Academic Advising

How do I make an appointment with an advisor?

Appointments can be made by coming by the office or calling the front desk at 512-471-9509. We do not schedule appointments by email. You must include your EID in all communication, by phone, voicemail, or email, for our office to assist you.

[Permalink]

When / Why should I see an advisor?

Advising for the next semester begins after the 12th class day, and is available on an ongoing basis, not just during registration. Only entry-level students and students who are on scholastic probation receive advising bars, and must meet with an advisor in person before they can register for classes. CS majors who have been promoted from entry-level and who are in good academic standing do not receive advising bars and are not required to see an advisor before registration. Advisors are available all year to assist with degree planning and course selection, help students who are struggling academically, provide information about UT's numerous resources, and help students facing non-academic problems.

[Permalink]

What can the CS advisors help me with?

The CS advisors offer advising in the following areas:  Advising bar removal, Degree plans, Initiation of degree audit, Registration advising, and Registration for departmental courses.  The advisors provide approval for the following online applications: Appeals and Petitions for Degree Modification, Course Substitutions, and Repetition of a Course.

[Permalink]

What can faculty advise me on?

Faculty members are a valuable resource for students.  Most faculty are willing to meet with students throughout the academic year to discuss any of these areas: Career Opportunities, Course Selection, Graduate School, Professional Development Opportunities, Research Opportunities, and Specific Areas of Interest. If you are interested in speaking with a faculty member, you may try to reach them during their office hours or by email. Please visit the faculty homepages for contact information.

[Permalink]

Where is the CS Advising Center located?

We are located in the new Gates Dell Complex building next to POB, GDC 2.702.

[Permalink]
Add/Drop/Withdrawal/Pass-Fail/Grades

Can I drop a class after the drop deadline?

 

Yes, you can use a One-Time-Exception Q-drop once in your undergraduate career. This drop counts as one of your 6 allotted Q-drops. You can find more information about the OTE drop on the CNS website. You can pick up the form in the Dean’s office in WCH 1.106 or in the CS Advising Center. The form is due by the last class day of the semester. If you are dropping a class because of non-academic reasons, you should make an appointment to visit the CNS non-academic counselors by visiting WCH 1.106 or calling 471-4536. Non-academic Q-drops that are approved by non-academic counselors do not count against your Q-drop limit (6 total). 

[Permalink]

Can I take a course pass/fail?

You should not take a course pass/fail if you need that class to fulfill a degree requirement. Courses taken pass/fail count towards your total number of residence hours and elective hours, but nothing else. They do not count towards your GPA (unless an F is earned) and do not fulfill prerequisite requirements. This means you should NOT take any CS courses as pass/fail unless you are using them for only elective requirements. Only electives should be taken pass/fail, unless you plan on repeating the course later for a letter grade. College of Natural Sciences students may only count 16 pass/fail hours toward their degree (All BA Degree and B S/BSA degrees prior to 14 -16 catalog) , and may only take two courses pass/fail per semester. You may not take a class pass/fail unless you have 30 hours completed. You may select this option when you register for the course, or you may go by the CS Advising Center in GDC 2.702 or the CNS Dean's Office in WCH 1.106 by the Q-drop deadline to change your grading to pass/fail.

For the 2014-16 catalog, College of Natural Sciences BA students may only count 16 pass/fail hours toward their degree, and may only take two courses pass/fail per semester.  BSA and BS students may only count 6 pass/fail hours toward their degree, and may only take two courses pass/fail per semester.

If you earn a 60 or better in a pass/fail class, you will receive a CR on your transcript. This will not factor into your GPA. If you earn less than a 60, you will receive an F on your transcript and this will count as a 0.0 factored into your GPA.

[Permalink]

What grade do I need in my class to fulfill my degree requirement?

This is dependent on what class you are taking.

For all CS, math or science courses required by your degree, you must make a C- or better. This means that if you make below a C- on any of these classes, they will only count as electives and will have to be retaken for a grade of C- or better to count for your degree.

If you are taking a core-curriculum course, foreign language course, or elective (i.e. UGS, GOV, HIS, Social Science, RHE, etc.), you must make a D- or better to fulfill that degree requirement. If you make less than a D- on a core-curriculum course or elective, it will not count and you will need to retake the course or choose another option (if you area allowed a choice, such as Social Science or elective courses).

[Permalink]

What is a withdrawal and how can I do this?

Withdrawal from The University is done after a student has completed registration for a semester or summer session, and then decides not to attend any classes that semester or session.

The registration system will not permit you to withdraw by yourself. You must do this in the CNS Dean’s Office. If it is not possible to come to the office, please call (512) 471-4536. During the first four weeks of class there is a pro-rated refund for withdrawing from school. A full refund, less $15.00, is ONLY given if a student withdraws prior to the first day of class. Failure to properly withdraw results in failing grades in all semester coursework. Leaving UT without a formal withdrawal is the same as failing all classes and has the same consequences.

After the final deadline, students may not drop or withdraw unless there are serious non-academic circumstances, which occurred after the Q deadline date. Appeals will only be considered for documented, non-academic reasons. Contact the CNS Dean’s Office, WCH 1.106,  (512) 471-4536 for non-academic issues. You must include your EID in all communication, by phone, voicemail, or email, for our office to assist you.

[Permalink]

When can I add / drop / withdraw from my class(es)?

The College of Natural Sciences uses the UT calendar for purposes of registration, adding and dropping courses, and withdrawing from the university.

The general schedule for each semester is as follows:

* Class days 1 – 4, add via the online Registration system
* Class days 5 – 12, advisors may add students within the departmental classes (at their discretion)
* Class days 1 – 12, drop via the online Registration system
* Class day 13 on, adds or drops can be initiated in the CNS Dean's office (WCH 1.106); classes dropped after the 12th class day show up on your record as a Q-drop (a drop without refund or penalty). You are allotted 6 Q-drops in your entire undergraduate career.

If you drop a class up to the 12th class day, you will receive a tuition refund, if necessary, and classes do not appear on the permanent record. Not attending does not automatically drop you from classes or withdraw you from UT; you need to do that yourself. Always double-check your final schedule before the 12th class day.

Important dates for Fall 2014:
August 25: Add-drops for students who have registered and paid their tuition
August 27: Classes begin
September 2: last day to add-drop classes on your own through the registration system online
September 12: Last date to drop a class for a possible refund and without a Q
November 4: Q-drop deadline - last day for students to drop a class with a Q on their record, last day to apply to graduate or walk in May ceremony
Oct 27 - Nov 7: Registration for Spring 2015 semester

You can find more important Spring 2015 dates on the UT calendar

[Permalink]

I'm not doing well in my courses this semester, what should I do?

 

You should seek out help by reaching out to your professor, TA's, and other tutoring resources such as the Sanger Learning Center. If you feel that you cannot make the grade necessary for your degree, you should schedule an appointment with your academic advisor by calling 471-4509 to get the necessary forms for a Q-drop in the course. The Q-drop deadline is 2/3rds of the way through the semester so you should check the Registrar's calendar to be aware of this deadline and give yourself adequate time to get the signatures necessary on your form before that date. If you are experiencing difficulty due to non-academic reasons, you should make an appointment to visit the CNS non-academic counselors by visiting WCH 1.106 or calling 471-4536. Non-academic Q-drops that are approved by non-academic counselors do not count against your Q-drop limit. 

 

[Permalink]

How do I drop a class?

  • If it is before the 12th class day, you can drop courses on your own in the Registration system. You will receive a tuition refund, if necessary, and classes do not appear on the permanent record. Not attending does not automatically drop you from classes or withdraw you from UT; you need to do that yourself. 
  • If it is after the 12th class day, but before the Q-drop deadline (which you can find on the Registrar's calendar), in order to drop a course for academic reasons, you will need to pick up a Q-drop form from either the CS Advising Center (GDC 2.702) or the CNS Dean's Office (WCH 1.106). You will need to (1) sign the form, (2) get an advisor's signature, and finally, (3) turn it into the CNS Dean's Office (WCH 1.106) before 5:00pm on the Q-drop deadline.

Each undergraduate is allowed 6 academic Q-drops in their undergraduate career. This will show up on your record as a Q, rather than a grade and you will not receive credit for this class.

If you are dropping a class because of non-academic reasons, you should make an appointment to visit the CNS non-academic counselors by visiting WCH 1.106 or calling 471-4536. Non-academic Q-drops that are approved by non-academic counselors do not count against your Q-drop limit.

Be sure to check with financial aid and scholarships to ensure that you will not have an issue if your drop puts you below full-time hours for the semester.

[Permalink]
Admission/Readmission

I want to apply for readmission to UT.

You can apply for readmission through the UT Admissions web site. You will need to submit as a part of your application transcripts of any course work (both online and in class) that you might have completed since your time at UT, and you will need to have maintained at least a 2.5 GPA in that transfer work.

[Permalink]

I want to transfer to UT from another university, how long will it take me to graduate at UT?

Generally speaking, students should plan on a minimum of 2 & 1/2 to 3 years to complete the undergraduate C S degree program. However, depending on how any existing university credits would apply to our degree program, a student might be able to complete their course work in a shorter time frame. Regardless, all UT degrees require a minimum of 60 in-residence (taken in a UT classroom) hours.

[Permalink]

How can I be admitted into the Computer Science department at UT?

You will need to consult the Admission’s website to find out more information about the requirements for admission to The University of Texas at Austin and the Computer Science department. They will evaluate any transcripts from other institutions and decide how they transfer into UT. Information about Computer Science's degree programs, course offerings, faculty, and research areas can be found on our department's web site. If you are admitted, you will be advised during your orientation session.

[Permalink]
Course Repetition

Can I repeat a course?

University policy states that you may NOT for any reason retake a course if you have made a C- or better. 

Even if a student makes below a C- in a course and must retake it, no student may enroll in the same Natural Sciences course more than twice without permission from their advisor. Therefore, students taking a Natural Sciences course for a second time need to be aware it may be their last chance to pass that course. You may only repeat a CS Entry-Level course (CS 312, CS 311, CS 314) one time, no exceptions. Students may fill out a third time repeat appeal to take a CNS class for a third time that will have to be approved by an advisor. These appeals will not be approved for Entry-Level CS courses unless there is documented non-academic drop for one of the attempts for a given course.

[Permalink]

If I repeat a course, will the old grade go away?

No. Both grades will remain on your transcript and both will be averaged into your GPA. Students in the College of Natural Sciences are not permitted to repeat a course for which they have already earned a C- or better. In addition, no student may enroll in the same Natural Sciences course more than twice without permission from their advisor, therefore students taking a Natural Sciences course for a second time need to be aware it may be their last chance to pass that course.

[Permalink]
Credit By Exam

How do I claim credit earned by an exam? (i.e. AP, IB, CLEP)

 

In order for credit by exam or AP credits to count toward a degree or as a course prerequisite, students must first claim the credit on the Testing Services website. Do not claim any credit before speaking with your academic advisor. Your academic advisor can help you determine which credits you should claim for progress in your degree.

Steps to Claim Credit

1.      Start on the Student Testing Services page. 

2.      Read the Placement Versus Credit information.

3.      Click on View Scores and Claim Credit, and log in.

4.      Claim your credit.

Important

  • There is a fee of $10 per credit hour for claiming credit. For example, three credit hours would cost $30.  Payment options are available.
  • Claimed credit-by-exam will not affect your GPA.
  • If you take a course in residence for which you have already earned credit-by-exam, whether you have petitioned or not, you will NOT be able to claim the credit.
[Permalink]

What classes can I test out of?

View a full list of classes, see the testing schedule, and register for these tests on the Student Testing Services website. Be aware, that if you are planning to test out of a course that is a prerequisite for a course you are planning to take next semester, your scores will need to be in by the time you register for the course.

Do not claim credit until you have been at UT for at least one semester and/or have talked with an academic advisor. A student can claim credit for an exam at any time prior to his/her senior year. A student may also elect not to claim any credit.

[Permalink]
CS Courses/Degree Plans

Can I take CS 429 and another upper division CS course concurrently?

No. CS 429 provides the foundational material for upper division classes.  Instead of taking upper division classes, students are asked to focus on their math requirements (calculus, M 340L, SSC 321, etc.) in this semester with CS 429. The only exception to this would be an FRI (CS 378) course. You would need to speak to the FRI department if you are not already involved in the FRI program to gain access to these courses.

[Permalink]

Can I take a graduate course for graduate credit?

An undergraduate may enroll in a graduate course for graduate credit under the following conditions:

  1. The student must have a 3.0 overall UT grade point average.
  2. The student must have completed 90 undergraduate hours.
  3. The student cannot register for more than 15 semester hours in a long semester or for more than twelve semester hours in the summer session.
  4. Courses reserved for graduate credit are limited to a total of twelve semester hours.
  5. A student who has previously earned a bachelor's degree may NOT reserve courses for graduate credit.
  6. Only graduate courses may be reserved for graduate credit.
  7. Courses reserved for graduate credit may not also be used to fulfill the requirements of an undergraduate degree.
  8. The grade earned in the graduate course will not be included in the student's graduate grade point average.

To request to take a graduate course for graduate credit, please complete a Reservation of Course for Graduate Credit form and turn it into the CS Graduate Office (GDC 2.726) by the 12th class day in a long-session semester or the fourth class day in the summer session.

 

[Permalink]

How can I change from the BS to the BSA degree plan?

We automatically promote our students into the BS degree plan, but you can email our advising office to request to be changed to the BSA degree plan. You can also see a list of the differences between the BS and the BSA on our website. You must include your EID in all communication, by phone, voicemail, or email, for our office to assist you.

[Permalink]

Can I take non-majors science classes for my science requirements?

No, only majors-leve science classes can count for both the BSA, BA, and BS degree plans in the College of Natural Sciences. Also, CNS students cannot use any Astronomy classes to fulfill their science requirements.

[Permalink]

I’m not a CS student, but I want to take CS courses.

