Congratulations on Your Admission! Welcome to UT Austin School of Social Work!
Your BSW Journey Starts Now
New Student Orientation
We are excited to welcome you to the School of Social Work at the BSW Student Orientation. This required orientation for all incoming BSW students is held the summer before your first semester.
At Orientation, you will have the opportunity to start building a strong foundation at the School of Social Work and UT Austin. You will meet fellow incoming students, register for classes, discuss your academic interests with BSW Academic Advisors, and learn about the resources and services the School of Social Work offers.
Prepare for your unique orientation experience:
Get Ready to Register for Your First Semester Courses
Registration Resources for your First Semester and Beyond
Review the Registration Process
Watch this video to learn how to register for classes at UT Austin.
What it covers:
:08 – Meet with Your Advisor
:29 – Check your https://registrar.utexas.edu/students/registration/ris
1:03 – Browse the https://registrar.utexas.edu/schedules
1:59 – Use the UT Planner to build your schedule
2:15 – Register for classes
4:30 – Make a payment
4:51 – Where to get help
5:09 – Review your steps
Registration Bars
- All BSW students get an advising bar each semester
- You must meet with a BSW Advisor to clear it
- Other bars (e.g., financial, academic) must be cleared separately
- Check your RIS for a full list of active bars
Registration Times
- View your assigned time on your Registration Information Sheet (RIS)
- Times are based on degree progress
- You cannot change your assigned time
- Transfer outside credit & claim credit-by-exam to improve priority
LD vs. UD Classes – What’s the Difference?
- Lower-Division (LD):
- Designed for Freshmen and Sophomores, LD classes introduce foundational concepts and basic knowledge in a subject area.
- Upper-Division (UD):
- Tailored for Juniors and Seniors, UD classes focus on advanced topics, critical thinking, application, discussion, and often writing or research.
- Most departments reserve UD courses for students who meet prerequisites and classification requirements.
How to Read a Course Number
- Field of Study: Each course starts with a subject abbreviation.
- Example: RHE 306 → RHE = Rhetoric and Writing
- Credit Hours: The first digit shows how many semester hours the course is worth.
- Example: PSY 304 → 3 = 3 credit hours
- Course Level: The second and third digits indicate level:
- 01–19: Lower-Division (Freshman/Sophomore)
- 20–79: Upper-Division (Junior/Senior)
- 80–99: Graduate Level
- Example: S W 325 → 25 = Upper-Division
- Letters After Numbers: May indicate:
- Course sequence (e.g., HIS 315K → HIS 315L)
- Not repeatable for credit (unless stated)
- No special meaning — check the course description
Disability & Access
D&A determines eligibility for accommodations, supports students with disabilities, and works across campus to create a more accessible and welcoming environment at UT Austin.
How to Register with D&A
- Students interested in setting up academic accommodations through D&A should follow the instructions found here.
- After being approved for accommodations, students will need to request “Accommodation Letters” each semester to notify instructors of their accommodations and to discuss how the accommodations will be provided.
- Accommodations should be provided once instructors and students have discussed the Accommodation Letter.
- D&A staff are available to answer questions and address concerns related to access and accommodations in your class. Contact access@austin.utexas.edu with general questions.
Note: Accommodations are not required to be applied retroactively if received later in the semester.
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