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Student HandbookSchool of Undergraduate Studies
Fall 2012 Edition
Student Responsibility NoticeAs a student at The University of
Texas at Austin, you are ultimate-ly responsible for knowing the
regulations, policies, and require-ments of The University of Texas
and The School of Undergraduate Studies. The Undergraduate Catalog,
General Information Catalog, and the Course Schedule provide this
information and may be pur-chased through the Office of the
Registrar or from local bookstores, or can be found online via the
website of the Office of the Registrar.
The purpose of this student handbook is to provide references
and information that might aid you in fulfilling this
responsibility. Should any discrepancies exist between this UGS
Student Hand-book and The Undergraduate Catalog or The General
Information Catalog, refer to The Catalogs.
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Table of ContentsWelcome to UGS 4 CenterforStrategicAdvisingand
CareerCounseling.......................5
UGSTimeline..............................................6
Academic Advising 8 MeetwithyourAcademicAdvisor......9
AdvisingAppointments........................10
CommunicatingwithyourAdvisor...12
Career Counseling 13 MeetwithaCareerCounselor............14
CareerExplorationServices.................15 Registration Info
16
UsingtheCourseSchedule.................17
PlacementExams....................................19
CreditbyExam&ClaimingCredit.....20
TransferCredit..........................................21
PlanningyourSchedule.......................22
RegisteringforClasses..........................23
Schedule Changes 26
Adding&DroppingClasses.................27
Pass/FailandAuditing...........................28
WithdrawingfromtheUniversity......29
CancellationofClasses..........................30
Academic Standing 31
CalculatingyourGPA.............................32
ScholasticProbation..............................33
ScholasticDismissal...............................34
AcademicDishonesty............................35
HonorsDay................................................36
Transitioning out of UGS 37
MajorExploration...................................38
InternalTransfer.......................................40
AcademicAdditions...............................41
MinorsandCertificatePrograms.......43
MajorsofferedatUT...............................44
Core Curriculum 46
PurposeoftheCore................................47
ChoosingaCatalog.................................47
2012-2014CoreCurriculum.................48
2012-2014CoreBreakdown................50
CoreCurriculumFAQ..............................53
Programs and Resources 54
AcademicEnrichment...........................55
AcademicResources...............................57
On-campusResources...........................58
TexasSuccessInitiative..........................60
Planning Forms 61
MajorExplorationAppointment
PlanningForm.............................62 RegistrationAppointment
PlanningForm...............................70
SemesterPlanner....................................76
SchedulePlanningGrid........................78
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WelcomeWelcome to the University of Texas at Austin and the
School of Undergraduate Studies! This handbook will be a resource
for you to refer to throughout your time as a UGS student. You are
required to bring this handbook with you for every academic
advising appointment. It contains information on policies and
procedures, the academic advising process, choosing a major, and
much more. We’re so excited to welcome you into our UGS
community.
What does it mean to be a student in UGS?UGS is the home to
students who have not yet declared a major or were not admitted to
the major they selected on their application for admission to UT
Austin. During your time as a UGS student:
• You will be provided with resources, academic advising, and
career counseling to help you learn about yourself and explore
majors and careers.
• You will have a chance to attend discussion events with
successful professionals in a variety of career fields (law,
medicine, business, advertising, etc.).
• You will have up to four semesters to successfully gain
admittance into a major and progress toward graduation.• You will
have the opportunity to get credit for internships.• And so much
more!
While a student in UGS, if you choose to take the initiative to
be a successful student, you will have the opportunity to learn
more about yourself as a person and a student, as well as learn
more about the various opportunities at the university and how to
take advantage of them. Take a look at the UGS Timeline on pages 6
and 7 for more information about what we hope you accomplish during
your time in UGS.
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CSA&CC Contact Info
Forappointments,call:512-232-8400Location: Jester, Room A115
E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 512-232-8418Phone:
512-232-8400 Assistant Dean: David Spight
The Center for Strategic Advising & Career CounselingThe
Center for Strategic Advising and Career Counseling (CSA&CC) is
located in Jester (JES) A115 and is home to Undergraduate Studies’
advisors, UT’s career counselors, and other professional staff. You
will usually come to the center to meet with your academic advisor,
but you may also come to the center to meet with a career
counselor, check out the career exploration library, or get
con-nected with services provided by the Sanger Learning
Center.
What is CSA&CC Academic Advising?Our advising center aims to
help you confidently choose a field of study that aligns with your
short- and long-term goals. UGS advisors will work with you to
tailor your classes and experiences to prepare you to be successful
in the major that you choose. Academic advising is a collaborative
process between you and your assigned advisor. Your advisor will do
more than help you pick classes; together, you will explore your
interests, strengths, and abilities as you develop meaningful
educational plans compatible with your goals.
What is CSA&CC Career Counseling?Career counseling is a
collaborative process. Your career counselor will not give you
advice or tell you what to do. Instead, she or he will listen to
you and ask you questions that help you clarify who you are and
what you want to do in life; helping you align your values,
interests, personality, and skills with possible academic and
career options.
Advising is more than just helping you pick classes.
Career counselors are not going to choose a career for you.
The CSA&CC is also where you would go to complete a variety
of academic tasks including dropping a class (known as a Q-Drop),
changing a class to or from pass/fail, and more. When instructed to
speak to your Dean’s Office, you would actually come to the
CSA&CC for assistance as the center also serves as the student
division for UGS. When you arrive, you will be asked to check in at
the front desk, so please have your UT ID, EID, and name of your
assigned academic advisor ready.
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UGS Timeline
By the time you declare your major and transfer out of the
School in Undergraduate Studies, you should demonstrate that you
are able to:
Identify, access, and use resources and programs to help you be
asuccessfulstudent;
Connectandcommunicatewithyourprofessors,teachingassistants,andotheroutsideprofessionals;
Communicateanddevelopapartnershipwithyourassignedadvisor;
Scheduleregularappointmentswithyourassignedadvisor;
Setmeaningfulshort-andlong-termgoals;
Assumeresponsibilityforyouracademicsuccess;
UnderstandandfollowUTpolicies,procedures,anddeadlines;
Understandtherequirementsofthecorecurriculum;
Activelyparticipateintheprocessofmajorexploration;
Determineyourprogresstowardatimelygraduation;
Declareyourmajor;
Learnandappreciatethevalueofhavingadegreeandlife-longlearning.
After your first semester, you will be able to:
Identifyresourcesandprograms;
Knowyouradvisorandhowtomakeappointmentwithyouradvisor;
Properly communicate with: professors and teaching
assistants,universityofficials,youracademicadvisor(viaphone,viae-mail,inperson);
Meetwithatleastoneprofessorduringofficehours;
Understandtheprocessofmajorexploration;
Knowtherequirementsofthecorecurriculum;
Understandwhatmakesupadegree/major;
Developatimemanagementstrategy.
OVER
ALL
FIRS
TDepending on your background, goals, and personality, you may
complete the semester objectives faster than are out-lined. For
example, if you feel ready to declare your major by the end of your
second semester, you should still achieve the goals of all four
semesters by the end of your UGS experience.
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After your second semester, you will be able to:
Utilizeresourcestoassistyouwithacademicsuccessandmajorexploration,including:
*
ProgramsandOffices:Academicdepartments,SangerLearning&CareerCenter,UniversityWritingCenter,etc.
* Online: Blackboard, Interactive Degree Audits,Wayfinder,
Course Sched-ules,Registration,etc.
Developyourpersonalplanforexploringpossiblemajors(majorexplorationplan);
Determineyourprogresswiththerequirementsofthecorecurriculum;
Createalistofpossiblecoursesforthenextterm(andbringthislisttoyourregis-trationappointment);
Know the internal transfer requirements and processes based on
your personalandeducationalgoals;
Independently navigate academic processes such as registration,
adding
anddroppingcourses,runningdegreeaudits,calculatingyourGPA,etc.;
Understandtheimportanceofconfirmingexperiences
*
Internships,volunteering,shadowing,co-curricularactivities,part-timework
Identifyyourindividualstrengthsandthoseareasyouneedorwanttoimprove.
