continued

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

Although the Department of Marine Science does not offer an undergraduate degree, it does offer a number of courses and provides a potential minor for students enrolled in the College of Natural Sciences and other colleges.

Applicability of Certain Courses

Physical Activity Courses

Physical activity (PED) courses are offered by the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education. They 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 chairman 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 lower-division electives and only by students who complete the ROTC program.

Other Courses

Music 101G may not be counted toward any degree in the College of Natural Sciences. Other introductory courses, such as Music 201J, 201M, and 201S, may be counted toward degrees in the college.

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. Course credit used to remove deficiencies may not be counted toward the student's degree.

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.

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. Except for the limits imposed by specific requirements in the Plan I degree program, there is no restriction on the number of courses a student may take in other colleges and schools of the University.

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 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, writing, and foreign language): English 306 and 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. No more than thirty-six hours may be counted in any one subject, including the major, or in courses offered in any one college or school other than the College of Liberal Arts or the College of Natural Sciences. 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 chairman. 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: English 306 and 316K.

Writing: In addition to English 306 and 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. Students who enter the University with fewer than two high school units in a single foreign language must take the first two semesters in a language without degree credit to remove their language deficiency, then complete the equivalent of two semesters beyond those courses in the same language to fulfill their foreign language requirement.

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, and psychology used to fulfill Area B requirements may not also be used to fulfill Area C requirements.

1. Six hours in each of the following fields of study:
   1. American government, including Texas government
   2. American history
2. Three hours each from any two of the following fields of study:
   1. Anthropology
   2. Economics
   3. Geography
   4. Linguistics
   5. Psychology
   6. 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 or 304E 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 9 below, with at least six hours in one subject; these nine hours may include no more than three hours of mathematics.

A maximum of three semester hours in the history of science and the philosophy of science may be used to fulfill Area C requirements; any course used must have a prerequisite of at least six semester hours of biological or physical sciences.

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, and psychology used to fulfill Area C requirements may not also be used to fulfill Area B requirements.

1. Astronomy
2. Biological sciences
3. Chemistry
4. Computer sciences
5. Geological sciences
6. Marine science
7. Mathematics
8. Physical science
9. Physics
10. Experimental psychology
11. Physical anthropology
12. Physical geography
13. History of science and philosophy of science

"Biological sciences" includes courses offered by the Division of Biological Sciences and the Departments of Botany, Microbiology, and Zoology. Students should confer with the staff in their advising center or the Student Division Office to determine which courses are included in items 10, 11, 12, and 13.

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 upper-division courses may be used.

1. Architecture
2. Classics, including classical civilization, Greek, Latin
3. Fine arts, including art history, design, ensemble, fine arts, instruments, music, studio art, theatre and dance, visual art studies
4. Philosophy
5. 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; 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.

Requirements in Order of Work

In general, it is desirable that a student register for a foreign language course in the first long-session semester and continue the foreign language sequence until the requirement is complete. A freshman may not take two first-semester language courses.

A freshman may not register for more than eight semester hours in one department in a single semester.

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 European studies; folklore; Jewish studies; religious studies; technology, literacy, and culture; or women's 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 and described in this chapter.

Majors and Minors

Major requirements. The Bachelor of Arts, Plan I, requires the completion of all requirements for one major. Requirements for majors offered by the College of Natural Sciences are given below; those for majors offered by the College of Liberal Arts are given in chapter 8.

The major subject is not shown on the diploma. It is not possible for a student to receive a second Bachelor of Arts degree from the University.

Advising of majors. A student who has chosen a major is advised in the advising center for his or her major before registration each semester. Students who have not chosen a major must be advised in the Student Division Office, College of Natural Sciences. For matters concerning degree requirements, specific academic problems, petitions, and academic advice in general, the student should consult his or her advising center or the Student Division Office, Will C. Hogg 2.112.

Hour requirements for the major. A major consists of at least twenty-one but no more than thirty-six semester hours, with at least twelve hours in upper-division courses. Of these twelve semester hours, six must be taken in residence. These restrictions exist in the context of the general residence requirement for the major of eighteen semester hours.