If you are planning to change your major to Computer Science (or add a second major), please follow the instructions on the Internal Transfer page.

Non-CS majors should plan to register for CS Elements courses only. 

[Permalink]

Do I have to take a foreign language for my CS degree?

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science has several options for fulfilling the foreign language requirement including culture courses, and students in those degree plans should look at the course completion checklists for their options. The Bachelor of Science and Arts (BSA) allows foreign language and foreign culture courses to count in the "Language, Arts and Culture" area. The Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science requires fourth-semester proficiency in a single language, no exceptions.  Always talk to your advisor about any questions you have regarding your degree option and language requirements.

[Permalink]

I am a current CS student, how can I complete a minor outside of CS?

The College of Natural Sciences does not award minors, however there are a multitude of certificates that students can earn. Outside of the College of Natural Sciences, there are several minor and certificate options for students to gain experience in another area and get recognition for it. Many of our students choose to do the Business Foundations Program and Bridging Disciplines Program, but you are welcome to do any minor or certificate certificate that UT offers that you qualify for.

If you want to take enough courses to have the equivalent of a minor (typically 12 hours, 6 of which are upper division), you can do that and claim to have the equivalent of a minor on your resume, but this will not be reflected on your UT transcript.

 

[Permalink]

What's an upper division elective?

An upper division elective is ANY upper division course that you take to help reach your required total of upper division hours but that does not fulfill any other specific degree requirements. This is your chance to take something different and personally interesting to you. Search through the course schedule to see what's offered, and be sure to notice if the course is restricted or has specific prerequisites. Upper division electives can be taken pass/fail. This is different from a CS Upper Division Elective (this is any CS upper division class needed to fulfill your CS degree requirements).

[Permalink]

Can I take M 352K or PHL 313K in place of CS 313K or CS 311?

No, these classes cannot count in place of CS 313K or CS 311. The only exception to this is if you took these classes prior to Spring 2012. If so, you should make an appointment with your academic advisor by calling 471-9509 to ensure this is counting. You must include your EID in all communication, by phone, voicemail, or email, for our office to assist you.

[Permalink]

What courses are considered upper division?

Courses with the last two digits between 20 and 79 (ex: CS 429, CS 378) are upper division courses. Those with the last two digits lower than 20 are lower division (ex: CS 314). Those courses with the last two digits greater than 79 are graduate courses (ex: CS 380C).

[Permalink]

How can I find an upper division writing component?

In the course schedule, any upper division course that says "Contains a Substantial Writing Component" will fulfill the upper division writing component requirement. Every course schedule lists all the writing component courses offered that semester from every academic department, including Computer Science (click on the "Writing Courses" link in the sidebar). Writing component courses can overlap with other degree requirements.

[Permalink]

Do both my writing component courses have to be upper division?

They CAN be, but they do not have to be. Students have the option of fulfilling one of their writing component requirements with a lower division course. Advisors strongly recommend that Computer Science majors take one lower division writing component course (such as UGS 302/303) during their freshman or sophomore years. We offer several upper division CS courses with writing components with limited space availability that you can choose to take as well.

[Permalink]

Can I take a graduate course for undergraduate credit?

Undergraduates may enroll in graduate courses for undergraduate credit, assuming they meet certain conditions.

  1. The undergraduate student must be eligible to take upper-division courses and must fulfill the prerequisite for the course (except graduate standing).
  2. The student must have a university grade point average of at least 3.00.
  3. The student must receive the consent of the course instructor and the graduate advisor for the department in which the course is offered. Some colleges and schools may also require the approval of the dean's office. Individual departments may impose additional requirements, or bar undergraduates from enrolling in graduate courses altogether.
  4. An undergraduate student may not enroll in a graduate course that has fewer than five graduate students enrolled.
  5. A graduate course taken by an undergraduate is counted toward the student's bachelor's degree in the same way that upper-division courses are counted, unless the course is reserved for graduate credit. Courses reserved for graduate credit may not also be used to fulfill the requirements of an undergraduate degree.

An undergraduate student enrolled in a graduate course is subject to all university regulations affecting undergraduates.

Undergraduate students may not take courses in the School of Law.

To request to take a graduate course for undergraduate credit, please complete a Registration in a Graduate Course for Undergraduate Credit form and turn it into the CS Graduate Office (GDC 2.726) by the 12th class day in a long-session semester or the fourth class day in the summer session.

[Permalink]

What are the changes to the CS curriculum and how do they affect me?

Please refer to our Curriculum Changes FAQ.

[Permalink]

How can I take an FRI class?

To get involved in the FRI program, you can get more information and apply through their website. Otherwise, you would need to speak to someone in the FRI program if you are a current student not already involved in FRI to gain access to these courses. It is at their discretion if they have availability for non-FRI students in their courses

[Permalink]

I am registered for a math course, do I need to take a placement exam? What is it? What score do I need?

Every student registered for a calculus class at UT will need to take a placement test. The College used to use the ALEKS placement test for calculus classes. The ALEKS test will be used through Summer 2013. Starting Fall 2013, the college will use their own placement test. More information on the new placement test will be posted online closer to Fall.

[Permalink]
CS Entry-Level/ Promotion

What is Entry-level and how can I get promoted into the Upper Division sequence?

 

Every CS student begins as Entry-Level until they complete the requirements to be promoted into the Upper Division Sequence.

Promotion Requirements:

  • Complete all CS Entry-Level sequence courses (C S 312, 311 and 314) with no grade lower than a “C-”.
  • Complete all CS Entry-Level courses in no more than 2 attempts (dropped courses including Q- drops and Withdrawals count as an attempt).
  • Maintain overall GPA of 2.0

The Upper Division Sequence describes the set of courses normally taken in the last three years of undergraduate study, in which students put to use the tools and concepts learned in Entry-Level courses.  Student’s records will be reviewed following the posting of grades at the conclusion of summer and after each long semester. Students who meet the requirements for promotion will be automatically promoted into the major.

*Please note: University policy states that you may NOT for any reason retake a course if you have made a C- or better. That is true of our Entry-level courses as well.

I didn't get promoted, now what?

If you fail to meet the CS entry-level requirements, and you are ineligible to repeat an entry-level course, your admission to UTCS will be denied, and your major will be changed to CNS Undeclared. The Department of Computer Science takes the success of their students very seriously. The faculty made the decision for the entry level GPA based on the analysis of data regarding the success rate of students in our program and these requirements will be strictly enforced. 

If you wish to appeal this decision, instructions will be provided to you through a Secure Academic Note (SAN) once all promotions have been completed. You will be notified of the outcome of your appeal within the first 12 class days of the semester. 

Here are some important things to remember:

1. You must have an extenuating circumstance to appeal. For example - a medical issue or something similar that had a negative impact on your GPA. This issue will need to be documented by a physician or a nonacademic counselor. 

2. If your appeal is approved, the department will assist you with adding CS courses on or after the FOURTH day of classes.  

[Permalink]

I took an Entry-level course more than once / at another institution / by exam. How is this calculated?

Grades for Entry-Level courses not taken at The University of Texas at Austin will be used in the calculation of the Entry-Level Sequence GPA. The Entry-Level CS GPA is computed over all Entry-Level courses taken. If you make below a C- on an Entry-Level course, you are permitted one additional attempt at the course. In this case, the highest grade achieved in the course will be used to calculate the Entry-Level GPA. Please keep in mind that dropped attempts are included in the "2 attempt" requirement.  This includes a "withdrawl" which shows on a transcript as a "W."  Also, once a student is enrolled at UT Austin, they may not take entry level C S courses and have them count toward their requirements.  At this point, all C S entry-level courses must be taken in residence at UT Austin.

[Permalink]
Elements of Computing

I am a current CS student, can I take an Elements course?

CS majors CANNOT take Elements courses for any degree requirements, including electives, and are restricted from registering for these classes. Current CS majors will be dropped from these classes upon review of the rosters.

[Permalink]

I took another class that I think might count for one of the Elements requirements. What should I do?

Please visit the Elements of Computing website to see if the course has already been pre-approved. If a course substitution is "Approved through" a specified semester that means an approved course taken on or prior to the listed semester is a valid course substitution.

[Permalink]

Can I take Elements courses as pass/fail?

No. All Elements courses, and any approved equivalents counting towards the Elements certificate, will need to be taken for a letter grade. You will need to receive a C-, or better, in order for the course(s) to count towards the Elements certificate.

[Permalink]

I have more questions about the Elements of Computing Program.

Please visit the Elements of Computing website for the most up-to-date information. If you have further information after browsing through the website, please email usYou must include your EID in all communication, by phone, voicemail, or email, for our office to assist you.

[Permalink]
Graduation

How/When do I apply for graduation?

Students apply for graduation during their final semester at UT before the mid-semester deadline (same as the Q-drop deadline).

August graduates who want to walk in the May ceremony, and are within 12 hours of graduation after their Spring semester, should complete the Application to Participate in Commencement Ceremony (Walk Application) during the spring semester, and then complete the Graduation Application during the summer semester.

Students completing their UT degree requirements at another institution must apply to graduate "In Absentia." 

[Permalink]
Honors

How can I take honors classes if I’m not in an honors program?

You will need to fill out a CS Honors Course Request Form. Approval will be at the discretion of the faculty, based on merit and space availability.

[Permalink]

I am a current UT student, how can I apply to Turing Scholars?

 

Admission to Turing Scholars is on a rolling basis for CS Entry-level students. You can get more information about the program and admissions requirements on the Turing Scholars website.

 

[Permalink]

I am a prospective UT student, how can I apply to Turing Scholars?

Your application to Turing Scholars is due at the time of your UT application. You can get more information about the program and admissions requirements on the Turing Scholars website.

[Permalink]
Internal Transfer/Change of Major

What is an internal transfer?

Internal transfer describes the process of a currently enrolled undergraduate student at UT Austin moving from one college to another or within the College of Natural Sciences from one major to another. 

[Permalink]

How can I change my major to Computer Science or add a second major of Computer Science?

You should follow the steps on our Internal Transfer Admissions page.

 

[Permalink]

How do I change my major from Computer Science to another major?

 

If you wish to change majors out of Computer Science and into another major within the College of Natural Sciences, set up an appointment with an advisor for the major you wish to declare. Any CNS student who has completed more than 45 semester hours of college credit must have a university grade point average of at least 2.00 to be eligible for transfer to another college or school within The UT.

To change into another college, you should look at the website and follow the specific instructions, or contact the dean's office of the college into which you wish to be admitted. Some colleges (including Business, Communications, and Engineering) require new students to attend an internal transfer information meeting before they can speak to an advisor.

You can find more information about majors offered and internal transfer requirements on the UGS Wayfinder website. If you think you want to change majors but aren't sure to what, make an appointment to meet with an advisor in by the Center for Strategic Advising in Jester A115. 

[Permalink]
Minors

I’m not a CS major, but I want to minor in Computer Science.

Our computer science courses are restricted to CS students. Students hoping to minor in computer science should complete our Elements of Computing Program. The 18-hour certificate option will be recognized on your official transcript.

[Permalink]

I’m a CS major and I want to minor in another subject area.

The College of Natural Sciences does not award minors. There are several certificate options that you can look into on the UGS website to gain experience in another area and get recognition for it. Many of our students choose to do the Business Foundations Certificate ProgramBridging Disciplines ProgramGame Development Program, and Information Security Certificate, but you are welcome to do any certificate that UT offers that you qualify for.

If you want to take enough courses to have the equivalent of a minor (typically 12 hours, 6 of which are upper division), you can do that and claim to have the equivalent of a minor on your resume, but this will not be reflected on your UT transcript.

[Permalink]
Registration/Tuition

How many hours can I register for?

Students may take a maximum of 17 credit hours in the fall or spring semesters. During the summer, a student can take up to 14 hours with no more than 8 hours in either summer session.

To request more than 17 hours, fill out the Request to take more than 17 hours in the Fall or Spring or the Request to take more than 14 hours in the Summer and turn it into the CS Advising Center during your registration period or before the 12th class day. After a decision is made, you will be notified by email to check your status. Please note that if approved for more than 17 hours, you may not add the additional hours until the first day of classes as long as space is available.

[Permalink]

What is considered full-time?

To be a full-time student during the fall or spring semesters you must register for and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours at UT. During the summer semester, you must register for and be enrolled in 9 hours at UT. Full-time status is usually necessary to receive financial aid, live in on-campus housing, compete on a University athletic team, be covered under parents’ health or car insurance or be an international student. If full-time status becomes a hardship for non-academic reasons, please make an appointment see a non-academic CNS counselor by visiting WCH 1.106 or calling 471-4536.

[Permalink]

I have an advising bar, how can I get this removed?

All entry-level students and students who are on scholastic probation receive advising bars, and must meet with an advisor before they can register for classes. You can find more information on the Registration page. You can call the front desk at 512-471-9509 to make an appointment with your advisor. You must include your EID in all communication, by phone, voicemail, or email, for our office to assist you.

[Permalink]

How can I get into a course that is full/closed?

Advisors CANNOT add students to a course that is already full. Students may add themselves to the automated wait list option if available, and keep trying to add the course during all the add/drop access periods. Being on a wait list is not a guarantee for getting into a class, and advisors have no way of predicting your chances of getting a class via the wait list; therefore, it is necessary to have an alternative class planned as a back-up. Students may also attend a course on the first day and request permission from the professor to be added after the 4th class day, however, doing so does not guarantee registration for the course. Students should continue attending all their other classes, in the event that permission to add the closed course is not granted.

[Permalink]

What is the tuition rebate and how do I know if I’m eligible?

 

An undergraduate may be eligible for a tuition rebate of up to $1,000 if, at graduation, he or she has attempted no more than three semester hours beyond the minimum number of hours required for the degree. Credit by exam hours could make you ineligible. Discuss this with your advisor before claiming credit. You must apply for the tuition rebate by 5pm on the official date of graduation. 

