At the University of Texas at Austin, there are a lot of majors that students can choose from. Whether you’re interested in science, engineering, or literature and writing, there’s a major for that!
But not all majors are created equal. Some may have more competitive admissions requirements than others, or may have more rigorous coursework that makes it difficult to complete your degree on time.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the least competitive majors at UT Austin so you can find a major that fits your interests without having to worry about fierce competition for jobs and internships post-graduation.
Least Competitive Majors At Ut
Introduction
As a transfer student, I’m no stranger to the rigors of the university application process. Between ever-changing requirements, ridiculously vague essays and endless rounds of second-guessing, it can be easy to feel like you’re not good enough. Then you discover that somehow your college is even more competitive than UC Berkeley… I’m talking about UT, obviously. It’s no secret that UT admissions are very competitive, but did you know that some majors are way more competitive than others? If you’re hoping to score a spot at UT Austin in the fall but aren’t sure which major is right for you, here’s a list of UT’s least competitive majors – according to Niche – along with what their average acceptance rates were from 2015-2017:
Communication Studies
Communication Studies is the study of human communication. This field draws from a variety of disciplines including psychology, sociology, linguistics and other fields to study how people communicate with each other.
Communication majors may take classes that focus on interpersonal interactions, mass media and its effects on culture, or persuasive communication techniques. The department offers bachelor’s degrees in both Communication Studies and Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). CSD students will learn about speech-language pathology as well as psycholinguistics through their coursework. Students who major in CSD work towards earning a license from the State Board to practice speech-language pathology after graduation.
Biology
Biology is a great major for any student who loves science and wants to work with living things. It’s also a great major for students who want to study something that isn’t a science or technology field, but still has some STEM elements. Biology majors at UT can choose between two tracks: one focused on biology education and another focused on biomedical research. While both tracks teach you about the structure of cells and organisms, the research track will also teach you how to design experiments, analyze data, write reports and publish findings in scientific journals.
If you are interested in pursuing careers in healthcare or environmental studies after college (or if you just love animals), then studying biology at UT should be high on your list of majors to choose from!
Social Work
Social Work is a great major for those who want to help others. Social work is a great way to help people in need, and you can do that through community service at local organizations or schools in your area. This major will prepare you for careers as social workers or counselors, working with clients one-on-one, groups and organizations to create change within their communities.
Kinesiology & Health Education (Health & Society Emphasis)
A degree in kinesiology can be used to pursue many different careers, including the following:
- Health and fitness careers
- Sports-related jobs
- Physical education teaching positions
In addition to its wide variety of career paths, a degree in kinesiology is also beneficial for students who want to make improvements on their fitness level.
English
English is a great major if you love to read and write, but it’s also one of the least competitive. Most students who end up majoring in English do so because they have an interest in literature or language, so there’s no need for them to compete with each other for admission into the program. The job outlook for English majors is pretty good (good enough that you could probably teach), but unless you want to go into publishing or journalism or some other related field, your options will be limited.
If you really like the idea of writing books and stories and poems but aren’t sure if an English degree is right for you, consider taking a few creative writing classes before committing yourself to four years at UT Austin. If those classes are fun—and let’s face it: they should be—it might be worth pursuing this passion through college rather than taking off-campus courses as an adult student later on down the road!
Human Development & Family Sciences (Human Sciences Emphasis)
The human development & family sciences (human sciences emphasis) major is a good choice for students who want to pursue a career in education or social work. It’s also appropriate for students who plan on pursuing a career in health care, law, or even public administration.
In this major you will learn how to meet the needs of individuals, families and groups. This includes preventing problems before they start through advocacy and policy changes; helping individuals and communities overcome problems that have already occurred through counseling interventions; intervening at key points during the life cycle such as pregnancy through child rearing so that children can grow up healthy; educating people about their options so they can make wise choices; advocating for policies that improve society by benefiting all its members rather than just certain groups within it like ethnic minorities or women only getting better access than men do which only serves one gender instead
Human Development & Family Sciences (Human Development Emphasis)
If you’re interested in working with people, but don’t want to study psychology or social work, then Human Development & Family Sciences (Human Development Emphasis) might be the major for you. This is a relatively new major at UT, having been established in 2018.
According to the College of Education and Human Ecology’s website, the purpose of this major is “to provide students with an understanding of healthy development across their lifespan” by studying topics like human growth and development from conception through adolescence; family systems; child maltreatment prevention; adolescent risk behaviors; parenting styles and development; marriage and family relationships during times of stress; divorce/separation outcomes for children; child abuse prevention policy analysis & intervention strategies in contemporary society.”
The Department website notes that there are three main areas of emphasis within this major: Child Health & Development (CHD), Marriage & Family Studies (MFS), and Mental Health Counseling (MHC). Students can choose one emphasis over another depending on their interests.
Human Development & Family Sciences (Community & Family Health Emphasis)
Human Development & Family Sciences (Community & Family Health Emphasis)
The Human Development and Family Sciences program is a good fit for students who want to work in the healthcare industry. The program focuses on community and family health, with the goal of integrating research, teaching, and service into its curriculum.
Students will be able to choose an emphasis in either nursing or social work when they enroll in this major.
Public Health
The good news is that Public Health is actually a very competitive major. The bad news? It’s still pretty competitive. Public Health majors will have their work cut out for them if they want to get into their dream job after graduation, but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this field has been growing steadily over the past ten years and will continue to do so in 2020. So while it might not be easy, there are definitely jobs out there you could end up with if you study public health at UT Austin!
Government and Sociology
If you’re interested in working in the government or a social service, this major may be right for you. This is not to say that other majors aren’t competitive—they are—but they’re not as competitive as say, engineering or computer science.
The same can be said if you’re looking to work in the military or non-profit sector. Even though these sectors are highly competitive, it has less competition than some other fields of study at UT.
Some of the least competitive majors at UT
- Communication Studies
- Biology
- Social Work
- Kinesiology & Health Education (Health & Society Emphasis)
- English
- Human Development & Family Sciences (Human Sciences Emphasis)
Conclusion
You’ve made it to the end of our list, and by now we hope you’ve seen a major or two that catch your interest. No matter what major you choose, remember that no one is keeping score except you. In the long run, this journey is all about learning what matters to you and how best to pursue it. Don’t forget that there are lots of options out there, so if none of these majors seem right for you, then explore some more!
