematics 301 without degree credit to remove their deficiency.
Fifteen additional semester hours, with no more than nine in any one department, from the fields of study listed below. No more than nine hours of mathematics and computer sciences combined may be included in these fifteen hours. Nine of these fifteen hours must be taken in courses in the College of Natural Sciences, items 1 through 10 below, with at least six hours taken in one subject from items 1 through 8; these nine hours may include no more than three hours of mathematics or computer sciences. The remaining six hours may be chosen from courses in the natural sciences listed below or from the list of approved alternative courses in subjects 11 through 16 that is available from the Student Office. Of these six hours, a maximum of three semester hours in courses in either the history of science or the philosophy of science may be used.
A course listed in two or more departments may be used as a course in only one department in fulfilling requirements under Area C. Courses in anthropology, geography, linguistics, and psychology used to fulfill Area C requirements may not also be used to fulfill Area B requirements. Courses in philosophy used to fulfill Area C requirements may not also be used to fulfill Area D requirements.
- Astronomy
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Geological sciences
- Marine science
- Nutrition
- Physical science
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Computer sciences
- Experimental psychology
- Physical anthropology
- Physical geography
- Philosophy (courses in logic)
- History of science and philosophy of science
- Other science courses approved by the dean
Students should confer with the staff in their advising center or the Student Division Office to determine which courses are included in items 11 through 16.
Students, counselors, and advisers are urged to make careful selection of Area C courses in order to develop a meaningful pattern and a coherent sequence.
Area D
Six semester hours from the fields of study listed below. Three of these six hours must be chosen from subarea 1, 2, 3, or 4 (excluding courses in logic).
A student who uses Greek or Latin to meet the foreign language requirement may use additional coursework in the same language to meet the Area D requirement, but only courses beyond the fourth semester proficiency level may be used.
- Architecture
- Classics, including classical civilization, Greek, Latin
- Fine arts, including art history, design, ensemble, fine arts, instruments, music, studio art, theatre and dance, visual art studies
- Philosophy
- Approved interdisciplinary courses including, but not restricted to, those in programs of special concentration cutting across specific departments, schools, or colleges. Lists of approved courses are available in the advising centers and the Student Division Office.
Special Requirements
Elective Requirements and Limitations
In addition to the area requirements given above and the major requirements given below, the student must take enough elective coursework to complete the 120 semester hours required for the degree. These 120 hours may include no more than twelve hours of Bible; nine hours of air force science, military science, or naval science; sixteen hours taken on the pass/fail basis; thirty-six hours in any one subject offered in the College of Natural Sciences or the College of Liberal Arts, unless major requirements state otherwise; and thirty-six hours in courses offered in any other single college or school of the University.
Minimum Scholastic Requirements
The student must earn a grade point average of at least 2.00 in all courses taken at the University of Texas at Austin (including credit by examination, correspondence, and extension) for which a grade or symbol other than Q, W, X, or CR is recorded; in addition, the student must earn a grade point average of at least 2.00 in courses taken at the University and counted toward the major requirement.
The student should also refer to the description of his or her major program in the section "Majors and Minors" below, since some majors include higher minimum scholastic requirements.
For more information about grades and the grade point average, see General Information.
Concentrations
Within the general requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts and the requirements of the major, a student may also complete a concentration in cultural studies; European studies; technology, literacy, and culture; or women's and gender studies. These concentrations, administered by the College of Liberal Arts, are described in chapter 8. Students may also pursue a concentration in actuarial studies, administered by the Department of Mathematics.
Undergraduate Catalog
Contents
Chapter 1 - The University
Chapter 2 - School of Architecture
Chapter 3 - Red McCombs School of Business
Chapter 4 - College of Communication
Chapter 5 - College of Education
Chapter 6 - College of Engineering
Chapter 7 - College of Fine Arts
Chapter 8 - College of Liberal Arts
Chapter 9 - Graduate School of Library and Information Science
Chapter 10 - College of Natural Sciences
Chapter 11 - School of Nursing
Chapter 12 - College of Pharmacy
Chapter 13 - School of Social Work
Chapter 14 - The Faculty
Texas Common Course Numbering System (Appendix A)
Appendix B - Degree and Course Abbreviations
Related Information
Catalogs
Course Schedules
Academic Calendars
Office of Admissions
Office of the Registrar
University of Texas at Austin
19 August 2002. Registrar's Web Team
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