 

[Permalink]
Scholastic Probation/CNS Grade Contract/Dismissal

What is scholastic probation and what do I need to do if I’m in this situation?

Students whose cumulative UT GPA is less than 2.00 are placed on scholastic probation by The University. In CNS, a student on probation must fill out a CNS Grade Contract every long (Fall/Spring) semester his/her GPA is less than 2.00. A student who completes the requirements of the Contract will be allowed to continue in the College. If a student does not meet the requirements, he/she will be dismissed from The University. The exception to this policy is when a student earns 12 hours of failing grades in his/her first semester. This results in an automatic dismissal after the first semester.

[Permalink]

What do I do if I have been dismissed from UT?

Students dismissed for the first time are automatically eligible to return to The University after being away for one long semester. However, if attending another college or university, students should contact the Office of Admissions at UT about the GPA requirement to be able to return to UT. A second dismissal requires permission from the CNS Dean’s Office to return to The University. A student dismissed for the third time may not apply for readmission.

[Permalink]
Study Abroad

What do I need to do if I want to study abroad?

The steps you need to take to find out more information, apply to, and attend a study abroad program can be found on the CS Study Abroad page. You will need to talk to both the study abroad office and your CS academic advisor to ensure that the program you choose works for your degree and academic progress.

[Permalink]
Transfer Courses/Concurrent Enrollment

Can I take classes at a community college or through University Extension while also taking classes at UT?

If you are a student in the College of Natural Sciences, you CANNOT take any math or science courses required for your degree at a community college during the fall and spring semesters. You may take courses such as English, Social Science, History or Government, but you must still be enrolled in at least 9 hours at UT. You may take courses via UT correspondence or UT Extension during the fall and spring semesters while also enrolled at UT. During the summer, students may take any classes at other institutions without any UT hour requirements. You should check the Automated Transfer Equivalency and check with your advisor if you are planning to transfer courses in required for your degree.

[Permalink]

Can I transfer courses I have taken from another university?

Many students transfer academic credit from other colleges. Speak to your advisor if you plan to take courses at another institution. Information about how coursework transfers to UT from schools in Texas can be found on the Automated Transfer Equivalency website.

Students transferring courses from out-of-state schools should talk to an admissions counselor in the Office of Admissions, MAI 7. Any courses completed at another educational institution MUST be transferred to UT.

Students must receive a C or better in any transfer courses to count towards their degree. Transferred coursework does not count towards your UT GPA, but rather counts as credit on your transcript.

All you need to do to have the credit on your record is to request an official transcript from the college or university be sent to UT Austin and admissions will post those credits automatically to your record. Please be aware that this process can take time in order to go through all the processing steps.

Students may not take C S entry level courses out of residence once they have started their first semester at UT Austin.  At this point all entry level courses must be taken at UT Austin.

[Permalink]

Can I take math or science classes outside of UT?

You may ONLY take math and science classes outside of UT during the SUMMER semester. You cannot take them during Fall, Spring, Winter, Minimesters, etc. You should check the Automated Transfer Equivalency and check with your advisor if you are planning to transfer courses in required for your degree.

If a student chooses to have concurrent enrollment in math and science courses in at any time other than the summer semester, those courses will not apply to the student’s degree in the College of Natural Sciences and the Department of Computer Science.

Concurrent enrollment is not permitted during the semester in which a student expects to graduate.

You do not need to officially inform UT that you are taking the courses (though you may want to check with your advisor that they will count correctly). You only need to send the official transcript from the college or university to UT.

[Permalink]
Accounts

How do I get a new UTCS account so I can log into the Linux and Windows machines?

The UTCS Account Creation application is here - log in with your UT EID, and follow the instructions.

Please note that students enrolled in the UTCS Online Master of Computer Science program are not eligible for this type of account.

[Permalink]

My CS account has expired. I have a CS account again now, and I was wondering whether my old account was archived and whether it would be possible for me to get my old files back?

Unfortunately, no. After an account has expired the files will not be restored.

[Permalink]

What are the CS Department policies on using an account?

Read the CS Department policies here. Other online docs and sources of help are located here.

[Permalink]

Is software available for download as a CS student?

Mathematica is available through a campus-wide license held by the Physics department. Follow the link and log in with your UT EID to gain access.

[Permalink]

What's this about home directory quotas? What's my current quota? Why do I get a message, "Disk quota exceeded"? Why can't I save anything to disk? Why won't my editor save or do anything?

Reluctantly, UTCS has started using hard quotas on home directories. You can read more about it here.

Not being able to save things to disk, or experiencing editor save failures are signs that your home directory may have reached quota. Use chkquota to see if you have reached yours. You can use du -sk ~/* ~/.??* | sort -n to see what is taking up the most space. Try removing some files to see if that fixes your issues. If the problem is still occurring, send mail to help@cs.utexas.edu describing the problem. We are NOT ABLE to raise your quota.

[Permalink]

How do I edit the "Plan" that people see when they finger me? I have a .plan file; why can't people see it?

The "Plan" is a printout of a file named .plan in your home directory. For people to see it, the file must be world-readable and your home directory must be world-executable.

[Permalink]

How do I change the information people see when they finger my CS account (my real name, my phone number and address, etc)?

To change any of this information, send email to help@cs.utexas.edu from your CS email address with the changes and a staff member will take care of it.

[Permalink]

How do I change the shell my CS account uses?

The online application to change your shell and mail forwarding address is currently offline. Please email help@cs.utexas.edu and we will make these changes for you.

[Permalink]

How do I change the login name for my account?

A login name is permanent for the life of an account, as stated on the account form; once the account has been created the login name cannot be changed.

[Permalink]

I forgot/lost the password to my CS account. How do I find out what it is or get it changed?

We have no way of finding out what your password is, so you'll have to change it. You should visit our password update webpage and log in using your UTEID to change your password. Please read the instructions and information provided carefully. If that fails for some reason, open a help ticket by sending an email to help@cs.utexas.edu. For security reasons, passwords are never sent via email. Also, any password update by any method can take a couple of hours to propagate through our network, so please be patient. Note: This information pertains to Computer Science department accounts. For UTmail accounts, refer to ut.service-now.com/sp.

[Permalink]

I have a non-CS major account (tmpclass) right now, and I'll be eligible for a CS undergrad account (under) soon. Can I just get my current account changed to an under account?

Yes, you can have your current account upgraded. Contact help@cs.utexas.edu after the beginning of the semester in which you become a CS major -- we don't get registration information until then -- and request your account be changed to an under account.

[Permalink]

When do user accounts expire? I just got a notice that my account is expiring -- what do I do?

You can see the expiration date for your account by typing finger <username>@cs.utexas.edu on the command line. Under and tmpclass accounts are automatically extended each semester provided the student who holds the account is enrolled in a Computer Science course that semester. For all types of accounts, notice will go out two weeks prior to expiration. If you have received an expiration notice, do the following, according to the type of account you have:

  • under - contact the undergrad advising office in person or by email to renewals@cs.utexas.edu. They must verify that you have not yet graduated and are still a CS major. They will then contact us to extend your account.
  • tmpclass - email help@cs.utexas.edu. If you are not enrolled in a qualifying CS class, however, your account will not be extended.
  • grad - grad accounts are changed to guest accounts upon graduation and extended for one year. To keep your account beyond that, you will have to have a faculty sponsor. They must request that the account be extended.
  • guest - an extension must be requested by the sponsor of the account. They will also receive the expiration notice.
[Permalink]
Labs & Facilities

Where are there computer labs I can use? When are the labs open? What kinds of computers are available for me to use?

The public labs are located in GDC 3.302 and GDC 1.310.  Each station in GDC 1.310 contains a UNIX machine and a Windows machine with a KVM switch to go from one to the other. GDC 3.302 contains mostly UNIX machines and a few Windows machines. You can also access the UNIX computers remotely via ssh; view the public UNIX host status page for a list of the UNIX computers and their current status. These labs are open to all students currently enrolled in a CS course.

For more information on all of these labs, see the Public Labs page.

[Permalink]

How do I use the department's cluster? What is HTCondor?

See the cluster documentation page.

[Permalink]

There's something wrong in one of the labs or one of the buildings (the A/C isn't working, it's flooding, it's on fire, one of the light bulbs is burned out, ...). Who do I report it to? How do I get it fixed?

Facilities problems should be reported directly to Physical Plant Planning and Scheduling by calling 471-0043 (for GDC) during normal working hours, or sending email to pphlp@utxdp.dp.utexas.edu.

For urgent conditions outside normal working hours please call 471-2020.

For urgent conditions directly affecting CS department facilities, e.g. fire, flood, ceiling leaks onto machines, etc, please notify help@cs.utexas.edu after notifying emergency personnel.

[Permalink]

How can I find out the names of some computers I can use? What machines are publically available on the CS network? What's a "public" machine?

A "public" machine is a machine that can be logged into by anyone with a CS account; the name linux.cs.utexas.edu is always aliased to a public Linux machine. You can use the command cshosts to find out more information about other machines on the CS network; type cshosts help or man cshosts for more information about how to use it. Alternatively, you can visit the public host status page for a list of public hosts and their current status.

[Permalink]

How do I connect my own computer to the network ?

Assuming you want more than wireless networking, you have two options. One is only intended for short-term visitors and students such as undergrads without offices. These users can use Ganesha with the public DHCP network jacks located in the public UNIX lab in GDC 3.302 and they should have ethernet cables already attached.

For longer term / office usage, we are happy to offer you a static IP address or a DHCP address.  For DHCP, all non-assigned walljacks in GDC are already setup for access to Ganesha.  It is very important that you never disconnect any network or power cable, please submit a helpreq if you need a cabling change or a machine moved.

For those wanting a static IP address, we'll need the following submitted in a helpreq:

  1. A requested hostname (the domain will be csres.utexas.edu).
  2. Computer vendor make/model (e.g. Dell/Precision-007n).
  3. The location of the computer (e.g. GDC 3.302j).  Please don't say something like Prof Smith's Laboratory.
  4. The walljack number. Walljacks are generally arranged in 2x3 blocks, numbered left to right, top to bottom. To determine which is the lowest numbered jack, you may need to tilt your head.
  5. Operating system(s).
  6. Name of computer's owner (i.e. who paid for it).
  7. Name of the system administrator for this machine. This will be the technical contact and will be expected to respond quickly and knowledgeably to reports of security violations and other types of abuse. They are expected to install, encrypt, and maintain the computer in a responsible manner without requiring staff assistance.
  8. The name of the Primary User of the machine if different from the system administrator.
  9. The UTID, if owned by the university. This will be a six digit identifier. It will appear on a tag attached to the computer.
  10. If there is no UTID, then we will tag the machine with a CSID tag as part of the helpreq.
  11. Please provide the vendor's serial number. This is typically on the back of a computer, sometimes identified by "SN".

In order to have a machine on the Department network, you must be able to install, encrypt, and maintain that machine with little or no help from the department technical staff.  In the case of some research groups, there may already be someone able to help you do this, please ask around and list them as the system administrator (7), and yourself as the primary user (8).  Make sure you copy them on the helpreq.

[Permalink]
Mail

Forwarding your O365 (austin.utexas.edu) email.

New UT Austin employees starting on or after 12/11/18 will have an @austin.utexas.edu email address created for them automatically by ITS. This mailbox is discoverable via UT's Exchange directory, so you may be receiving email there and not know about it. This can be problematic for obvious reasons. Follow these steps to remove that address from the Exchange directory, and forward the email.

First you should go here: austin.utexas.edu/Office365Management/ and check the box so the austin.utexas.edu address doesn't show up in the Exchange directory.

Then go here: office365.austin.utexas.edu. Select Outlook Web App (OWA) and login.

In the OWA click on the gear icon at the top right; click "View all Outlook settings", then find the forwarding option and configure your forwarding for the @austin.utexas.edu address.

[Permalink]

What is the name of the CS POP (Post Office Protocol) and IMAP (Internal Mail Access Protocol) server? The SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server?

All POP/IMAP users should use "mailbox2.cs.utexas.edu" as their "incoming" server.  Note that, in general, CS recommends the use of IMAP instead of POP, especially if you check mail from multiple computers and/or mobile devices.

The SMTP server is "mail2.cs.utexas.edu".

For complete details see our Email Configuration page.

[Permalink]

What causes "Relaying denied. Proper Authentication required."?

This means you are trying to send mail via the UTCS SMTP server, but the user name and password is either missing or misconfigured.  See our Email Configuration page for details on how to set this up.

Note that the new SMTP server (mail2.cs.utexas.edu) no longer requires you to use a different password from the one you use to retrieve email.

[Permalink]

How does the procmail setup in the CS department work? Why can I not forward email or execute programs during delivery via my .procmailrc?

The CS department install of procmail which filters your mail upon delivery is specially configured for our environment. It is set up as usual via your ~/.procmailrc file, but with two caveats:

  1. You may not run a program from your .procmailrc. This is to protect our mailserver (and thus your mailbox), not only from deliberately malicious actions but also from accidental misconfigurations which would swamp the server. Since our mail server does not allow user logins for the same reasons, this is an extension of existing policy.
  2. You may not forward mail to another user via the '!' mechanism in a procmail recipe. This is to protect the mail server from the high load and eventual meltdown that can be caused by a mail loop.

With these restrictions in mind, the main use of procmail during message delivery at CS is to filter your mail in real-time into different folders based on headers (such as the score it received from our spam-analysis system, the sender, a mailing-list-specific header, or the subject).

Since we have disabled execute and forward functionality in procmail during delivery, we suggest using the example in the procmail(1) man page for a template in creating your own post-processing scripts. The version of procmail in /lusr/bin which you can run manually does not suffer these limitations.

(Search for the third occurrence of the string 'cron' in this man page to find the example script.)

Two changes you will need to make to that script are to change the $ORGMAIL variable to point to the actual location of the folder, and to provide a separate procmail recipe file to the executed version of procmail in the script (the line formail -s procmail < .newmail && will need to be changed to formail -s procmail /path/to/your/recipefile < .newmail && ).

These scripts can be run periodically via the cron(1) command to do the actions automatically, or you can run them before you read mail to do something like filter out the messages or text you don't like.

PLEASE NOTE: To avoid clobbering mail folders make sure all recipes start with :0:, not just :0. The procmailrc(1) and procmail(1) manpages have more details."

[Permalink]

Why has sending mail from my home computer suddenly stopped working?

While there may be any number of reasons for the failure, many ISPs and organizations block outbound network traffic on port 25 (the SMTP port) that mail servers use to communicate with each other as one method of stopping spam.  If you are using CS's server for your outgoing mail server, we recommend you use port 587 (the Submission port) with STARTTLS turned on.  For more information see our Email Configuration page. if you still encounter problems sending mail please do not hesitate to email help@cs.utexas.edu and we will try to help you resolve the problem.

[Permalink]

I've got a mail message with the subject "DON'T DELETE THIS MESSAGE -- FOLDER INTERNAL DATA," and the body says not to delete the message or important data will be lost. What's going on?

The POP/IMAP servers and some mail reader software (anything that uses the c-client library) use this "dummy" message to maintain state over time. Because our POP/IMAP server recognizes this message as containing metadata, it doesn't send it to POP/IMAP clients, such as Apple Mail or Thunderbird, so you'll normally never see it.  But if you use an email client that doesn't recognize this as a "special" message, it will show it to you as a regular message. It's true that if you delete the message, you may lose important information, such as whether messages are read/unread, whether they've been seen at all by the client (which could lead a POP client to "duplicate" some messages), etc.

[Permalink]

How do I authenticate with the CS SMTP mail server?

The newer SMTP server (mail2.cs.utexas.edu) no longer requires a separate SMTP email password, so you will simply use your standard CS account password.  See our Email Configuration page for more details

[Permalink]

How can I use webmail with my CS mailbox?

You have several options:

  • You can use the CS webmail to connect to your CS mail account. Simply log in using your CS account and password.
  • You can use a third party webmail system, such as Outlook.com, GMail or Yahoo.  Specific instructions for setting this up will vary by webmail provider so it's beyond our ability to support, but googling for "other" "email" "account" and the name of the provider should get you pointed in the right direction.  Note that many of these only allow POP access to your CS email account, so if you plan to still use other email software to access your CS email, choose the settings in your webmail provider's configuration carefully (leave email on server, in particular).
  • Forward your mail to a separate offsite address which already provides webmail, such as those mentioned above as well as others.
[Permalink]

How do I set up my account so that it automatically sends out a message stating that I am on vacation when I receive an incoming message? How do I turn it off?

Use the 'vacation' program. You can read the vacation(1) man pages for usage info, but the quick-start method is to create a message you'd like to send in response to emails you receive and save it as ~/.vacation.msg, and then run vacation -i. To turn this off, simply remove ~/.vacation.msg.

[Permalink]

How do I forward my mail from my CS account to a different account? Why isn't my .forward file working? How can I get my mail forwarded someplace else after my account expires?

All mail forwarding on the CS system is handled by a central user account database; .forward files won't work. To get mail forwarded, email help@cs.utexas.edu from your UTCS email account and make the request. UTCS email is never forwarded past the lifetime of an account. UT offers alumni email here. If you want to learn more about how to use procmail on our systems, check out the FAQ on procmail.

[Permalink]

How can I create a mailing list?

Mailing lists, for the most part, are only created for "official" department purposes (lists of students in a class created for TAs, etc). These are the steps to take to create one:

  • Create a file of the people who should be on the list, one email address per line.
  • Make the file world readable.
  • Make all directories in the path to the file world executable.
  • Email help@cs.utexas.edu, giving the name of the alias you want, the name and path of the file, and the purpose of the alias.

The alias, if approved, will become effective within one or two business days.

[Permalink]

How can I disable the departmental spam filtering for my UTCS email address?

There's not really a way to opt out of using the spam filter, but users do have the ability to tune how aggressively the filter behaves on mail sent to you.  In your user directory, there is a hidden directory named .spamassassin, and Inside of that is a text file called user_prefs (there are other files too, but you should leave those alone).  Using a text editor, you can add one of the following lines to the end of the file:

  • whitelist_to {your email address}
  • more_spam_to {your email address}
  • all_spam_to {your email address}

These choice are list in order of how much spam will be allowed through the filter, where the first will be a fair amount, the second will allow most spam through, and the third will let in all but the most egregious spam.

​If you are turning off the spam filter because you have found it to be making mistakes (either false positive or false negative), please email nospam@cs.utexas.edu --we want to know!

[Permalink]

A piece of spam got through your filter. What should I do with it?

Our spam filtering relies partly on a bayesian filter, which requires constant training to keep up with the ever changing tactics of spammers. You can help us by sending a complete copy of your spam emails to nospam@cs.utexas.edu. Please note, this must be a *complete* copy of the email, including all headers.  The easiest and best way to send the mail is to use your mail client's ability to "Forward as an Attachment".

[Permalink]
Multimedia

Where can I watch talks, lectures, and other UTCS related videos?

For lectures and talks filmed in POB visit the POB media site.

For lectures and talks filmed in GDC visit the UTCS video site.

[Permalink]
Printing

How do I print something to one of the printers? How do I see whether my job has printed? How can I remove something from the print queue if I decide to cancel it or I have to leave?

You can type "man printers" for information on how to use the printers, what the printer names are and how to refer to them, etc. The commands to use the printer are: lpr -Plw[printernumber] [yourfile] - prints "yourfile" to the named printer. lpq -Plw[printernumber] - displays the current print queue for the named printer. lprm -Plw[printernumber] [job ID] - removes the job with ID job-ID from the print queue for the named printer. Job ID's are found with 'lpq'.

[Permalink]

What printers can I print to? Which printers are "public" (publically available)?

To find out which printers can be printed to ("public" printers), use the command ypmatch lw.pub machines. For more information about the printers (location, usage, etc.) please run man printers.

[Permalink]

Where are the printers located? How can I find out where a given printer (say, lw7) is located? How can I find out what a printer is called, that I know the location of?

A lot of information about printers, including location, is stored in the file /lusr/share/etc/printcap -- you can look there for the location of a specific printer. You can also run man printers for usage and location information about the public printers.

[Permalink]

The printer says 'Load MP Tray' or 'Load A4 Paper' and won't print. How do I fix this?

Press the down arrow button, and it will ask you if you would like to print to normal paper that is available. Press OK and it should begin to print using the paper from one of the trays.

[Permalink]

I am using a computer running Windows or MacOS that is connected to the csres network or to Ganesha. How do I print to the CS printers?

This is outlined here.

[Permalink]

I am using a computer not currently connected to the CS or CSRES network. How do I print to the CS printers?

This is outlined here.

[Permalink]

What command line options can be used to customize printing?

Please see our documentation page on CUPS printing options.

[Permalink]

The printer isn't working (my job isn't printing out). What's wrong with it? What do I do?

Type 'lpq -Plw[printernumber]'. This will often display an error message such as "Out of paper" or "Paper jam". If one of these errors has occurred, correct it (put more paper in the printer or open it and clear the jam if the printer is not physically locked). If that doesn't fix the problem, or if no such problem is displayed, restart the printer daemon with the command /lusr/etc/restart_lw -Plw[printernumber] and see if that fixes it. If the printer seems to be hanging on a specific large job, try cancelling that job and restarting the printer daemon. If none of these steps clears the problem, contact help@cs.utexas.edu and describe the problems and the steps you've taken.

[Permalink]

How do I print more than one copy of something?

You don't. The software is specifically setup to prevent you from doing this. Printers are not copiers and should not be used as such.

[Permalink]
Programming

Is there a database system like Oracle or MySQL installed?

An Oracle database server and a MySQL server are installed for use by some classes; please check with the class instructor about how to get access to them and how to use them. The MySQL database server program (mysqld) is installed only on the Linux machines and client programs and libraries on all of the architectures when requested by an instructor.

[Permalink]

I want to develop an application using Java. Where is it installed?

We have installed Java in /usr/bin/java. We generally have the latest version on the default system path so you will get that version by default.  All version of java are installed in /usr/lib/jvm, if you need a different version.

[Permalink]

What C/C++ compilers are available on the CS machines?

GNU gcc is available in /usr/bin/gcc. g++ is the C++ compiler based on gcc and is located in /usr/bin/g++. There are several additional versions of each of these (4.4, 4.6 and 4.8 found by adding -4.4, etc to the path).  GNU gcc 5.2 is installed in /lusr/opt/gcc-5.2.0.  If you need that version, you'll need to add /lusr/opt/gcc-5.2.0/bin to your path.

[Permalink]

Is there a FORTRAN compiler?

gfortran is available as /usr/bin/gfortran.

[Permalink]

What is Perl? Is Perl available on the CS systems?

Yes, the directory location is: /usr/bin/perl. Perl (Practical Extraction and Report Language) is a scripting language often used under UNIX. Perl provides access to all operating system calls but is interpreted (not compiled), so it is faster to code and easier to debug than writing, say, C; but it typically runs more slowly.

[Permalink]

Is Python available?

Yes, Python is located in the directory: /usr/bin/python. Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming language that combines power with clear syntax. See "man python" for more information.

[Permalink]

Is LISP available on CS machines?

gcl is available as /usr/bin/gcl, Steel Bank Common Lisp as /usr/bin/sbcl, and clisp as /usr/bin/clisp.

[Permalink]

What debuggers are available? For what languages?

GNU gdb (/usr/bin/gdb) is available on all of the supported machines. ddd (/usr/bin/ddd) is a graphical interface to gdb. All debuggers should work for either C or C++, and possibly FORTRAN and Pascal as well.

[Permalink]

Is Tcl/Tk available?

Tcl is located in the directory /usr/bin/tclsh, and wish is located in the directory /usr/bin/wish. Also, Tcl extensions expect, itcl, and tix are installed.

[Permalink]
Text Editing

How can I view Microsoft Excel or Word documents on a UNIX machine?

LibreOffice is installed on the linux machines and it capable of viewing Microsoft documents. Just run /usr/bin/libreoffice or select it from the applications menu in your windows manager.

[Permalink]

How can I view or create a file with the .pdf extension (Adobe Doc format)?

You can view the file using evince, libreoffice,  gv or xpdf. LibreOffice supports printing to PDF files.

[Permalink]

What text editors are available?

The two major UNIX editors are emacs and vi. Other editors installed are xedit, xemacs, pico, ed,  sublime_text,  and nano.

[Permalink]

I've started Emacs. How do I quit?

Hold down the ctrl key and press x; then c. Please make sure you exit before you log out. See the man pages on Emacs for more information.

[Permalink]

I've started vi. How do I quit?

Press the escape key (esc on some machines) to make sure you are in command mode (also called edit mode). In command mode type "ZZ" or ":wq". If you want to exit without saving changes, use ":q!".

[Permalink]
Unix

How can I create a new group?

New UNIX groups, for the most part, are only created for "official" department purposes (students working together in a class created at the request of the professor, for example). If you have a reason to need a group, Email help@cs.utexas.edu, giving the name of the group you want, the login names of the people who need to be in it, and the purpose of the group. The group, if approved, will be created within one or two business days.

[Permalink]

I have a directory with a permission "s" (or "S"). What does that mean?

It means that all new files will be created with the same group id as that of the parent directory. The lowercase s shows that the directory is also executable, meaning you can cd into it.

[Permalink]

I like being able to use emacs or vi style key bindings (keyboard shortcuts) to navigate while typing in applications other than those editors. How can I do this?

That functionality is typically provided by the GNU Readline Library, which is used by many applications such as shells (bash, tcsh, zsh), mailreaders (mutt) and many others. However, some applications are not readline-aware but fear not, there is a way to make them behave like they are! We have installed the program rlwrap which provides readline functionality to any text input program. It is in the standard path and can be run with any client application, though there are many applications (anything graphical for instance) with which it would not make sense. An example execution would be:rlwrap acl which starts the allegro common lisp interpreter with readline functionality.There is a man page (rlwrap(1)) for your edification.

[Permalink]

I am getting a weird capital A with a circumflex over it in so me of the text displayed in my terminal. How do I get rid of this?

This is typically caused by older programs that can't handle unicode properly. You will need to add export LANG=C to your .profile file (or whichever shell config file you use, such as .bashrc).

[Permalink]

How can I convert a postscript file into a graphics file such as a GIF? How can I convert between graphical file formats?

The ImageMagick suite is capable of all types of conversion. Using it is simple: convert originalfile.format newfile.newformat convert automatically determines the original filetype from the file itself and chooses the output format based on the file extension you provide for the newfile. For example, convert file.ps file.gif will convert the file from postscript to GIF. see the convert(1) man page for more information on the formats it supports.

While ImageMagick supports multi-page GIF files, many utilities and viewers do not, so you may wish to either convert single pages of the PS file to GIF format, or first use the psnup command to reduce (the relevant pages of) your document to a single page

[Permalink]

How can I connect to the Department of Computer Sciences from home?

As of April 12, 2019, SSH keys are required when SSHing to CS/CSRES networks when outside of our networks, campus wireless, or the VPN. The University ISO will quarantine any host allowing SSH access that has not disabled password authentication.

For instructions on creating SSH keys, visit this page.

[Permalink]

Where can I find system news? What is the sysnews alias?

System news can be found on the System Status blog. A RSS feed of this blog is available for news tracking. If you prefer to receive these updates through email as they are posted, you can send mail to help@cs.utexas.edu requesting to be added to the mailing list for system news.

[Permalink]

When I try to run Firefox it complains "Firefox is already running" and tells me to kill the existing process. How can I fix this?

