Additional Requirements and Restrictions for Some Freshman and Transfer Applicants

Texas' top-10-percent law ensures automatic admission to the University for eligible freshman applicants. Generally, applicants who are eligible for automatic admission are admitted to the major of their choice. However, certain academic programs have more competitive admission standards and are under enrollment management policies to prevent overcrowding. If, in one year, 80 percent of the freshman spaces in a given program are filled with top-10-percent applicants, then the University limits top-10-percent admission to that program the following year. In such a case, freshman applicants in the top 10 percent of their high school class are admitted to the affected program, in order of class rank, until 75 percent of the available spaces are filled. The remaining spaces in restricted majors are filled competitively as space allows.

As of summer 2008, the following academic programs are functioning under the restrictions described above: all programs in the McCombs School of Business; all programs in the College of Communication; all programs in the Cockrell School of Engineering; the pre-athletic training and pre-sport management programs in the College of Education; and all programs in the School of Nursing.

The math readiness requirement for math-intensive majors is described earlier in this chapter. In addition, some academic programs enforce specific application and admission requirements on incoming undergraduates. These requirements are described below. With appropriate approval, other academic programs may impose similar restrictions when necessary. Be a Longhorn includes a complete list of academic programs that have implemented such restrictions and details about special requirements for individual academic programs.

All admitted top-10-percent students must remove any deficiencies in high school units before they graduate from the University.

School of Architecture

Admission to the School of Architecture is based on standards similar to but higher than those for admission to the University. Newly admitted students must begin their studies in a fall semester. Transfer applicants must have completed thirty hours of transferable coursework in another architecture program by the March 1 application deadline for the fall semester.

All undergraduate applicants to the School of Architecture must choose a specific topic for one of the two admission essays. In addition, all transfer applicants must submit a portfolio of their work. Details about the essay and guidelines for creating the portfolio are given on Be a Longhorn.

McCombs School of Business

Admission to the McCombs School of Business is based on standards similar to but higher than those for admission to the University. Newly admitted students must begin their studies in a fall semester.

Applicants for transfer admission to the McCombs School must have completed specific "business indicator" courses. Information about this requirement is available on Be a Longhorn.

College of Communication

Admission to the College of Communication is based on standards similar to but higher than those for admission to the University. Newly admitted students must begin their studies in a fall semester.

Journalism. Students who seek to study journalism are admitted to the University as prejournalism majors. To continue in the major, each student must be admitted to the concentration in broadcast news, multimedia journalism, or photojournalism or to one of the three sequences--newspaper reporting and writing, magazine writing and editing, and copy editing and design--within the concentration in print journalism. The student should apply for admission to a concentration or sequence while taking or upon completing Journalism 315. Admission decisions for each concentration or sequence are made by the head of that area.

College of Education

The College of Education restricts admission to the athletic training and sport management majors. An applicant who plans to enter one of these programs should apply for admission to the University as a pre-athletic training or pre-sport management student. He or she may apply for admission to the major after completing a series of prerequisite courses. Admission to the major is based on the student's performance, completion of the required coursework, and evidence of commitment to the field.

Cockrell School of Engineering

Applicants seeking admission to the Cockrell School of Engineering as freshmen or transfer students must meet the college's math readiness requirement. Most freshman applicants meet the requirement by submitting minimum scores on the SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1 or Level 2 to the Office of Admissions by the application deadline; other options for meeting the requirement are explained on Be a Longhorn. Transfer applicants must submit proof that they are taking or have completed a course that is equivalent to Mathematics 408C, Differential and Integral Calculus. The Automated Transfer Equivalency system lets applicants find equivalent courses at most other Texas colleges. Applicants who have completed the equivalent of Mathematics 408C by the application deadline receive priority consideration. Applicants with more advanced credit in math and science also receive priority consideration.

College of Fine Arts

Department of Art and Art History. To major in the Department of Art and Art History, a student must have the approval of the Art and Art History Admissions Committee. Information about admission requirements, procedures, and deadlines is available from the undergraduate advising office in the department. Transfer applicants must have completed thirty semester hours of transferable coursework by the March 1 application deadline to be considered for admission.

All applicants to the department must choose a specific topic for one of the two required essays. Details about the art and art history essay are given on Be a Longhorn. Freshman and transfer applicants who wish to major in studio art, visual art studies, or predesign must also submit a portfolio of their work.

Freshman and transfer applicants who wish to enter the design program should apply for admission to the University as predesign majors. After they have completed a year of study, predesign students must obtain the approval of the Design Admissions Committee to enter the sequence of required courses in design, which begins at the sophomore level.

Newly admitted students in all majors in the department must begin their studies in a fall semester.

Butler School of Music. To major in music, a student must meet University admission requirements and must pass an audition conducted by the Butler School of Music. A student who does not pass the audition may not major in music, even though he or she is admitted to the University. At the discretion of the school, a student who fails an audition may audition a second time.

