Graduate Policies and Programs

Graduate Policies--General and Master's

(These policies apply to all graduate students unless otherwise stated. For policies specific to doctoral students and doctoral programs, refer to the Doctoral Policies section)

Graduate Courses Taken by Undergraduates

An undergraduate student at UT Tyler may take a maximum of 6 graduate credit hours to apply toward a graduate degree, subject to the following conditions:

1. The student must be within 12 semester hours of graduation.
2. Student must apply for undergraduate graduation.
3. Enrollment in each graduate course must receive prior approval by the graduate coordinator or appropriate department chair of the college offering the course.
4. The approval must be submitted by the student at registration.

Graduate Admission Requirements

Application Process

A student seeking a graduate degree must fulfill the following in addition to the general graduate admission requirements:

1. Complete a graduate application at http://www.applytexas.org, select a specific program, pay the application fee, and have official transcripts showing proof of baccalaureate sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
2. Select a specific degree program
3. Take the appropriate entrance examination for the selected degree program
4. Satisfy the entrance examination, grade-point average and any other specific requirements for the selected degree program
5. Receive official admission to the selected degree program

Admissions

The University of Texas at Tyler recognizes five categories of graduate admission at the master's level: Full Graduate Admission; Conditional Admission; Provisional Admission; Special Admission; and Non-Degree Seeking.

At the doctoral level, students may be admitted only under Full Graduate Admission or, under certain circumstances approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies, Conditional Admission.

I. Full Graduate Admission

A student seeking a graduate degree must fulfill the following admission requirements:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and, at least four weeks prior to the semester of initial enrollment, submit the following items:
   1. application for admission to a degree program. Only applications made online at http://www.applytexas.org will be accepted.
   2. official transcripts (sent directly from the institution) showing proof of baccalaureate (NOTE: some programs may require transcripts of all college and university level work);
   3. official scores for the required entrance examination.
2. Contact the program graduate advisor to review specific entrance requirements of the selected degree program. The decision to admit a student is made at the program level.

Because some programs accept only a limited number of students, or do not have the faculty or facilities to accommodate a student’s particular area of study, some applicants who exceed minimum requirements for admission may not be accepted.

II. Conditional Admission

This status is granted to applicants who have not satisfied, at the time of enrollment, the minimum GPA or test score requirements, or who have other deficiencies in their preparation. The status of conditional admission is established at the program level. An applicant who has been admitted conditionally will complete a degree plan with the graduate advisor that specifies the conditions to be met. The conditions may not include more than 9 hours of graduate work. Upon completion of the requirement(s), the student’s academic record will be reviewed for consideration to be granted full graduate status.

NOTE: A student who completes nine graduate hours as a non-degree seeking student, may not subsequently be admitted conditionally to a graduate degree program.

III. Provisional Admission

This status is granted to those whose application files lack required items such as official transcripts, official report of test scores, or verification of licensure. An applicant who has been admitted provisionally must contact the program graduate advisor to review specific entrance requirements of the selected degree program before being allowed to enroll. Provisional admission allows the applicant to enroll for only one semester with a maximum of nine (9) graduate hours. Provisional admission will not be continued beyond one semester.

NOTE: A student who completes nine graduate hours as a non-degree seeking student, may not subsequently be admitted provisionally to a graduate degree program.

IV. Special Admission

A student seeking teaching certification, a graduate certificate, or other graduate non-degree program (such as licensure) may be admitted as a special student. The student must submit a Graduate Application and meet all admission requirements set by the particular program. Individual programs determine the number of hours to be taken and other requirements. Students may enroll only in graduate courses required for the specific non-degree program. Registration is approved by the program advisor and College Graduate Coordinator. Graduate hours completed prior to admission as a special student may not be accepted by a particular program. If a student subsequently decides to pursue a degree, the selected degree program will determine which courses taken while classified as a special student will apply to the degree.

V. Non-Degree Seeking

A student who desires to take graduate courses for personal enrichment, for job advancement, or for transfer to another institution, may do so by completing a graduate application. Non-degree seeking students are limited to enrolling in a total of nine graduate hours unless approval is given by the Dean of The Graduate School.

A maximum of nine graduate hours of UT Tyler credit earned as a non-degree seeking student may subsequently be applied toward a master’s degree if approved by the degree-granting program. Individual programs may limit the number of hours applicable to the program.

A student who completes nine graduate hours as a non-degree seeking student, may not subsequently be admitted conditionally or provisionally to a graduate degree program.

Academic Fresh Start

An applicant who has earned a baccalaureate degree under the “academic fresh start” statute, Texas Education Code, § 51.931, and applies for admission to a postgraduate or professional program will be evaluated only on the grade point average of the course work completed for that baccalaureate degree and the other criteria stated herein for admission to the postgraduate or professional program.

International Graduate Student Admissions

Applicants from countries other than the United States may be admitted to the university subject to the following regulations in addition to the general admission requirements:

1. Accompanying the application must be an official English evaluation of the transcripts if the academic transcripts are in a foreign language.
2. Results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be submitted before admission will be granted.

   A minimum score for graduate admission is 79 on the internet-based test. Information concerning the TOEFL may be obtained by writing to TOEFL, P.O. Box 899, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 U.S.A. The ETS institutional code for UT Tyler is 6850. There is no departmental code for TOEFL.

3. An affidavit of support is required indicating the source of funds being made available to the student and the amount of money being provided and the length of time the funds will be made available.
4. Holders of student (F-l) visas must be classified as full-time students.

   For international students, the minimum course load is 9 semester credit hours for graduate students.

5. The filing deadlines for applications and the required documents to be received in the Office of Graduate Admissions are as follows:

   April 30 for the fall semester, September 30for the spring semester, and February 29 for the summer terms.

6. International students holding non-immigrant visas are required to maintain approved comprehensive medical insurance, repatriation insurance and medical evacuation insurance. An international student may purchase his or her own insurance. However, the policy must meet or exceed UT System Student Health Insurance Plan requirements and a health insurance waiver must be submitted by the deadline for the insurance charge on the student bill to be waived.

   If no waiver form is submitted, a health insurance fee will be assessed at the time of enrollment. The health insurance fee (currently $220, subject to change) will be in the amount of the premium approved for the UT System Student Health Insurance Plan for the actual cost of the insurance

   A health insurance fee will be assessed at the time of enrollment. The health insurance fee will be in the amount of the premium approved for the UT System Student Health Insurance Plan for the actual cost of the insurance.

Student Seeking a Second Graduate Degree

A student who already holds a graduate degree from an accredited institution may pursue a second graduate degree. The second degree must open a new area, field, or major approved by the student’s advisor.

With the exception of coordinated degree programs, the degree requirements for the second graduate degree must be satisfied without using courses applied to a previous degree. Credit applied to a previous degree which duplicates a portion of the program required under the second degree will not reduce the number of hours required for the second degree. Courses already taken would not have to be repeated, but additional course work would be substituted for such previously completed courses.

Concurrent Enrollment in Two Master’s Degree Programs

In unusual instances a student may be concurrently admitted to, and enrolled in, two master’s degree programs. The student must satisfy all requirements for each degree and may not use more than 9 hours of course work from one degree to satisfy common requirements for the other degree. Course work that is used to satisfy common requirements for the two degrees must be approved by the advisor of each degree program, the college graduate coordinators, and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Transient Admission: Student Pursuing Degrees at Other Universities

Graduate students pursuing degrees at other colleges and universities who wish to take courses at the University may be admitted as transient students. The transient student application is available through ApplyTexas.

A transient student who later wishes to be admitted to the University on a regular basis must reapply for admission.

Students who attend the University as transient students and then are admitted on a regular basis are immediately subject to the University’s academic regulations.

Transient Admission: UT Tyler Students at Other Universities

After a student is admitted at UT Tyler, he or she should not register for any course(s) at any other institution until approval is granted. Approval by the student’s advisor, department chair, dean, and University Registrar is required to assure that the courses taken at another institution will count toward the student’s degree. The student should not register at another institution until the request for graduate transient admission form has been completed and approved. Forms for this purpose are available online or in the Office of the Graduate Admissions, ADM 345.

Transfer of Graduate Credit

Transfer of graduate credit from a regionally accredited institution is limited to 9 hours for master's degrees. All transfer credit must have been completed with a grade of “B” or better and approved by the degree-granting program. Transfer credits should be evaluated and approved during the first semester. Since the restrictions placed upon transfer work may vary from program to program, each graduate degree student should refer to the section of this catalog that details the requirements of the proposed degree. Forms for this purpose are available online or in the Office of Graduate Admissions, ADM 345.

Scholastic Load

The minimum credit hour load to be considered a full-time graduate student is nine semester hours of graduate-level courses during a fall or spring semester or six hours during a regular summer session. The maximum credit hour load permitted is 12 hours during a fall or spring semester, six hours during each Summer I and II session, and six hours during each Long Summer Session. However, total summer hours may not exceed 12. Students enrolled in 9 or more hours in the Long Summer Session are not eligible for enrollment in the Summer I or Summer II sessions. (Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter A, Rule §4.6).

Catalog Year

In order to graduate, a student must fulfill catalog requirements in effect at the time of admission to a graduate program; however, a student who is continuously enrolled must complete all requirements within seven years or be subject to degree requirements of a subsequent catalog. If a matriculated student has a break in enrollment at UT Tyler for three consecutive semesters or more, the student is required to complete a readmission application. If a student is readmitted, the applicable catalog is the one in effect at the time of readmission.

Change of Program

If a student desires to change from one graduate program to another graduate program, the student must complete Change of Graduate Program form, which is available on The Graduate School web site at: http://www.uttyler.edu/graduate/forms/.

Course Enrollments

The university reserves the right to cancel a scheduled course upon evidence of inadequate enrollment. Normally a minimum of five enrolled students is required in a graduate course.

Grading System

Grades, levels of performance, and grade points awarded for graduate credit at UT Tyler are as follows:

Grade	Level of Performance	Grade points
A	excellent	4
B	average	3
C	poor	2
D	failing	1
F	failing	0

Most courses use the traditional grading system, providing grades of A through F. However, grading may take other forms, including:

P/F	This grade may only be used for thesis or dissertation credit, special project, practicum, internship or other specialized course.
CR/NC	Credit/No courses as approved by the program. CR or NC may not subsequently be changed to a letter grade (See credit/no-credit option policy.)
I	Indicates incomplete coursework (See incomplete policy.)
W	Indicates withdrawal (See withdrawal policies.)
IP	Indicates a course "in progress" that spans more than one semester

There is a one-year time limit for grade changes (except Incompletes) and only the original instructor of the course may change a grade. CR, P and W designations may not be changed to letter grades. An "I" must be removed from the student’s record within one semester. See specific sections that elaborate on the institutional policies concerning the designations CR/NC, I, Pass/Fail and W.

Calculation of Grade Point Average

Grades A, B, C, D, and F and the associated semester credit hours will be used to calculate grade point averages. The designations I, W, CR, and NC and the associated semester credit hours will not be used. Only grades and associated semester credit hours for courses taken in residence at UT Tyler will be used in the calculation of grade point averages.

If a student repeats a course and requests grade forgiveness, only the last grade earned and the last semester credit hours attempted are used to compute the grade point average. If grade forgiveness is not requested, then both grades will be calculated and used to compute the grade point average (See Repeating Courses and Grade Forgiveness Policy). If the student receives a W or I in the repeated course, then the previous grade continues to be used to compute the grade point average.

Credit/No Credit Option

Certain courses in the curriculum may be taken only on a credit/no-credit basis. Pre-professional students should note that many professional schools, e.g. law, count CR as a "C" and NC as an "F" in computing grade point averages. The following provisions apply to courses taken on a credit/no-credit basis:

1. Special form requiring the signature of the student’s advisor.
2. The designation CR will not be changed to a grade of A, B, C, or D.
3. The designation of CR and NC will not be used in calculating the grade point average.
4. The designation CR will be counted toward the total number of hours passed.

Incomplete Policy ("I" Grade)

If a student, because of extenuating circumstances, is unable to complete all of the requirements for a course by the end of the semester, then the instructor may recommend an incomplete (I) for the course. The "I" may be assigned in lieu of a grade only when all of the following conditions are met: (a) the student has been making satisfactory progress in the course; (b) the student is unable to complete all course work or final exam due to unusual circumstances that are beyond personal control and are acceptable to the instructor; and (c) the student presents these reasons prior to the time that the final grade roster is due.

Effective with incompletes earned in Fall 2009, the time limit in which the work must be completed may not exceed one semester (or full summer). Should the student fail to complete all of the work for the course within the time limit, the "I" will be automatically changed to an "F." An "I" will not be used in calculating the grade point average for a student.

Pass/Fail Policy

To register for a class on a Pass/Fall basis, a student must have the signatures of his/her advisor and the instructor for the course.

1. Students may take only one course per semester for P/F credit. Students may take only three courses on a pass/fail basis during their graduate career at UT Tyler.
2. The P/F option may not be used for any course that fulfills graduate degree requirements.
3. If you are on academic probation, you may not enroll in a course on a P/F basis.
4. A course cannot be changed from a P/F basis to letter grade or vice versa after the first five class days.
5. A final grade of P will not be changed to a grade of A, B, C, or D.
6. A final grade of P will be counted in the total number of hours passed.

Repeating Courses

A graduate student may repeat any graduate course previously taken at UT Tyler if the last grade received in the course was a C, D, F or NC. Repeated courses may not be taken on a CR/NC or P/F basis unless the course is only offered on a CR/NC or P/F basis. Students repeating a single course more than two times may be billed at a higher tuition rate. All grades will appear on the student’s official transcript. Once the graduate degree has been awarded by UT Tyler, a student may repeat a course taken prior to graduation, but the repeated course will not be used to recalculate the grade point average.

Grade Forgiveness

A master's student may receive grade forgiveness (grade replacement) for only two course repeats during his/her graduate career at UT Tyler. Grade forgiveness means that only the last grade and associated semester credit hours earned are used to compute the grade point average. However, all grades and associated semester credit hours will appear on the student’s official transcript.

Upon receiving a C, D or F, a student must file a Grade Replacement Contract with the Enrollment Services Center by the Census Date (see the Academic Calendar for date). Failure to file a Grade Replacement Contract will result in both the original and repeated grade and associated semester credit hours being used to calculate overall grade point average.

If a student files a Grade Replacement Contract for a course but withdraws and receives an automatic “W,” the attempt counts against the grade forgiveness limit and the original grade remains. Students may, on or prior to the Census Date, request in writing to withdraw a Grade Replacement Contract by contacting the Enrollment Services Center.

A student may not exercise grade forgiveness for courses taken at UT Tyler and repeated at another college or university, nor may grade forgiveness be used when a course taken elsewhere is repeated at UT Tyler.

The grade forgiveness option may not be exercised to remove a grade awarded in a case of academic dishonesty. Once the degree has been awarded by UT Tyler, grade forgiveness may not be used to replace a grade taken before graduation.

Implementation

The grade forgiveness limit is not retroactive regarding grades already forgiven. The policy affects all students enrolled in Fall 2006 and thereafter, no matter when the course being repeated was originally taken.

Withdrawals/Drops

All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor and instructor prior to dropping a course. In addition, students should review the Academic Calendar located in the Schedule of Classes for “W” withdrawal/drop dates and the refund schedule. For more information regarding refunds, please see the Schedule of Refunds in this catalog. Students should be aware that dropping a course will affect their financial aid, and they should consult the Enrollment Services Center prior to withdrawal. Students are encouraged to maintain a copy of their Withdrawal Form.

Students must withdraw in writing by one of the following methods:

1. Fill out the Withdrawal Form available in the Enrollment Services Center, or
2. Send a Letter of Withdrawal to the Enrollment Services Center. The letter must contain the student's name, student ID number, the course(s) from which the student is withdrawing, the reason for withdrawing, and the student's signature. Letters may be mailed or faxed to the Enrollment Services Center. For mailed withdrawals, the effective date of withdrawal will be the date when the withdrawal is officially completed and recorded by the Enrollment Services Center. A copy of the withdrawal will be mailed to the student once the procedure has been completed.

Dropping Courses Late

No course may be dropped after the published “Last Day to Withdraw” unless the Student Appeals Committee approves a late drop (see the Academic Grievances policy). The appeal must provide justification of extenuating circumstances that go beyond academic progress in the course.

Withdrawal for Active Military Service

If a student withdraws from an institution of higher education because the student is called to active military service, the institution, at the student’s option, shall:

1. refund the tuition and fees paid by the student for the semester in which the student withdraws;
2. grant a student, who is eligible under the institution’s guidelines, an incomplete grade in all courses by designating “withdrawn-military” on the student’s transcript; or
3. assign an appropriate final grade or credit, as determined by the instructor, to a student who has satisfactorily completed a substantial amount of coursework and who has demonstrated sufficient mastery of the course material. (See Excused Absences for Active Military Service)

Readmission

A formal request for readmission is required whenever a student fails to register for three consecutive semesters or has an approved leave of absence for twelve or more months. To resume studies, students must submit an Application for Graduate Studies via the ApplyTexas website according to the following deadlines:

• August 15 for the fall semester
• December 20 for the spring semester
• April 15 for summer

Readmission is not automatic and will be reviewed carefully by the Office of Graduate Admissions and the academic program prior to making a recommendation.

If a student is readmitted, the applicable catalog is the one in effect at the time of readmission.

Excused Absences

Excused Absence for Religious Holy Days

An institution of higher education shall excuse a student from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day, including travel for that purpose. A student whose absence is excused under this subsection may not be penalized for that absence and shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment from which the student is excused within a reasonable time after the absence.

Any student seeking to be excused for religious observance, must provide written notification to the instructors at least two weeks* prior to the date of the planned absence. At that time the instructor will set a date and time with the student when any make-up assignment or equivalent work will be completed. Make-up work will be mutually arranged; however, availability of the instructor will be given priority in setting the arrangements.

It is expected that students will not abuse the privilege of being absent from class for religious observance.

*Events scheduled within the first month of an academic term may require a shortened lead time.

Excused Absence for Active Military Service

Any student who has been called up for military service after a semester begins should immediately provide the Registrar’s Office and course instructors a copy of the military orders. Such students are excused from attending classes, turning in assignments, taking examinations or participating in any other required activity if the absence is for no more than 25% of the total number of class meetings (excluding final examination period). If the absence is for more than 25% of the class meetings, please refer to the policy on Withdrawal for Military Service.

Within 5 days of the student returning to UT Tyler from active service, he or she shall notify the Registrar’s Office and course instructors. The student will be allowed to complete all assignments and examinations within a reasonable time as agreed upon by the course instructors and under the same requirements in effect when the student enrolled in the course.

Should any dispute arise as to the student’s inability to complete assignments or examinations within a reasonable time after the absence, the student should first seek informal resolution with the faculty member, the department chair and then the dean of the college in which the course or courses are located. If an informal process is not successful, the student may institute a grade grievance process after the final course grade is recorded.

Excused Absence for Active Military Service

Any student who has been called up for military service after a semester begins should immediately provide the Registrar’s Office and course instructors a copy of the military orders. Such students are excused from attending classes, turning in assignments, taking examinations or participating in any other required activity during their absence if the absence is for no more than 25% of the total number of class meetings (excluding final examination period). If the absence is for more than 25% of the class meetings, please refer to the policy on Withdrawal for Military Service.

Within 5 days of the student returning to UT Tyler from active service, he or she shall notify the Registrar’s Office and course instructors. The student will be allowed to complete all assignments and examinations within a reasonable time as agreed upon by the course instructors and under the same requirements in effect when the student enrolled in the course.

Should any dispute arise as to the student’s inability to complete assignments or examinations within a reasonable time after the absence, the student should first seek informal resolution with the faculty member, the department chair and then the dean of the college in which the course or courses are located. If an informal process is not successful, the student may institute a grade grievance process after the final course grade is recorded.

Academic Grievances

Academic related grievances, such as disputes regarding grades, must be initiated within sixty (60) days from the date of receiving the final course grade by filing a Grade Appeal Form with the instructor who assigned the grade. If the student is not satisfied with the decision, the student may appeal in writing to the appropriate Chairperson of the department from which the grade was issued. Grievances may then be appealed to the Academic Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Grade Appeal Forms are available in each academic dean’s office.

Discrimination Complaints

Please see the Complaints and Grievances Process in the Student Affairs section of this catalog.

Student Records

Please see the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policy in the Undergraduate Policies Section of this catalog.

Probation/Suspension for Graduate Students

Graduate Academic Probation

A graduate student who has a cumulative grade-point of less than 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. For the purposes of determining compliance with the policies of academic probation, the three summer sessions are treated as one semester.

Students on academic probation must earn a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 or above in subsequent semesters until the cumulative grade point deficiency is removed. Failure to do so results in academic suspension. A student on academic probation should not register for more than six hours and must obtain his/her advisor’s approval on a Graduate Student Probation Petition for Readmission form to register. The form is available on the Registrar's Office website: http://www.uttyler.edu/registrar/forms/index.php.

Grade points earned at other institutions are not used in computing the grade-point average and may not be used to remove a deficiency. A student who leaves the University on academic probation will be readmitted on academic probation even if he or she has attended another institution in the interim.

Graduate Academic Suspension

A graduate student will be suspended from the University for one semester or full summer for failure to meet the terms of academic probation. A student suspended from the University for the first time must receive approval for readmission from the program advisor and the appropriate dean.

A student admitted to the University after having been suspended must complete a Graduate Student Suspension Petition for Readmission form, with signatures from both their academic advisor and the appropriate college dean, to register.

A second academic suspension will be for at least twelve months. Students wishing to reenroll at the University after the mandatory period of enrollment ineligibility must reapply via the ApplyTexas website. Submission of a completed Graduate Student Suspension Petition for Readmission to the Enrollment Services Center is also required as part of the readmission process and as a requirement for enrollment. This form requires the signature of the student’s academic advisor and the appropriate college dean.

A third suspension will result in permanent dismissal from the graduate program and the University.

Thesis

Several graduate degree programs at UT Tyler require a thesis. A student seeking a degree should consult the appropriate section of this catalog to determine if a particular degree requires a thesis.

Guidelines and Procedures

Students considering enrollment in a thesis course should obtain a copy of Guidelines for Preparation of Thesis or Dissertation at The University of Texas at Tyler. These guidelines describe procedures for typing, formatting, and submitting the thesis. Thesis guidelines also may be found on the University website at the following address: http://uttyler.edu/graduate/thesisguide.pdf

Enrollment

Students required to write a thesis for their degree must register for a thesis course each semester, after research has commenced, until the thesis has been accepted.

Oral Defense of Thesis/or Thesis Substitute

If a thesis or thesis substitute is required, a final oral defense also may be required by the program. The oral defense should be held only after all members of the committee have had adequate opportunity to review a draft of the master’s thesis/substitute. The advisor is responsible for determining that the draft is in an appropriate form for committee evaluation. If substantial revisions are necessary, they should be completed before the final oral defense is scheduled. The committee may, at the time of the final oral but no later, require alterations and corrections, but these should constitute relatively minor changes agreed to by a majority of the committee members. The advisor is responsible for verifying that the changes required by the committee have been made.

All committee members are expected to be present at the defense. The final oral is open to the public. A thesis/substitute is accepted only after the approval of a majority of the examining committee members.

Failure of Examinations

A master’s candidate who fails the oral defense may not take the examination a second time until at least three months after the first attempt. A student who fails an examination for the second time becomes ineligible for further graduate work. Upon request from the student’s director of graduate studies, The Graduate School may grant a student a third and final opportunity to take the oral defense.

Thesis Submissions Deadlines

The final PDF copy of the thesis, prepared under standards as defined in Guidelines for Preparation of Thesis or Dissertation must be submitted via email to the director of Graduate Student Services for the mechanical check no later than two weeks before the last day of final exams of the semester of intended graduation. The PDF version must include a scanned copy of the signature page with all signatures present. After making any required changes, resubmit the PDF of the entire thesis/dissertation (including a scan of any signature pages) via email to the director of Graduate Student Services. Students will then receive a signed Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form and Electronic Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form, as well as information on author rights and instructions for submitting the thesis/dissertation in electronic format to the Robert R. Muntz Library.

Theses are regarded as publications and will be made available to the public once they are approved and submitted to the Graduate School.

Grading Policy

A student registered for thesis who does not submit the approved thesis to the dean or graduate coordinator of the appropriate college before the thesis deadline for that semester will receive an incomplete “IP” grade. Once the thesis has been accepted, previous “IP” grades for thesis work will be changed to credit “CR”. A maximum of six semester hours of thesis credit may be applied to the masters degree.

Approval

The completed thesis must be approved by the thesis advisor, and the college graduate coordinator or dean before the student will receive final certification for the degree.

Thesis Substitution

Some master’s programs require a substitute for the thesis. Examples of substitutes include a journal article(s), technical report, case study, or independent research project. The policies and procedures for completing the thesis substitute are determined by the program itself.

Final Examination

Final examinations are administered as scheduled. If unusual circumstances require that special arrangements be made for an individual student or class, the dean of the appropriate college, after consultation with the faculty member involved, may authorize an exception to the schedule.

Graduation Guidelines and Procedures

Graduation Requirements--Master's

1. Complete a Graduate Transfer Credit Approval form within the first semester following admission to a program that identifies the transfer credit awarded and specifies any special requirements.
2. Complete the total number of semester credit hours and other requirements of the degree plan (including transfer credit) within a six-year period. Courses completed on a credit-granting basis (CR) may not be applied toward a graduate degree without approval of the graduate coordinator or the appropriate department chair.
3. Earn a “C” or better in all courses applied to the degree.
4. Earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher on all work counted toward the degree.
5. Pass the appropriate comprehensive examination(s) if required for the program.
6. Submit an approved thesis if required. See Thesis in this section.
7. Pay the non-refundable graduation fee in the Cashier’s Office.
8. Take the receipt to the Enrollment Services Center and exchange it for an Application for Graduation.
9. Complete the Application for Graduation form and return it to the Enrollment Services Center.

