The college operates one of the largest university fleets in the nation, with vessels including a 470-foot deep ocean drilling ship, a converted ocean liner used as a floating classroom, and small craft used for pollution studies. In addition to academic programs in 11 departments, the college is home to centers and institutes focusing on subjects ranging from nautical archaeology to presidential studies and public policy polling. It is the youngest, and, by design, the smallest medical school in Texas, boasting a 16 percent minority enrollment. The college's first class received degrees in 1980, and since then its graduates consistently have ranked among the state's best on federal licensing examinations. Its faculty includes a Nobel laureate in chemistry and a winner of the National Medal of Science.
Research programs range from biological nuclear magnetic resonance studies to theoretical physics.
The Cyclotron Institute operates one of the three K500 superconducting cyclotrons in the world. The college has produced 10 percent of all the veterinarians in the United States. The Texas Veterinary Medical Center, which includes the college, also offers patient care for all species and several specialized centers and institutes. This exploration helps students identify a major as well as clarify career goals. Students receive academic advising and career counseling while completing general courses that will apply to their degree programs.