Internal Transfer

You can apply for internal transfer/major change with the Moody College during the posted application periods. To be considered for admission you should meet all of the following requirements:

1. You have not yet completed your fourth long semester at UT Austin;
2. You will have no more than 60 hours of coursework completed in-residence at UT Austin by the end of the semester in which you are applying**;
3. If you have unsuccessfully applied twice to transfer internally to the Moody College, you cannot apply a third time;
4. If you are requesting to change a current major you must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the Moody College of Communication, and a minimum 2.0 overall UT GPA.
5. If you are requesting to add a second major (or change their current second major) you must have 30 hours in-residence and minimum UT and Communication GPAs of 2.75.
6. Students who apply to the Advertising or Public Relations major must also complete ADV 318J, "Introduction to Advertising and Integrated Brand Management", and earn a B or better. You may be currently enrolled in the course at the time you apply. (Any passing grade, including CR, is acceptable for students who took ADV 318J in Spring 2020; a COVID CR earned in Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 is acceptable for applicants for Fall 2021 and later.)
7. All applicants must complete the semester in which they applied.

GPA and coursework eligibility are confirmed after grades post for the semester (in early January for September applications; in late May for February applications). If you do not meet the requirements at that time, your application will be denied. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

*Exceptions may only be granted for students in extenuating circumstances; we may contact ineligible applicants after the application closes to seek more information, if needed. 

If you have already earned an undergraduate degree from the Moody College of Communication and want to return for an additional Communication degree, please complete the Information Session module and then meet with the Internal Transfer Advisor. You may not use the online internal transfer application.

The Moody College Information Session module is a self-paced online Canvas module that provides information about each Moody major, what coursework you can take before you are accepted, how to apply, Moody College degree requirements, and more. 

Completion is highly recommended before applying and is required before speaking to the Internal Transfer Advisor. You are not required to meet with an advisor to apply.

Please note, current Moody students are not required to complete this module, but it is recommended for students wanting to apply for a different Moody major or a second major.

The application deadline for Spring 2025 admission is December 1st.

Be sure to follow all posted guidelines and deadline. Late applications will not be accepted. Learn more about the campus-wide internal transfer application process.

https://students.admissions.utexas.edu/portal/it_app

The application deadline for Spring 2025 admission is December 1st.

When applying for a second major, be sure to select the “simultaneous major” option. Please note, you may not seek dual degrees in Communication & Leadership and Communication Studies, OR Advertising and Public Relations.

Be sure to follow all posted guidelines and deadline. Late applications will not be accepted. Learn more about the campus-wide internal transfer application process.

https://students.admissions.utexas.edu/portal/it_app

Applications will be reviewed after final grades post for the semester and will undergo a holistic review which may include the following factors:

• Overall eligibility data
• Overall GPA
• Number of hours taken, and grades received in coursework in the intended major.
• If you submit the optional essay, it will be used for additional context during the application review process, if needed by the committee.

You will be notified of the committee’s decision via the email address that you have on record with the University. 

Notifications are typically sent in mid to late summer and early January. The number of accepted students varies each semester.

If your application is approved, you should carefully read the instructions in your acceptance email and follow all listed steps by the deadline. You will not be able to register for any prospective major courses that are open/reserved during the first registration time. You will be able to register for these courses during the first adds/drops period (check your RIS) as long as the course is still open.

If your application is denied, it is considered as one use of the two allowed attempts to apply, per University policy. All decisions are final and may not be appealed. 

If you have exhausted your two attempts to apply, please see Wayfinder, or schedule an appointment with a career counselor at Texas Career Engagement to explore alternate major options.

An application period will be offered during both the fall and spring semesters. During the application periods, the link to the application and necessary deadlines will be posted on the application website.

The minimums required for consideration are listed in the "Eligibility" page; however, meeting the minimum GPAs only makes you eligible for consideration it does not guarantee admission.

Notifications are typically sent in mid to late summer and early January. 

If your application is denied, it is considered as one use of your two allowed attempts to apply. All decisions are final and may not be appealed. 

If your application is approved, you should carefully read the instructions in your acceptance email and follow all listed steps by the deadline. You will not be able to register for any prospective major courses that are open/reserved during the first registration time. You will be able to register for these courses during the first adds/drops period (check your RIS) as long as the course is still open.

For applications submitted in Fall, decisions are made available in early January and the major change/addition will take effect once you have registered for Spring coursework.

No. The University's student records system only allows for a student to officially pursue two majors at a time. If you want to earn additional degrees (beyond two) you they must first complete or drop one of your current majors.

It varies each semester and by major.

Yes, if you are currently enrolled in the course in-residence, you are eligible to apply to add or transfer into the ADV or PR majors. You have two attempts to earn the B or better in the course. If you do not earn a B or better in-residence with the two allowed attempts, you must select another major to pursue. Any passing grade, including CR, is acceptable for students who took ADV 318J in Spring 2020; a COVID CR earned in Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 is acceptable for applicants for Fall 2021 and later.

No. Supplemental materials cannot be submitted.

• Any remaining core courses
• Foreign language (see this website)
• Another English or Rhetoric course (beyond those already required for core)1
• 6 hours of communication courses outside of the prospective Moody major (see Suggested Courses for Non-Communication Majors)1
• Courses in the intended major that are open to non-majors, as space allows. Please see this handout.

¹ For students under the 2018-2020, or earlier, catalog

Students may apply during their first semester for admission starting in their second long semester, however first semester applicants may not be as competitive as other candidates who have already completed their first semester. If a student applies in their first semester and is denied, they will only be allowed one additional attempt for internal transfer.

No. These rules only take into account hours and semesters completed in-residence at UT Austin. Anything that you earned at another institution, through UT Extension, placement tests, etc. will not be counted.

At the time the Internal Transfer application closes, any student with a complete application has officially used one of his/her attempts. If you decide later to withdraw your application after the application period has closed, you may request to do so, but the attempt will still be counted toward the limit of two.

No. Students are allowed to select up to two Moody majors in their internal transfer application per review cycle.  If you are not admitted to either major at the conclusion of that cycle, you have the opportunity to apply once more in a later semester. 

No. A denial in any cycle counts as one attempt regardless of the major selected. Students who apply to Moody twice and are denied will not be considered in any future application attempts regardless of major. 

Exceptions to the University's policies on internal transfer are only made in very rare circumstances when a student exhibits compelling reasons for exception and when he/she can provide evidence that they are on track for a timely graduation. We may contact ineligible applicants after the application closes to seek more information, if needed.

No, students who have already earned a degree from the Moody College cannot apply through the internal transfer application. The student deans will review these requests on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Student Advising Office for more information.

Your first step is to complete an Internal Transfer Information Session. If you have questions after attending the session, you may contact our front desk for further instructions.