CAP FAQs
Q. Do I have to take a math course while I’m at UT Arlington?
A. Yes, you must take at least one math course and it must be higher than College Algebra (MATH 1302).
Q. May I take College Algebra?
A. Yes, but you would have to take it in the Fall semester to ensure that you can take a higher level math course in the Spring semester. If you take College Algebra (MATH 1302), the credits will count toward your 30 required hours; however, the grade will not be calculated in your CAP GPA.
Q. Do I have to take a math placement test in order to enroll in math at UT
Arlington?
A. Yes, you will take the UT Arlington Math Placement Test and/or Calculus Readiness Test during freshman orientation (NMO). You can visit the Math Department’s website for a sample test of both the Math Placement Test and the Calculus Readiness Test. www.uta.edu/math
Q. What if I make a D or F in a course while I’m at UT Arlington?
A. You will need to take an additional course to make up for the course in which you earned a D or F. In other words, you would need to take 33 credit hours (or more) in order to have 30 transferable hours. D’s and F’s are not transferable. D’s and F’s also bring your cumulative GPA down. UT-Austin does not honor UT Arlington grade exclusion policy.
Q. May I take a course during Winter Intersession and/or Summer Intersession at UT Arlington?
A. Yes; however, the credit hours that you earn during Winter Intersession and/or Summer Intersession will not count toward your 30 CAP credit hours. Additionally, if you earn an A or B in the course, it will not count toward your CAP GPA. If you earn a C, D, or F in the course, it will count toward your CAP GPA and would bring your GPA down.
Q. What GPA do I need at UT Arlington to be eligible to transfer to UT-Austin?
A. You need a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
Q. While I’m at UT Arlington, may I declare a major?
A. No. If you stay in the CAP program while you are at UT Arlington, then you must remain an undeclared major. This ensures that you receive your advising in the University Advising Center for Undeclared Majors where the advisors have been trained on the CAP program.
Q. May I try to get accepted to a program other than Liberal Arts and Natural
Sciences at UT-Austin?
A. Yes, you may apply for a program other than Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences; however,
UT-Austin does not guarantee admission to other programs. The only programs that are guaranteed for CAP students who meet their requirements are Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences.
Q. May I apply to the College of Fine Arts or the School of Architecture at UT-Austin?
A. No. These two programs are not options, except for music. CAP students may apply for a major in music; however, music is a non-guaranteed major and students will compete with other applicants who are trying to gain admission to the School of Music.
Q. But I really want to major in fine arts (or architecture). What should I do?
A. You have the option of staying at UT Arlington and applying for admission to UT Arlington’s fine arts/architecture programs. If you prefer to go to UT-Austin, then you will have to choose a major other than fine arts/architecture. And remember that the only two guaranteed programs for CAP students are Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences. You can apply for admission to the other programs (except for fine arts and architecture), but you will be competing against the other applicants who are trying to get into those programs. Music is the only fine arts program for which CAP students may apply. CAP students who want to major in music will compete with all other students who are trying to gain admission to the School of Music.
Q. Why are Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences the only two programs in which I am guaranteed a space?
A. UT-Austin developed the guidelines for the CAP program. These are the two programs they decided to make available for CAP students.
Q. What can I do to increase my chances of getting into one of the non-guaranteed programs?
A. You should research the requirements for that program. Go to UT-Austin’s website, consult the UT-Austin Undergraduate Catalog, or call/meet with a UT-Austin Academic Advisor. You can increase your chances of getting into one of the non-guaranteed programs by being knowledgeable about that program’s requirements and then doing your best to meet those requirements. This might mean taking particular courses during your freshman year and/or earning a specific GPA (for example, earning a 3.8 GPA).
Q. What are the requirements for _______________ major at UT-Austin?
A. You can find out the requirements for every major at UT-Austin by consulting the UT-Austin Undergraduate Catalog and/or an Academic Advisor at UT-Austin (call the academic department in which you want to major).
Q. What are the majors within the College of Liberal Arts and/or the College of Natural Sciences at UT-Austin?
A. Consult http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/catalogs/ug04-06/ch01/ch01a.html#degree to see a list of the majors at UT-Austin.
