Honors

Freshman applicants have two options to apply to honors programs:

1. You can start the process to apply for a freshman honors program by indicating interest on your admission application and responding to the short-answer questions of the program of your choice within the application.
2. You can also apply by using the separate online honors application. This is available to you after you’ve submitted your application and once you gain access to MyStatus.

If you want to change your first- and/or second-choice major(s) so that you can apply to an honors program, email us at usprocessing3@austin.utexas.edu. Include your full name, UT EID and updated first- and/or second-choice majors. If your request is approved, you will gain access to the honors application within 3-5 business days.

Additional Materials Submission

Submit any resumes or letters of recommendation required by your specific program in MyStatus using the Document Upload System. Letters of recommendation may also be submitted directly from your school via Naviance/Edocs. Self-report any AP or IB scores you may have taken or plan to take on your résumé.

Submit your application for admission, then complete the steps outlined by the program you’re applying to:

• Canfield Business Honors
• Natural Sciences Honors
• Humanities Honors

Note: Additional honors programs exist within many academic departments. Contact your academic advisor to learn more about programs and their application processes.

Required Majors

• Unspecified Business (Business must be the first-choice selection).

Availability

• Freshman applicants
• Transfer applicants

Writing Prompt

Teamwork and community are pillars of the Canfield Business Honors Program. When reviewing your resume, is there a particular aspect that reflects these values? Tell us more about this experience and how you will bring these values to Canfield Business Honors. Limit your response to 300 words.

Additional Materials

• Resume
• A letter of recommendation from a teacher (not a counselor or principal)

Required Major

• Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Cockrell School of Engineering

Availability

• Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

Describe your significant activities, employment, and achievements, particularly those relevant to the study of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Also describe your educational and career goals. Please limit your response to no more than 500 words.

Additional Materials

• Resume
• A letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher

Required Major

• Any major in the Cockrell School of Engineering

Availability

• Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

The Cockrell School of Engineering awards merit scholarships to first-year participants in the Engineering Honors Program. Additionally, participants can be considered for honors housing. Selections are made by reviewing the standard materials required to apply for admission to the university. No additional essays or application materials are required, but submitting a resume is recommended. If you would like to be considered for the Engineering Honors Program, please acknowledge your interest on your application.

Required Major

• Both Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business, one as your first and the other as your second choice. Your first-choice major should be the one you are most interested in.

Availability

• Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

Texas Honors Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business (Texas ECB) is a powerful dual degree program looking for students who are dedicated to both an electrical and computer engineering and business honors education. Why do you see this as a combination of skills for your career goals? What have you done in high school, in the classroom and outside, to prepare you for honors engineering and business course work? Please limit your response to no more than 500 words. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Texas ECB website for additional requirements to complete their application.

Additional Materials

• Resume
• A letter of recommendation from a teacher (not a counselor or principal)

Required Major

• Any major in the College of Liberal Arts (First-choice selection of a Liberal Arts major is strongly encouraged).

Availability

• Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

Answer the following prompts:

• Prospective students cite many reasons for pursuing education in the liberal arts, and we would like to know why you want to do so.  In 250 words or less, tell us why you want to study the liberal arts. Consider (but don’t feel obligated to answer all) questions like: Why should anyone study liberal arts at all? Why does the world need the liberal arts? What does your liberal arts degree get you? What will you do with your liberal arts education?

• Help us get to know you better. Please write five sentences (numbered 1–5) that give us some insight into you, your life, your interests and your experiences. There are no right answers — feel free to be creative and think outside the box.

Additional Materials

• Resume

Required Major

• List any major within the Moody College of Communication as your first choice major.

Availability

• Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

“With great power comes great responsibility” is a popular adage. How do you think it applies to the realm of human communication? Explain your thoughts using an example from current events, history, film, literature, or your own life. Please limit your response to 350 words.

Required Major

• Any major in the College of Natural Sciences

Availability

• Freshman applicants
• Transfer applicants (with the exception of Human Ecology Honors)

Writing Prompt

Each of the three CNS Honors Programs has a distinct profile. Why are you a good fit for the Dean’s Scholars, Health Science Scholars, or Polymathic Scholars program? How will you contribute to that community?

For Human Ecology Honors:

Briefly describe why you have chosen to apply to the School of Human Ecology Honors Program, specifically Nutritional Sciences or Human Development and Family Sciences Honors. Please limit your response to no more than 250 words.

Additional Materials

• Resume
• A letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher

Required Major

• Plan II or any major in the College of Liberal Arts

Availability

• Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

Answer the following prompts:

• If you could add one required course—on any topic—to your high school’s curriculum, what would it be and why? What would you have liked to learn that wasn’t available to you? Limit your response to no more than 250 words.
• Help us get to know you better. Please write five sentences (numbered 1–5) that give us some insight into you, your life, your interests and your experiences. There are no right answers — feel free to be creative and think outside the box.

Additional Materials

• Resume

Required Majors

• Both Computer Science and Business, one as your first and the other as your second choice. Your first choice major should be the one you are most interested in.

Availability

• Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

Texas CSB is an innovative dual degree program looking for students who are dedicated to both computer science and business. Why do you see this as a powerful combination of skills for your career goals? What have you done in high school to prepare you for computer science and business course work? Please limit your response to no more than 500 words. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Texas CSB website for additional requirements to complete their application.

Additional Materials

• Resume
• A letter of recommendation from a teacher (not a counselor or principal)

Required Majors

• Computer Science 

Availability

• Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

Additional Materials

• Resume
• A letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher