Important Information for Transfer Students

• Math is the foundation course for all other Natural Sciences courses at UT!

• Credit or registration for Calculus (M 408K or C) is the prerequisite for CH 301

• Credit or registration for CH 301 is the prerequisite for BIO 311C 

• A grade of C or better in BIO 311C is the prerequisite for BIO 311D

• Grades of C or better in BIO 311C and 311D is the prerequisites for BIO 325

• BIO 325 (Genetics) is the minimum prerequisite for all other upper division Biology courses

Transferring to UT presents a unique set of issues and challenges for Biology majors. Biology courses rarely transfer to UT directly. Sometimes, transfer students must start the UT Biology sequence from the beginning (BIO 311C) once arriving at UT.

Most often, students with previous Biology coursework have to submit a complete syllabus for the course(s) they took to be evaluated by a UT Biology faculty member. If you are interested in transferring to UT and have taken Biology courses at another institution, it is STRONGLY advised that you keep your syllabi from those courses, or obtain copies of them from your school before arriving at UT.

Biology courses which transfer with a generic course designation, such as the following, must be submitted for faculty review:

• BIO 4FLAB

• BIO 3FRMN

• BIO 4SLAB

• BIO 3SOPH

• BIO 3ADV

• BIO 1LBADV

The syllabus may be faxed, e-mailed, or turned in to the BSAC in the Norman Hackerman Building. It will then be reviewed by a UT Biology faculty member, who will determine if the material covered in the course(s) is equivalent to the material covered in UT Biology courses. This process typically takes 4-6 weeks. The syllabus should include information about the textbook used, the topics covered, and the amount of time devoted to each topic. Lab manuals for courses with labs should be turned in along with course syllabi. Students with more than one course to be evaluated should submit all syllabi at the same time. Approval of credit that will count towards a UT Biology degree is not guaranteed.

To look up how Biology courses from other Texas colleges and universities will transfer to UT, visit the UT Admissions Office's Automated Transfer Equivalency website. 

UT/Austin Community College Biology Transfer Equivalencies:

• BIOL 1406 = BIO 311C + BIO 105L (1-hour version of BIO 205L)

• BIOL 1407 = BIO 311D + BIO 106L (1-hour version of BIO 206L)

Students transferring only BIOL 1406 have credit for BIO 311C only and must take BIO 311D next. Students transferring only BIOL 1407 have credit for BIO 311D only and must take BIO 311C next. Students transferring both BIOL 1406 and 1407 are ready to take BIO 325 next. Please visit the UT Admissions Office's Common Transfer Credit Problems website for more information. 
 

Helpful tips for prospective transfer students:

• Beginning Fall 2006, incoming College of Natural Sciences students will be expected to be calculus ready. Transfer students who have not taken pre-calculus before coming to UT will find themselves at a disadvantage and may be delayed in beginning their chemistry and biology coursework at UT. Transfer students with no previous coursework in pre-calculus or calculus will be required to take the SAT II: Math Level IC exam during orientation to determine their math placement.

• Finish your science sequences before transferring. Take both semesters of a two-semester chemistry, physics, or biology sequence; don't transfer in the middle.

• ATTEND ORIENTATION! Many of your questions will be answered at orientation, plus you will get a helpful day planner, a free t-shirt, and earlier registration times! New UT students have advising bars that must be removed before registering for classes; speaking to an advisor at orientation will remove this bar.