Q. May I take an exercise/P.E. course (EXSA or DNCA)?
A. Yes, you may take an EXSA or DNCA course; however, it will NOT count toward your 30 hours for the CAP program and it will NOT count toward your CAP GPA.
Q. As a CAP student, may I take honors courses?
A. Yes, you may take honors courses. Please see the CAP approved course list for a listing of acceptable honors courses.
Q. May I take two different sciences? For example, BIOL and CHEM?
A. The UT-Austin Core Curriculum requires “Nine semester hours [of natural science], consisting of six hours in one discipline and three hours in a second discipline.” The best thing you can do is consult the UT-Austin Undergraduate Catalog or a UT-Austin Academic Advisor to determine the science requirements for your intended major. (The UT Arlington graduation requirement is a minimum of 8 credit hours of lab science in the same discipline.)
Q. Are there certain courses that I must take as part of the CAP program and before I transfer to UT-Austin?
A. Yes. You must take a math course that is higher than College Algebra. Math is the only course that UT-Austin has specified as required in order to meet CAP requirements. You must take at least 30 credit hours from the CAP approved course list, but it doesn’t matter which courses you choose from the list. The CAP approved course list includes general education classes (a.k.a. the Core Curriculum) required to graduate, such as English, U.S. History, Political Science, etc.
If you are considering a non-guaranteed major at UT-Austin, then you might need to take specific classes in order to be eligible to transfer into that major. For example, see the transfer admission requirements for the UT-Austin McCombs School of Business.**
**CAP students who meet the program requirements are guaranteed admission to the Colleges of Liberal Arts or Natural Sciences only. They may compete with other transfer applicants for admission to non-guaranteed majors, including business administration.
Q. What if I took an AP, IB, or CLEP exam?
A. You have the option of claiming credit-by-exam at UT Arlington, UT-Austin, or a combination of both schools. It may be to your advantage to claim your credit-by-exam at one institution over the other – ask your Academic Advisor for more information.
You have to fill out a form to have the credit applied to your UT Arlington student transcript. To claim your credit-by-exam at UT Arlington, go to Testing Services, 201 Davis Hall. The credit will appear on your transcript when grades post at the end of your first semester. Credit-by-exam will transfer to UT-Austin just like any other course, but it will NOT count toward your 30 hours for the CAP program.
Q. I took dual enrollment courses during high school. Will those courses count toward my 30 CAP hours?
A. No. Your 30 CAP hours must be earned during the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 semesters. Your dual enrollment courses will more than likely transfer to UT-Austin, but cannot be counted toward your 30 CAP hours. Please send your community college transcript to UT Arlington and UT-Austin.
Q. What is the maximum number of credit hours I can take per semester?
A. 19 credit hours is the maximum number that you can take per semester; however, it is probably better to take 15-16 hours per semester.
Q. Is it okay to accumulate more than 30 hours?
A. Yes. 30 hours is the minimum number of credit hours required for the CAP
program.
Q. May I take coursework beyond 30 hours during the summer before or after my freshman year in CAP?
A. UT-Austin suggests that you do not take college courses in the summer before your CAP participation; however, it is fine to take courses in the summer after your freshman year in CAP.
Q. May I participate in a Freshman Interest Group (FIG)/Mav Scholars?
A. Yes, there is a FIG for CAP students. Contact Student Success Programs for more details at 817.272.6107, 241 Davis Hall, www.uta.edu/lc.
Q. How do I get involved in student organizations/clubs/sororities/fraternities while I’m at UT Arlington?
A. Contact the Student Activities office in the lower level of the University Center (817.272.2963, www.uta.edu/stuact).
Q. How do I get on-campus housing and/or financial aid at UT Arlington?
A. Contact the UT Arlington Housing Office, which is located in the University Center (817.272.2791, www.uta.edu/housing).
Contact the UT Arlington Financial Aid Office, which is located on the second floor of Davis Hall (817.272.3561, www.uta.edu/fao).
Q. As a CAP student, where do I go for academic advising?
A. CAP students are advised in the University Advising Center, which is located on the second floor of Davis Hall (817.272.3140, www.uta.edu/uac).