Unless otherwise indicated, a course taken to fulfill the requirements under "Prescribed Work," above, may also be counted toward fulfillment of the major requirements.

A student who earns credit by examination with a grade of C or better will be given the appropriate grade and degree credit, including hours required in the major.

Minors. Most departments require completion of a minor to accompany the major. These requirements, if any, are given below.

Astronomy

Major: Physics 301, 101L, 315, 115L, 316, and 116L; nine semester hours of upper-division coursework in astronomy, including Astronomy 352K and at least one of the following courses: Astronomy 352L, 353, 358, and 364; and six additional upper-division hours in astronomy and/or physics. No more than six of the hours counted toward the major requirement may be earned in conference courses.

Minor for astronomy majors: Six semester hours of coursework (other than astronomy, lower-division physics, lower-division mathematics, and Mathematics 427K) approved by the undergraduate adviser; and either six semester hours of upper-division physics in addition to the courses used to fulfill the major requirement or six semester hours of upper-division coursework approved by the undergraduate adviser.

A grade of at least C is required in each semester of each course counted toward the major and minor requirements.

All astronomy majors should consult the astronomy undergraduate adviser regularly about the choice of appropriate courses in both the major and the minor. Qualified students may carry out a supervised research project in their area of interest under the departmental honors program.

Biochemistry

Biochemistry majors must take Mathematics 408C and 408D and eight semester hours of physics: either Physics 301, 101L, 316, and 116L; 303K, 103M, 303L, and 103N; or 317K, 117M, 317L, and 117N.

Major: Chemistry 301, 302, 204; either 618A, 118K, 618B, and 118L, or 610A, 610B, and 210C; 339K, 339L, 353, 153K, 455 or 456, 369L, and 370.

Minor for biochemistry majors: At least twelve semester hours of coursework in biological sciences chosen from the following courses, including at least three hours in each area:

1. Genetics: Microbiology 366 or Zoology 325, and Zoology 362.
2. Cellular and developmental biology: Biology 303 or Botany 323K, Microbiology 360 or Zoology 328K, Botany 331, Microbiology 226 and 129K, 228, 330, 362, and Zoology 320 and 321.
3. Physiology: Botany 328, Zoology 351, 361K, 365L or 371L, and 365N.

The student must complete all courses in the major and the minor with a grade of at least C.

Biology

The biology degree program is offered by the Division of Biological Sciences. Students electing this degree program must complete Biology 302, 303, and 304 and one of the following introductory laboratory courses: Biology 205, 206, 208, and 309H.

Major: In addition to the biology courses listed above, the student must complete twenty-four semester hours of upper-division coursework, consisting of

1. Microbiology 226, 227 or 228, and 129K.
2. Botany 323K or Zoology 320.
3. Zoology 325.
4. Botany 328 or Microbiology 362 or Zoology 321 or 361K, or both Zoology 365L and 365N.
5. Courses chosen from the following list. Courses marked with an asterisk are lecture courses that require concurrent enrollment in a laboratory course or courses that contain a substantial laboratory component. Courses marked with a dagger are offered infrequently.
   1. Biology 331* or Botany 331.*
   2. Botany 320 and 120C,* 321 and 121C,* 323L,* 327 and 127K,* 328 and 128K,* 343M, 349, 350M, 351, 352, 262 and 262C,* 362L, 462M,* 365M and 165N,* 367K, 370M, 373K and 173L,* 374 and 174K,* and 474L.*
   3. Chemistry 339K and 339L, or 369.
   4. Marine Science 352C, 352D, 354, 354C, and 354E.
   5. Microbiology 321,* 322 and 122K,* 330 and 130K, 331, 332, 335, 342, 360 and 160K, 361, 361K,* 362, 363, 366, 368,* and 369.
   6. Zoology 321, 322K, 325L, 328K, 432,* 333,* 334C, 436,* 440,* 341K, 346,* 351, 453,* 354, 357, 359, 361K, 362, 365L and 265P, 365N and 265P, 369,* 370K, 371L, 373, 476C,* and 478C.

Three hours of undergraduate research or special studies courses in either botany, microbiology, or zoology may be counted toward the twenty-four hours in the major. Another three hours of special studies courses may be counted as elective hours.

