Baccalaureate Degree Requirements and Graduation

General Degree Requirements

Each candidate for the baccalaureate degree must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Consult with the appropriate academic advisor(s) and complete all requirements outlined in the Patriot Advising Report (PAR).
2. Complete Core Curriculum requirements with a grade of “C” or better in each course.
3. Complete a minimum of 42 upper-division semester credit hours.  (Waivers may be requested through the Office of Academic Affairs.)
4. Complete at least 25% of the hours required for the degree at UT Tyler.
5. Complete at least 24 of the last 30 upper-division credit hours in residence at UT Tyler. (Waivers may be requested through the Office of Academic Affairs.)
6. Complete a minimum of 6 upper-division hours in the major field of study at UT Tyler. (Colleges or departments may establish more stringent requirements.)
7. Complete a minimum of 120 hours. All hours counted toward this requirement must be unique, non-duplicated credit hours. Credit hours from multiple completions of courses designated specifically as repeatable for credit, up to the designated repeat limit for each such course, are considered unique credit hours.
8. Maintain a 2.0 overall grade point average or higher if required by a specific major.
9. File for graduation on or before the Final Filing Deadline for the semester of graduation. See Graduation Guidelines below.

The requirements above apply to students earning their first baccalaureate degree. Students seeking to earn a second, or subsequent, baccalaureate degree must meet requirements listed in the Second Baccalaureate Degree policy.

Core Curriculum

The UT Tyler Core Curriculum Mission Statement

The UT Tyler Core Curriculum is a cohesive foundational program in compliance with the Texas Core Curriculum and a university graduation requirement in all degree programs. Students develop analytical, communication, quantitative, and collaborative problem-solving knowledge and skills. Core courses include opportunities for students to reflect on personal and social responsibility values, principles, and skills essential for personal and professional success.

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. The Core Curriculum objectives serve as the UT Tyler student learning outcomes for collegiate-level general education competencies of all undergraduate degree programs. 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. Only courses in which a student has earned a grade equivalent of “C” or better will be acceptable for transfer. The only exception will be if a student transfers to UT Tyler Core complete from another Texas public college or university, and the transferring institution recognized a "D" as satisfying its Core Curriculum requirements.

In order to have a wide foundational basis, students may take no more than 12 hours of Core Courses in one subject area as determined by prefix, with the exception of HNRS courses. Students who take HNRS 2413, HNRS 2414 or MATH 2413, MATH 2414 to fulfill the 3 hour Mathematics Component area may use the additional one hour to count toward one hour of STEM. Students required to take co-requisite one credit hour science lab courses for degree requirements must count those lab hours in the degree and not toward core completion requirements if the cumulative credit hours exceed the maximum core curriculum requirement of 42 semester credit hours.

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.

Per the Texas Administrative Code, 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. This form will be reviewed by the student’s academic advisor and the Office of the Registrar to verify that the intended course(s) will be viable toward the intended Core component(s).

Dual Credit

The University of Texas at Tyler is committed to providing opportunities for high school students to earn dual credit for core academic courses that will transfer to all public institutions in Texas. 

High school students can earn dual credit credits from The University of Texas at Tyler in a variety of formats, including:

1. High School Campus: A credentialed high school instructor teaches the course on the high school campus and serves as the Instructor of Record.  
2. UT Tyler Campus: In person, hybrid, or online course taught by UT Tyler faculty as the Instructor of Record and high school teacher or an approved facilitator/coach to provide support and discipline for students. 

To be eligible for admissions to UT Tyler to participate as a dual credit student, an applicant must attend or be accepted to an approved partnering high school.  All official documents must be sent directly from the high school before a student can register for courses.

• Completed application for admission to UT Tyler 
• Official High School Transcript 
• Official college or university transcript of all schools attended
• Official proof of qualifying Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standards.  Student must be TSI complete, exempt or eligible in Math, Reading OR Writing depending on UT Tyler specific course requirements and prerequisites. This can be met through qualifying tests or by taking the TSI assessment and providing official scores.
• Complete the request for courses
• During the first semester of enrollment in a dual credit course, students must complete an online course to prepare for success in college level courses.

Dual credit students must follow the same policies and requirements as traditional UT Tyler students. Dual credit students also have access to the same resources and supports as traditional UT Tyler students such as tutoring assistance, supplemental instructional, and library services.

Pre-Professional Programs

For information on pre-law, pre-theology, pre-medical, 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).

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.  If a student in pursuit of a double degree chooses to graduate with one degree before completing both, then the second degree will become a second baccalaureate degree (see second baccalaureate requirements).

The transcript will show separate degree postings for each degree earned.

Second Baccalaureate Degree

Each candidate for a second, or subsequent, baccalaureate degree must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Complete all upper-level and lower-level requirements for the major.
2. Complete, with grades of “C” or better, six hours of U.S. History, three hours of Texas Government, and three hours of U.S. Government (if not taken as part of a prior degree).
3. Complete a minimum of 30 hours of resident credit in addition to those required for the prior degree(s).
4. Maintain a 2.0 overall grade point average or higher if required by a specific major.
5. File for graduation on or before the Final Filing Deadline for the semester of graduation. See Graduation Guidelines below.

Graduation Guidelines and Procedures

Catalog of Graduation

In order to graduate, a student must fulfill catalog requirements in effect at matriculation or any subsequent catalog during their period of enrollment. A catalog over six years old may be used to determine requirements for a degree only if the student has been enrolled continuously in fall and spring semesters. If a student has not enrolled at UT Tyler in the past year, the student is required to complete a readmission application. Students who complete a readmission application are admitted under the catalog in effect at the time of readmission.

Filing for Graduation

All students at UT Tyler must formally apply for graduation by completing the following guidelines:

1. Pay the non-refundable Graduation App Access Fee via their Student Center or at the One-Stop Service Center* (STE 230).
2. Formally apply for graduation using the Apply for Graduation feature in their Student Center between the First Date to File and Final Filing Deadline for the semester in which they plan to graduate.

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.

*Students attending the Houston, Longview, or Palestine campuses may pay the graduation fee at the main offices on those campuses.

First Date to File:  

This date is approximately 9 months prior to the Final Filing Deadline.

Priority Filing Dates:

This date is two weeks after enrollment for the term opens.

Students must file for graduation no later than the Final Filing Deadline, as listed below, for the term in which they wish to graduate. All Final Filing Deadlines will be extended to the next available business day in the event they fall on a weekend or holiday. The Final Filing Deadlines for Fall and Spring terms are also the deadline for inclusion in the commencement program. The Apply for Graduation feature will not allow students to file for graduation in any term after the relevant Final Filing Deadline.

Final Filing Deadlines:

*Summer graduates 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 be distributed by the Office of the Registrar.

Additional information regarding graduation processes and commencement exercises is available at www.uttyler.edu/registrar/graduation.

Graduation with Honors

Candidates for the Baccalaureate degree may graduate with academic honors if they complete a minimum of 45 semester hours of undergraduate credit at UT Tyler. Only semester hours which earn grade point credit may be used to satisfy the 45-semester hour requirement. Second Baccalaureate degree candidates are eligible for academic honors if they complete a minimum of 45 semester credit hours of resident credit in addition to the hours required for the first degree. No duplication of hours from a previous degree can be used toward the 45 hour requirement. 

Honors will be awarded to the following final grade point averages:

This recognition will be noted on the student’s transcript and diploma after official verification of final grades. Honor Cords will be presented at the Commencement Ceremony based on the students’ semester credit hours and grade point average as-of the semester prior to graduation; this may differ from honors earned after official verification of final grades.

Verification of Degree

A degree will not be granted until all requirements have been verified. All graduation requirements (e.g. grades of incomplete, transcripts from other institutions) must be satisfied within 30 calendar days following the final day of the semester of graduation as listed in the Academic Calendar. If the requirements have not been verified by this date, the student will be denied graduation and must re-file for graduation subject to the filing for graduation guidelines.

Economics of Timely Graduation

Students need to understand that there are real and significant economic benefits to maintaining good progress toward their degrees and graduating in four years or less. Students who take five years to graduate will pay an additional $115 in academic costs, and students who take six years to graduate will pay an additional $232 in total academic costs compared to students who graduate in four years. More important than these costs are the earnings students lose by delaying graduation. Data from the United States Census Bureau indicate that young college graduates earn about $13,000 more per year than young adults with only some college. Thus students who graduate in five years forfeit $13,000 in earnings, and those who graduate in six years forfeit $26,000 compared to students who graduate in four years.