Flags Requirement Changes FAQs

Beginning with May 2025 graduates, undergraduate students are no longer required to adhere to Skills and Experience flag requirements. This change applies to students in all currently active catalogs.  

Please note, undergraduate students are still required to complete the six hours of required Texas Core Code 010 English Composition. To fulfill the core requirement through fall 2025, students should take: 

1. 3 hours in English composition (RHE 306 or its equivalent) and
2. 3 hours of coursework notated with a writing flag in the course schedule (or substantial writing component) not used elsewhere in the core

Below is a screenshot of an interactive degree audit (IDA) with the six hours of required Texas Core Code 010 highlighted in purple. 

Any flag course taken prior to Spring 2025 will continue to count within a degree requirement as it had previously.

For the time being, flags will still appear on the course schedule for summer 2025 and fall 2025 registration. However, it is important to note that the flag designation is no longer needed for graduation requirements. The spring 2026 course schedule will no longer reference flag courses.  Students should speak with their academic advisor about changes to their specific degree plan requirements. 

No. The Flags have served as degree requirements for UT Austin undergraduate students to complete for graduation. Note: Writing, which has been a Flag course, is part of the state’s mandated core curriculum and will continue to be a required course prior to graduation. Classes that carry the writing flag will continue to satisfy the state core requirement.

UT Austin offers several on-campus options for students to learn essential skills critical to workplace success. The Digital Badging Initiative provides a catalogue of mini-certifications and badging opportunities that hone skills ranging from basic research laboratory training to leadership experience. Digital badges may be earned as part of an academic course or in a co-curricular activity.  Career Centers across the Forty Acres also are open to students seeking professional career advice, such as resume guidance, internship and mentorship aid, and networking opportunities.  Students can register for industry certificates through Coursera. The University Writing Center is also available for students seeking to hone their writing and presentation skills.

The University will thoughtfully leverage the full Flags Review Committee report and design a new opt-in path focused on workforce readiness skills. While exact timing is still being determined for a campus-wide rollout, a pilot is being tested in select colleges in fall 2025. 

No. The new programming will be optional. Students will have the ability to decide what skills they need to strengthen before entering the workforce and choose relevant courses.

We are working to remove Flag requirements from IDA and are testing systems to ensure the necessary changes work as expected. We will implement this change as soon as we are able and will update this FAQ once changes are available in university systems.

The possibility exists that students who did not meet May 2025 graduation requirements (due to missing Flags), may now be eligible to graduate. Colleges are encouraged to be lenient with undergraduate students who may have missed graduation application deadlines and re-evaluate prospective May 2025 graduates due to this change. 

No. Flags were removed as a requirement for undergraduate students starting with May 2025 graduates. The possibility exists that students who did not previously meet graduation requirements (due to missing flags), may now be eligible to graduate. Colleges are encouraged to be lenient with undergraduate students who may have missed graduation application deadlines and evaluate students for May 2025 graduation due to this change. 

For students who were certified prior to April 7, there is no impact to VA certification for spring 2025. Students requesting spring 2025 VA Education Benefits after April 7 or students considering a change to their current spring 2025 schedule, whether through Q-drops, grade status change, or withdrawing, should discuss possible impacts prior to taking action with the UT Veteran Certification School Certifying Officials (SCOs).

Students should work with their academic advisors to discuss the possible impacts of dropping courses. If a student is enrolled in a course solely for the Flag and they wish to drop the course, they can request a non-academic Q-drop with their academic advisor. See the academic calendar for appropriate deadlines. Please note, the university is unable to grant refunds to students for courses being dropped based on curriculum updates made after the start of the semester.

The 2025-2026 General Information Catalog and an addendum to the 2024-2026 Undergraduate Catalog will be published in early June.

Flags will still appear on the course schedule for summer 2025 and fall 2025 registration. However, it is important to note that the flag designation is no longer needed for graduation requirements. The spring 2026 course schedule will no longer reference flag courses.  Students should speak with their academic advisor about changes to their specific degree plan requirements.