Students who wish to study CS should apply to enter the University as Entry-level CS majors. While in this status, they complete the first three required CS classes (CS 307, CS 315, CS 313K (logic), Depending on the mathematics and computer sciences backgrounds of individual students, these courses may take 1 to 3 semesters to complete. Most students gain admission directly following their first year. and half of the required calculus sequence (M 408C or M 408L). Students who enter UT with no programming experience in high school will have to take CS 305J before they can start CS 307. Students with AP credit for a CS class may be able to complete this sequence in one semester.
Students can complete the four required classes and be eligible to apply to the CS major while enrolled in any major or college within the university. Anyone who meets the requirements may apply; however, Entry-level CS students receive important information from the advising office; you will not receive those mailings if you are not an Entry-level CS major. You can change your major to Entry-level CS from within UT by visiting the College of Natural Sciences Dean's Office at WCH (512) 471-4536) and completing the appropriate form.
| Apply During | For Admission | Deadline | Decision Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Fall | April 15 | May 31 |
| Summer | Fall | July 15 | August 20 |
| Fall | Spring | November 15 | January 10 |
Non-Entry-level CS students who will meet the application requirements are eligible to apply and will be considered on an equal basis with Entry-level CS students for admission to the major.
There are no strict grade point average cutoffs for determining which applications will be accepted. The Admissions Committee will create an initial ranking of applicants based on the AGPA: the average of the overall UT GPA and the Entry-level CS course sequence GPA. Each student's overall academic record may also be considered in making the final admission decisions. Factors that are typically examined include the rigor of the student's academic program and the student's record of dropping and/or repeating required classes.
The following table describes the results of recent admissions: Academic Years BY Percent Admitted Within AGPA Range. As a reminder, AGPA is the Average of the overall UT GPA and the Entry-level CS course sequence GPA.
| 4.0 - 3.6 | 3.5 - 3.0 | 2.9 - 2.6 | 2.5 - 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F02/SPR03 | 100% | 100% | 96% | 53% |
| F03/SPR04 | 100% | 100% | 94% | 65% |
| F04/SPR05 | 100% | 100% | 94% | 53% |
| F05/SPR06 | 100% | 100% | 100% | 78% |
Eligible applicants who are not admitted through the standard admission process may reapply during the Supplemental Admission in the following semester. A student may apply for Supplemental Admission only once and the application must be for the first available Supplemental Admission following her/his initial unsuccessful application. If denied in May for Fall admission, students may apply for Supplemental Admission during the following Summer or Fall.
During Supplemental Admission, the Admissions Committee will consider additional factors that may show potential for academic success in Computer Sciences. Such factors may include: coursework completed since the student's initial consideration, changes in GPA and overall academic standing, special projects or research related to the major, and non-academic circumstances that affected the student's performance in the Entry-level CS sequence.
Students may declare 2 official majors at the University if they are interested in seeking more than 1 degree in a process known as declaring a simultaneous major.
Simultaneous majors are only available for undergraduate students who have completed at least 30 semester hours of course work in residence at UT Austin.
Many students refer to this status as being a double major. The benefits of being a simultaneous major are:
