Honors
Source: https://admissions.utexas.edu/apply/honors/ Parent: https://admissions.utexas.edu/
Honors
Interested in an honors program at UT Austin? We offer a variety of honors programs across multiple colleges and schools, with many open to both freshman and transfer applicants. The application for honors programs is available only to students who apply to certain majors. Please visit Explore Honors to learn more about each program that may be available for you to apply to that best suits your interests.
How to Apply
Freshman Honors
Freshman applicants have two options to apply to honors programs*:
- You can start the process to apply for a freshman honors program by indicating interest on your admission application and responding to the short answer questions of the program of your choice within the application.
- You can also apply by using the separate online honors application. This is available to you after you’ve submitted your application and once you gain access to MyStatus.
*To apply for Civics Honors, list Civics Honors as one of your major selections and follow the instructions in the Program Requirements section below. To apply for Texas Robotics, indicate interest in Robotics on your application and follow the instructions in the Program Requirements section below.
If you want to change your first- and/or second-choice major(s) so that you can apply to an honors program, email us at usprocessing3@austin.utexas.edu. Include your full name, UT EID and updated first- and/or second-choice majors. If your request is approved, you will gain access to the honors application within three to five business days.
Additional Materials Submission
Submit any resumes or letters of recommendation required by your specific program in MyStatus using the Document Upload System. Letters of recommendation may also be submitted directly from your school via Naviance/Edocs. Self-report any AP or IB scores you may have taken or plan to take on your resume.
Transfer Honors
Submit your application for admission, then complete the steps outlined by the program you’re applying to:
Note: Additional honors programs exist within many academic departments. Contact your academic advisor to learn more about programs and their application processes.
Key Dates
Freshman applicants applying for summer and spring enrollment are not eligible to apply for freshman honors programs.
Fall 2026 Enrollment
- Honors Application Opens
August 1 - Honors Application Deadline
December 10 - Honors Decisions Released
March 1
Program Requirements
Canfield Business Honors
Required Majors
- Unspecified Business (Business must be the first-choice selection).
Availability
- Freshman applicants
- Transfer applicants
Writing Prompt
Teamwork and community are pillars of the Canfield Business Honors Program. When reviewing your resume, is there a particular aspect that reflects these values? Tell us more about this experience and how you will bring these values to Canfield Business Honors. Limit your response to 300 words.
Additional Materials
- Resume
- A letter of recommendation from a teacher (not a counselor or principal)
Civics Honors
Required Major
- Civics Honors
Availability
- Freshman applicants
Writing Prompt
Answer the following prompts:
- Your study at UT Austin would enable you to think deeply about serious questions that arise as we consider what it means to live well and lead well. What is one significant question you want to answer through your study in UT Austin Civics Honors? Why does this question matter? Please limit your response to no more than 200 words.
- The American founders thought carefully about what it means to build a legacy. The legacies they built have shaped American culture and law. How can a person build a worthy legacy today? How do you want people to remember you? Please limit your response to no more than 200 words.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Honors (ECE)
Required Major
- Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Cockrell School of Engineering
Availability
- Freshman applicants
Writing Prompt
Describe your significant activities, employment and achievements, particularly those relevant to the study of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Also describe your educational and career goals. Please limit your response to no more than 500 words.
Additional Materials
- Resume
- A letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher
Engineering Honors
Required Major
- Any major in the Cockrell School of Engineering
Availability
- Freshman applicants
Additional Materials
The Cockrell School of Engineering awards merit scholarships to first-year participants in the Engineering Honors Program. Additionally, participants can be considered for honors housing. Selections are made by reviewing the standard materials required to apply for admission to the University. No additional essays or application materials are required, but submitting a resume is recommended. If you would like to be considered for the Engineering Honors Program, please acknowledge your interest on your application.
Honors Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business (ECB)
Required Major
- Both Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business, one as your first and the other as your second choice. Your first-choice major should be the one you are most interested in.