To find out which machine Firefox is running on, type:
ls -l ~/.mozilla/firefox/*/lock

If there is a lock, it will be a symbolic link pointing to a file with the IP address of the computer where it is running followed by the process ID it is using. To translate IP-ADDRESS to a host name, type:
host <IP-ADDRESS>

The process id should also be present, so type:
rsh <HOSTNAME> kill PID

 

For example: 

~>ls -l ~/.mozilla/firefox/*/lock

lrwxrwxrwx 1 rivin dept 20 Jan 18 14:04 /u/rivin/.mozilla/firefox/uiil642a.default/lock -> 128.83.120.48:+24876 

~>host 128.83.120.48

48.120.83.128.in-addr.arpa domain name pointer eagle.cs.utexas.edu. 

~>rsh eagle kill 24876

Be sure to remove the lockfile if killing the process didn't!

~>rm ~/.mozilla/firefox/*/lock

If this doesn't work, you will need to delete the .parentlock file:

~>rm ~/.mozilla/firefox/*/.parentlock

[Permalink]

How do I find a process I know I must have running that I can't see? How do I get rid of a process I don't want?

To find a runaway process, use the ps command. On linux machines type ps -augx. The man pages (man ps) show all possible flags.

To kill a process once you've found its process ID (PID), type "kill PID". If that doesn't work, you can use "kill -9 PID".  If you need to kill all your processes, you can use "killall -u 'login name'"

[Permalink]

How do I remove or access a file with the name '-something' or containing another strange character ?

If your file starts with a minus, use the -- flag to rm; if your file is named -g, then your rm command would look like rm -- -g. As well, and especially if you have an unprintable character (output from ls looks like ?ile) you might try something like rm -i ./*ile which will also work for commands other than rm (grep for instance).

[Permalink]

What is "public" software? I'm having trouble with a program installed in /p/bin (type which [programname] to find out where something is installed.) How do I install software in "public"?

The "public" software is anything installed in the /p or /public directory (typically, actual programs are in /p/bin). This software is installed by non-staff (students, researchers, or professors) and is not monitored, installed or maintained by the staff; if you're having trouble with a particular program, contact the person who installed that package (as shown by ls -l) directly, or email public@cs.utexas.edu, which is a mailing list of all people who maintain programs in /public. If you want to enable your account to install software in /public, email help@cs.utexas.edu and they'll add you to the group and mailing list.

[Permalink]

Why does "find /" take so long? How do I find a file in the filesystem, knowing its name? How do I use locate? How do I use find?

Please don't use "find /", as it's very slow and a real drain on the network. Use locate by typing locate [string], where [string] is the name of the file you want to find, or part of the name. It's more appropriate to use find to find something in a fairly small area, such as your home directory or a /projects directory, neither of which are searched by locate. The basic find syntax is 'find [path to search] [expression to search for]'; please read the man page for find, for more detailed information.

[Permalink]

I just accidentally deleted something I need (or just realized I need something I deleted a while ago). What can I do now?

First, you should try recovering the file from snapshots yourself; to learn how view the documentation on recovering files from snapshots. If that fails, email help@cs.utexas.edu and ask them to restore your files. Include the following information:

  • When did you delete the file(s)?
  • When did you create the file(s)? ("Not recently" is enough)
  • When did you last change the file(s), before the day you deleted it/them?
[Permalink]

How can I check how much disk space I'm using? Is there a command to check how much disk space is being used by a user?

You can check your quota usage with the "chkquota" command. You can find out how much disk space is in a particular directory (such as someone's home directory) with the command du -sk, if you have permissions on that directory -- if it's yours or if it's world-readable.

[Permalink]
World Wide Web

How do I go about setting up a web page? How do I use CGI scripts on my web page? How do I embed Java code?

For most common questions about setting up a web page and putting scripts, images, links, etc. in it in the CS domain, see the documentation on using the web.

[Permalink]

Can I use PHP?

Yes. We only support PHP5, not PHP4.

A mod_php script should have the suffix .php and no #! line A CGI script should invoke #!/usr/bin/php5-cgi at the top and have the .cgi suffix.

For more information, see the documentation on using the web The PHP documentation is available at http://www.php.net.

[Permalink]

How do I make my web pages readable only by certain people? Can I protect my web page with a password?

Yes. You can use dynamic configuration files using an .htaccess file to restrict access to documents in your web directory. For more information on this, see the documentation on using the web.

[Permalink]

Is there some way to have a cgi script run on the CS webserver as my own UID rather than the one belonging to the webserver software?

By default, CGI scripts running on our server execute as the web user www; this user has no special permissions. Thus, the directory in which the script resides must be world-searchable, the script must be world-executable, and files read or written by the script must be world-readable or world-writable.

In certain applications, you may prefer that a script execute with your Unix account permissions so as to access protected data. We provide a "Secure CGI" mechanism for doing this.

Warning: Please carefully weigh your need for this feature against the security risks of a script running with the full permissions of your user account. You are responsible for the use of that account, whether by your own hand, by someone using a workstation where you left yourself logged in, or by someone exploiting a poorly written script which you have made available on the Web. You may wish to review our policies.

The basic guidelines for setting up a secure CGI script are:

  • Full script pathnames should contain only printing ASCII characters. They should not contain relative path components.
  • Script directories should be searchable by the owner and have the same owner/group as the script file. They should not be writable by anyone other than the owner
  • Script files should be a regular file (not a symlink), be executable by the owner and have the extension ".scgi".They should not be setuid or setgid or writable by anyone other than the owner.

Other notes:

  • Non-parsed-header scripts may be used with the usual nph- prefix.
  • Access control directives (in a .htaccess file) will not work for a .scgi script. Normally, this is not a problem, since the script is typically the action associated with a form in a .html file, which can be access controlled. Of course, the script is at liberty to implement any authentication for itself that it chooses.
[Permalink]

I've figured out how to set up my web page, but how can I be sure that it will be programatically correct and available to the maximum number of readers?

This is a tough question; there is definitely some content such as sounds and images which will never be universally available to blind or deaf users. However for the most part, staying standards compliant and making sure that your pages have no syntax errors or dependency on a specific browser is the best way to be sure of reaching the widest possible audience.

The canonical reference for the most popular and most widely supported markup languages, HTML and XHTML, is published by the World Wide Web Consortium. This documentation is the agreed-upon standard for web markup across the entire internet. It is likely to be supported by all browsers, from cell phones and text-only browsers for the blind to the latest version of Internet Explorer.

To be sure you've created pages that not only meet the standards but fail to have any content-impairing typos, you should probably run them through the XHTML and HTML validator and potentially through the CSS validator as well, if you have used cascading style sheets for further page layout. Be warned that older or less capable browsers may not support CSS so do try reading your page without the CSS in the source to see if all text displays fully and legibly in its absence.

Although it is popular to write browser-specific code targetting IE or mozilla/netscape, and although such code may work on the majority of the browsers available today, you do limit your site's usefulness by doing so. Consider whether you think the cute tricks with the cursor or ActiveX controls are worth someone not being able to find the link to your resume or research. Old, small, and handicapped accessible browsers may be unable to use your site and often will just ignore it instead of informing you. The "Viewable With Any Browser" campaign may serve to further enlighten you as to the rationale behind creating more compatible web pages. Do consider making your page fully handicapped accessible.

[Permalink]
X Window System

If I have a UNIX machine running X windows at home, how can I run an application on the CS machines and have it display to my home computer?

If your computer is connected to the internet, you can run ssh -X hostname where hostname is the name of the computer that you want to log into. The -X flag enables X forwarding. You can then run X applications within that ssh window and they will display on your local desktop. For further information, such as getting this to work on the Windows operating system, see the SSH X Forwarding documentation page.

VNC is also available, although we generally discourage its use when X forwarding is an option.

[Permalink]

What window managers are available on the UNIX machines? How can I use them?

There are a number of options available for your use. Some of the choices are: Fvwm, GNOME, KDE, LXDE, Openbox, Window Maker, and Xfce. You can set your window manager by clicking on the foot drop box on the login screen.

[Permalink]

I've logged into the UNIX machines in the lab, but when my windows manager starts I am getting a blank screen or messed up tool bars. How can I fix this?

If you have logged into our UNIX machines before they were all updated to Trusty, you may need to remove your old config files for the windows manager you are using. You can use Ctrl+Alt+F1 (Ctrl+Alt+F7 or F8) will get you back to the graphical login screen) to get to a virtual console and the dotfiles/directories in question are:

  • gnome - .gnome2, .gnome2_private, .gconf, and .gconfd
  • kde - .kde and .kderc
  • xfce - .config, .gconf, and .gconfd
[Permalink]

I am trying to use MATLAB, but whenever I open it all I am getting is a blank screen. How do I fix this?

If you are using gnome as your windows manager and you try to use MATLAB, you may run into this issue. To fix the problem, go to System Menu -> Preferences -> Appearance, then select the 'Visual Effects' tab. Set the effects to 'None' and close the window. MATLAB should behave normally once this is done.

[Permalink]
Prospective Students

What type of computer should I buy?

We get this question often from prospective students, so we asked our ambassadors, experienced CS students to answer:

 "As far as computers go, every CS student has access to the computers in the 3rd floor and basement labs of the Bill and Melinda Gates Computer Science Complex for their programming and general purpose needs as well as the computers around campus in the libraries and other computer labs for general purpose use. The computer labs in Gates are open 24/7 for student use. Therefore, the type of computer that you should buy in preparation for coming to college should be one that you are comfortable using. There is no departmental preference between Windows, Mac, Unix, or Chrome operating systems. In terms of hardware, few classes will actually stress your computer to the point where processors overheating becomes an issue and for CS classes that require a lot of computing power for simulations or graphics, most students use the computers in the labs. Most computer science classes do not allow students to take notes on laptops during class, so laptop use in class would likely only be for non-CS courses and would probably consist of note taking.  [For example, a student recalls using a laptop with a processor that was 2 or 3 steps behind the i3 as well as one with an i3 processor and had no laptop related problems.]

While having a laptop in college is not a requirement, I definitely recommend that students bring one just in case they need to use a computer while in their dorm room. As for the type of computer, the best, short answer that I can give is for you to bring the laptop that you are most comfortable using, because you won't have to do anything on your personal computer remotely that you wouldn't be able to do on a lab computer (besides take notes in class). It is definitely common for students to have basic laptops for general purpose use. For example, a student might primarily use their laptop for note taking and occasionally remote accessing to one of the CS machines at UT to do programming. If a student requires the use of a certain software or needs to be on the network (and etc), they typically choose to work in the labs. There are students who have more advanced laptops and even desktops, but it's definitely not required and most people use these more advanced systems for personal use such as gaming, not because it's a requirement of the major. This is why we suggest prospective students to buy whatever laptop they feel comfortable working on and has the capability to do what they would want to do outside of class." 

[Permalink]
Admissions

I'm interested in a Diversity Course Waiver/Transfer Credit. What should I do?

We are unable to provide individual feedback for applicants. Prospective students who believe they may be eligible may review the appropriate degree requirements page that include guidelines on our course transfer and waiver policies. For the doctoral program, please see: https://www.cs.utexas.edu/graduate/phd-program/degree-requirements and the MSCS program, please see: https://www.cs.utexas.edu/graduate-program/masters-program/coursework-option.

Course transfer/waivers petitions are only processed for admitted students during a GSC (Graduate Studies Committee) meeting. The graduate office will send around a call for petitions early in the Fall semester with instructions prior to the Fall GSC meeting. Transfers and waivers are only processed after petitions are reviewed by the UTCS GSC and are solely determined at the discretion of the UTCS GSC.

Since all petitions are subject to approval by the UTCS GSC, prospective students should carefully review the degree requirements pages to determine if they are eligible to petition for a course waiver or transfer credit. Prospective students seeking to be proactive may note that all current and previous coursework must be submitted via their official application for admission and verified by GIAC. Additionally, prospective students may begin collecting relevant materials such as course syllabi, explanations of course numbering systems, etc., so that those materials are easily available. Admitted students should wait until the call for petitions is sent out in their first Fall semester to begin the process.

[Permalink]

Do you offer meetings, tours, information sessions, etc?

The UTCS graduate office is unable to offer meetings, information sessions or tours to prospective students. Please see the Visit Us page for information on tours available, including self-guided and virtual tours.

If you'd like to tour campus but can’t make it to the Visitor Center—or if you’d like a sneak peak—take advantage of one of these offerings:

Self-Guided Tour (PDF)
40 Acres Self-Guided Tour (Foursquare)
Diversity Tour (PDF)
Virtual Tour

[Permalink]

I made an error on my ApplyTexas application. What do I do?

It's essential that students carefully read and complete their ApplyTexas applications with accurate information. Students should be sure to use a reliable contact email as they should expect to receive important updates, reminders, and notifications at the provided email address throughout the admissions process. Changes cannot be made to your ApplyTexas application after it has been submitted, but you may update your CS Department Supplement materials at any time. Students can submit updates to their contact information in MyStatus and via the required UTCS Supplemental application, but the UTCS graduate office is unable to make changes on behalf of students and is unable to assist with issues with the ApplyTexas application.

Students who have made larger errors on their application or who have submitted applications to the wrong program may need to work with GIAC and/or ApplyTexas to delete the application and submit a new application for the correct program. Please be sure that you include the correct ApplyTexas application ID on your required UTCS Supplemental application. Our office is unable to assist with editing or deleting applications on Apply Texas and we cannot process refunds for application fees, but the appropriate contact at GIAC may be able to assist: https://gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions/contact.
 

[Permalink]

When will the Fall application cycle open for the in-person program?

The Fall application cycle will open for the in-person program on October 15. Please note: the CS Department only accepts Fall applications for our on-campus programs. We do not accept spring or summer applications.

Our Master of Computer Science Online program, however, does accept spring applications. You can find more information about applying to the online program at https://www.cs.utexas.edu/graduate-program/masters-program/msonline. If you have questions regarding the online program, please email msonline@cs.utexas.edu.

[Permalink]

How do I apply?

Please use this checklist to ensure that you are submitting all the materials necessary. Note: For application to the UT Computer Science graduate program, you are required to submit materials via both the ApplyTexas and the CS Department Supplement applications.

