Apply to Arts and Entertainment Technologies

Arts and Entertainment Technologies students playing an original video game presented at the Level Up showcase event in May 2022

Apply to Arts and Entertainment Technologies

First-Year Applicants

Application Deadline: December 1*

*For Fall 2024 applicants: UT will accept all required additional materials through Monday, December 11 at 11:59 p.m. CT.

Apply for Admission

Application Process

Prospective students must apply for general admission to The University of Texas at Austin in order to be considered for admission as an Arts and Entertainment Technologies major. We do not require or accept formal portfolios for applicants.

When filling out the UT Austin application, select your first-choice major as B.S. Arts and Entertainment Technologies (AET) under the College of Fine Arts. All students are encouraged to highlight their interests, creative involvements, and coursework related to AET within their UT application materials and essays. Since all of these materials will be taken into consideration during review, be sure to put as much thought and time as possible into each of these requirements.

Highlight experiences such as:

  • Making games or working with game technology
  • Computer programming competitions
  • Building objects and experiences with electronics or microcontrollers
  • Traditional art transformed through technology
  • Theater technologies and interactive experiences
  • Augmented or virtual reality technology and content
  • STEM or STEAM courses
  • Computer Science, A/V, or Game Design clubs

The School of Design and Creative Technologies accepts applications for fall semesters only.

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Steps to Apply

Step Task DescriptionTask LocationImportant Dates
1.Complete Freshman Admissions Application to UT Austin and select first choice major as B.S. Arts and Entertainment Technologies

Common App (Recommended) or ApplyTexas

August 1 - December 1*

2.File the FAFSA or TASFA (Optional but highly recommended)

FAFSA or TASFA

Priority Deadline January 15 (Applications still accepted after this date)

3.Receive email that includes UT EID to access MyStatus portal

MyStatus portal

2-3 business days after UT Austin Application is submitted

4.Check your application status

MyStatus portal

 
5.Receive your decision

MyStatus portal

Before March 1

*For Fall 2024 applicants: UT will accept all required additional materials through Monday, December 11 at 11:59 p.m. CT. 

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External Transfer Applicants

Application Deadline: March 1

Apply for Admission

Application Process

The external transfer process is for any non-UT Austin student who has taken college-level courses post-high school or after receiving a GED and applying to enter the B.S. Arts and Entertainment Technologies (AET) major. Admission to the AET program is highly competitive and selective.

Additional Information for External Transfer Applicants

  • Priority consideration is given to applicants with a transfer GPA of at least a 3.00. 
  • Applicants must have completed at least 24 hours of transferable credit before June 1 in order to be considered for admission for the fall.
  • To learn how courses taken at other Texas colleges will transfer to UT Austin, consult the Office of Admissions' Automated Transfer Equivalency (ATE) system.
  • Be sure to read through UT Austin’s Transfer Resources for helpful guidance when preparing to transfer and avoiding common transfer issues.

When filling out the UT Austin application, select your first-choice major as B.S. Arts and Entertainment Technologies under the College of Fine Arts. All students are encouraged to highlight their interests, creative involvements, and coursework related to AET within their UT application materials and essays. Since all of these materials will be taken into consideration during review, be sure to put as much thought and time as possible into each of these requirements.

Highlight experiences such as:

  • Making games or working with game technology
  • Computer programming competitions
  • Building objects and experiences with electronics or microcontrollers
  • Traditional art transformed through technology
  • Theater technologies and interactive experiences
  • Augmented or virtual reality technology and content
  • STEM or STEAM courses
  • Computer Science, A/V, or Game Design clubs

The School of Design and Creative Technologies accepts applications for fall semesters only.

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Steps to Apply

Step Task DescriptionTask LocationImportant Dates
1.Review the B.S. in AET Degree Guidelines before applying

Current 4-Year Degree Guidelines

 
2.Review UT Austin’s Requirements for Transfer Admission

UT Transfer Admission

 
3.Complete the Transfer Admissions application to UT Austin and select first-choice major as B.S. Arts & Entertainment Technologies

Common App or ApplyTexas

August 1- March 1

4.File the FAFSA or TASFA (Optional but highly recommended)

FAFSA or TASFA

Priority Deadline January 15 (Applications still accepted after this date)

