Frequently Asked Questions
The following is a list of questions that students have consistently asked the Advising Center Staff. If you do not find the answer to your question or you would like more information, please make an appointment to visit with an Academic Advisor in the Undergraduate Science Advising Center.
Who can visit the Undergraduate Science Advising Center?
Currently enrolled undergraduate students who are interested in a major or minor in one of the science programs or those who want to change their major or minor to our programs.
Prospective students should contact the major department to speak with a faculty member or contact the Undergraduate Admissions Center and speak with an Admissions Counselor to find out information about science programs.
How do I make an appointment?
See How to Schedule an Appointment.
When does the Advising Center offer orientation sessions and what topics are discussed in these sessions?
The freshmen and transfer orientation sessions are scheduled by the Undergraduate Admissions Office. During the Academic portion of the orientation session, the Academic Advisors and Departmental Advisors are available at the orientation sessions to discuss the College of Science degree programs, academic services, University policies, degree requirements, answer questions, and assist each student in choosing courses for the upcoming semester. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Center (admissions@txstate.edu or call 512-245-2364) for times and places of orientation sessions.
What degrees and majors are offered in Science?
Please see Degree Programs for options.
Am I required to take a foreign language?
If you are working toward a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Science in Technology degree, two full years of the same foreign language in high school will meet the foreign language requirement. If you did not complete the two full years of the same foreign language in high school, two semesters of the same freshmen level foreign language are required. At Texas State, the courses are numbered 1410 and 1420 in each of the languages we offer.
If you are working toward a Bachelor of Arts degree, then you must complete two semesters of the same foreign language at the sophomore level. At Texas State, the courses are numbered 2310 and 2320 in each of the languages we offer. High school foreign language course work does not apply toward the foreign language requirement for a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Which catalog should I use in planning my degree program?
You will be placed under the current Texas State catalog if you are an incoming freshman or you are a transfer student from a private or out-of-state institution. If you attended only Texas Public institutions (2- or 4-year) prior to attending Texas State, you can or will be placed under the catalog assigned to you when you first attended that institution unless degree requirements or major requirements dictate otherwise. Your catalog designation is good for six years. If your catalog has expired, you will be moved to the current catalog.
The catalog is not a contract. If a program makes a change to a prerequisite requirement, a degree requirement, deletes a course, or changes any other requirements, students must meet the new standards in order to graduate unless approved by the department and the Dean of Science.
If I transfer from another institution and my transcript shows that I am “core complete”, will I still be required to meet the Texas State general education core requirements?
Texas State honors the general education core curriculum of other Texas two- and four-year institutions provided the courses are coded as part of their general education core curriculum. Texas State has a 46-48 hour general education core curriculum while other Texas institutions may have 42-48 hours of core requirements. This is allowed under The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board policies found in Chapter 4, Subchapter B, 4.28 Core Curriculum, (c) Transfer of Credit.
If a student’s previous institution has lower number of hours required in their core, that student will be required to take additional core courses to meet the Texas State core requirements.
If the courses are core coded, but they do not meet the degree requirements for your science major, you will be required to take our courses. This will be decided in consultation with your Academic Advisor.
Will my coursework from another institution count toward my degree requirements at Texas State?
This will depend upon the courses you took at the other institution. Courses taken at other institutions that are direct equivalents to Texas State courses will appear on your Texas State transcript with our institutional course name and number. Please refer to Transfer Equivalencies for designations of courses offered at other Texas colleges and universities. Courses that do not have a direct equivalent at Texas State are assigned one of the following designations:
- ELNA (elective non-advanced) for freshman or sophomore (1000-2000) level courses.
- ELADV (elective advanced) for junior or senior (3000-4000) level courses.
- Courses evaluated as NT (non-transferable) or T&V (technical and vocational) will need to be re-evaluated on a case-by-case basis to see if they can be used for degree credit.
It is important that you speak with an Academic Advisor during your first semester at Texas State to find out how your transfer courses will apply toward your degree program.
How do I declare a major or minor? How do I change my present major or minor?
If you are having trouble choosing a major or minor, make an appointment to visit the Advising Center for help or contact the School or Department you are interested in to schedule an appointment with a Faculty Advisor.
To declare or change a major or minor, you will need to fill out a form and return it to the Advising Center. You can find the form and instructions at Change or Declare Major or Minor page.
What is the difference between a dual degree and a double major?
Please view the information under Change or Declare a Major and/or Minor.
What scholarships are offered in the College of Science?
Please see Scholarships.
How do I apply for graduation? What are the graduation requirements? When is the graduation ceremony?
Please view the information under the Graduation tab on our main site.
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