Application for Graduation Deadlines

In order to facilitate a timely pre-graduation review of their graduation eligibility, all students are highly encouraged to apply prior to the Priority Filing Date for their term of graduation, as listed below.

Priority Filing Dates:

Fall graduation	June 15
Spring graduation	October 15
Summer graduation*	March 15

Students must file for graduation no later than the Final Filing Deadline, as listed below:

Final Filing Deadlines:

Fall graduation	November 01
Spring graduation	April 01
Summer graduation*	July 15

*Summer graduates must participate in the following Fall commencement ceremony, and are automatically included in the program. Early participation in the preceding Spring ceremony is not permitted.

Students will receive updates on the status of their Application for Graduation from the department of their major field of study. Updates about the commencement ceremonies will distributed by the Office of the Registrar.

Verification of Degree

A degree will not be granted until all requirements have been verified. All incomplete grades, required transcripts from other institutions, required examinations, and other evidence of outstanding requirements must be verified within 30 days following the final day of the graduation term. If the requirements have not been verified by this date, graduation will be denied and the student must refile for graduation subject to the filing for graduation guidelines.

Time Limitation

Degree requirements for all master's programs at UT Tyler must be completed within a six-year period. Graduate credit transferred from another institution must meet the limitations imposed by each degree program. Exceptions to the six-year time limitation must be approved by the academic advisor, graduate coordinator for the college, and the University’s Coordinator of Graduate Studies.

Master of Arts and Master of Science Degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies

The Master of Arts and the Master of Science degrees in interdisciplinary studies are intended for persons desiring graduate studies in a wider range of fields than normally possible in a program with a traditional major. The student’s background and goals are considered in the design of the individual degree plan.

Admission Requirements

The following are required for admission:

1. Submit a satisfactory score on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
2. Have a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 2.5 on the last 60 hours of upper- division course work and a 3.0 on all graduate work taken.
3. Consideration is also given to one or more of the following: the applicant's demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study, socioeconomic background, first generation college graduate, multilingual proficiency, geographic region of residence, and level of responsibility in other matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, and family responsibilities.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts or Master of Science degree designation will be determined by the student’s advisor according to the first field emphasis of the student’s degree plan. Specific requirements for both degrees follow:

A. A total of 36 semester hours of graduate work. No more than six semester hours of undergraduate courses approved for graduate credit may apply to this degree. A student may transfer a maximum of 9 semester hours of graduate credit in which a grade of “B” or better has been earned from approved institutions. All transfer work is subject to approval by the student’s advisor.

B. From the alphabetical list below, the student must select a minimum of 12 hours of course work in the first field and a minimum of six hours each in the second and third fields. A maximum of 18 hours in any one field may be applied to these degrees. Please note: Not all programs below accept students into the first field; check with the graduate advisor.

First, Second, Third fields available	Second and Third Fields Only
Allied Health Science	Art
Chemistry	Communication
Computer Science	Criminal Justice
English	History
Music	Political Science
Psychology	Public Administration
	Sociology

C. Electives may be chosen from any field with the advisor’s approval.

D. A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in each of the three selected fields and a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in all graduate work. No course with a grade below “C” may be applied toward this degree.

E. No more than six semester credit hours in independent study courses. If English or history is chosen as the student’s first field, no more than three semester hours of travel/study courses may be applied to the first field.

F. Successful completion of a written, comprehensive examination over the fields of study shown in the degree plan, excluding electives. This examination will be administered and evaluated by the student’s examination committee (see below).

Comprehensive Examination Committee

The committee must have a minimum of three faculty members including the student’s chief advisor, who chairs the committee and is a faculty member in the predominant field of the student’s degree program, and one faculty member from each of the remaining two fields of that program.

Graduate Policies--Doctoral

The policies and requirements outlined in this section of the catalog apply without exception to all departments or programs at the University of Texas at Tyler that offer doctoral degrees. The Graduate School and the Graduate Council work closely with departments and programs to coordinate degree requirements and to ensure that they are fairly and equitably applied.

For a detailed set of doctoral policies and procedures, students should download the UT Tyler Graduate Handbook at http://www.uttyler.edu/graduate/gradhbk.pdf  

Doctoral Excessive Hours Fee ("99-Hour Rule")

All doctoral students (regardless of state residency classification) who exceed 99 hours of doctoral coursework will be required to pay out-of-state tuition. Doctoral coursework is any coursework taken by a student seeking a doctoral degree after the completion of an initial 30 semester hours of graduate credit (typically master’s level work, regardless of whether the hours are taken as part of a master’s degree, as a non-degree seeking student, certificate work, or as part of the doctoral program). (See Texas Education Code Sec. 61.046 (l))

This rule applies to all students admitted to a doctoral program at UT Tyler. This tuition structure applies to Texas residents as well as out-of-state residents and international students who were eligible to be charged tuition at the resident rate as a result of scholarship, fellowship awards, or employment as Graduate Assistants.

Program of Study

All doctoral programs consist, at minimum, of a coherent set of courses and other educational experiences, a Preliminary Examination for Candidacy, a dissertation, and a Final Oral Defense. Students must satisfy not only their departmental requirements, but also any additional requirements specified by the The Graduate School.

Foreign Language Requirements

The Graduate School has no foreign language requirement for doctoral degrees; however, knowledge of one or more foreign languages may be required by individual doctoral programs.

Admissions

The University of Texas at Tyler admits students to its Ph.D. programs under the Full Admission criteria. Conditional Admission may be considered under certain circumstances with the approval of the program and The Graduate School.

I. Full Doctoral Admission

Students seeking a doctoral degree must fulfill the following admission requirements:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
2. Have of at least a 3.00 grade point average in all upper-division (junior- and senior-level) coursework, or a 3.00 grade point average in the last graduate degree earned.
3. Satisfy any additional requirements (official entrance examination scores, essay, grade-point average, letters of recommendation, etc.) for the selected degree program. If the GRE is required, the test must have been taken within the past 5 years.
4. Additional consideration for admission will be based upon the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study, involvement and level of responsibility in non-academic matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, and socioeconomic background.

II. Conditional Doctoral Admission

Under certain circumstances and with the approval of the doctoral program and the The Graduate School, a student may be admitted conditionally. This status is granted to applicants who, at the time of enrollment, require leveling work or additional courses to prepare them for doctoral work. An applicant who has been admitted conditionally will complete a degree plan with the graduate advisor that specifies the conditions to be met. The conditions may not include more than 9 hours of graduate work. Upon completion of the requirement(s), the student’s academic record will be reviewed for consideration to be granted full doctoral admission.

Because some programs accept only a limited number of students, or do not have the faculty or facilities to accommodate a student’s particular area of study, some applicants who exceed minimum requirements for admission may not be accepted.

Transfer of Graduate Credit

Students wishing to apply transfer credits toward a doctoral program must complete a Graduate Transfer Credit Approval Form within the first semester following admission into a doctoral program.

Transfer of graduate credit from a regionally accredited institution is limited to 20% of the total hours required for the doctoral degree. Hours transferred into a doctoral program should represent credit earned after the award of the master’s degree. Exceptions to the number of hours transferred may be requested by the program to the Dean of the Graduate School. Only credit with a grade of “B” or better may be transferred.

Credit earned more than six calendar years before admission to the program will not be accepted for transfer. A graduate program may request the Dean of The Graduate School to approve additional transfer credit. The program will determine what courses, if any, are accepted for transfer. The doctoral student may be examined on all transferred courses at the time of the doctoral preliminary examinations.

Transfer work does count toward the 99-Hour Rule for tuition purposes. See state law regarding the 99-Hour Rule.

University Requirements for Doctoral Degree

1. Satisfactory completion of all coursework required by the plan of study.
2. Satisfactory completion of the Preliminary Examination
3. Registration for at least three credit hours during the semesters in which the Preliminary Examination and the Oral Dissertation Defense are taken and during the semester in which graduation is expected.
4. Completion of the required residency requirements before Candidacy is awarded.
5. Graduate cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0
6. Satisfactory completion of the Oral Dissertation Defense.
7. Submission of both a hard copy and electronic version of the approved dissertation, a separate copy of the dissertation abstract, copy of Human Subjects or Animal Subjects approval form (if required), Survey of Earned Doctorates, payment of the doctoral hood and thesis binding fees.
8. Completion of Ph.D. degree requirements within five years after being admitted to candidacy.
9. Completion of any incomplete coursework within 30 days of the final day of the graduation term.
10. Complete the Application for Graduation form and return it to the Enrollment Services Center. Refer to the Application for Graduation Deadlines section for filing deadlines.

Residency and Enrollment Requirements

The doctoral degree is granted in recognition of high attainment in a specific field as demonstrated by passing coursework, the successful completion of required examinations and the successful defense of a dissertation based on original research. Consequently, the University does not specify a minimum number of courses or credits that must be completed for the degree.

Residency Requirement

The residency requirement provides students an opportunity to be engaged in concentrated study over an extended period of time in association with faculty and other students in an atmosphere conducive to a high level of intellectual and scholarly activity.

Doctoral students must be registered for nine (9) hours each semester at UT Tyler for a minimum of two consecutive semesters or six (6) hours each semester for three consecutive semesters (not necessarily including summer). However, the student does not necessarily have to be physically present on campus (for example, the student may be taking courses over the internet or doing field research). The residency requirement must be met prior to admission to candidacy.

Hours taken as part of a master’s degree or during conditional admission status may not count toward the residency requirement.

Time Limit

All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed and the degree awarded within a maximum of nine years from the term of full doctoral admission, and within five calendar years from the term after the student passes the preliminary oral examination.

(Example: if the date of admission is Fall 2008, the nine-year time limit ends Summer 2017. If the student in this example is admitted to candidacy in March 2010, the time to degree expires at the end of the spring semester 2015). When extenuating circumstances warrant, the Dean of The Graduate School may grant an extension for one year. The student must complete the Request for Extension of Time Form and receive approval from the major advisor/dissertation chair and the program’s graduate director, who forwards the request to the Dean of The Graduate School.

Leave of Absence

A student in good academic standing may request a leave of absence from doctoral study for up to one year for any of the following reasons: childbearing, adoption, illness, critical care of child, spouse or parent, or job related interruptions.

To be eligible for a leave of absence, a student must not have received an extension of the time limit for the degree, must not have any Incomplete (“I”) grades, and must be in good academic standing.

If the leave of absence is approved, the time of that leave will not count against the total time allowed for the degree. Ordinarily, a leave of absence may not be renewed.

To request a leave of absence, a student must complete and submit a Request for Leave of Absence Form and receive approval from the major advisor/dissertation advisor and the program’s graduate director, who forwards the form to the Dean of The Graduate School.

Upon returning from a leave of absence, the student must complete an Application for Graduate Studies.

Inactive Status

A student not yet admitted to candidacy who has not enrolled for two consecutive calendar years and has not been granted an extension or a leave of absence will be placed in inactive status.

In order to resume graduate studies, the student must complete an Application for Graduate Studies and meet all admission requirements in force at the time of the new application. Readmission under these circumstances is not guaranteed, however. If readmitted, the student will be subject to all program requirements in force at the time the student is readmitted.

Doctoral candidates who have not enrolled for two consecutive calendar years, have not graduated by the end of the five-year candidacy period, or have not been granted an extension or a leave of absence will be placed in inactive status and their candidacy revoked.

To resume studies, the student must complete an Application for Graduate Studies and receive approval from the dissertation chair, the program’s graduate director and/or Graduate Program Committee, and the Dean of The Graduate School.

Readmission is not guaranteed, however. The faculty in the major field and/or the Dean of The Graduate School may set any readmission conditions deemed necessary, such as, but not limited to, registering for additional coursework, retaking examinations, filing a revised doctoral proposal, or completing the degree within a specified time period.

Grading Policies

(See general graduate policies)

Repeating a Course

Doctoral students may repeat a 5000- or 6000-level course if the original grade earned was a C, D, F or NC. The course may be repeated only once and the original grade continues to be included in the computation of the graduate point average. There is no grade replacement at the doctoral level. Individual programs may have limits on the number of times a student may repeat courses.

Probation/Suspension for Doctoral Students

Academic Probation

A doctoral student who has a cumulative grade-point of less than 3.0 will be placed on probation. Students on academic probation must earn a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 or above in each subsequent semester of enrollment (including summer, if registered) until the cumulative grade point deficiency is removed.

Students have two semesters to remove themselves from probation. Failure to do so results in academic suspension. A student on probation should not register for more than six hours and must obtain his/her advisor’s approval on a Graduate Probation Petition for Readmission to register.

Grade points earned at other institutions are not used in computing the grade-point average and may not be used to remove a deficiency. A doctoral student who leaves the University on probation will be readmitted on probation even if he or she has attended another institution in the interim. However, readmission as a degree-seeking student is not guaranteed.

Academic Suspension

A doctoral student who fails to make satisfactory academic progress may be dismissed from the doctoral program. Failure to make satisfactory progress may be the result of, but not limited to, failure to raise grade point average to 3.0 within the subsequent two semesters, poor performance on preliminary exams, unsatisfactory research progress, or inability to meet other degree requirements.

Although cases of improper conduct of research or unprofessional behavior are addressed according to other University procedures, these behaviors may also result in dismissal from the University.

For details regarding doctoral committees, preliminary examinations, dissertation and dissertation defense, etc. please refer to the UT Tyler Graduate Handbook at http://www.uttyler.edu/graduate/gradhbk.pdf

Application for Candidacy

Provided that the student has completed all required coursework, has no “incomplete” grades, has satisfactorily completed all portions of the preliminary examination, and is in good academic standing, the student is admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree. Candidacy is effective at the end of the semester in which the signed Recommendation for Candidacy form is submitted to The Graduate School. A notation-- “Advanced to Candidacy for Doctorate”--will appear on the student’s transcript.

Dissertation

All doctoral candidates are required to complete and defend a dissertation. Only students who have been admitted to candidacy may register for dissertations hours. The University requires a minimum of 9 hours of dissertation credit; however, most doctoral programs require more hours.

The dissertation is an independent scholarly contribution to knowledge in the student’s area of specialization. By researching, writing, and defending a dissertation, the student demonstrates a high level of knowledge in the chosen field and the ability to conduct independent research.

Dissertations are regarded as publications and will be made available to the public once they are approved and submitted to the Graduate School. In order to protect patent or other intellectual property rights, the Dean of The Graduate School may, upon request, delay for a period of up to one year the binding, distribution, and/or publication of the dissertation. This request must be supported by a written recommendation of the Supervising Professor.

Doctoral candidates are required to register for a minimum of 3 credits of dissertation during each semester until the dissertation is accepted by the The Graduate School. (See, Enrollment Requirements)

Animal and Human Subject Approval

Federal regulations and University policy require that all investigations using animal or human beings as subjects of research be reviewed and approved by the appropriately constituted committees before such investigations may begin.

No dissertation based on the use of animals or human beings as subjects can be accepted without prior review and approval handled in accordance with University procedures. The faculty advisor requests such a review, where needed; however, each student should check to ascertain whether the review is required, and if so, the requirements for the review.