5.Receive email that includes UT EID to access MyStatus portal

MyStatus portal

2-3 business days after UT Austin Application is submitted

6.Check your application status

MyStatus portal

 
7.Receive your decision

MyStatus portal

Early Summer

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Internal UT Transfer Applicants

Application Deadline: May 1

Apply for Admission

Application Process

The internal transfer or add simultaneous major process is for current UT Austin students who are applying to enter the B.S. Arts and Entertainment Technologies (AET) major. Admission to the AET program is highly competitive and selective. When applying to this department, you are strongly advised to develop a backup plan for pursuing other majors. Use resources such as the Vick Center for Strategic Advising & Career Counseling and Wayfinder to determine what majors might be right for you. All applicants must also meet UT’s criteria for internal transfer.

Additional Internal Transfer Criteria

You are eligible to apply to internally transfer from another UT Austin college or add a simultaneous major in the Department of Arts & Entertainment Technologies if you meet all of the following criteria:

  • You are currently an enrolled or returning undergraduate student at UT Austin (SDCT only accepts applications for the fall semester).
  • You will have no more than 60 hours of coursework completed in-residence at UT Austin by the fall semester for which you’re applying for admission. You can read more about the credit hour rules under the Internal Transfer Requirements.
  • You have not already applied twice to internally transfer or add a simultaneous major in this department.
  • The Admissions Committee gives preference to applicants who have at least a 3.0 GPA by the end of the semester in which the student applies.
  • Only required for Simultaneous Major applicants: You have completed 30 credit hours in-residence at UT Austin. These 30 hours cannot include AP, IB, credit-by-exam, dual or transfer credits. You may apply to the department for a simultaneous major while in progress to meet the 30-hour requirement, but you must complete these hours prior to the fall semester for which you would potentially be admitted.

The School of Design and Creative Technologies accepts applications for fall semesters only.

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Steps to Apply

Step Task DescriptionTask LocationImportant Dates
1.Review the B.S. in AET Degree Guidelines before applying

Current 4-Year Degree Guidelines

 
2.Review UT’s internal transfer and/or Simultaneous Major requirements

UT Internal Transfer

UT Simultaneous Major Info

UT Internal Transfer Application Portal for Fall entry opens Spring Semester

3.Complete your Internal Transfer application and select one of your major choices as B.S. in Arts & Entertainment Technologies

UT Internal Transfer Application Portal

May 1

4.

Submit required application materials within portal:

  • Required response to AET Creative Prompt
  • Resume
  • Statement of Interest in adding/changing your major to Arts & Entertainment Technologies

UT Internal Transfer Application Portal

May 1

5.Check your application status

UT Internal Transfer Application Portal

 
6.Receive your decision

Email notification sent via UT Internal Transfer Application Portal and follow-up by the Department’s Academic Advisor

Mid-Summer

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Preparing an AET Creative Prompt 

The Creative Prompt is a required item to apply to the B.S. Arts and Entertainment Technologies (AET) program. This is your opportunity to share who you are and how you think, showcase your interests, and lean into your existing skills using tools or technology you have available to you. We’re interested to see your creative approach to this year’s prompt options.

Updated for Fall 2024 Applicants

AET Creative Prompt

Your response should be submitted in PDF format. If necessary, include links to external projects within PDF and be sure all privacy settings are set to public. Google Drive links will NOT be accepted.

Prompt: Submit three (3) examples of art + design + technology projects you’ve completed and/or design at least one AET-related project you would like to create. If this is a team-based project, please call out your contribution.

For each project, describe the goals, your process (technical and creative), the inspiration behind your work, and what challenges you faced or anticipated.

Internal Transfer Virtual Office Hours

Have questions about the Internal Transfer process to the School of Design and Creative Technologies? Drop in for virtual office hours held via Zoom on these dates for the Spring 2024 semester:

  • Thursday February 15, 4-5pm CT
  • Tuesday March 19, 4-5pm CT
  • Monday April 1, 9-10am CT
  • Thursday April 18, 4-5pm CT

RSVP for Office Hours

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David Rezaei headshot

Still Have Questions?

Reach out to SDCT's Undergraduate Admissions Coordinator, David Rezaei.

sdctadmissions@austin.utexas.edu

512-471-0913

Arts and Entertainment Technologies professor Matt Smith and AET student Jayden Chavez smile at the camera while programming lighting at the 2022 Bee Cave BuzzFest

Get Your Bachelor's in AET

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