Department of Theatre and Dance. Admission to programs in the Department of Theatre and Dance requires the approval of the Theatre and Dance Admissions Committee. Information about requirements, procedures, and deadlines is available from the office of undergraduate studies in the department.

Newly admitted theatre and dance students must begin their studies in a fall semester.

Jackson School of Geosciences

The Jackson School of Geosciences admits freshmen and a limited number of transfer students in fall semesters only.

The Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences requires calculus (Mathematics 408C and 408D or Mathematics 408K, 408L, and 408M). Freshman applicants considering a major in the Jackson School are advised to take a full four years of mathematics in high school, preferably concluding with calculus. Transfer students are advised to complete at least precalculus before they enroll at the University.

Students admitted to the Jackson School who seek the Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences or the Bachelor of Arts in Geological Sciences are initially designated undeclared geosciences majors (J00100).

College of Liberal Arts

Plan II Honors Program. Plan II admits new freshmen in fall semesters only. Admission is extremely competitive and requires additional application materials.

Plan II freshman admission decisions are based on the applicant's high school curriculum and performance, test scores, essays, and extracurricular activities, and on information submitted in the online Plan II Teacher Recommendation and Academic/Personal Statement. Prospective applicants to Plan II should visit Be a Longhorn for details about applying.

Plan II admits a limited number of transfer students. Applicants are not considered for admission if they will have earned more than forty-five hours of college credit at the time they would enter the program; those with fewer hours are considered more favorably. External transfer students from other colleges and universities compete in the same applicant pool with internal transfer students from other University degree programs.

College of Natural Sciences

All students entering the College of Natural Sciences are expected to be prepared to meet the mathematics requirements of the courses in which they will enroll. Most degrees in the college require completion of a college-level calculus sequence. Prospective freshmen considering a major in the college should take at least four years of math in high school, preferably concluding with calculus. Transfer applicants are strongly encouraged to have completed the calculus sequence before enrolling at UT Austin.

In the College of Natural Sciences, all students are admitted to the entry-level major for the field they wish to study. After completing some of the courses required for the degree, each student selects the major and the option he or she plans to pursue. For example, a student who plans to study physics applies to and is admitted to the entry-level physics major. After completing entry-level courses, the student chooses to pursue either the Bachelor of Arts with a major in physics or the Bachelor of Science in Physics with one of several options.

Computer sciences. All students entering the Department of Computer Sciences are admitted as entry-level computer sciences majors. After completing certain courses, students may apply for admission to one of the computer sciences degree programs. Admission may be highly competitive, and selection is based on a student's overall academic performance, as well as performance in specific courses determined by the department. The computer sciences admission process and requirements are described in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Coordinated Program in Dietetics. Freshman and transfer applicants who plan to enter the Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CPD) should apply for admission to the entry-level major in nutrition. They may apply for admission to the CPD when they have met the CPD admission requirements given in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Textiles and apparel. Freshman and transfer applicants who plan to major in textiles and apparel should apply for admission to the University as human ecology majors. They may apply for admission to the major when they have met the textiles and apparel admission requirements given in the Undergraduate Catalog. The major includes a field experience program, to which students must also apply as described in the Undergraduate Catalog.

School of Nursing

Admission to the School of Nursing is based on standards similar to but higher than those for admission to the University.

Students who wish to major in nursing begin their studies by taking prerequisite course requirements as prenursing majors. During their final semester of preprofessional sequence coursework, they may apply for admission to the professional sequence in nursing. Admission to the professional sequence is competitive. Applications are accepted only from students who are enrolled in their last semester of required prerequisite coursework. Admission is offered only to the most qualified applicants. Academic performance is the primary criterion, but other factors are considered.

The student applying to the professional sequence must submit a nonrefundable processing fee of $50 with the application. More information about admission to the professional sequence in nursing is given in chapter 13 of the Undergraduate Catalog and on the School of Nursing Web site.

College of Pharmacy

A student who wishes to pursue the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree must first complete a related curriculum in the College of Natural Sciences. The student's application to the professional curriculum offered by the College of Pharmacy is considered on the basis of his or her overall academic performance and additional factors. The student must submit a nonrefundable processing fee of $100 with the online PharmD application. More information about admission to the professional curriculum in pharmacy is given in chapter 14 of the Undergraduate Catalog.

School of Social Work

A student who wishes to pursue a degree in social work must complete a pre-social work curriculum that includes supervised volunteer service with clients in a human services organization. The student's application to the professional curriculum is considered on the basis of his or her academic performance and commitment to and suitability for generalist social work practice. Students usually apply to the professional curriculum in the second semester of the sophomore year or the first semester of the junior year.

School of Undergraduate Studies

Freshman and transfer applicants to the University who choose not to select a major when they apply for admission may apply to the School of Undergraduate Studies. In addition, applicants who are not admitted to either their first- or their second-choice major may be admitted as undeclared majors in the School of Undergraduate Studies.