1) Submit via https://goapplytexas.org:

  • Application for admission
  • Application fee
  • Transcripts (1) – Within 48 hours of the submission of your application, you will receive an email from the Graduate and International Admissions Center directing you to the MyStatus page where you will be asked to upload your transcripts.  Please do not mail these credentials.  For additional information regarding the submission of transcripts to UT-Austin, please see https://gradschool.utexas.edu/how-to-apply 
  • Proof of Submission of Department Application: When you complete and submit your CS Department Supplement (outlined in Step 2) print the final submission page to a PDF and return to your MyStatus page to upload this as proof that you completed the department Supplement. 

2) Submit via CS Department Supplement:

  • Statement of purpose - Approximately 2 pages describing your reasons for pursuing graduate study and academic and professional interests and goals. This may include events/experiences that prepared you for CS graduate study and how your interests complement the department's faculty and research.
  • Transcripts (2) - The department will not view the transcripts you upload to the MyStatus page; you must provide us with separate copies through the CS Department Supplement.
  • Three letters of reference – You must supply your references’ names and email addresses to the CS Department Supplement [this information is not downloaded from ApplyTexas]. After you provide their contact information, emails will be sent to your references with instructions on how to upload their letters. Letters should emphasize research experience and academic achievements, particularly in computer science. Your references should submit their letters by December 20 (17:00 CST) for full consideration.
  • GRE (optional for Fall 2024)* and (international students only) TOEFL or IELTS scores
  • Optional: CV and up to three publications. CV should also include a scan of any aid award letter that has award details such as NSF, Fulbright, etc.

3) An official report of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (optional for Fall 2024). Please request that ETS send official test scores to UT-Austin. (UT-Austin code 6882 – you do not need a departmental code).

4) An official score report for the TOEFL or IELTS (international students only). Scores must be sent to the university by the testing agency. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) institution code for the TOEFL is 6882. It is not necessary to use a department code. To fulfill the requirement with scores from the IELTS, please use the IELTS electronic score delivery service to send your scores to the “University of Texas at Austin” account.

We do not evaluate applications on a rolling basis. An application is evaluated on its own merits and in comparison to all the applications for a given year. Review typically begins in late December, with decisions made by early spring.

*As a temporary accommodation in response to COVID-19, the GRE requirement will be waived for all applicants for the Fall 2024 semester. Students may continue to submit official GRE scores for consideration, but they will not be required to do so. GRE scores when provided, will continue to serve as just one of the many factors considered in our review of a student’s application. Please take into consideration that providing GRE scores can bolster your application if there are aspects of your application that you feel may be not as competitive as others. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us and we can better assist you. Please allow up to 72 hours after submitting your application for the GRE to be removed from the “To-Do” items on your MyStatus page.

[Permalink]

What are the deadlines for the required admissions applications at The University of Texas at Austin?

  • Your ApplyTexas application and CS Supplement materials must be submitted no later than December 15 (23:59 CST).
  • Letters of recommendation should be received by December 20 (17:00 CST) for full consideration.
[Permalink]

What documents do I need to submit for my application?

The following items are required for application to the CS Graduate Program.  Please use this checklist to ensure that you are submitting all of the materials necessary.

*As a temporary accommodation in response to COVID-19, the GRE requirement will be waived for all applicants for the Fall 2024 semester. Students may continue to submit official GRE scores for consideration, but they will not be required to do so. GRE scores when provided, will continue to serve as just one of the many factors considered in our review of a student’s application. Please take into consideration that providing GRE scores can bolster your application if there are aspects of your application that you feel may be not as competitive as others. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us and we can better assist you. Please allow up to 72 hours after submitting your application for the GRE to be removed from the “To-Do” items on your MyStatus page.

**International applicants who are from a qualifying country are exempt from this requirement. Additionally, applicants are exempt from the requirement if they possess a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution or an institution in a qualifying countryThe requirement is not waived for applicants who have earned a master’s—but not a bachelor’s—degree from a similar institution.

[Permalink]

Am I eligible to apply?

To be eligible for admission consideration, applicants must meet the Graduate School's minimum requirements.

Bachelor's Degree

The Graduate School requires applicants to have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a comparable degree from a foreign academic institution.

For admission to the UT Computer Science graduate program, a previous CS degree is helpful but not required.

Upper-division GPA of 3.0 or higher

A grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or a comparable GPA in upper-division work—junior- and senior-level courses—and in any graduate work already completed is required.

Applicants admitted to the UT Computer Science graduate program usually have shown their skills in CS by achieving a better than average GPA in their CS courses.

Official Test Scores (GRE, TOEFL/IELTS)

  •  GRE General Test scores (optional for Fall 2024)*
    • There is no minimum GRE test score, however applicants admitted to the UT Computer Science graduate program usually have high quantitative GRE scores and a math background that includes study through some discrete math.
  •  TOEFL or IELTS score for international applicants**
    • The minimum scores considered acceptable for admission by the Graduate School are:
      • TOEFL: 79 on the Internet-based test (iBT)
      • IELTS: An overall band of 6.5 on the Academic Examination

*As a temporary accommodation in response to COVID-19, the GRE requirement will be waived for all applicants for the Fall 2024 semester. Students may continue to submit official GRE scores for consideration, but they will not be required to do so. GRE scores when provided, will continue to serve as just one of the many factors considered in our review of a student’s application. Please take into consideration that providing GRE scores can bolster your application if there are aspects of your application that you feel may be not as competitive as others. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us and we can better assist you.

**International applicants who are from a qualifying country are exempt from this requirement. Additionally, applicants are exempt from the requirement if they possess a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution or an institution in a qualifying countryThe requirement is not waived for applicants who have earned a master’s—but not a bachelor’s—degree from a similar institution.

[Permalink]

Do I need a degree in Computer Science to be admitted to the department?

While not required, a previous CS bachelor’s degree is strongly recommended since admission is very competitive. Successful applicants usually have an undergraduate degree in CS or a closely related area such as Electrical and Computer Engineering. Use of computers at work or some experience programming are not considered to be equivalent to a CS degree and courses.

For students who do not possess a bachelor's degree in CS, the following UTCS undergraduate courses, or equivalent, are required as background for our graduate degrees. They are not prerequisites for admission, however, and can be satisfied after admission to the program, either through enrolling in the course or taking an exam to demonstrate your knowledge:

Discrete Math for Computer Science (CS 311)
Introduction to Programming (CS 312)
Data Structures (CS 314)
Algorithms and Complexity (CS 331)
Computer Organization and Architecture (CS 429)
Principles of Computer Systems (CS 439)

Please see the undergraduate course descriptions for more information about the material covered in these courses. Syllabi for most courses are posted online by the professor and can be found with a quick web search. We do not advise prospective students on specific coursework to take outside of UT-Austin. For prospective students who are seeking to enhance their application by completing background courses prior to applying, we recommend enrolling in a similar course at your local university. Online coursework is generally not considered sufficient to clear the background requirements for our on-campus program but can be used to gain CS experience that would be considered when our committee reviews your application. You may include online courses you’ve taken on your CV. 

[Permalink]

May I apply to both the PhD and Master's programs?

Applicants may only apply to one program.

[Permalink]

May I apply for the master's program if I have an equivalent level of degree in Computer Science or a closely related field?

No. The master's admissions committee will not admit a student with a degree that is closely related to our MSCS.  You may apply for the PhD program instead.

[Permalink]

Does the CS Department accept spring or summer applications?

No, the CS Department only accepts Fall applications for our on-campus programs.

Our Master of Computer Science Online program, however, does accept spring applications. You can find more information about applying to the online program at https://www.cs.utexas.edu/graduate-program/masters-program/msonline. Questions regarding the online program? Please email msonline@cs.utexas.edu.

[Permalink]

I am a current or former UT-Austin graduate student from another department. May I apply to the CS graduate program?

Yes - Current and former graduate students at The University of Texas at Austin who wish to change majors to the CS Department may apply during the regular admissions season.

Please follow the instructions for requesting a change of major: https://gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/change-of-graduate.... Some important notes:

  • You should use the US Graduate Application form in ApplyTexas even if you aren’t a US citizen or permanent resident.
  • You will be automaticaly billed via MyStatus for your UT Austin transcript. Do not request an official paper transcript from the Office of the Registrar directly.
  • You must also submit the required CS Department Supplement materials. All application deadlines apply. See https://www.cs.utexas.edu/graduate/prospective-students/apply for full application instructions.
[Permalink]

What criteria are used to evaluate students for admission to the department?

The main criteria used to evaluate applicants for graduate study in CS are grades, test scores, computer science background, letters of reference, and a statement of purpose. We encourage applicants to provide a resume and publications (if any). Applications are evaluated holistically, and admissions decisions are made based on the pool of applicants for a given year.

No one factor will affect admission, but a strong applicant to our program might have:
GRE-Q 166 or more and GRE-V 160 or more;
GPA 3.5 or more from a good university; 
Mostly A's in Math and upper CS courses such as Operating Systems, Compilers, Networks, Algorithms, AI, Architecture; 
Internship at a prestigious lab, interesting research projects, paper(s);
Strong letters, especially from research supervisor or professors.

While not required, a previous CS bachelor’s degree is strongly recommended since admission is very competitive. Successful applicants usually have an undergraduate degree in CS or a closely related area such as Electrical and Computer Engineering. Applicants admitted to the Texas Computer Science graduate program usually have shown their skills in CS by achieving a better than average GPA in their CS courses. For the application, you will be asked to provide transcripts. Any additional experience may be included in your statement of purpose or CV. Use of computers at work or some experience programming are not considered to be equivalent to a CS degree and courses.

[Permalink]

Is there a minimum GPA requirement?

A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or comparable grade point average in upper-division work (junior- and senior-level courses) and in any graduate work already completed is required. Applicants admitted to the UT Computer Science graduate program usually have shown their skills in CS by achieving a better than average GPA in their CS courses.

If your GPA does not meet the minimum requirement—or if you feel that your GPA is not a valid indicator of your ability— you may explain your concerns in your statement of purpose.

[Permalink]

How do I transfer to UTCS from another graduate program?

Students hoping to transfer to the on-campus UTCS graduate program must apply into the program during the regular admissions period and follow the same deadlines and requirements as all other prospective students. Please see the Apply page for instructions.

[Permalink]

I applied last year – do I need to resubmit my GRE/TOEFL scores?

The Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC) typically keeps applicants' official test scores on file for a year. After you submit your application, if the scores are still on file you will see them posted to your MyStatus page  https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/adm/mystatus/. If you have further questions about your official GRE/TOEFL scores, please contact GIAC https://gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions/contact.

[Permalink]

Are there minimum GRE scores required for admission and can I submit my GRE scores after the deadline?

There is no minimum GRE test score, however applicants admitted to the CS graduate program usually have high quantitative GRE scores and a math background that includes study through some discrete math. If you feel that your test scores are not valid indicators of your ability, you should explain your concerns in your statement of purpose.

As a temporary accommodation in response to COVID-19, the GRE requirement will be waived for all applicants for the Fall 2024 semester. Students may continue to submit official GRE scores for consideration, but they will not be required to do so. GRE scores when provided, will continue to serve as just one of the many factors considered in our review of a student’s application. Please take into consideration that providing GRE scores can bolster your application if there are aspects of your application that you feel may be not as competitive as others. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us and we can better assist you. Please allow up to 72 hours after submitting your application for the GRE to be removed from the “To-Do” items on your MyStatus page.

[Permalink]

Are there minimum TOEFL/IELTS scores and can I submit my scores after the deadline?

The minimum scores considered acceptable for admission by the Graduate School are:

  • TOEFL: 79 on the Internet-based test (iBT)
  • IELTS: An overall band of 6.5 on the Academic Examination

Please see https://gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/international-stud... for additional information.**

For full consideration, you must report your scores to the CS Department Supplement by the application deadline: December 15 (23:59 CST)

In addition to self-reporting your scores to the CS Department Supplement, you must request that the testing agency send an official score report to UT-Austin. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) institution code for UT Austin is 6882. There is no institutional code for the IELTS examination. To fulfill the requirement with scores from the IELTS, please use the IELTS electronic score delivery service to send your scores to the “University of Texas at Austin” account.

These scores will be uploaded to your MyStatus page and will be available for viewing by the admissions committee. Official score reports may arrive to UT-Austin after the Dec. 15 deadline, however please note that late scores may delay the final review of your application. If you have questions about the receipt of your official TOEFL/IELTS scores, please contact the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC) at giatest@austin.utexas.edu.

**International applicants who are from a qualifying country are exempt from this requirement. Additionally, applicants are exempt from the requirement if they possess a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution or a qualifying countryThe requirement is not waived for applicants who have earned a master’s—but not a bachelor’s—degree from a similar institution.

[Permalink]

Can I waive the TOEFL/IELTS?

International applicants who are from a qualifying country are exempt from this requirement. Additionally, applicants are exempt from the requirement if they possess a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution or a qualifying country.The requirement is not waived for applicants who have earned a master’s—but not a bachelor’s—degree from a similar institution.

If you have further questions regarding the TOEFL/IELTS requirement or waivers, please email giatest@austin.utexas.edu.
 

[Permalink]

Where should ETS send my test scores?

For GRE and TOEFL scores, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) institution code for UT-Austin is 6882. It is not necessary to use a department code.

There is no institutional code for the IELTS examination. To fulfill the requirement with scores from the IELTS, please use the IELTS electronic score delivery service to send your scores to the “University of Texas at Austin” account.

[Permalink]

Can I submit expired scores?

GRE scores must be valid at the time an applicant applies, however expired TOEFL scores are typically accepted at the discretion of the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC); after submitting your application, you may email your expired TOEFL score report to giatest@austin.utexas.edu for their review. Please include your EID in your message.

[Permalink]

What are the requirements for scanning/uploading my transcripts to the CS Department Supplement?

