Requirements and restrictions College of Natural Sciences
In addition to submitting a complete application for admission, freshman applicants to the College of Natural Sciences should also review the following information regarding the calculus pre-requisite for incoming freshmen and special application requirements for Computer Sciences, the Dean’s Scholars Honors Program and the Turing Scholars Program.
Calculus Pre-requisite
The number one indicator for success in the College of Natural Sciences is the level of math courses taken in high school. Nearly all Natural Sciences degrees require completion of a college-level calculus course. To help them prepare for college, prospective students considering a major in the College of Natural Sciences should take at least a beginning calculus (not pre-calculus) course during high school.
The pre-requisites for calculus at UT Austin can be earned in one of three ways:
- Students can achieve a score of at least 520 on the SAT Subject Test in Math Level 1 or 530 on the Level 2 exam.
- Students can demonstrate calculus-readiness with a score of 3 or higher on an AP Calculus exam.
- Students can demonstrate calculus-readiness by earning credit for a college-level pre-calculus or calculus course.
More information and sample exams are available online.
Students accepted into the College of Natural Sciences who have not met the calculus pre-requisite before arriving as freshmen will be given summer assistance to improve their math skills and will be able to take a calculus placement test immediately before classes begin.
Admission to Entry-level Majors
All Natural Sciences students are admitted to entry-level majors 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.
Dean’s Scholars Honors Program
The Dean’s Scholars Honors Program is an interdisciplinary honors program that emphasizes research, experimentation and individual discovery. The program is a highly selective honors program that admits only about 30 students each year. The program offers special honors classes including a freshman seminar.
- Admission to the Dean’s Scholars Honors Program requires the completion of a separate application.
Learn More about Natural Sciences
Still not certain about your major choice? Learn more about the College of Natural Sciences.
Updated 9 May 2007