The student must complete at least five semester hours of coursework in residence in each of the departments of the Division of Biological Sciences (botany, microbiology, and zoology). He or she must also complete at least three laboratory courses from at least two of the three departments. A grade of at least C is required in all courses taken at the University and counted toward the major requirement.

Minor for biology majors: General chemistry and organic chemistry (Chemistry 610A, 610B, and 210C; or 618A, 118K, 618B, and 118L); and at least six semester hours of mathematics, or six semester hours of computer sciences, or eight semester hours of physics (Physics 302K, 302L, 102M, and 102N; or 317K, 317L, 117M, and 117N; or the equivalent).

Botany

Major: Botany 320 and 120C, 321 and 121C, 328 and 128K, 374 and 174K, 419 or 262 and 262C, Zoology 325, and two additional courses in botany, one of which may be Botany 377. A grade of at least C is required in all courses taken at the University and counted toward the major requirement.

Minor for botany majors: Sixteen semester hours of chemistry, including Chemistry 610A, 610B, and 210C, or their equivalents.

Additional electives in anthropology, chemistry, geography, geological sciences, marine science, mathematics, microbiology, physics, or zoology are recommended.

Chemistry

Mathematics 408C and 408D and Physics 301, 101L, 316, and 116L are required of all students majoring in chemistry.

Major: Chemistry 301, 302, 204; either 610A, 610B, and 210C, or 618A, 118K, 618B, and 118L; 353, 153K, 354 or 354L, 154K, 456, 376K.

Minor for chemistry majors: Twelve semester hours of botany and/or zoology, geological sciences, mathematics, microbiology, or physics; or, with written consent of the department chairman and approval of the dean, twelve semester hours in a subject offered outside the College of Natural Sciences.

A grade of at least C is required in all courses counted toward the major and minor requirements.

Computer Sciences

An undergraduate may not enroll in any computer sciences course more than twice without written consent of an undergraduate adviser in computer sciences. No student may enroll in any computer sciences course more than twice. No student may take more than three upper-division computer sciences courses in a semester without written consent of an undergraduate adviser in computer sciences.

Major: Computer Sciences 307, 310, 315, 328, 336, 352, 372, and at least twelve additional semester hours of approved upper-division coursework in computer sciences. Computer Sciences 370 may be counted toward the degree only once.

Minor for computer sciences majors: Mathematics 408C, 408D, Philosophy 313K, Linguistics 340, and one of the following courses: Mathematics 311, 427K, 340L, 343K, 362K.

To enroll in any computer sciences course numbered above 336, all students must have completed the following courses with a grade of at least C in each: Computer Sciences 307, 310, 315, 328, 336, Mathematics 408C and 408D (or equivalent courses), and Philosophy 313K. A grade of at least C is required in all courses counted toward the major and minor requirements.

Geological Sciences

Geological sciences majors must make a grade of at least C in each semester of each course used to fulfill the requirements for the degree. They may not enroll in any geological sciences course more than twice without written consent of the undergraduate adviser of the department.

Major: Geological Sciences 401 or 303 or 312K, 404C or 405, 416K, 416M, 420K, 422K, 428, and enough additional approved upper-division coursework in geological sciences to make a total of thirty-two semester hours.[2]

Minor for geological sciences majors: Twelve semester hours, of which at least six must be in upper-division coursework, in any one of the following disciplines: anthropology, astronomy, any biological science, business, computer sciences, chemistry, education, engineering, geography, mathematics, and physics. Other disciplines may be chosen with written approval of the chairman of the Department of Geological Sciences.

Human Ecology [3]

Major: Thirty semester hours in the Department of Human Ecology, of which at least fifteen must be in upper-division courses. No more than fifteen hours of lower-division coursework in the department may be counted toward the degree.

Mathematics

Major: At least thirty-two semester hours of mathematics, consisting of Mathematics 408C, 408D, 311, either 325K or 328K, either 343K or 373K, either 361K or 365C, and 362K, with a grade of at least C in each; and at least nine additional semester hours of upper-division mathematics. Mathematics 301, 304E, 305G, and equivalent courses may not be counted toward the total number of hours required for the degree. Each student should consult the mathematics advisers for help in choosing courses consistent with his or her educational goals. Students considering graduate study in the mathematical sciences or seeking certification to teach secondary school mathematics should consult the mathematics advisers by their second year to learn which of the choices allowed above and which additional courses are consistent with their plans.

