System Requirements

Demonstrate your abilities in Math and Chemistry.

A Math (UTMA) assessment is required and chemistry preparation is counted on at The University of Texas at Austin to ensure that students enroll in courses that best fit their abilities and degree requirements.

UT Math Assessment (UTMA)

All new, incoming freshman students admitted into The College of Natural Sciences (CNS) are required to purchase the Math Readiness Package.  

REGARDLESS OF POSSIBLE TRANSFERRED CREDITS, Every new, incoming CNS student is required to purchase the Math Readiness Package and take the UTMA. 

CNS students are not exempt as we use the UTMA for advising for other Math and Science courses including Chemistry and Physics. 

The Math Readiness Package includes a warm up assessment, learning modules, and access to the online proctored UT Math Assessment. 

Non-CNS students are exempt if they are a new, incoming freshman AND:

• Have AP or IB test scores sufficient to claim credit for first semester calculus.
• Scored 30 or higher on the ACT Math, or 670 or higher on the SAT Quantitative within the past year*.
• Have credit for M 305G (Preparation for Calculus) with a B- or higher.

*April 1, 2021 until present

DO I NEED TO TAKE THE UTMA?

College of Natural Sciences: 

Yes.* 

CNS students are not exempt as we use the UTMA for advising for other Math and Science courses including Chemistry and Physics. 

*International exchange students/TAMS students/Transfer students with calculus credit are not required to take the UTMA.

Cockrell School of Engineering:

Yes, if you scored between a 620-669 on the SAT Quantitative, and do not meet an exemption. 

Jackson School of Geosciences:

Yes, if you plan to enroll in calculus in the Fall semester and do not meet an exemption.

McCombs School of Business:

Yes, if you plan to enroll in calculus in the Fall semester and do not meet an exemption.

Liberal Arts majors in Economics and majors in BS Psychology:

Yes, if you plan to enroll in calculus in the Fall semester and do not meet an exemption.

Undergraduate Studies majors planning to transfer into any colleges/majors listed above:

Yes, if you plan to enroll in calculus in the Fall semester and do not meet an exemption.

Students who intend to pursue health sciences or any other degree that may require Calculus:

Yes, if you plan to enroll in calculus in the Fall semester and do not meet an exemption.

Students are limited to two attempts in the summer and two attempts per long semester (Fall & Spring). 

Click here or on the gray Math Assessment button to your right to learn more and get started with the Math Readiness Package.

Chemistry Readiness Assessment

Students planning to take CH 301 (Principles of Chemistry I) are encouraged to work on the Chemistry Readiness Canvas Modules. You will have the opportunity to discuss what courses you will register for with an academic advisor at orientation.

Not all incoming majors will take CH 301. 

 (NO REFUNDs can be issued for this service.) 

 DO NOT PURCHASE THE CHEMISTRY readiness ASSESSMENT 

 The Chemistry modules expire every semester and a new readiness course is created each time you enroll in CH 301.

Click here or on the burnt orange Chemistry Assessment button to your right to learn more about the Chemistry Readiness Program.

The Biology Intensive Workshop is an option for students needing to prepare for BIO 311C courses. 

Since 2012, the College of Natural Sciences has offered a Biology Intensive Workshop for entering freshmen prior to the beginning of fall classes. Students experience college lectures and exams, participate in discussion sessions, practice study skills in breakout sessions and get the chance to network with peers and faculty.

Students are invited to respond to a Registration Survey for the survey, and are contacted around August 1^st, via email from Canvas, with specific workshop schedule information and Zoom links. Be sure to reserve a place, in our workshop Canvas site, in each session you wish to participate: 

Below are examples of courses taught in 2022:

Lesson 1:  Protein structure and function, Dr. Buskirk

Lesson 2: Biological membranes, Dr. Fritz

Lesson 3: DNA and mutations, Dr. Latham

Meeting 4: Meet on Zoom with your BIO 311C instructor

Meeting 5: Getting the most out of your major: events, opportunities and resources in the BIO community, Dr. Partridge.

Meeting 6: Small group problem-solving sessions: get to know your classmates, Dr. Buskirk

Thank you, from Ruth Buskirk

The Biology Intensive Workshop is an optional complimentary workshop for entering CNS freshmen who are registered in BIO 311C.

Workshop activities

Workshop participants will be invited into a temporary Canvas coourse with all workshop materials and resources provided. The workshop is designed to help freshmen entering BIO 311C to understand UT’s course expectations and to introduce you to UT resources for learning biology.  The workshop will include lectures, helpful learning strategies, and breakout groups for problem-solving. You will take short college-level practice quizzes (questions from BIO 311C exams) and discuss the answers afterwards.  

Please email Dr. Ruth Buskirk, rbuskirk@austin.utexas.edu with any additional questions (after reading through all of the information on this site), and please put 'Biology Intensive Workshop' in the subject line. 

You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the Biology Intensive Workshop:

1) You must be an entering freshman at the University of Texas at Austin in Fall 2023.

2) You must be registered in BIO 311C for fall 2023 by July 19th and you must know your class unique number.

3) You must have completed a UT Austin freshman orientation session no later than July 19th.  

4) The Biology Intensive Workshop can be taken on a computer, a tablet, or your smartphone.

Our online technology requirements are:

1. Webcam
2. Microphone
3. Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox web browser

Students registered for the August orientation session cannot attend Biology Intensive Workshops.