Availability
- Freshman applicants
Writing Prompt
Texas Honors Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business (Texas ECB) is a powerful dual degree program looking for students who are dedicated to both an electrical and computer engineering and business honors education. Why do you see this as a combination of skills for your career goals? What have you done in high school, in the classroom and outside, to prepare you for honors engineering and business course work? Please limit your response to no more than 500 words. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Texas ECB website for additional requirements to complete their application.
Additional Materials
- Resume
- A letter of recommendation from a teacher (not a counselor or principal)
Liberal Arts Honors
Required Major
- Any major in the College of Liberal Arts (first-choice selection of a Liberal Arts major is strongly encouraged).
Availability
- Freshman applicants
Writing Prompt
Answer the following prompts:
- Prospective students cite many reasons for pursuing education in the liberal arts, and we would like to know why you want to do so. In 250 words or less, tell us why you want to study the liberal arts. Consider (but don’t feel obligated to answer all) questions like: Why should anyone study liberal arts at all? Why does the world need the liberal arts? What does your liberal arts degree get you? What will you do with your liberal arts education?
- Help us get to know you better. Please write five sentences (numbered 1-5) that give us some insight into you, your life, your interests and your experiences. There are no right answers — feel free to be creative and think outside the box.
Additional Materials
- Resume
Moody College Honors
Required Major
- List any major within the Moody College of Communication as your first-choice major.
Availability
- Freshman applicants
Writing Prompt
Communication is a fundamental part of human life, influencing every aspect of the world around us. Future communicators like yourself must wrestle with the question of whether communication is motivated by self-interest or cooperation. Discuss an example from a communication discipline (advertising, communication studies, communication and leadership, journalism, public relations, radio-tv-film or speech language hearing sciences), that supports one of the two perspectives. Please limit your response to no more than 250 words.
Natural Sciences Honors
Required Major
- Any major in the College of Natural Sciences
Availability
- Freshman applicants
- Transfer applicants (with the exception of Human Ecology Honors)
Writing Prompt
Each of the three CNS Honors Programs has a distinct profile. Why are you a good fit for the Dean’s Scholars, Health Science Scholars or Polymathic Scholars program? How will you contribute to that community?
For Human Ecology Honors:
Briefly describe why you have chosen to apply to the School of Human Ecology Honors Program, specifically Nutritional Sciences or Human Development and Family Sciences Honors. Please limit your response to no more than 250 words.
Additional Materials
- Resume
- A letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher
Plan II Honors
Required Major
- Plan II or any major in the College of Liberal Arts
Availability
- Freshman applicants
Writing Prompt
Answer the following prompts:
- Analyze the ways in which technology (you can determine the technology you want to focus on) impacts critical thinking and community in higher education. How can an interdisciplinary education like Plan II Honors best equip students to thrive in this environment? Please limit your response to no more than 250 words.
- Help us get to know you better. Please write five sentences (numbered 1-5) that give us some insight into you, your life, your interests and your experiences. There are no right answers — feel free to be creative and think outside the box.
Additional Materials
- Resume
Texas Honors Computer Science and Business (Texas CSB)
Required Majors
- Both Computer Science and Business, one as your first and the other as your second choice. Your first-choice major should be the one you are most interested in.
Availability
- Freshman applicants
Writing Prompt
Texas CSB is an innovative dual degree program looking for students who are dedicated to both computer science and business. Why do you see this as a powerful combination of skills for your career goals? What have you done in high school to prepare you for computer science and business course work? Please limit your response to no more than 500 words. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Texas CSB website for additional requirements to complete their application.
Additional Materials
- Resume
- A letter of recommendation from a teacher (not a counselor or principal)
Texas Robotics
Required Majors
- First-choice major of Aerospace Engineering, Computational Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Computer Science in the College of Natural Sciences
Availability
- Freshman applicants
Writing Prompt
Why are you interested in robotics? How will this undergraduate robotics program help you achieve your personal and/or career goals? What impact do you hope to make in the field of robotics? Please limit your response to 500 words.
Turing Scholars
Required Majors
- Computer Science
Availability
- Freshman applicants
Writing Prompt
Describe your significant activities, employment and achievements, particularly those relevant to the study of computer science. Also describe your educational and career goals. Please limit your response to no more than 500 words.
Additional Materials
- Resume
- A letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher