Summer 2023 Orientation
WELCOME!
- Welcome to all incoming Mathematics, Physics, & Astronomy students. This site contains important information and tasks for incoming freshmen and transfer students to complete before, during, and after your online orientation session.
- You can stay up-to-date with general UT orientation information here.
- Make sure to view all of the general CNS orientation presentations and handouts here.
- Follow the CNS Center for First-Year Advising on social media (@CNS_Advising) during your orientation week for a chance to win CNS swag: Instagram and Twitter.
BEFORE ORIENTATION
**IMPORTANT** - VIEW OUR ORIENTATION ADVISING POWER POINTS
You will meet with an Academic Advisor on Day 2 of Orientation to discuss your interests and plan a schedule for fall. The information in the PowerPoint presentation found here will help prepare you to consider course options and make decisions.
- Orientation 2023 PowerPoint for Math Majors
- Orientation 2023 PowerPoint for Physics & Astronomy Majors
**PLEASE NOTE** - ALL INCOMING CNS STUDENTS MUST TAKE THE UT MATH ASSESSMENT (UTMA) BEFORE THEIR ORIENTATION STARTS.
DURING ORIENTATION
Day 1: Late afternoon or evening might be a good time to review the powerpoint presentation mentioned above.
Day 2: All students will have an individual advising appointment with an Academic Advisor. You will receive an invitation to your appointment the Thursday before Day 1. (Please check your junk mail if you do not receive yours, and send an email to mpaadv@austin.utexas.edu if it is not there.) Orientation Advisors (experienced students) will be available before and after your advising appointment to provide information and answer questions. If needed, the Academic Advisor you meet with will refer you to a Faculty Advisor.
Day 3: You will have a chance to learn about your department and ask questions in a meeting with a Faculty Advisor or Advisors and possibly some experienced students. These meetings are scheduled as follows:
- Math Majors – 9:00-10:00 am; weeks 1-5 in PMA 5.214 and weeks 6 & 7 on Zoom (Zoom link to be provided later).
- Physics & Astronomy Majors – 9:15-10:00 am in PMA 5.216.
Academic Advisors will be available throughout most of the day to answer questions and assist with registration via email and on Zoom. The Advising Center is located in PMA 4.101.
- A Welcome Message to Our New Math Majors from Dr. Jennifer Austin can be found here.
- A Welcome Message to Our New Physics Majors from Dr. Greg Sitz can be found here.
social media Resources
Check out any of the Facebook pages that you may be interested in: Mathematics, UT Association for Women in Mathematics, Actuarial Science Club at UT, Texas SPS (Society of Physics Students), Astronomy Students Association.
ALL ACTIVE DEGREE PLANS:
Degree requirements for each plan can vary greatly by catalog year. Degree requirements on older catalogs may include courses that are no longer offered, due to the changes in the MPA curriculum.
For students on older degree plans, consult your advisor and your degree audit to confirm your degree requirements.
Degree Checklists
Four-Year Sample Plans
Additional Information
Math
Physics
Office Location and Hours
There are generally at least two Academic Advisors in the MPA Advising Center Monday through Friday. When they are in the office, appointments can be over Zoom or in person. Please make your preference clear when you make an appointment. Each Advisor works from home 1 or 2 days per week and will see students over Zoom on those days. The Administrative Associate offers virtual front desk hours as noted below.
Location:
Physics, Math, & Astronomy Building, PMA, room 4.101* (hybrid until further notice).
Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
We are open year-round (except on University holidays).
Virtual Front Desk:
via Zoom
Monday - Friday
8:30-11:30 a.m., 1:00-3:00 p.m., 4:00-4:30 p.m.
Phone/Fax:
Phone: (512) 471-0900
Fax: (512) 232-6230
Email Address:
mpaadv@austin.utexas.edu
Mailing Address:
The University of Texas at Austin
MPA Advising Center
PMA 4.101
2515 Speedway
Austin, TX 78712
Twitter:
@mpaadv
Instagram:
@mpaadv
Please EMAIL us to make an appointment with AN advisor.
Academic Advisor Coordinator
Olivia Biehle
email
Academic Advisor
Jennifer McHam
email
Academic Advisor
Nathaniel Sulapas
email
Math Faculty Advisors
Dr. Jennifer Austin and Dr. Theresa Martines
Administrative Associate
Jon Howard
[PLEASE NOTE: All PHY 102M/N, 103M/N, and 117M/N Labs from previous semesters have been replaced by a single series: PHY 105M/N. To streamline course availability, students will be able to take PHY 105M/N to pair with one of the following lower-division physics sequences - PHY 302K/L, PHY 317K/L, or PHY 303K/L - in order to fulfill degree or pre-health requirements.]
Major |
1st semester*Only one of the courses in this column may be counted |
2nd Semester**Only one of the courses in this column may be counted |
|
Physics Majors |
PHY 301 & 101L* Mechanics (Prereq: C- or registration in M 408D, 408L, or M 408S, and PHY 101L)
|
PHY 316 & 116L** Electricity & Magnetism (Prereq: C- or higher in PHY 301 & 101L and C- or registration in M 408D or M 408M, and PHY 116L)
|
|
Engineering Majors |
PHY 303K & 105M* Engineering Physics I: Laws of Motion, Heat, and Wave Phenomena
(Prereq: C- or registration in M 408D, 408L or M 408S, and PHY 103M or 105M)
|
PHY 303L & 105N** Engineering Physics II: Electricity & Magnetism, Optics and Atomic Phenomena (Prereq: C- or higher in PHY 303K & 103M or 105M, and C- or registration in M 408D, or M 408M, and PHY 103N or 105N)
|
|
Science Majors |
PHY 302K & 105M* General Physics Technical Course: Mechanics, Heat & Sound (Prereq: C- or registration for PHY 102M or 105M) (algebra/trig-based)
|
PHY 302L & 105N** General Physics Technical Course: Electricity & Magnetism, Light, Atomic & Nuclear Physics (Prereq: C- or higher in PHY 302K & 102M or 105M and C- or registration for PHY 102N or 105N) |
|
Pre-med Majors |
PHY 317K & 105M* General Physics I: Mechanics, Heat & Sound with Biomedical Applications
(Prereq: C- or higher in M 408C or 408R, or C- in M 408K or 408N and registration for 408L or 408S; and C- or registration for PHY 117M or 105M)
|
PHY 317L & 105N** General Physics II: Electricity & Magnetism, Light, Atomic and Molecular Physics, Nuclear Physics, and their Biomedical Applications (Prereq: C- or higher in PHY 317K & 117M or 105M; and C- or registration for PHY 117N or 105N)
|
|
Non-Science Majors |
PHY 309K* Elementary Physics for Non-Technical Students: Mechanics, Heat & Sound
|
PHY 309L** Elementary Physics for Non-Technical Students: Electricity & Magnetism, Light, Atomic and Nuclear Physic (Prereq: C- or higher in PHY 309K) |
Suggested sequencing of math & physics courses. Consult with a faculty advisor.
Fall, freshman year: M 408C, PHY 110C
Spring, freshman year: M 408D, PHY 301, 101L, 110C
Fall, sophomore year: M 427K or M 427J, PHY 316, 116L
Spring, sophomore year: M 427L, PHY 315, 115L, 355