Microbiology

Microbiology majors must take eight semester hours of organic chemistry, Chemistry 369 or the equivalent, Mathematics 408C or the equivalent, and Physics 302K, 302L, 102M, and 102N or the equivalent.

Major: Biology 302 and twenty-four semester hours of microbiology, including at least two laboratory courses (or courses that include laboratories) beyond Microbiology 129K. Biology 303 is also recommended. At least sixteen of the twenty-four semester hours of microbiology must be in upper-division courses. A grade of at least C is required in microbiology courses counted toward the major requirement. Up to six hours of special studies in advanced microbiology (Microbiology 279, 379, 679) may be taken, three hours of which may, with the approval of the department chairman, be counted toward the twenty-four-hour major requirement.

Physics

Students majoring in physics must take Chemistry 301, 302, and 204.

Major: Physics 315, 115L, and at least sixteen semester hours of upper-division physics, including Physics 336K, 352K, and 453.

First minor for physics majors: Twelve semester hours of mathematics, of which six must be in upper-division coursework; the upper-division coursework must include three hours in differential equations.

Second minor for physics majors: Six semester hours, of which three must be in upper-division coursework, in any one of the following: botany, chemistry, geological sciences, microbiology, philosophy, psychology, zoology; or in courses offered in the College of Education or the College of Engineering. Courses used to fulfill specific degree requirements other than the substantial writing component requirement may not also be used to fulfill this requirement.

Zoology

Zoology majors must take eight semester hours of organic chemistry (either Chemistry 610A, 610B, and 210C; or 618A, 118K, 618B, and 118L), Mathematics 408C, and either Mathematics 408D or one of the following courses: Mathematics 316, Psychology 317, and Sociology 317L. Only Mathematics 408D may be taken on the pass/fail basis; all other courses used to fulfill the chemistry and mathematics/statistics requirements must be taken for a letter grade. Courses taken in departments outside the College of Natural Sciences to fulfill the mathematics/statistics requirement may not also be used to fulfill the Area B requirement.

Major: Thirty-six semester hours, consisting of

1. Biology 302, 303, and 304; or the equivalent.
2. At least twenty-four hours of upper-division zoology, including at least one course in each of the following areas:
   1. Cell biology: Zoology 320, or 326K and 326L.
   2. Developmental biology: Zoology 321.
   3. Genetics: Zoology 325 (taken alone or concurrently with Zoology 325L).
   4. Structure/function of whole organisms and phylogeny: Zoology 432, 333, 436, 442C, 346, 453, or 370C.
   5. Physiology: Zoology 351; 361K; or 365L and 365N, preferably with 265P; or 371L and 365N, preferably with 265P.
   6. Ecology: Zoology 440, 354, 357, 369, 370C (Topic: Behavioral Ecology), or 370K.
3. One of the following courses: Botany 419, 320, 321, 323L, 331, Computer Sciences 304P, Geological Sciences 401, 303, 405, Microbiology 226, 227 or 228, 368, Physics 302K, 302L, 317K, 317L. A course in physics is recommended.

At least four courses in the Division of Biological Sciences must include laboratory work. Of these four laboratory courses, two must be in zoology and only one may be lower-division. The laboratory courses must be chosen from Biology 205, 206, 208, Botany 323L, 331, Microbiology 368, Zoology 325L, 432, 333, 436, 440, 442C, 346, 453, 265P, 369.

A grade of at least C is required in all courses counted toward the major requirement.

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Undergraduate catalog

Contents  |  Chapter 1  |  Chapter 2  |  Chapter 3  |  Chapter 4
Chapter 5  |  Chapter 6  |  Chapter 7  |  Chapter 8  |  Chapter 9
Chapter 10  |  Chapter 11  |  Chapter 12  |  Chapter 13
Texas Common Course Numbering System (Appendix A)
Appendix B

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