Human Ecology

Within the School of Human Ecology are programs in public health, textiles and apparel, nutrition and human development and family sciences.

Bolstering Resilience and the Future

Science-Based, Human-Focused

Researchers and educators in UT Austin’s School of Human Ecology focus on improving people’s quality of life. They do so by investigating and probing topics that lie at the heart of basic and enduring human experiences across time, place and life circumstances. From the food we eat, to the relationships we nurture, from the textiles that protect and clothe us to the health practices our communities adopt, our modern world demands new understanding of age-old human experiences. 

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I learned at UT that, whatever you want to do in life, do it—and you don't have to do it alone. There are so many people and avenues in and outside of the classroom to learn from.”

Alex Cao

Textiles and Apparel

For Majors

Experiences & Careers

At the heart of the experience of learning in the School of Human Ecology is hands-on discovery. Students take unique internships and participate in specialized programs for their majors, like UT in NYC for fashion-design learners studying textiles and apparel or going abroad and doing research related to public health for majors in that discipline. Depending on their major, students go on to careers in business, education, healthcare or industry, and some enter professional school or graduate school. Recent grads have jobs like:

  • Medical doctor
  • Creative services coordinator
  • Health community outreach coordinator
  • Health policy associate
  • Fashion designer
  • Clinical data specialist

Explore Human Ecology career Paths

See experiential learning opportunities for our majors

In The Texas Scientist

Explore Stories

Students in the School of Human Ecology make research presentations, do video-making, conduct lab research, participate in community initiatives and secure internships. Our students frequently get to apply what they learn from textbooks or in class to real-world situations and problems.

Internship experiences that count

Technology, textiles and Student ambassadorS

UT in NYC: Perspective from students

Fighting a scourge of foodborne illness

Study & Learn

In the School of Human Ecology, students may pursue a major in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) or the Public Health program or Division of Textiles and Apparel. Below is information about the public health and textiles and apparel degrees available to undergraduates. Navigate to the preceding links for nutrition and HDFS majors.

Find Public Health information and examples of courses

Find Textile and Apparel information and examples of courses

Type
C
Academic Program

Evidence and Inquiry

Year of Entry
2022–2024
Requirements
What to Take When
N/A
Type
C
Academic Program

Evidence and Inquiry

Year of Entry
2022–2024
Requirements
What to Take When
N/A
Type
C
Academic Program

Pre-Health Professions

Non-Science Major Track. Students outside of the College of Natural Sciences only.

Year of Entry
2022–2024
Requirements
What to Take When
N/A
Type
C
Academic Program

Pre-Health Professions

Science Major Track

Year of Entry
2022–2024
Requirements
What to Take When
N/A
Type
BS
Academic Program

Public Health: Option 1

Public Health

Year of Entry
2022–2024
Requirements
What to Take When
Type
BS
Academic Program

Public Health: Option 2

Honors

Year of Entry
2022–2024
Requirements
What to Take When
Type
BS
Academic Program

Public Health: Option 3

Advanced Program

Year of Entry
2022–2024
Requirements
What to Take When
Type
BS
Academic Program

Textiles & Apparel

Year of Entry
2022–2024
Requirements
What to Take When

Human Ecology News

A pregnant person, left, speaks with a doctor, right, while she points at a clipboard.

Research

Nuance Needed Regarding Weight-Gain Recommendations During Pregnancy

Patients with obesity while pregnant may receive recommendations from their doctors that need revisiting, researchers say.