  • Transcript must be official
  • English translations required
  • Obliterate social security numbers
  • Include 1 scan of the grading information ("transcript key") if it isn't on the front of the transcript.
  • May submit ‘mark sheets’ if your university does not provide transcripts.
  • Must have proof of degree on transcript or on separate page.  If not available at time of application this will be requested later if you are admitted.
  • Do not scan back of document to show Official stamps.
  • Shrink images to <= 5Mb
  • Check your scan before uploading. Is it legible?
[Permalink]

Can I update my transcripts, CV, publications, etc. after the deadline?

You may update your transcript by logging into the CS Department Supplement: http://apply.cs.utexas.edu/grad/. Late information may not be included in our initial review but will be available to our review committee during their deliberations. 

Once the supplement is closed (Feb. 1), we will no longer accept updates to application materials.
 

[Permalink]

Do I need to submit a foreign credential evaluation from WES or another organization?

No, a foreign credential evaluation is not required. If a transcript is written in a language other than English, a complete and official English translation must be uploaded together with the original transcript.

[Permalink]

Where do I find my ApplyTexas ID#?

The ApplyTexas ID refers to your 10-digit application ID, which was automatically assigned when you first saved your ApplyTexas application. See image. If you log into the ApplyTexas site, you will see it displayed with your application.

[Permalink]

Do I select that I am applying into a two year institution or a four-year institution on the ApplyTexas application?

UT Austin is a four year institution. You will not find the application unless you select "four-year institution" on your ApplyTexas application, even if you expect to complete the degree in two years.

[Permalink]

What are the general guidelines for the statement of purpose?

The statement of purpose should be approximately 2 pages describing the applicant's reasons for pursuing graduate study as well as their academic and professional interests and goals. This may include events/experiences that prepared you for CS graduate study and how your interests complement the department's faculty and research. While there are no fixed formatting requirements, students should use their best judgement when making editorial decisions such as the font, font size, etc., of their statement of purpose.

[Permalink]

What are the general guidelines for letters of reference?

Who should I pick as my recommenders? Can I have professional references?

Three letters of reference are required, but you may provide up to 5 references. Professional references are accepted. Your letter-writers should be able to speak to your CS abilities and should emphasize research experience and academic achievements, particularly in computer science.

Will letter writers receive a duplicate request from ApplyTexas?

You may submit your recommenders’ contact information to both sites - the information submitted to the ApplyTexas site will be collected for the University’s records, however your recommenders are only contacted via the information you provided to the CS supplement site. They will not receive a duplicate request from ApplyTexas.

How do I check the status of my letters? My letter writers haven’t received requests yet.

Recommenders must upload their letters to an online portal; submission instructions will be emailed to your recommenders after you provide their contact information to the CS Department Supplement. An initial email and a reminder are sent automatically. Some email systems filter our email requests as spam/junk. Please ask your letter writers to set any spam/junk filters to receive email from csadmis@cs.utexas.edu

You may view the status of your letters or queue a new request to be sent by logging in at here and clicking “REVIEW MY INFO"

Our system sends out the letter requests once a day in an overnight batch - “Request Pending” means that the letter request will be sent out in the next batch. “We asked for a letter” means that a letter request was emailed to the recommender. Once your recommender has submitted their letter, you will see it indicated under their name that the letter has been received.

Your CS supplement does not need to be “submitted” in order for your recommenders to be contacted, and you may submit your application before all of your recommendations have arrived.

How do I update my list of recommenders?

You may update your recommenders by logging in at http://apply.cs.utexas.edu/grad. Updates cannot be made to the ApplyTexas application, but this will not cause any issues. We only use the information you provide to the CS Department Supplement to contact your recommenders.

When updating your recommenders, please *remove* the recommender you no longer wish contacted and then add the new recommender. Up to five letters of recommendation are permitted.

Can my recommenders submit letters through Interfolio?

We do not accept materials through Interfolio. Recommenders must upload their letters to an online portal; submission instructions will be emailed to them at the address you provide in your application. 

When are letters due? Will you still consider my application if a letter of recommendation is late or missing? Will you review late letters?

Letters of recommendation should be received by December 20 (17:00 CST) for full consideration, however we will continue to accept letters throughout the evaluation process. Your application will still be considered with late or missing letters of recommendation. Late information won't be included in our initial ranking process but will be available to our review committee during their deliberations. If the admissions committee has already reviewed your application before you make changes, it is not guaranteed that your application will be reviewed again. 

[Permalink]

What is the cost of attendance?

Full-time (9-hour) Tuition Rate 2021-22

In-State: $4,608 per semester    Out-of-State: $9,081 per semester

For additional Cost of Attendance information, please visit https://gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions/where-to-begin/cost-of-attendance

Successful applicants to the PhD program for fall semesters will be considered for doctoral fellowships during the application process. In addition to the doctoral fellowships, teaching assistantships and graduate research assistantships may be offered to PhD students for up to five academic years. Most PhD students obtain a graduate research assistantship by the second or third year of the program, working under a research supervisor. Please see the financial information page for more information about funding available for students in the PhD program.

We do not offer financial assistance with admission to the master's program. Teaching and research positions are sometimes available; however, students who apply to the master's program should be prepared to finance their study here. A summer internship between years is often available through one of the companies who are Friends of Computer Science (FoCS). These internships help our master's students fund their study and provide valuable professional experience.

[Permalink]

How long does the master’s program take to complete? What financial aid, scholarships, funding, etc. are offered?

Our Master's degree takes approximately two years to complete or may be completed in one and a half years if you decide to take an additional course in one of the semesters you are here. More information on our program options can be found at: https://www.cs.utexas.edu/graduate-program/masters-program

 

Financial Information:
 

Tuition and Cost of Attendance information is available on our Prospective Student page.

We do not offer financial assistance with admission to the Master's program. Teaching and research positions are sometimes available; however, students who accept our offer should be prepared to finance their study here. A summer internship between years is often available through one of the companies who participate in our Friends of Computer Science (FoCS) program. You can view the current list on the FoCS partners page.

These internships often help our Master's students fund their study and provide valuable professional experience.

[Permalink]

Do you offer fee waivers?

Information regarding application fee waivers may be found at here. Since the University has a limited amount of money to support the funding of fee waivers, we are unable to waive the application fee for international applicants. We cannot defer application fees for either U.S. or International applicants. If you have further questions regarding the application fee waiver, please reach out to Shannon Neuse, whose information may be found through the previous link.

[Permalink]

Do I need to contact faculty before applying to the PhD program?

If you are considering applying to the PhD program, we encourage you to visit our research page. There you will be able to get an overview of the range of projects that you might want to join if you come to UT. When applying to our PhD program, you will have an opportunity to indicate on the application form your areas of interest and which professors you are interested in working with. Applicants are not required to contact faculty outside of the application; many professors are not be able to respond to prospective student inquiries and some professors ask that prospective students do not contact them directly. I recommend that you start by checking out their homepages, which you can access on the UTCS Faculty page.

For more information regarding our programs, application process, and eligibility criteria, please visit our Prospective Students page and FAQ.

[Permalink]

How do I check the status of my Application?

You have two status check sites:

1. CS Department Supplement http://apply.cs.utexas.edu/grad/. Here, you can check whether you have submitted all of the required application items and send reminders to your references. Your application must be complete here for the admissions committee to review your application.

2. GIAC MyStatus: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/adm/mystatus/. This is the status check site for the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC). GIAC verifies application information, test scores, residency and admissions GPA calculations/equivalencies. If you have questions about the information your MyStatus page, please contact GIAC https://gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions/contact.

 

[Permalink]

I went to 3 undergraduate institutions. Should I upload transcripts for all of them?

 The CS department supplement only allows for 2 undergraduate institutions to be uploaded.  If you have attended more than 2 undergraduate institutions, please use the first slot to upload your transcript from the university that has/will award(ed) your undergraduate degree. For the 2nd slot, you may upload your transcript for the coursework you think best reflects your CS abilities.

Transcripts for all universities you’ve attended should be uploaded separately to the MyStatus page.

[Permalink]

Can I submit my undergraduate/master’s thesis as a publication?

Our admissions committee will give more weight to publications that appear in internationally recognized conferences and academic journals. If you are unsure of whether to include your publication in your application, I recommend reaching out to your academic advisor for guidance.

[Permalink]

Can I submit a publication that is still under review?

Our admissions committee will give more weight to a paper that has been published. If you do upload the paper, please be sure to make it clear that the paper is under review (to not cause confusion when the admissions committee reviews your materials).

[Permalink]

Can I report internship experience for my employment history in ApplyTexas?

You may enter internship information in the employment history section. The information submitted to the ApplyTexas site will be collected for the University’s records, however our admissions committee will review work history on the CV you provide to the CS Department Supplement, so be sure to also provide us with your CV if you would like your internship experience considered.

[Permalink]

Do you accept applications after the deadline? If I forget to submit the required CS Supplemental application, will my application still be reviewed?

Our application deadline is firm. As noted in our application instructions, the CS Department Supplement is a required part of the application process. Once the deadline has passed, so if you have not already created an account on our CS Supplemental Application site before December 15, then your application cannot be considered by our committee.

The application process may take several weeks to complete; you should apply well in advance of the deadline to ensure adequate time to submit all required items before the December 15 deadline to the on-campus UTCS graduate program.

Please note that applications can take up to 72 hours to load to the University of Texas at Austin system after submission of the application form. Students who do not begin the ApplyTexas application early enough to allow their application to load in the UT Austin system may not be able to complete the required UTCS Supplemental application, which will result in their application not being considered for admission.

[Permalink]

How long does it take to apply? How early should I begin the application?

The application process may take several weeks to complete; you should apply well in advance of the deadline to ensure adequate time to submit all required items before the December 15 deadline to the on-campus UTCS graduate program.

Please note that applications can take up to 72 hours to load to the University of Texas at Austin system after submission of the application form. Students who do not begin the ApplyTexas application early enough to allow their application to load to the UT Austin system may not be able to complete the required UTCS Supplemental application, which will result in their application not being considered for admission.
 

[Permalink]

Do you admit non-degree seekers? Can I enroll as a non-degree seeker?

Our program does not admit non-degree seeking students, so you would not be able to register for course credit; however in rare cases, some instructors will allow auditing of their courses. See this page for information on how to do that. You would need to contact the instructor directly to obtain their consent.

[Permalink]

Who can I contact if I have a question not answered in the FAQ?

The best contact for your question depends on where you are experiencing an issue.

  • For assistance with the ApplyTexas application, please see the Apply Texas FAQ.
  • For assistance with transcripts, test scores, or the information as it appears on your MyStatus page, please contact GIAC.
  • If you have additional questions related specifically to the UTCS on-campus graduate programs, please email UTCS On-Campus Graduate Admissions.
[Permalink]
Academy for iOS App Development

Where is the academy located?

The Academy for iOS App Development is hosted by the Department of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin in the Gates-Dell Complex. All activities are hosted on the UT Austin campus, which is where students will stay for the duration of the program.

[Permalink]

Who can attend?

Students entering grades 9-12 in Fall 2024 are eligible to register.

[Permalink]

How do I enroll? Is there an application?

Students do not need to submit an application for the Academy for iOS App Development. Click the “Enroll now” button on the webpage and you will be walked through the enrollment process in the Ideal-Logic portal. When you enroll, be sure to select “Community Login,” not “University of Texas Login.” Please see information on prerequisites below.

[Permalink]

Do I have to have previous experience with programming or app development?

Students in this academy should be at an intermediate programming level and should have prior experience with programming in languages such as C++, Java, or Python. All participants in this academy must bring a 13-inch or larger MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.

[Permalink]

What will we be doing?

Students will create simple apps for the iPhone and iPad and install them on their personal devices. They will code projects with advanced features of Swift, Apple's strategic programming language, and learn to use Xcode, Apple's official tool for software development.

Outside of lab time, students will attend guest speaker presentations and activities, tour UT facilities, and join various social activities.

[Permalink]

Who are the instructors?

All UT Computer Science Summer Academies are led by UT Austin Computer Science faculty members. More information on each faculty member can be found in the Academy Staff section.

[Permalink]

What is the cost? What is included?

The cost of tuition for the 6-day immersive academy is $2,100. Housing, meals, instruction, and all educational and recreational activities are included in the cost.

All participants in this academy must bring a 13-inch or larger MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. We are unfortunately unable to provide Apple computers to students for this program.

Academy tuition scholarships are available on a limited basis. Registrants with financial need can apply for a scholarship by completing the scholarship application, which will open on January 31, 2024 with registration for the Summer 2024 academies.

[Permalink]

What are the housing accommodations like? What are the meals like?

Students will stay in one of the residence halls on the UT Austin campus. To learn more about the UT Austin residence halls, visit: housing.utexas.edu/housing/residence-halls. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided for the academy participants. Students will eat at one of the main dining halls on campus. Top 9 allergen-free meals are available. For more information on dining, visit: housing.utexas.edu/dining/dining-locations/dining-halls.

Each student will be assigned to a residence hall room with a roommate. Rooms are shared with another student of the same gender and all residence hall floors are split by gender. Each floor has counselors of the same gender as students on that floor. Please contact us with any specific questions.

[Permalink]

I have a special accommodations concern – who can I talk to?

Please email our team at academies@cs.utexas.edu and we will direct you to our Academy Accommodations Coordinator. Please be as specific as possible in your message so we can best assist you.

[Permalink]

How are participants supervised?

Academy participants are supervised at all times. Each participant will be placed into a group of around 10 students and will be supervised by a counselor 24 hours a day. Our daytime counselors, Program Assistants, provide supervision and help students in the computer lab and during programming activities. Our evening counselors, Resident Assistants, provide supervision and engage students in social activities and stay in the dorms overnight.

[Permalink]

What is the academy schedule?

Typically, students have breakfast around 7:30 in the morning and begin their first activity at 9:00 am. From 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, students are either in the computer lab working on their projects, taking a break for lunch, attending a guest lecture, or touring campus. After dinner, students will participate in various social activities including bowling, movie night, basketball, and more. All academy participants return back to their residence hall each night by 9:30 pm.

