General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Core Curriculum Requirements (42 hours)

All students seeking their first baccalaureate degree from UT Tyler are required to satisfy all requirements of the Texas Core Curriculum. Customarily, students admitted to UT Tyler are subject to the requirements of the Core Curriculum, majors, minors, and emphases/specializations in place as of their term of admission. However, any student first enrolled in an institution of higher education prior to fall 2014 shall have the choice to (1) complete the Core Curriculum requirements in effect in summer 2014, or (2) transition to the current Core Curriculum requirements. Students shall then complete the remaining requirements under the fall 2014 current Core Curriculum. Students are encouraged to see their advisors for guidance on the best option for meeting Core Curriculum requirements.

Core Curriculum and field of study requirements are normally completed at the freshmen/sophomore level. All courses used to complete the Core Curriculum requirements at UT Tyler must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. Please check with your advisor before registering for Core Curriculum courses to ensure that you are registered for the correct classes. (Additional acceptable Core courses may be added; check the web version of the catalog for the most current list.)

When changes occur in curricula students may elect to adopt versions of the Core Curriculum, majors, minors, or emphases/specializations that become available after their terms of admission. Approvals by the appropriate academic advisor(s) are required for any of changes to degree plans.

Core Curriculum Transfer and Transient Enrollment

If a student, upon initial transfer or subsequent readmission after one full year or more of non-attendance at UT Tyler, is considered Core Curriculum complete by another Texas public institution of higher education as noted on the student’s official transcript from that institution, they are considered Core Curriculum complete by UT Tyler.

In both scenarios academic credit will be awarded for all courses the previous institution has specifically listed on the student’s official transcript as applying toward that institution’s Core Curriculum, even if those courses do not otherwise meet standard transfer credit requirements. For example, this allows for Core Curriculum courses with a grade of ‘D’, which are typically rejected, to be accepted.

Any student concurrently enrolled at more than one institution of higher education must follow the Core Curriculum of the institution in which they are classified as a degree-seeking student. Accordingly, all degree-seeking students at UT Tyler must meet the Core Curriculum requirements set forth by UT Tyler to be considered core complete. Students who complete the Core Curriculum of another institution while enrolled at UT Tyler as a degree-seeking student are, regardless of their status with the other institution, only considered Core complete if their coursework satisfies all Core Curriculum requirements at UT Tyler.

Students wishing to complete coursework toward the Core Curriculum at another institution while enrolled as a degree-seeking student at UT Tyler must file an Undergraduate Transient Form.

Pre-Professional Programs

For information on pre-law, pre-theology, pre-med, pre-veterinary or pre-dental programs, see the College of Arts and Sciences section of this catalog.

Double Major

Students at UT Tyler may earn a degree with a double major by completing all requirements set forth by each major. No fewer than 12 semester credit hours in each major field of study must be completed in residence at UT Tyler. Students in pursuit of a double major must meet with an advisor for each major. Both advisors must be made aware the student is in pursuit of a double major so a combined degree plan may be created to satisfy all requirements for both majors.

To qualify as a double major, both majors must end with the same degree type (B.A., B.S., B.B.A., etc.) and be awarded in the same semester. If the two majors end in different degree types, the two majors do not constitute a double major; two majors that do not share a common degree type constitute a double degree (see double degree requirements). If a student in pursuit of a double major chooses to graduate with one major before completing both, then the second major will become a second baccalaureate degree (see second baccalaureate requirements).

Students earning a degree with a double major will receive a single diploma stating their degree (ex. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, etc.) and listing both majors. The transcript will show a single degree posting which lists both majors.

A minor is not required for students completing double majors.

Double Degree

To qualify for a double degree (for, example, a BA degree and a BS degree), a student must complete the major requirements for both degrees as stated in the catalog. Students seeking a double degree should consult with advisors for each degree. Both degrees must be completed in the same semester, and two separate graduation applications must be submitted. Students earning a double degree will receive a diploma for each degree. The transcript will show separate degree postings for each degree earned.

Second Baccalaureate Degree

To earn a second baccalaureate degree, the student must complete the requirements for the second major; six hours of U.S. History, three hours of Texas Government and three hours of U.S. Government (if not taken as part of the first degree); and satisfy any lower-level requirements for the second degree. A second baccalaureate degree requires the completion of a minimum of 30 hours of resident credit in addition to the hours required for the first degree.