Academic Policies and Procedures

Graduation

Applying for Graduation

A student should obtain an 'Application for Graduation Form' from their Academic Advisor. The student must submit the form to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline. The procedures and deadlines for making this application are listed in the Comet Calendar. Students are, however, encouraged to apply prior to registration for the last semester. Students who apply after the posted deadline will be required to pay a late fee.

Graduation Ceremonies

Ceremonies are held at the conclusion of each semester. Students who graduate in the summer or fall may elect to participate at that time or wait until the spring graduation. Summer and fall graduates may participate in the following spring graduation by filing a written notice with the Office of the Registrar at the time of the completion of degree requirements.

Honors Convocation ceremonies are held at the conclusion of each spring semester.

Graduation under a Particular Catalog

Provided the requisite courses continue to be offered, and given continuous enrollment (see section on “Readmission”), the student is bound by the Core Curriculum requirements of the catalog in force at the time of admission, within that catalog’s six year limit. If a student changes a major, the graduation requirements for that major are those stated in the catalog in force at the time of the change. The Core Curriculum requirements, however, remain those of the catalog in force at the time of matriculation unless the student specifically chooses those of a more recent catalog. Should any requisite major courses cease to be offered, substitutions will be made by the student’s Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education.

Should any requisite Core Curriculum courses cease to be offered, substitutions will be made by the Office of Undergraduate Education. These requirements must be met by every student pursuing a baccalaureate degree at The University of Texas at Dallas, regardless of his or her major. A specific course may be used to satisfy only one core requirement. Individual academic programs may require courses contained in parts of The University Core Curriculum to satisfy particular degree requirements. Students may be required to take extra courses if they fail to select these courses.

Administrative requirements such as minimum grade point requirements can change for all students with the issuance of a new catalog.

Graduation with Latin Honors

Students who show particular distinction in scholarship at the university are afforded the opportunity of graduating with one of three degrees of honors: summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude. Only grades earned at The University of Texas at Dallas are used in determining graduation with honors.

Requirements for graduation with honors are as follows:

A minimum of 45 U.T. Dallas graded credit hours are required. Each honors level requires a minimum grade point average (GPA) to be attained over all course work taken at The University of Texas at Dallas. In the case of a student with a double major who wishes to graduate with honors, a single honors designation will be awarded. Students graduating with double degrees who wish to receive honors for both degrees must complete separate honors requirements for each degree.

The grade point requirements for Latin Honors are issued by the university in the summer of each academic year and apply to graduates in the following academic year. The thresholds for each level of honors are determined from a rolling average of the grades of all graduates for the previous six long semesters. Averages are computed separately for each school within the university. The grade point average that represents the top five percent of all graduates in a particular school will be considered the threshold for awarding summa cum laude honors. The grade point average that defines the next 10 percent in each school will be the lower limit for magna cum laude. The average grade that defines the next 15 percent in each school will be considered the benchmark for awarding cum laude honors. A minimum grade point average of 3.4 is required for any Latin Honors.

Graduation Requirements

1. Each candidate for a baccalaureate degree must complete a minimum of 120 semester credit hours of course work. Within this requirement, students must complete the following at UTD

• At least 51 semester hours of advanced (3000/4000) course work, to include a minimum of 12 hours of advanced courses in the major subject.
• At least 25 percent of the total semester credit hours required (for the School of Management, 50% of the total Business credit hours) must be taken at UTD.
• At least 24 of the last 30 hours needed for a bachelor's degree.
• A maximum of three semester hours of physical instruction can be applied toward graduation.

2. A minimum GPA of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale (C average) is required in the major and related courses, any declared minor, and overall. Major preparatory classes are not included in the calculation of the major GPA. Only grades earned at UTD are used in calculating this GPA.

3. Students must satisfactorily complete all degree requirements specified by the school or college in which the degree is offered. (See "Degree Programs"). In many instances, the college/school/department academic program requirements may exceed the university core requirements.

4. Students must satisfy the Core Curriculum which is described in full here.

5. A candidate for a degree must be enrolled at this institution during the semester or term in which the Office of the Registrar confirms completion of degree requirements. Students may register in absentia if enrollment in a course is not required.

6. Students must complete an official degree plan prepared by the academic unit. It is required that the degree plan be on file no later than the completion of 75 earned semester credit hours.

7. To qualify for a second baccalaureate degree from UTD, double degree, or double major, please review the "Other Degree Requirements".

NOTE: General and specific requirements for degrees in undergraduate programs may be altered in subsequent catalogs.

The University of Texas at Dallas 2006-2008 Undergraduate Catalog
Volume 31, Number 1
Copyright © The University of Texas at Dallas

This catalog is a general information publication only. It is not intended to nor does it contain all regulations that relate to students. The provisions of this catalog do not constitute a contract, express or implied, between any applicant, student or faculty member and The University of Texas at Dallas or The University of Texas System. The University of Texas at Dallas reserves the right to withdraw courses at any time, to change fees or tuition, calendar, curriculum, degree requirements, graduation procedures, and any other requirements affecting students. Changes will become effective whenever the proper authorities so determine and will apply to both prospective students and those already enrolled.

Statement on Equal Educational Opportunity
The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. In accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, and veteran status. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is also prohibited pursuant to University policy.