[Permalink]
Academy for Game Development

Where is the academy located?

The Academy for Game Development is hosted by the Department of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin in the Gates-Dell Complex. All activities are hosted on the UT Austin campus, which is where students will stay for the duration of the program.

[Permalink]

Who can attend?

Students entering grades 9-12 in Fall 2024 are eligible to register.

[Permalink]

How do I enroll? Is there an application?

Students do not need to submit an application for the Academy for Game Development. Click the “Enroll now” button on the webpage and you will be walked through the enrollment process in the Ideal-Logic portal. When you enroll, be sure to select “Community Login,” not “University of Texas Login” and select the correct program (1-week virtual only or 2-week hybrid). Enrollment contains contact, emergency, and medical information, as well as subject matter-related background information and agreements for both participants and parents/guardians to sign.

[Permalink]

Do I have to have previous experience with programming or game development?

No programming experience? No problem! Our labs are designed to teach you to program or expand your programming skills to accomplish the project. All participants should be interested in games and the game development process.

[Permalink]

What will we be doing?

Students will learn from UT Computer Science faculty to delve into the web-based game development process, including programming, art, and game design. Students will collaboratively work alongside a small group of peers to bring a game to life.

[Permalink]

Who are the instructors?

All UT Computer Science Summer Academies are led by UT Austin Computer Science faculty members. More information on each faculty member can be found in the Academy Staff section.

[Permalink]

What is the cost? What is included?

The cost of tuition for the one-week virtual option is $799, which includes immersive and engaging online programming from around 10am-5pm CT each day.

The tuition for the two-week hybrid option is $2,500 and includes one week of virtual programming followed by a 6-day in-person academy on the UT Austin campus. Housing, meals, instruction, and all educational and recreational activities are included in the cost.

Academy scholarships are available on a limited basis. Registrants with financial need can apply for a scholarship by completing the scholarship application, which will open on January 31, 2024 with registration for the Summer 2024 academies.

[Permalink]

What are the housing accommodations like? What are the meals like?

Students will stay in one of the residence halls on the UT Austin campus. To learn more about the UT Austin residence halls, visit: housing.utexas.edu/housing/residence-halls. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided for the academy participants. Students will eat at one of the main dining halls on campus. Top 9 allergen-free meals are available. For more information on dining, visit: housing.utexas.edu/dining/dining-locations/dining-halls.

Each student will be assigned to a residence hall room with a roommate. Rooms are shared with another student of the same gender and all residence hall floors are split by gender. Each floor has counselors of the same gender as students on that floor. Please contact us with any specific questions.

[Permalink]

I have a special accommodations concern – who can I talk to?

Please email our team at academies@cs.utexas.edu and we will direct you to our Academy Accommodations Coordinator. Please be as specific as possible in your message so we can best assist you.

[Permalink]

How are participants supervised?

Academy participants are supervised at all times. Online, trained UTCS Program Assistants supervise all sessions in coordination with the faculty instructor. In person, each participant will be placed into a group of around 10 students and will be supervised by a counselor 24 hours a day. Our daytime counselors, Program Assistants, provide supervision and help students in the computer lab and during programming activities. Our evening counselors, Resident Assistants, provide supervision and engage students in social activities and stay in the dorms overnight.

[Permalink]

What is the academy schedule?

For the virtual week, students will be in Zoom sessions from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm CT, break for lunch, and have additional sessions from 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm CT. Sessions will be a mixture of faculty lectures, small group work, and individual focused time working on group projects. Students will receive guidance and mentorship from faculty and Program Assistants during all Zoom sessions.

During the in-person week of the hybrid edition, students have breakfast around 7:30 in the morning and begin their first activity at 9:00 am. From 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, students are either in the computer lab working on their group projects, taking a break for lunch, attending a guest lecture, or touring departments on campus. After dinner, students will participate in various social activities including bowling, movie night, basketball, and more. All academy participants return back to their residence hall each night by 9:30 pm.

[Permalink]
Academy for Robotics

Where is the academy located?

The Academy for Robotics is co-hosted by the Department of Computer Science and Texas Robotics at The University of Texas at Austin in the Gates-Dell Complex. Students will also spend time in the Engineering Education and Research Center and the Anna Hiss Gym. All activities are hosted on the UT Austin campus, which is where students will stay for the duration of the program.

[Permalink]

Who can attend?

Students entering grades 9-12 in Fall 2024 are eligible to register.

[Permalink]

How do I enroll? Is there an application?

Students do not need to submit an application for the Academy for Robotics. Click the “Enroll now” button on the webpage and you will be walked through the enrollment process in the Ideal-Logic portal. When you enroll, be sure to select “Community Login,” not “University of Texas Login.” Enrollment contains contact, emergency, and medical information, as well as subject matter-related background information and agreements for both participants and parents/guardians to sign.

[Permalink]

Do I have to have previous experience with programming or robotics?

No programming experience? No problem! Our labs are designed to teach you to program or expand your programming skills to accomplish the project. Some experience with C++ programming may be beneficial but is not required.

[Permalink]

What will we be doing?

Students will work with a small group of peers to assemble and program the Bot’n Roll One A robot. Once assembled, you will learn introductory C++ programming and participate in coding projects that will ultimately allow you to compete in a robot race against other students.

Outside of lab time, students will attend guest speaker presentations, engage in programming with faculty from Texas Robotics, tour UT facilities, and join various social activities. 

[Permalink]

Who are the instructors?

All UT Computer Science Summer Academies are led by UT Austin Computer Science faculty members. More information on each faculty member can be found in the Academy Staff section. The Academy for Robotics is also guided by Program Assistants, who are current undergraduate students trained to assist in robotics assembly and programming.

[Permalink]

What is the cost? What is included?

The cost of tuition for the 6-day immersive academy is $2,100. Housing, meals, instruction, and all educational and recreational activities are included in the cost.

Academy scholarships are available on a limited basis. Registrants with financial need can apply for a scholarship by completing the scholarship application, which will open on January 31, 2024 with registration for the Summer 2024 academies.

[Permalink]

What are the housing accommodations like? What are the meals like?

Students will stay in one of the residence halls on the UT Austin campus. To learn more about the UT Austin residence halls, visit: housing.utexas.edu/housing/residence-halls. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided for the academy participants. Students will eat at one of the main dining halls on campus. Top 9 allergen-free meals are available. For more information on dining, visit: housing.utexas.edu/dining/dining-locations/dining-halls.

Each student will be assigned to a residence hall room with a roommate. Rooms are shared with another student of the same gender and all residence hall floors are split by gender. Each floor has counselors of the same gender as students on that floor. Please contact us with any specific questions.

[Permalink]

I have a special accommodations concern – who can I talk to?

Please email our team at academies@cs.utexas.edu and we will direct you to our Academy Accommodations Coordinator. Please be as specific as possible in your message so we can best assist you.

[Permalink]

How are participants supervised?

Academy participants are supervised at all times. Each participant will be placed into a group of around 10 students and will be supervised by a counselor 24 hours a day. Our daytime counselors, Program Assistants, provide supervision and help students in the computer lab and during programming activities. Our evening counselors, Resident Assistants, provide supervision and engage students in social activities and stay in the dorms overnight.

[Permalink]

What is the academy schedule?

Typically, students have breakfast around 7:30 in the morning and begin their first activity at 8:30 am. From 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, students are either in the computer lab working on their group projects, taking a break for lunch, attending a guest lecture, or touring departments on campus. After dinner, students will participate in various social activities including bowling, movie night, basketball, and more. All academy participants return back to their residence hall each night by 9:30 pm.

[Permalink]
Application-Based Academies

Where is the academy located?

The Academy for Women and Academy for All are hosted by the Department of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin in the Gates-Dell Complex.

[Permalink]

Who can attend?

Students entering grades 10-12 in Fall 2024 are eligible to apply.

[Permalink]

Can I apply to multiple academies?

Students are encouraged to apply to both Academy for Women and Academy for All sessions, if applicable. Please note that students will only be admitted to one session. If you apply to multiple sessions, you may list your preferences in the application. 

[Permalink]

Do I have to have previous experience with programming?

No programming experience? No problem! Our labs are designed to teach you to program or expand your programming skills to accomplish the project.

[Permalink]

What materials are required in the application?

Students must provide their contact information, academic records, a brief essay, their most recent progress report, and an unofficial transcript.

[Permalink]

What will we be doing?

Join us as we use the Arduino microcontroller to program LED light displays - you will work with a small group of peers to make your lights put on a show or dance to music. Students in the Academy for All Machine Learning Edition will learn how to understand and implement machine learning concepts. 

 

Outside of lab time, students will attend guest speaker presentations, tour UT facilities, and join various social activities. A field trip to a local tech company to meet corporate representatives and learn about their experience in CS may also be included in the weekly schedule.

[Permalink]

Who are the instructors?

All UT Computer Science Summer Academies are led by UT Austin Computer Science faculty members. More information on each faculty member can be found in the Academy Staff section.

[Permalink]

What is the cost? What is included?

There is no cost to participate in Academy for Women or Academy for All. Housing and meals for the week-long program are also included. Students may apply for travel scholarships for up to $500 to help pay for transportation to and from Austin if needed.

[Permalink]

What are the housing accommodations like? What are the meals like?

Students will stay in one of the residence halls on the UT Austin campus. To learn more about the UT Austin residence halls, visit: housing.utexas.edu/housing/residence-halls. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided for the academy participants. Students will eat at one of the main dining halls on campus. Top 9 allergen-free meals are available. For more information on dining, visit: housing.utexas.edu/dining/dining-locations/dining-halls.

Each student will be assigned to a residence hall room with a roommate. Rooms are shared with another student of the same gender and all residence hall floors are split by gender. Each floor has counselors of the same gender as students on that floor. Please contact us with any specific questions.

[Permalink]

I have a special accommodations concern – who can I talk to?

Please email our team at academies@cs.utexas.edu and we will direct you to our Academy Accommodations Coordinator. Please be as specific as possible in your message so we can best assist you.

[Permalink]

How are participants supervised?

Academy participants are supervised at all times. Each participant will be placed into a group of around 10 students and will be supervised by a counselor 24 hours a day. Our daytime counselors, Program Assistants, provide supervision and help students in the computer lab and during programming activities. Our evening counselors, Resident Assistants, provide supervision and engage students in social activities and stay in the dorms overnight.

[Permalink]

What is the academy schedule?

Typically, students have breakfast around 7:30 in the morning and begin their first activity at 8:30 am. From 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, students are either in the computer lab working on their group projects, taking a break for lunch, attending a guest lecture, or touring different departments on campus. After dinner, students will participate in various social activities including bowling, movie night, basketball, volleyball and more. All academy participants return back to their residence hall each night by 9:30 pm.

[Permalink]
Academy for Machine Learning

Where is the academy located?

The Academy for Machine Learning is hosted by the Department of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin in the Gates-Dell Complex. All activities are hosted on the UT Austin campus, which is where students will stay for the duration of the program.

[Permalink]

Who can attend?

Students entering grades 9-12 in Fall 2024 are eligible to register.

[Permalink]

How do I enroll? Is there an application?

Students do not need to submit an application for the Academy for Machine Learning. Click the “Enroll now” button on the webpage and you will be walked through the enrollment process in the Ideal-Logic portal.

[Permalink]

Do I have to have previous experience with programming or machine learning?

No programming experience? No problem! Our labs are designed to teach you to program or expand your programming skills to accomplish the project.

[Permalink]

What will we be doing?

Students will explore programming in Python as they dive into the fundamentals of machine learning. They will learn from UT faculty and work alongside peers to implement machine learning concepts and discuss societal implications of the field.

Outside of lab time, students will attend guest speaker presentations, tour UT facilities, and join various social activities.

[Permalink]

Who are the instructors?

All UT Computer Science Summer Academies are led by UT Austin Computer Science faculty members. More information on each faculty member can be found in the Academy Staff section.

[Permalink]

What is the cost? What is included?

The cost of tuition for the 6-day immersive academy is $2,100. Housing, meals, instruction, and all educational and recreational activities are included in the cost.

Academy scholarships are available on a limited basis. Registrants with financial need can apply for a scholarship by completing the scholarship application, which will open on January 31, 2024 with registration for the Summer 2024 academies.

[Permalink]

What are the housing accommodations like? What are the meals like?

Students will stay in one of the residence halls on the UT Austin campus. To learn more about the UT Austin residence halls, visit: housing.utexas.edu/housing/residence-halls. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided for the academy participants. Students will eat at one of the main dining halls on campus. Top 9 allergen-free meals are available. For more information on dining, visit: housing.utexas.edu/dining/dining-locations/dining-halls.

Each student will be assigned to a residence hall room with a roommate. Rooms are shared with another student of the same gender and all residence hall floors are split by gender. Each floor has counselors of the same gender as students on that floor. Please contact us with any specific questions.

[Permalink]

I have a special accommodations concern – who can I talk to?

Please email our team at academies@cs.utexas.edu and we will direct you to our Academy Accommodations Coordinator. Please be as specific as possible in your message so we can best assist you.

[Permalink]

How are participants supervised?

Academy participants are supervised at all times. Each participant will be placed into a group of around 10 students and will be supervised by a counselor 24 hours a day. Our daytime counselors, Program Assistants, provide supervision and help students in the computer lab and during programming activities. Our evening counselors, Resident Assistants, provide supervision and engage students in social activities and stay in the dorms overnight.

[Permalink]

What is the academy schedule?

Typically, students have breakfast around 7:30 in the morning and begin their first activity at 8:30 am. From 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, students are either in the computer lab working on their group projects, taking a break for lunch, attending a guest lecture, or touring departments on campus. After dinner, students will participate in various social activities including bowling, movie night, basketball, and more. All academy participants return to their residence hall each night by 9:30 pm.

[Permalink]