Specially trained advisers assist students enrolled in the school to explore the many undergraduate programs available at the University and to find a path toward graduation in one of the University's degree-granting colleges or schools.

While enrolled in the school, students take core coursework that will count toward any undergraduate degree. Students must transfer to a degree-granting program by the time they have completed four long- session semesters in residence in the School of Undergraduate Studies.

Admission to Upper-Division Work

In addition to the requirements outlined above, some academic programs have established minimum standards for admission to upper-division or professional sequence courses. The student should consult the Undergraduate Catalog and departmental advisers about eligibility to register for upper-division coursework.

International Admission

The applications of prospective students from countries other than the United States are reviewed on an individual basis, and admission may not be offered to every applicant who meets the minimum requirements. Academic background and curriculum are important considerations in decisions on admissibility.

International student applicants must submit (1) an application for admission, including two essays; (2) official transcripts of previous academic work; (3) standardized test scores when required; (4) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores; (5) evidence of sufficient financial support while studying in the United States; (6) the application processing fee, which is not refundable; and (7) any other documents required by the graduate program the student seeks to enter.

Readmission of Former Students

Former University students who were not enrolled the previous long-session semester must apply for readmission. Students who completed the requirements for a degree from the University in the previous semester or summer session must also apply for readmission. (Former graduate students who have never been enrolled at UT Austin as undergraduates and who wish to take undergraduate courses must apply for undergraduate transfer admission.) Application materials must be submitted by the application deadline for former students. To be eligible to reenroll, a former student who has subsequently attended another college must submit an official transcript from each college showing a grade point average of at least 2.50 on a 4.00 scale for all transferable coursework he or she has undertaken since leaving the University. This requirement does not apply to work taken during a summer session that falls between consecutive spring and fall semesters in which the student is enrolled at the University.

All graduate students are expected to enroll and pay tuition by the twelfth class day of the fall semester and the spring semester of each academic year until they graduate. A student who does not do so must apply for readmission in order to return to the University. He or she must submit an Application for Readmission to the Graduate and International Admissions Center by the application deadline for former students and must pay the general application fee of $60. The fee is waived if the student has received an official leave of absence. The student must also obtain the approval of the graduate adviser in the program in which he or she was last enrolled. A former graduate student who was in good standing when he or she left the University is not required to submit official transcripts unless they are requested by the student's graduate program. To change to a different major, the student must submit an Application to Another Graduate Major to the Graduate and International Admissions Center; additional information is given in the section "Application to Another Graduate Major (Change of Major)" in the Graduate Catalog.

A student who leaves the University on scholastic probation will be on scholastic probation when readmitted, even if he or she has attended another institution in the interim.

In accordance with section 51.9242 of the Texas Education Code, a student who withdraws from the University in order to perform active military service will be readmitted for any semester or summer session that begins within a year after the student's release from active service. The student is not required to apply for readmission or pay an application fee. However, he or she must submit the Notification of Intent to Re-Enroll. This form allows the University to prepare for the former student's return. If the form is submitted late, the student's registration may be delayed. To prevent a delay, the former student should submit the form at least two weeks before he or she expects to register for classes.

This policy applies to students who withdraw for service with the United States armed forces or the Texas National Guard; however, it does not apply to students who withdraw solely to perform one or more training exercises as members of the Texas National Guard.

Former students who wish to enter the School of Law, the Graduate School, or the graduate program of the McCombs School of Business for the first time must meet the requirements and deadlines given in the appropriate section of this chapter. Additional information about graduate and law programs is given in their respective catalogs.

High School Parallel Enrollment Program

Austin-area high school students who are Texas residents, have demonstrated superior academic achievement in a subject area, and have completed high school calculus, may be considered for admission to the High School Parallel Enrollment Program (HSPEP). Mathematics, foreign language, and computer sciences courses are available in the current program.

Students who have completed the tenth grade, have a high school grade point average of at least 3.50 or the equivalent, and have exhausted the course offerings in their subject area, may be considered for admission in either the fall or the spring semester. Students must submit the HSPEP Application, available from the Office of Admissions. SAT or ACT scores, a statement of goals, and teacher recommendations are required and are considered in determining admission to the program. A student must pass all parts of the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) before registering for coursework offered through HSPEP. Application deadlines are the same as those for regular admission. Concurrent attendance at an accredited high school with the intent to graduate from that school is required. Participants in the HSPEP pay regular tuition and have a regular University record.

To remain in the program, the student must earn grades of at least C in all courses. Students are not subject to the normal scholastic probation and dismissal rules while in the program, but credit and grades earned are counted in any future determination of hours undertaken, passed, or failed and in the computation of the student's University grade point average.

A participant in the HSPEP who wishes to enter the University following high school graduation must apply for admission in the usual way and meet the required application deadlines. Additional information is available from the coordinator of the High School Parallel Enrollment Program at the Freshman Admissions Center, (512) 475-7440.