Curriculum

The Dean's Scholars Honors Program is dedicated to providing research opportunities to Dean's Scholars, while offering honors degrees based on a superior education in special classes with our best faculty. Dean's Scholars have the opportunity to take part in mathematics and science courses developed by top faculty from across the College of Natural Sciences.

Core Coursework
In the first year at UT, all Dean's Scholars take Research Methods, the honors course or courses in their major, and an appropriate mathematics course. Throughout their DS career, students participate in small sections of courses in mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, research, and scientific computing. Each Dean's Scholar takes these courses while pursuing an option in any major offered in the College of Natural Sciences. During the senior year, students produce a research-based thesis under the direction of a faculty committee.

Flexibility
Our innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum also features a larger number of elective hours than standard degree plans. This flexibility allows students to pursue their own interests under the guidance of faculty, the Program Director, and the Program Coordinator.

Placement Credit
In general, placement credit is not accepted in lieu of core courses. The Dean's Scholars honors courses offer instruction that challenges our very best students while providing an in-depth background in each discipline. These courses are integral to the experience of an honors education and placement tests cannot be substituted. Faculty advisors will place students in appropriate math and physics courses.

Some students may use AP tests to receive credit for lower-division mathematics and physics courses if they are to be placed in higher level math or physics. Dean's Scholars does accept placement credit in other areas such as history, government, English (RHE306 and E316k only), the social sciences, fine arts, etc. These are the only exceptions to the placement-credit rule.

Academic Opportunities Outside the Classroom
Other academic opportunities are available through the Friday Lunch Speaker series. Every Friday from noon to 1 pm, Dean's Scholars gather for lunch to learn about cutting-edge research from faculty and others across the disciplines. One week the speaker may be a Nobel-laureate scientist, the next week a local science entrepreneur, and the next an art historian using scientific techniques in archeology. These discussions take place in an small setting, allowing for involved student interaction with the speaker.

Dean's Scholars also organize the Distinguished Speaker Series, bringing in top scientists from around the country. Recent speakers have included, among others, Dr. Neal Lane, former Science Advisor to President Clinton and currently the Director of the National Science Foundation, and Dr. Paul Berg, winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry, 1980. In addition to public lectures, these distinguished speakers attend small dinners with selected Dean's Scholars.

Other activities include trips to the McDonald Observatory in Ft. Davis to see astronomical research in practice and the Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas.

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