College overview

The College of Science includes the departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, and the Division of Data Science. These departments and units offer degree programs that prepare students for a broad range of rewarding careers in the sciences, graduate or professional study, and leadership roles in the health professions and education through the UTeach Arlington program.

The College emphasizes close student-faculty interaction, with faculty serving as mentors and advisors to student scientific organizations and engaging students in cutting-edge research. Our faculty conduct research supported by world-class facilities and state-of-the-art scientific equipment. Undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to participate in research, either through supervised faculty-led projects or as part of their coursework, with the opportunity to earn academic credit for their research involvement.

Beyond the undergraduate level, the College of Science offers a range of graduate programs leading to advanced degrees. These include the Master of Science in Applied Statistics and Data Science (ASDS), the Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, as well as disciplinary master's and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. These graduate programs provide students with opportunities to conduct independent dissertation research within their chosen scientific disciplines, preparing them for careers in research, industry, entrepreneurship, and academia.

College of Science Undergraduate policies

Admission to the College of Science is based on the University's undergraduate admission requirements for incoming undergraduate students.  

Academic Advising

All students in the College of Science have access to academic advisors who provide guidance on course selection, degree requirements, and academic planning.  The advising process is designed to support students in making informed decisions throughout their academic journey at The University of Texas at Arlington.

New First-Year Student Advising

Student entering UTA directly from high school or with fewer than 24 transferable credit hours are initially advised by the University Advising and Engagement Center (UAEC). To transition to departmental advising within the College of Science, students must meet the following criteria by the end of their second long semester at UTA:

Transition Requirements:

• Cumulative GPA
  • Minimum 2.00 for Biology, Chemistry, EES, Data Science, Math, Physics, and UTeach majors
  • Minimum 2.25 for Psychology majors
• Credit Hours:
  • Completion of at least 30 credit hours
• Additional Major-Specific Requirements
  • Biology majors- Minimum 2.00 GPA in biology coursework
  • Math majors- Grade of C or higher in MATH 1426
  • Psychology majors: Grade of C or higher in both:
    • PSYC 1315
    • MATH 1402 (or higher-level math course

Students who do not meet the transition criteria after three semesters are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor to explore alternative majors. Students who do not meet the criteria after four semesters must declare a major outside the College of Science.

New Transfer students with more than 24 credit hours Advising

Students entering UTA with 24 or more transferable credit hours are advised directly by an academic advisor in their major department within the College of Science.

Note: All new students must be advised before registering for classes. Registration holds will remain in place until advising is complete.

Academic Standing

Majors

In the College of Science, students are required to maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.25 in all their course work as well as a minimum GPA of 2.25 in their major course work in order to remain in good standing within their degree program. Students whose overall or major GPA falls below 2.25 will be dropped as a major in the College of Science and must select an alternative major. The general College of Science policy on academic probation may be superseded by more rigorous policies within specific science degree programs.

Minors

A science minor consists of 18 credit hours or more in any one of the departments within the college. At least 6 of the 18 hours must be in advanced 3000 or 4000 level courses. All classes that are to be used toward a minor must also be applicable toward a major in the same discipline. Non-major courses may not be applied toward a minor. A 2.0 grade average must be maintained in the minor to be approved by the minor department. All classes for a science minor must be approved by an academic advisor in the minor department. Transfer students must complete at least nine hours toward the minor at UT Arlington, and six of the nine must be 3000 or 4000 level.

Change of Majors into the College of Science

Current UTA students who wish to switch majors to a department within the College of Science must have a grade point average of 2.25 or higher in all college course work completed prior to pursuing a change of major into the UT Arlington College of Science. Students interested in switching to a COS major should speak directly with the advisor within the COS major they are interested in.

Transfer Students

Students transferring from other institutions are invited to explore opportunities in the College of Science. Inquiries about the equivalency of their transferred courses and other questions related to transferring are welcome to make an appointment with the Transfer Advisor, 107B Life Science Building.

Field of Study- Students who complete an approved field of study curriculum in whole or in part will receive academic credit for the equivalent courses within their selected field of study at UT Arlington.  To view the field of study curricula approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, visit THECB website.

Core Complete- Students who transfer from a Texas community college or university and are certified as core complete shall have satisfied the core requirements of UT Arlington.  Academic departments may, in some instances, require specific courses outside the major as prerequisites for major coursework.

Pre-Health Programs

UTA’s Office of Health Professions offers comprehensive services and resources to students interested in pursuing professional health careers such as medicine, dentistry, physician assistant, pharmacy, physical therapy, optometry and veterinary medicine. These pre-health tracks require completion of certain classes in conjunction with degree requirements. Most health professional programs do not have a preference regarding an applicant's undergraduate major, leaving students to choose a degree program aligned with interests and career goals. Visit our Health Professions Website for in-depth information: https://www.uta.edu/pre-health.  

Post-Baccalaureate Non-Degree Seeking Program

UTA’s Office of Health Professions also offers comprehensive services and resources to students with a completed degree interested in pursuing professional health careers. Since student backgrounds vary, course recommendations are personalized for each student to maximize their success. Students must meet UTA’s undergraduate admissions requirements. There is no additional criteria or application for this informal undergraduate program. Visit our Health Professions Post Bacc Website for in-depth information Post Bacc Program Page. 

Teacher Certification in the Sciences

Programs leading to teacher certification at secondary levels are available in departments of the College of Science in coordination with UTeach Arlington and the College of Education. Included among these are secondary certification in Composite Science or Life Science offered in the Departments of Biology and Earth & Environmental Sciences; in Physical Science offered in the Departments of Physics and Chemistry & Biochemistry; in Chemistry offered in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; in Physics/Mathematics offered in the Department of Physics; and in Mathematics offered in the Department of Mathematics. Descriptions of these programs are provided in each department’s section of this catalog.