After your third semester, you will be able to:
Assessyourindividualstrengthsandbeabletoarticulatehowtheyrelatetopotentialeducationalandcareeroptions;
Executeyourmajorexplorationplanandbeabletodeterminepossiblemajors;
Engageinatleastoneconfirmingexperience;
Knowthespecificrequirementsforyourpossiblemajors;
Understandandthinkcriticallyabouthowyoumakedecisions.
During your fourth semester, you will be able to:
Declareyourmajorandbeabletoarticulatewhyyouchosethatmajor;
Continuetoseekoutandengageinconfirmingexperiences;
Establisharelationshipwithanadvisorinyournewcollege.
THIRDSECOND
FOURTH: Declare!
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I. Academic Advising
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Advisors will confer with you about course schedules and
educational experiences, but you are responsible for selecting the
content of your academic program and making progress toward an
academic degree. This advising relationship requires the
participation of both you and your advisor throughout your time as
a UGS student. Both the student and the advisor have
responsibilities to ensure that the advising relationship is
successful.
Advisor Responsibilities: You can Expect Your Advisor to…
• Help you clarify your values and goals, and learn more about
yourself.
• Convey the value of the core curriculum and a col-lege
education as a whole.
• Assist you in developing a well-planned major ex-ploration
program to help you choose a major and investigate careers.
• Encourage you to take responsibility for your ma-jor
exploration process, your educational plans, and your
decision-making.
• Provide accurate information about major options,
requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Help you pick courses consistent with the require-ments of
degree programs in which you are inter-ested.
• Listen to your concerns and respect your choices and
values.
• Monitor and document your progress toward meeting your
goals.
• Introduce you to and connect you with the many resources of
the University that align with your unique educational needs and
goals.
• Maintain confidentiality, abiding by UT and FER-PA
guidelines.
Advisee Responsibilities: Your Advisor will Expect you to...
• Regularly schedule and keep academic advising appointments
each semester.
• Come prepared for each appointment with ques-tions or issues
for discussion. Bring this student handbook to each session.
• Enact the major exploration plan that you and your advisor
develop together and actively en-gage in the exploration
process.
• Learn the requirements of the majors you are in-terested in,
understand application requirements (if any) and execute those
applications.
• Understand UT core requirements and keep up with your progress
through the core.
• Meet critical academic deadlines such as regis-tration,
add/drop, Q drop, and others.
• Read weekly advising e-mails.• Ask questions if you don’t
understand an issue,
or if you have a specific concern.• Become knowledgeable about
college programs,
policies, and procedures.• Communicate concerns or problems that
arise
early so you can work together to find a solution.• Accept
responsibility for your decisions and actions
(or inactions) that affect your educational progress.
Meet with your Academic Advisor
Who is my academic advisor?You will be notified of your assigned
advisor via e-mail at the beginning of your first semester. It is
important that you see your assigned advisor, as he or she is aware
of your academic history and progress. Please DO NOT attempt to
schedule an appointment with another advisor if your assigned
advisor is unavail-able at the times you need. If you wish to
change to another advisor for any reason, please notify the front
desk and fill out a change of advisor form.
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Advising Appointments
Scheduling an Appointment
Call the CSA&CC office at 512-232-8400 or stop by JES A115
between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Give the front desk
your full name, EID, phone num-ber, and the name of your assigned
advisor. Same-day appointments cannot be scheduled after 3:00 p.m.
Appointments cannot be scheduled via email.
No Show/Late Policy
If you arrive more than 15 minutes after your sched-uled
appointment or if you don’t show up at all, you will be considered
a NO SHOW, and you will need to reschedule your appointment.
Peak Advising PoliciesThe peak advising period occurs four weeks
before the first day of the undergraduate registration period and
extends through the last day of registration each semester. During
this time, advisors’ schedules are extremely full, so we have
special policies and procedure in place.
Making an Appointment
• You must see your advisor in order to get your advising bar
removed. Please see page 23 for more information about bars.
• Call EARLY to ensure that you get an appointment.• Only your
assigned advisor will remove your advising bar. DO NOT try to
schedule an appointment
with another advisor if your assigned advisor is unavailable.•
If you called too late, and your advisor’s calendar is full until
after your registration time, you must wait to
see your assigned advisor, even if that means you register
late.• Appointments cannot be scheduled via email.• If you have
already seen your advisor to talk about registration, please wait
until after the registration
period ends to make another appointment unless your concern is
urgent.
Late PolicyIf you do not show up or are more than 15 minutes
late to your appointment you will be considered a no show. During
peak advising, we have a three-strike rule. After your third no
show, your advisor will not see you, and you will have to register
during the add/drop period.
E-mailing your AdvisorDuring peak advising, advisors’ email
inboxes are flooded. Please be patient, as it will take your
advisor longer than normal to respond to your email during this
time. If you have an urgent concern, please call the front desk at
512-232-8400 to schedule an appointment to see your advisor.
How often do I meet with my advisor?You must meet with your
advisor at least two times a semester; once for a major exploration
appointment, and once for a registration appointment. You are
en-couraged to meet with your advisor more frequently to ensure
you’re on track with your classes and your major exploration
process.
Rescheduling an Appointment
If you know that you will be unable to make a sched-uled
appointment, please call the CSA&CC office at 512-232-8400 as
soon as possible to reschedule. You must call BEFORE the time your
appointment is sched-uled to begin, or you will be considered a NO
SHOW. Appointments cannot be rescheduled via email.
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Types of Advising Appointments
Scholastic Probation AppointmentsIf you are on scholastic
probation, you will need to meet with your advisor more frequently
(every two to three weeks) in order to keep track of your academic
progress and prevent dismissal. At your first scholastic probation
appointment, which will last approximately one hour, you will
complete an Academic Success Plan, a contract that will help you
identify the issues that led to your low grades. Together, you and
your advisor will come up with an action plan to improve during the
semester. In the appointments to follow, lasting 30 minutes each,
your advisor will support you and give you feedback as you enact
this plan and work to improve your GPA and ultimately get off
scholastic probation. For more information on Scholastic Probation
and Dismissal, please see pages 33 and 34.
Academic Difficulty AppointmentsIf you are struggling in a
class, come in for an academ-ic difficulty appointment. Your
advisor will connect you with resources on campus that can help you
im-prove your grades. If you’re considering dropping the class, you
and your advisor can discuss the potential ramifications of that
decision and initiate the process (if possible). Please see page 27
for more information about dropping courses. The sooner you contact
your advisor about an academic issue, the better, so do not
hesitate to call and set up an appointment.
Academic Planning Appointments
If you already have a major you’re working toward declaring or
one or more schools you’re applying for, you may want to come in
for an academic planning appointment to ensure that you’re on track
to meet your goals. Academic planning appointments can also be used
to formulate long-term plans related to courses, studying abroad,
double majors, internships, summer plans, and more.
Major Exploration Appointments
Throughout a series of major exploration appointments, you and
your advisor will work together to explore your values, interests,
strengths, and goals and formulate a major exploration action plan.
To be prepared for your major exploration appointment, you need to
BRING THIS HANDBOOK and:
1. Complete a Major Exploration Appointment Planning Form on
page 62 prior to your appointment.2. Begin thinking about your
interests, strengths, weaknesses, values, and goals.3. Research
what majors are offered at UT.
REQUIREDONCEEVERYSEMESTER
Registration Appointments
As a UGS student, you have an advising bar on your Registration
Information Sheet (RIS). In order to re-move it, you must meet with
your advisor to discuss classes for the next semester. To be
prepared for your registration appointment, you need to BRING THIS
HANDBOOK and:
1. Complete a Registration Appointment Planning form (in the
back of this handbook) prior to your appointment.
2. Understand the core curriculum requirements and which ones
you have left to fulfill.3. Know how to find your registration
dates and times via your RIS (see page 23 for more information).4.
Know what majors you are considering; you should have already had
at least one major exploration
appointment earlier in the semester. See page 44 for the list of
majors offered at UT.
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**Always include your name and UT EID when communicating with
faculty and staff.
EmailAdvisors will send out emails throughout the semester with
important dates and information. You are expected to read these
emails, as email is the University’s official mode of communicating
with students. If you have a quick question, you are welcome to
email your advisor directly, but please include your name and EID
in the body of the email. Advisors can generally respond within 24
hours, unless it is during a peak advising period. If the ques-tion
requires a lot of explanation, your advisor may request that you
make an appointment.
SANs (Secure Academic Notes)Personal subjects related to your
academic or scholastic record cannot be discussed via email or
phone due to fed-eral law. Therefore, when addressing certain
issues, your advisor might send you a Secure Academic Note (SAN).
SAN is a secure environment in which advisors and administrators
can correspond with students concerning sensitive issues. If your
advisor sends you a SAN, you will be notified via email and will be
prompted to log in with your EID to access the message.
Communication with ParentsYour academic records are private and
protected by FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
of 1974. Your parents and other third parties do not have access to
your academic records, and therefore, your ad-visor cannot discuss
details of your records without your permission. If your parents
contact your advisor, your advisor will direct your parents to
communicate with you directly concerning academic issues. You must
assume responsibility for your education and any transactions with
the University. For more information on FERPA and the access to and
release of student educational records, please visit:
www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/ferpa.
Social MediaWhile we primarily use the University’s main mode of
communication, email, to contact you, we also utilize Twit-ter and
Facebook to announce deadlines, events, and other goings-on in our
office and around campus. So please follow us on Twitter
(@UT_UGSadvising), like us on Facebook (UTexasUGSadvising), and
ALWAYS remember to read your emails!
**When addressing faculty, academic advisors, or other staff
members in person or via email, always be respectful and courteous,
as if you were communicating with them in a professional
letter.
Communicating with your Advisor
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III. Career Counseling
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Meet with a Career CounselorWhy should you schedule a career
counseling appointment?
Choosing a major and career often takes time. Your ca-reer
counselor can help you evaluate where you are in the process and
what resources will assist you in moving toward a decision.
A 45-minute counseling appointment is a great way to dis-cuss in
depth your thoughts, ideas, feelings, and concerns about your major
and career choice, plan for internship opportunities, or explore
graduate school options.
One goal of career counseling is to align your values,
in-terests, personality, and skills with possible academic and
Questions or concerns that career counseling can address:
• “IhaveabsolutelynoideawhatIwanttodowithmylife.”
•
“Ihavesomanyintereststhatit’shardformetonarrowdowntojustonething.”
•
“I’mreallyintotheartsbutmyparentswantmetopursuesomethingpracticallikebusiness.”
• “Ilovehistory,butyoucan’treallygetajobwiththat,canyou?”
•
“Myfamilyandcommunityseescertaincareersasprestigious,butI’mnotinterestedinthosefields.”
•
“EveryoneseemssopassionateabouttheirmajorbutIdon’treallyhaveanystronginterests.”
• “I’mverygoodatwriting,butIdon’twanttobeanEnglishteacher.”
• “HowcanIgetsomeexperiencein_____________?”
• “Iwanttogotomedschool,butI’mnotsureI’llgetinwithmy2.8GPA.”
Visit Jester A115 (ground floor) or call 512-232-8400 to
schedule a 45-minute appointment.
You’ll need to fill out a short Student Information Form on our
website prior to your first appointment.
career options. Another is to gain insight about what factors
are affecting your decision and to identify the next steps in your
process of choosing a major and career. Because it is a process,
you may want to meet with your counselor more than once.
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Career Exploration ServicesCareer Assesments Also known as
“career tests”, these inventories can help you learn about yourself
and the world of work. Ex-amples include the Myers-Briggs Type
Indicator or the Strong Interest Inventory. They will not give you
the answer, but they can give you insight into your interests and
your personality preferences, and how those relate to various
careers. There is a fee for some of the assess-ments. Make an
appointment with a career counselor in our Center to learn more
about the career assess-ments and whether they might be helpful to
you.
Internship PlanningLearn how to plan for internship
opportunities and target your resume toward them. Graduate School
Planning Explore whether to go to graduate school and how to
navigate the application process.
Personal Statement Critique Get feedback on your personal essay
for internal transfer, scholarships, or graduate school.
Mock Interviews If you have an upcoming interview for a graduate
school, academic program, or scholarship, complete a practice
interview with your counselor and receive specific be-havioral
feedback.
Card Sorts Are you a “hands-on” person? Then you might want to
try one of the card sort activities in our Center.
The Career Card Sort allows you to consider a vari-ety of
careers and determine which ones appeal to you most. Talking with a
career counselor about why you are drawn to those careers will help
you identify themes that are important to you in your choice of
career.
The Major Card Sort helps you narrow down all the many majors at
UT into a handful of options to explore. You can then take this
list to your academic advisor to learn more about how to research
your options.
We also have a Values Card Sort to help you identify work
values, such as financial security, variety, or en-joyment of your
work.
Each of these card sorts can help you learn more about yourself
and assist you in your decision-making process.
Handouts and Booklets These include the “What Can I Do with a
Major in…” series and other titles such as “Resume Writing” and
“Choosing A Major”.
Resume ReviewsBring in a draft of your resume and receive
feedback and suggestions from your counselor.
Career Resource Library Learning about careers can help you
determine what major you want to pursue. While some majors prepare
you for one specific career, most majors can be taken in a
multitude of career directions. The career library houses over 500
books about careers and majors, including such titles as 100
Careers in the Music Business, 88 Money-Making Writing Jobs, and
Career Opportunities in Biotechnology. You cannot check books out
of our library, but that means the books will always be there when
you want to stop by and browse. Our career-related handouts and our
popular “What Can I Do with a Major in…” series are also available
in our career library, as well as on our website.
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II. Registration Information
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Using the Course Schedule To find the online Course
Schedule:
1. Go to utexas.edu/students.2. Look under the “Registration”
section
at the bottom center of the page.3. Click on “Course
Schedules.”
The main purpose of the online Course Schedule is to al-low you
to search for courses, but it also provides general information
about the University, such as the academic calendar, registration
procedures, fees, academic advising requirements, an index of final
exam times, and more.
Searching for coursesBegin by selecting the semester for which
you plan to choose classes. Courses for the upcoming semester are
typi-cally put online a month before the registration period
begins. There are numerous ways to search for courses: by subject,
time, professor, keywords, and many more. A search will display
class listings like the one below:
Click on the Unique Number to find out more information about a
specific class.
NOTE: This is just an example, please refer to the Course
Schedule for accurate information regarding RHE 306.
Reading UT Course NumbersRHE 306 -- The letters indicate which
department is offering the course. In this case, the Rhetoric and
Composition department is offering the course.
RHE 306 -- The first digit of the course describes the number of
credit hours for the course.
RHE 306 -- The last two digits indicate if a class is lower- or
upper-division. Lower-division classes are numbered 01 to 19.
Upper-division classes are numbered 20 to 79 and may be restricted
to students with more than 60 completed hours. Summer courses have
a small letter just before the number: f for first term, n for nine
week sessions, s for second term, and w for whole sessions.
Unique Number (Ex: 43915)A unique number is a five-digit number
that identifies a particular section of a course. You’ll need this
number to register for the class. The days, times, rooms, and
professors listed under one blue unique number indicate ALL of the
times and locations of that specific section. Some classes will
meet in one room at one time on certain days of the week and at
different times and locations on others.
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Types of classes to choose from
University Core RequirementsStudents in all majors are required
to complete the University core curriculum. See page 48 for the
list of core requirements you will need to fulfill.
Internal Transfer Application RequirementsSome colleges and
majors on campus require you to complete certain courses in order
to apply. Consider these requirements when you’re choosing classes.
For more information on which courses are required for the programs
you’re interested in, refer to the college’s Internal Transfer
website. Visit page 40 for more information on internal
transfers.
Minor and Certificate RequirementsIf you’re interested in
completing a minor or certifi-cate, consider choosing the courses
required to fulfill those programs. See page 43 for more
information on minors and certificates.
Physical Education (PED)PED classes are one-hour physical
activity courses. The grades earned in these classes factor into
your GPA. While PED courses count toward the number of hours you
are taking in a semester, they might not count toward the number of
hours you need to gradu-ate, depending on your major.
PrereqsDon’t forget to plan ahead. Be aware of prereqs for
classes you want to take in the future and complete them ahead of
time.
Major RequirementsEven though you haven’t declared a major yet,
cours-es toward majors you’re interested in can help you further
explore those interests. Degree plans, which list courses required
for majors, can be found on the colleges’ and schools’ respective
websites.
ElectivesCourses you take that do not fulfill a specific
require-ment (core, major, minor or certificate) are consid-ered
electives. Most majors require electives in addi-tion to the
specified major requirements.
Ensembles Ensembles (ENS) are performance classes for stu-dents
proficient in voice or a musical instrument. Auditions are required
to participate and occur near the beginning of the semester.
Make sure you prioritize and use the se-mester planners when
picking classes and setting your long-term academic goals.
Using the Course Schedule continued
Prerequisites (Prereqs)Certain courses require that you meet
prereqs before you can take the class. Examples include credit for
a course, credit and a specific grade for a course, completion of a
specific number of hours, a qualifying grade on a placement test,
and more. Some classes check for prereqs during registration.
Others require that you complete the prereqs before the fourth
class day of the upcoming semester. If you do not meet the prereqs,
you will be dropped from the course.
Status (Ex: Open)The realtime registration status of a course
section displays online. If a class is open, you should be able to
register for the class if you meet the prereqs. Open; restricted
courses are only open to certain students. You can check the course
description or contact the department to find out why the course is
restricted. Other possible statuses include waitlisted, closed, or
cancelled. For more information on waitlists, see page 24.
See Department HeadnoteClick “See Department Headnote” to find
out the contact information for the department offering the course
and other department-specific information.
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Placement Exams Before you can register for certain courses, you
may be required to take a test, the results of which will be used
to place you at the appropriate instructional level. To find out if
a course requires a certain score on a placement exam, visit the
online Course Schedule and view course prerequisites by clicking on
the course’s unique number.
Language Placement ExamsThe Center for Teaching and Learning
offers a variety of foreign language placement exams. If you have
prior experience in a foreign language and wish to continue
studying it at UT, you will most likely need to take a placement
exam to determine which course is appropriate for your level of
proficiency. Through this process, you may also qualify to claim
foreign language credits.
ALEKS TestsMathIf you are enrolling in a math or statistics
course, you will likely need to take the ALEKS Math Assessment. The
courses in the box to the right require specific ALEKS scores. You
must take this online exam and achieve the required score by August
25th; failure to do so will result in being dropped from the
course. The minimum score requirements are subject to change.
The ALEKS Math Assessment may be taken from any computer with
Inter-net access. You must take the test via the College of Natural
Sciences website (see instructions below). Scores expire after four
months. It is in your best interest to make sure the assessment is
an accurate reflection of your mas-tery of the material so that you
are not placed in a class beyond your level of expertise. If you
are not satisfied with your original score on the ALEKS, you may
opt to take advantage of the online learning modules. These modules
review concepts to help you better prepare for math at UT and
subsequently raise your ALEKS score.
ChemistryThe ALEKS Chemistry Assessment is an online exam
designed to ensure that you are prepared for UT’s introductory
chemistry course for science majors: CH 301. You must take the exam
and earn a score of 85 or higher by August 25th to avoid being
dropped from this course. The test must be accessed via the College
of Natural Sciences website (see instructions to the left).
The ALEKS Chemistry Assessment may be taken from any computer
with Internet access. As with any placement exam, it is in your
best interest to make sure the assessment is an accurate reflection
of your mastery of the material so that you are not placed in a
class beyond your level of expertise. If you are not satisfied with
your original score, you may work through the online learning
modules, included in the assessment fee, to better prepare for CH
301 and to subsequently raise your ALEKS score.
1. Visit the Center for Teach-ing and Learning’s website at
http://ctl.utexas.edu.
2. Click on the “Programs & Services” tab.
3. Select “Student Testing Services.”
For information on testing dates, prices, and registering:
For more information about taking the ALEKS test:1. Visit the
College of Natu-
ral Sciences website at http://cns.utexas.edu.
2. Roll over “Academics” and click “Placement.”
3. Select either the Chemis-try or Math ALEKS.
80 for M408C 70 for M408K 70 for M408N55 for M305G 30 for SSC
302*30 for SSC 303* 30 for SSC 304* 30 for SSC 305* 30 for SSC 306*
30 for M316*
* ALEKS scores not required if you have credit for M305G or
M408K
Math ALEKS scores needed:
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20
Credit-By-Exam & Claiming CreditYou may earn credit-eligible
test scores on exams taken during high school, such as Advanced
Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), CLEP, and SAT
Subject tests. You should send official score reports for
qualifying scores to The University of Texas at Austin, score
recipient code 6882.
The process of claiming credit or placement is called
petitioning and is done online. If a credit is claimed, there will
be no grade associated with the credit; in place of a grade, CR
will be recorded on your transcript. A fee is as-sessed for
petitioning a test score. Another way to earn credit-by-exam is to
take an exam administered at UT. Each semester, the Center for
Teach-ing and Learning offers a number of CLEP, SAT Subject Test,
and other exams in a variety of subjects. You will have to pay a
fee to take these exams, and if you achieve credit-eligible scores
you may petition for placement or credit.
You should always consult your academic advisor before
petitioning for placement or credit. If you claim credit that does
not apply toward your degree, you may become ineligible for a
tuition rebate when you graduate.
Completing the GOV 310L AP CreditIf you took the AP US
Government and Politics exam or the American Government CLEP exam,
you may need to take the Texas Government Only Test to complete the
credit. This 20-question multiple-choice test is administered by
the Center for Teaching and Learning once each month. It is the
combination of the your score on this test and your score on the AP
or CLEP Government exam that determines your eligibility to claim
credit for GOV 310L.
1. Go to the utexas.edu/stu-dents page.
2. Under “Academic Sup-port” click on “Place-ment Exams and
Course Petitioning.”
For information on claiming credit or registering for tests:
Have you submitted your AP, CLEP, IB, SAT test scores?To send
Advanced Placement (AP) scores:Complete the right half of your AP
Grade Report, call 888-308-0013 or visit the College Board AP Score
Reporting website:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd_rep.html.
To send CLEP Subject Exam Scores:Call 800-257-9558 or visit the
College Board CLEP Score Reporting website:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/scores.html. To
send International Baccalaureate (IB) scores: Visit the IB website:
http://www.ibo.org/
To send SAT Subject Test scores:Call 866-756-7346 or visit the
College Board SAT Subject Test Score Reporting website:
http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-subject/scores/send.
Official reports are sent to:
The University of Texas at AustinStudent Testing Services
PO Box 7246Austin, TX 78713
phone: 512-232-2653 fax: 512-471-3509
* score recipient code 6882
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21
You may come to UT with some college coursework already
com-pleted. For instance, you may have taken courses during high
school that count toward high school graduation and as college
credit (taken through another university or community college).
This is known as dual credit. Additionally, if you are an incoming
transfer student, you will have completed 30 hours or more of
college credit; this is referred to as transfer credit.
Transfer CreditMail Transcripts to:
The University of Texas at AustinOffice of Admissions
P.O. Box 8058Austin, TX 78713-8058
In either case, you are required to submit an official
transcript from each college or university from which you have
received college credit. Failure to do so will result in
disciplinary action, which may include expulsion and loss of
credit.
In order for dual or transfer credit to be added to your UT
transcript, the course must be transferable and you must have
earned a C- or higher in the course. Keep in mind, however, that
the grade received in the course will not affect your UT GPA.
Taking Classes Outside of UTWhile you are a student at UT,
you’re welcome to take classes at other institutions over the
summer. The Automated Transfer Equivalen-cy System (ATE) is a
website to help you determine which classes at other institutions
in Texas will directly transfer to UT. You can search the system by
the UT course number or by the course number you’re planning on
taking at the other institution.
For courses taken at an out-of-state institution, you should
complete a Pre-Evaluation form and submit it to the Office of
Admissions. The Pre-Evaluation form can be found on the ATE
homepage.
1. Go to utexas.edu and click on “Transfer Students” under
“Apply Here” on the bottom left.
2. Under “What’s Popular” on the right, click “Trans-fer
credit.”
To find ATE and more info on transfer credit:
When you take courses at more than one institution during the
same semester (e.g., being a full-time student at UT while taking
one class at ACC), you are concurrently enrolled at two
institutions. As of Fall 2011, however, UGS will no longer allow
concurrent enrollment during long semesters (fall and spring).
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22
Planning Your Schedule
How many hours should you take?
To be considered a full-time student at UT, you must be enrolled
in a minimum of 12 hours. Many students limit their courseload to
12 hours during their first semester to allow for the academic,
social, emotional, and mental transition that occurs. Only you know
how much you can handle academically, so be honest with yourself
about your time management and study skills when deciding how many
hours to take. Most degrees require 120 hours to complete; if you
plan to complete a degree in four years, then on average you would
need to take 15 hours per semester. However, if you come in with
credits from high school and/or plan to take summer classes, then
you may be able to afford to take fewer than 15 hours and still
graduate in four years.
Maximum Amount of HoursYou may not register for more than 17
semester hours in any fall or spring semester without permission
from your advisor. During the summer, you may not register for more
than 14 semester hours in a 12-week summer session, for more than
eight semester hours in either six-week term, or for more than 10
hours in a nine-week session. Please schedule an appointment with
your CSA&CC advisor if you would like to discuss taking more
hours.
Part-time Student StatusIf you are registered for fewer than 12
hours of coursework in a fall or spring semester, you are
considered a part-time student. This reduced registration level
could possibly impact:
• Your Financial Aid -- 512-475-6282• On-Campus Housing --
512-471-3136• International Status (for international students
only) -- 512-471-2477• Car & Medical Insurance – contact your
insurance provider• Academic Progress – make an appointment to see
your academic advisor -- 512-232-8400
Please consult with the appropriate resource to find out exactly
how you could be affected by part-time status.
When planning your schedule, it’s important to take many factors
into consideration to ensure that you have a reasonable workload
and a balanced weekly schedule. Be honest with yourself about what
times of day you’re most alert and ready to learn. Give yourself
enough travel time between classes. Use the Schedule Planning Grids
at the back of this handbook to help you fit the pieces of your
schedule together.
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23
Registering for Classes
The registration period lasts for two weeks, and students have
staggered times during which they can access the registration
system and sign up for classes. These times are determined by what
year you are in school (e.g. seniors register before juniors). On
the right is a list of how many hours are required to reach each
classification.
The first thing you need to know to register for classes is what
days and times you will be able to register. This information is
found on your Reg-istration Information Sheet or RIS.
Your RIS shows the dates and times that you will have access to
the regis-tration system and will also inform you of any
registration bars you have. Bars will prevent you from being able
to register if you do not take the steps necessary to clear them
before your registration access time. Below is a list of possible
bars:
Freshman: 0-29 hoursSophomore: 30-59 hours
Junior: 60-89 hoursSenior: 90+ hours
By the time the registration period begins, you should have
already met with your academic advisor for a registration
appointment to discuss classes and get your advising bar
cleared.
1. Go to utexas.edu/students.2. Under “Registration” click
on “RIS: Registration Infor-mation.”
3. Enter the correct semester and your UT EID.
To find your RIS:
Types of Registration Bars• Advising bar: You have not yet met
with your advisor to discuss next semester’s classes.
Next step: Schedule a Registration Advising Appointment with
your advisor.• Medical bar: University Health Services (UHS) needs
medical information from you.
Next step: Contact UHS at 512-471-4955 or 512-475-8301
(international students).• Financial bar: Your tuition and fees are
not yet paid in full.
Next step: Contact Student Accounts Receivable at 512-475-7777
or visit them in MAI 4.• Admissions bar: UT is missing a transcript
from your high school or another college or univer-
sity you attended. Next step: Contact the Office of Admissions
at 512-475-7399.
• International bar: The International Office needs to meet with
you. Next step: Contact the International Office at 512-471-2477 or
visit their office located on the second floor at 2222 Rio Grande
Street.
• GIAC bar: The Graduate and International Admissions Center may
need your final transcripts or other information. Next step:
Contact GIAC at 512-475-7390 or visit them in Walter Webb Hall at
405 W. 25th St.
• Texas Success Initiative bar: UT may need you to take a test
to establish proficiency in reading, writing, or math. Next step:
Please see page 60 for more information on TSI.
• Dean of Students bars: Different types of bars may be placed
on your registration by the Dean of Students. Next step: Update
your contact information, or contact Dean of Students with
questions at 512-471-5017.
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ROSE Registration System
At UT, the registration system is called ROSE. Log onto ROSE
during your registration time to get started.
Optional FeesFirst, you will need to select Optional Fees (see
the list of options to the right). Selections can be made during
registration or later in the semester.
1. Go to utexas.edu/students.2. Under “Registration” click
on
“Registration.”3. Enter your UT EID and select
the semester for which you plan to register.
To access ROSE:
Optional Fees:
Longhorn All-Sports PackageAllows a student to draw one tick-et
to regular-season home sport-ing events.
Dept. of Theater and Dance Includes four tickets for the Theater
and Dance department’s productions.
Parking PermitsSelect from a variety of park-ing permits for the
garages and parking lots on campus.
Analecta Literary & Arts Journal Provides you a copy of UT’s
literary and arts journal.
Student Speaker Series Supports the Student Endowed Centennial
Lectureship. This al-lows for UT to bring lectures and speakers to
campus.
TX Performing Arts Package Discounted tickets for profes-sional
touring events presented by the Performing Arts Center as long as
tickets are available.
Adding Courses and Completing Registration
After selecting your optional fees, continue to the registration
page. To register for a course, you must enter the correct unique
number for the section that you want. After you have entered the
number, click submit and you should be added into the course if
there are still spots available.
If there is a scheduling conflict, then the system will notify
you of the issue, and it will also notify you of any prereqs that
the course re-quires. For example, CH 301 requires credit or
enrollment in M 408K.
By the end of the registration period, make sure to have
registered for at least 12 hours if you plan to be a full-time
student. This may mean initially registering for some classes you
don’t want. Don’t worry, you will have other opportunities to
change your courses.
After you are done selecting your courses, click “Estimate
Tuition Bill” to complete the registration process. NOTE: If you
have financial aid, you must click “Default to Financial Aid” to
complete the registration process. This button may not be available
until Financial Aid releases your award package.
WaitlistsSome classes have waitlists, which will be indicated on
the course schedule. If a class you’re interested in has a
waitlist, add yourself to it by entering the unique number in ROSE.
The system will then ask if you want to drop a class if you’re
added into the waitlisted class (called a swap class). For example,
if you are on a waitlist for a class that conflicts with another
class on your schedule, you have the option to select the
conflicting class as a swap class. This means that if you are
successfully added to the waitlisted class, you will be dropped
from the swap class. If you are added to the waitlisted class, you
will receive an email notifying you.
If you are on a waitlist, it does not mean that you are
guaranteed to get added to the class. If a student already
registered for the class drops it, the next student on the waitlist
will be automatically added. You can add yourself to waitlists for
up four classes. You can also only add yourself to two waitlists
per course number.
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25
What do you do if the classes you want are closed or
restricted?Remember that during the registration and add/drop
periods, most UT students will be actively making changes to their
schedules. This means that classes will close and open frequently.
Here’s what you can do:
• Add yourself to waitlists. • Contact the department offering
the class. They will be able to give you an idea about why a class
is restrict-
ed, whether seats may open up, and other steps you might take to
get into the class. You can find department contact information in
the online course description under “See department headnote.”
• Register for something! If you do not register for anything,
you will have a later add/drop time than students who registered
and paid their bill on time. You might have to register for classes
or professors you do not intend to keep, knowing you will have the
chance to make changes to your schedule before the semester
starts.
• Come up with alternatives. Always have a list of back-up
options. These could be requirements for core curriculum, major,
minor, or certificate programs, as well as exploratory electives.
You and your advisor will come up with some of these together, but
you are ultimately responsible for exploring the options available
on your own.
Paying Your Tuition and Fees You must pay your tuition and fees
by the deadline or you will be dropped from all your courses (aka
zapped). On your “What I Owe” page, you can see your bill and
payment options.
If you have financial aid, click on the “Defer to Financial Aid”
button at the end of your registration process. If the button does
not show up, con-tact the Office of Student Financial Services for
more information.
1. Go to utexas.edu/students.2. Under “Financial Matters.”
click on “What I Owe.”3. Enter the correct semester
and your UT EID.
To pay your tuition:
ROSE Registration System continued
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26
III. Schedule Changes
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27
Adding and Dropping
ClassesAtthebeginningofeachsemester,youwillhaveanopportunitytoaddanddropclasseswithoutpenalty.
ChecktheAcademicCalendarforspecificdates.
Dropping CoursesPlease consult with your academic advisor about
how dropping classes might impact your academic progress. If you
drop below 12 hours, you will be considered a part-time student.
Review information on the possible repercussions of dropping to
part-time status on page 22.
It is YOUR responsibility to check the academic calendar and to
be aware of the dead-
lines to add and drop.
Find the Academic Calendar online:
Look at the top of utexas.edu/stu-dents under “Calendars.”
Adding CoursesBy the fourth class day (second class day in
summer): Add courses on your own using the online registration
system. After the fourth class day (second class day in summer):
Obtain departmental approval to add a course. For example, if you
want to add an open section of a sociology course on the 5th class
day of the fall semester, you will need to contact the Sociology
De-partment for registration assistance. Each department has
different procedures regarding the next step.
What is a Q drop?
A Q drop is a drop made after the 12th class day. A “Q” will
ap-pear on your transcript in place of the grade for the class(es)
you choose to drop.
nonacademic reasons. To do so, you must submit a petition for a
nonacademic Q drop, the nonacademic reason must be well-documented.
If you believe that your situation meets this criteria, visit JES
A115 to pick up a Late Q-Drop Request Form. Your request will not
be considered until all required materials are completed and
returned to the Center for Strategic Advising and Career
Counseling.
Course Load ReductionIf you are registered with Services for
Students with Disabilities (SSD), you may be eligible for a course
load re-duction. A course load reduction allows you to take fewer
than 12 hours and still remain a full-time student. See page 58 for
more information about SSD.
NOTE: Once a semester starts, you may not drop all of your
classes. This would require that you withdraw entirely from the
University, which is a different procedure; see page 29 for more
information.
By the 12th class day (fourth class day in summer): Drop courses
on your own using the online registration system.
By the Q-drop deadline: Make an appointment to meet with your
advisor to begin the Q-drop process. You may pursue a Q drop
through the deadline posted on the academic calendar.
After the Q-drop deadline:You will only be able to drop a course
due to urgent, substantiated,
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28
One-Time-Exception Policy (Academic Drop or Withdrawal after the
Q-drop Deadline)You may drop a single class or withdraw from the
University for academic reasons after the Q-drop and withdraw-al
deadline once during your undergraduate career. You must make the
request to use your One-Time-Exception (OTE) by the last class day
and the form must be turned in to the Center for Strategic Advising
and Career Coun-seling (JES A115) prior to the first official day
of undergraduate finals, as indicated on the academic calendar. Any
OTE drop or withdrawal will follow the same academic and financial
aid rules governing other drops and with-drawals taken during the
semester. Additional rules include:
• You may not drop a class in which you’ve already received a
final grade. • During your first two long semesters at UT, you may
use your OTE to drop a class regardless of current grade
in the course.• If you have completed your first two long
semesters at UT, you must have a D+ or lower in the class to be
able
to use your OTE. • You may use your OTE to withdraw regardless
of current grades in the classes. • An OTE drop counts toward the
Six Q-Drop Limit. Students who have reached the Six Q-Drop Limit
are not
eligble to use the OTE. • You may not use the OTE if there are
any pending investigations of scholastic dishonesty.
Pass/FailSome courses may be taken on a pass/fail basis. During
the first 12 class days (four class days in the summer), if you
meet the rules in the box on the right, you may change your grading
status via ROSE. After that date, you must meet with your advisor
to have it changed. Consult the academic calendar for the pass/fail
deadline.
Rules for taking classes pass/fail:
• You must have completed 30 credit hours or more.
• Classes taken on a pass/fail basis will only count as
electives; they will not fulfill degree requirements (including
core).
• No more than two courses per semester may be taken on a
pass/fail basis.
• If you take a class pass/fail and a grade of F is earned, the
F will be averaged into your UT GPA.
Auditing a CourseAuditing a course means to attend a course
without earning credit. If you would like to sit in on a course,
but do not want to complete assignments, participate in
examinations or discussions, or earn credit, consider auditing the
course. Auditing is allowed by a course’s instructor when space is
available. To audit a course, complete the Class Auditor Permit
form offered by the Office of the Registrar.
Adding and Dropping Classes continued
Six Q-Drop LimitIf you began college at a Texas public
institution for the first time in Fall 2007 or later, you are
limited to a total of six academic Q drops after the 12th class day
(fourth class day in summer). This drop limit is based on the
number of courses dropped regardless of credit hour value. For
example, SPN 601D would be one Q drop, as would PED 106.
Additional Q drops beyond the six-drop limit will only be
allowed under non-academic circumstances as deter-mined through an
appeal process. If an extenuating circumstance beyond your control
is affecting your perfor-mance in a class, please make an
appointment immediately to see your advisor to discuss your
options.
This six-drop limit will be enforced at all public institutions
of higher education in Texas including community colleges.
Therefore, beginning with the Fall 2008 semester, Q drops from
other Texas public institutions may con-tribute your total Q-drop
limit at UT. For example: If you transfer to UT from San Antonio
College where you had Q dropped four courses, you will only be
allowed two additional Q drops at UT for academic reasons.
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29
Withdrawing from the UniversityIf you wish to drop all of your
classes during a semester, you need to withdraw from the
University.
To withdraw...Before classes begin: See page 30 for cancellation
procedures.
By the 20th class day (sixth class day for summer):Go to the
Center for Strategic Advising and Career Counseling (JES A115) and
request a withdrawal form. If you withdraw, you may be refunded a
percentage of your tuition depending on the date of your withdrawal
and the sym-bol W will be recorded on your transcript in place of
grades for the classes in which you are enrolled.
By the withdrawal deadline:Go to the Center for Strategic
Advising and Career Counseling (JES A115) and request a withdrawal
form. The sym-bol W will show for the grade for any class in which
you are registered.
After the mid-semester deadline:You will NOT be allowed a
withdrawal unless you use your One-Time-Exception to withdraw or
you petition for a Nonacademic Withdrawal due to urgent,
substantiated, nonacademic reasons. NOTE: If you are on scholastic
probation and you withdraw after the first four weeks of a long
semester, you will be placed on scholastic dismissal. Please see
page 34 for more information on scholastic dismissal.
NOTE: If you receive financial aid, you will need to get your
withdrawal approved by the Office of Student Financial Services. If
you are an international student, you will also need approval from
the Graduate and International Admis-sions Center.
Medical WithdrawalTo request a medical withdrawal, begin the
process at University Health Services. You must submit copies of
medi-cal records that include the date of onset of the illness or
injury, dates of care, and diagnosis and prognosis from each
medical and mental health care provider treating the condition. If
your request is approved, you will be with-drawn from the
University. The University Health Services website contains
information regarding the rules and specifications for the
withdrawal. Please see page 59 for UHS contact info. This applies
only after the withdrawal deadline. Before then, no explanation is
needed to withdraw.
Retroactive WithdrawalIf for some reason you are unable to
withdraw during the semester, you may request to withdraw after the
semester is over. You should first discuss your situation with your
academic advisor. The review process for these requests is strict
and your request will only be considered if you were unable to
withdraw during the semester. For example, students who were
hospitalized or incarcerated, called away at the end of the
semester because of a family crisis, asked to perform military
service, or seriously debilitated by mental illness may be unable
to withdraw during the semester in which they are enrolled. If
there is sufficient and compelling documentation, and if the
request for retroactive withdrawal is submitted during the next
long semester (e.g., a request for retroactive withdrawal of Spring
2004 must be submitted during the Fall 2004 semester), the dean’s
office will review the request and consider approval of a
retroactive withdrawal. Please consult your academic advisor and
the General Information Catalog for more information.
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30
Cancellation of ClassesIf you wish to drop all of your classes
before a semester begins, it is considered a cancellation and you
will get a full refund (minus a $15 matriculation fee) and no
notation will appear on your record. This process will vary
depending on whether you receive financial aid and/or if a tuition
payment has been made by the payment deadline.
If you have NOT paid your tuition by the tuition deadline:
You will automatically be dropped from all of your courses by
the Regis-trar’s Office for tuition non-payment (aka: Zapped).
You should confirm you have been dropped by checking your
Registra-tion Information Sheet once the tu-ition payment deadline
has passed.
If you have paid your tuition:
Prior to the first class day, you must submit a cancellation
request with your signature to the Center for Strategic Advising
and Career Counsel-ing (JES A115). You may either complete this
process in person or fax a signed letter requesting a cancellation
of courses to 512-232-8418. Be sure to include your UT EID, mailing
address, and contact phone number. If you are an international
student, approval must also be obtained from the International
Office.
After all approvals have been obtained (including from the
Center for Stra-tegic Advising and Career Counseling), this form
will be submitted to Reg-istration Supervision for processing. You
should confirm your cancellation has been processed by checking
your Registration Information Sheet.
If you are initiating cancellation prior to the tuition payment
deadline:
Contact the Office of Student Fi-nancial Services to cancel your
fi-nancial aid. Students who do not pay their tuition bill by the
tuition payment deadline will automatically be dropped from all of
their courses by the Registrar’s Office for tuition non-payment
(Zapped).
You should confirm that you have been dropped by checking your
Registration Information Sheet once the tuition payment deadline
has passed.
If you are initiating cancellation after the tuition payment
deadline:
Prior to the first class day, you must submit a cancellation
request with a signature to the Center for Strategic Advising and
Career Counseling (JES A115). You may either complete this process
in person in the Center for Strategic Advising, or you may fax a
signed letter requesting a cancella-tion of courses to
512-232-8418. Be sure to include your UT EID, mailing address, and
contact phone number. Approval must be obtained from the Office of
Student Financial Services.
If you are an international student, you must also seek approval
from the International Office. After all approvals have been
obtained (including from the Center for Strategic Advising and
Career Counseling), this form will be submitted to Registration
Supervision for processing.
You should confirm that your cancellation has been processed by
check-ing your Registration Information Sheet.
Cancellation procedure for students who DO NOT receive financial
aid
Cancellation procedure for students who DO receive financial
aid
It is YOUR responsibility to ensure that cancellations are
completed by checking your Registration Information Sheet (RIS).
See page 23 for more information on RIS.
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31
IV. Academic Standing
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32
Calculating your GPA Any classes completed at UT Austin for a
letter grade are included in your GPA, including University
Extension courses. Grades earned in coursework completed at other
institutions are NOT calculated into this GPA.
Grade point averages are calculated by dividing the number of
grade points earned by the number of hours you have taken on a
letter-grade basis. Credits (CR), Q drops (Q), and Incompletes (X)
are not counted as hours undertaken in GPA calculation. When
calculating your GPA, use the following scale to determine the
grade points for each grade:
Grade Grade Points per credit hour
A 4.00A- 3.67B+ 3.33B 3.00B- 2.67C+ 2.33C 2.00C- 1.67D+ 1.33D
1.00D- 0.67F 0.00
Course Grade # of hrs x grade points =total grade
pointsUGS 302 A 3 x 4 = 12
ECO 304K B 3 x 3 = 9M408K C+ 4 x 2.33 = 9.32
AMS 310 A 3 x 4 = 1213 hours 42.32
42.32 grade points 13 hours
Repeating CourseworkYou may repeat a course in which you have
earned a D+ or lower; however, you are not required to repeat a
course, unless subsequent classes have a pre-requisite of a higher
grade (e.g. a grade of C- or better must be earned in M 408K to
take M408L) or a higher grade is required for your degree. The
grade received in the repeated course is calculated in your
cumulative GPA along with the initial grade earned. If you retake a
course that you passed intially (D- or higher) and subsequently
earn a failing grade, then you will lose the credit you earned
initially and both grades will factor into your GPA.
IncompletesIncompletes are assigned only in cases of approved,
compelling, nonacademic circumstances beyond your control. The
symbol used to indicate an incomplete grade is an X. An X may be
issued at the discretion of your instructor for any of the
following reasons:
• You are compelled to miss the final exam for an urgent,
nonacademic reason (you must present substantiat-ing
documentation).
• You have not been able to complete all assignments for reasons
other than your own negligence, but you have passed the final exam
and other class work.
• You have been granted a re-examination privilege. This may be
granted if you have failed the final exam but have at least a C
average in the coursework other than the final examination.
An incomplete must be made up within one long-session semester
of when it was assigned. If you receive an X, do not register for
the course again -- finish the one you have. If you fail to
complete the coursework within the allo-cated time, or the
instructor fails to report your grade, the X automatically becomes
an F and is added to your GPA.
Example:
= 3.255
Repeated coursework DOES NOT replace the original grade.
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Your scholastic standing at The University of Texas at Austin is
determined by your UT GPA. All students need a 2.00 grade point
average (GPA) to be in good standing.
If your cumulative UT GPA does fall below a 2.00, you will
automatically be placed on scholastic probation for the following
semester. For example, if you make a 1.87 GPA during your fall
semester, you will be placed on scholastic probation for the spring
semester.
If you are on scholstic probation, you MUST enroll in at least
12 credit hours or request special permission from your advisor to
enroll as a part-time student. You will also be required to meet
with your assigned advisor on a regular basis (every two to three
weeks) to create and enact an Academic Success Plan to help you
reach your goals for the semester. To avoid being dismissed from
the University, you will need to raise your grades during your
se-mester on scholastic probation to achieve a benchmark cumulative
GPA, which depends on the number of hours you’ve attempted, both at
UT and other institutions (see chart below). If you fail to raise
your grades to achieve the required cumulative UT GPA, you will be
subject to dismissal. If you fail 12 hours or more during your
first semester at UT, you will also be subject to dismissal.
Scholastic Probation
Total College Hours Undertaken* Overall UT Austin GPA for
dismissal**
Below 15 Less than 1.5015-44 Less than 1.7045-59 Less than
1.85
60 or more Less than 2.00
* The total number of college hours undertaken refers to hours
taken at UT as well as any other college or uni-versity. This
calculation includes the number of hours attempted, not just hours
completed/passed. There-fore, the hours for any courses you have
failed will be included in this calculation. The hours attempted in
the current semester are also included.
** Your overall UT GPA calculation is only based on courses that
you take in a UT classroom or through the UT Extension program.
Grades from courses you have transferred in from other
colleges/universities, includ-ing other UT schools (e.g., UT San
Antonio) do NOT affect your UT GPA and are not used in determining
your academic status at UT.
Scholastic probation IS preventable! Scholastic probation can be
caused by various situations: academic, personal, or emotional. If
you are ex-periencing difficulty during the semester and you fear
that your GPA might fall below 2.00, don’t wait! See your academic
advisor as soon as possible. Your advisor is there to help you
navigate the obstacles you’re facing, whatever they may be.
Together, you can work to create a plan to help you improve your
academic situation. See pages 57-59 for information about resources
available on campus.
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Scholastic Dismissal If, after a semester on scholastic
probation, you are unable to reach the benchmark GPA (see chart on
page 33) or you fail 12 or more hours in your first semester, you
will be dismissed from the University. You may be dismissed from
the University up to three times.
Appealing your DismissalIf you have been placed on scholastic
dismissal, you have the option to file an appeal. To initiate the
appeal process, schedule an appointment with your assigned advisor
as soon as possible. During this appointment, he or she will
provide you with the appeal form and explain the appeal process.
Dismissal appeals are infrequently approved.
Returning to UTIf you wish to return to the University after a
first or second dismissal, you must apply for readmission through
the UT Admissions Office, pay an application fee, and submit any
necessary transcripts. Application materials must be submitted by
the application deadline posted on the Office of Admissions
website. You must follow the readmis-sion guidelines for former UT
students. To be eligible to reenroll, you must have earned a grade
point average of at least 2.50 for all transferable coursework you
have undertaken since leaving the University.
If you are readmitted after your dismissal, you will be on
scholastic probation when you return, even if you at-tended another
institution in the interim. You will need to meet with your
academic advisor prior to registration to discuss remaining degree
requirements, academic strategies, and the removal of any
registration advising bars.
Taking Classes While on DismissalDuring your dismissal period,
you have the option to take classes at other institutions or online
through Univer-sity Extension. It is important to note, however,
that you are not required to take classes during your dismissal. If
you choose to do so, you must achieve a 2.50 GPA or higher in the
classes you take while away in order to be readmitted to UT. Taking
classes during your dismissal is a great way to continue working
toward your degree and exploring your interests.
Courses taken through the University Extension will count toward
your UT GPA. Therefore, University Extention provides an avenue for
you to attempt to increase your UT GPA while on dismissal. Visit
this link to find classes that fit into your degree plan, fulfill
core requirements, or align with your interests:
http://www.utexas.edu/ce/uex/.
First DismissalIf you are dismissed from the University, you
will not be allowed to enroll at University of Texas at Austin for
one long-session (fall or spring semester) and any intervening
summer. If you get dismissed at the end of a spring semester, you
are required to sit out for the summer as well as the fall
semester. You may be eligible to apply to return in spring. If you
are dis-missed at the end of a fall semester, you will sit out the
spring semester but may be eligible to apply for readmission in the
summer.
Second DismissalIf you are dismissed from the University for a
second time, you will not be allowed to take classes at UT for
three years. For example, if you were dismissed at the end of the
Fall 2010 semester, you may be eligible to apply for readmission
for the Spring 2014 semester.
Third DismissalIf you are dismissed a third time, the dismissal
is per-manent. We encourage you to continue your academic pursuits
at another institution.
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Academic DishonestyThe University promotes a high standard of
academic integrity. All conduct that violates this standard,
including any act designed to give an unfair or undeserved academic
advantage is considered academic dishonesty. Ex-amples include:
• Cheating• Plagiarism• Unauthorized Collaboration• Collusion•
Falsifying Academic Records
For the University’s official definition of academic dishonesty,
see Section 11-402, Institutional Rules on Student Services and
Activities, in the General Information Catalog.
Academic dishonesty damages your learning experience and
readiness for the future demands of a career, and compromises the
integrity of the University. Incidents of academic dishonesty
diminish the overall value of scho-lastic achievements on this
campus and reflect poorly on the University.
Consequences of Academic DishonestyThe Office of the Dean of
Students or a faculty member may initiate disciplinary proceedings
against a student ac-cused of academic dishonesty (under subchapter
11–500 in the General Information Catalog).
If you violate University rules on academic dishonesty, you will
be subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of
earning an F in the course and/or being dismissed from the
University. For more information on academic dishonesty, please
visit the Student Judicial Services website:
deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/.
Avoiding Academic DishonestyAcademic dishonesty can be either
intentional or unintentional. A student who actively copies someone
else’s work and hands it in as his or her own is engaging in
intentional academic dishonesty. However, students are often
unfamiliar with proper citation practices and/or the rules
regarding collaboration, which can result in uninten-tional
academic dishonesty.
It is important to note that academic dishonesty is taken
seriously regardless of whether it happened intentionally or
unintentionally. It is your responsibility as a student to know the
expectations for each class and assignment, as well as generally
agreed-upon best practices for properly citing your sources. Each
class you take may have in-dividual citation requirements and/or
standards for collaboration on assignments, and it is important to
consult your syllabus and instructor for class-specific
expectations. For general tips on properly using outside sources in
your assignments and avoiding unauthorized collaboration, please
visit the Student Judicial Services “Avoiding Academic Dishonesty”
site: deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acadint_avoid.php.
Use campus resources as you’re working on writing assignments,
like the Undergraduate Writing Center (UWC) to help catch
unintentional plagiarism before you turn an assignment in to your
instructor. For more information on the UWC, see page 57.
• Misrepresenting Facts (e.g., providing false information to
postpone an exam, obtain an extended deadline for an assignment, or
even gain an unearned financial benefit)
• Any other acts (or attempted acts) that violate the basic
standard of ac-ademic integrity (e.g., multiple
submissions—submitting essentially the same written assignment for
two courses without authorization to do so)
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College and University HonorsThe Univeristy of Texas at Austin
does not have a Dean’s List. Instead, students who have achieved
academic excel-lence may be recognized by inclusion on the
University Honors List and/or by administrative officials, academic
deans, and members of the faculty at the Honors Day Convocation
each spring.
You may qualify for honors on the basis of registration and GPA
requirements for courses taken in residence at the University, as
specified below:
To be included on the University Honors List, you must:
1. Earn at least 45 grade points and a GPA of at least 3.50 in
courses completed in residence in a fall or spring semester.
2. Have no incomplete grades in that fall or spring
semester.
To be a College Scholar, you must:
1. Be registered as an undergraduate in the current semester.2.
Have completed at least 30 semester hours of coursework in
residence at the university and at least 60
semester hours of college coursework, including transferred work
and credit by examination.3. Rank in the top 20% of your class in
your college or school based on overall GPA.4. Have an in-residence
University GPA of at least 3.50.
To be a Distinguished College Scholar, you must:
1. Meet the first, second and fourth College Scholar
requirements stated above.2. Rank in the top 4% of your class in
your college or school based on in-residence cumulative GPA.
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V. Transitioning out of UGS
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One of your primary goals as a student in UGS is to find and
declare a major that aligns with your personal, aca-demic, and
career goals. While some students arrive with a major in mind, we
encourage all students to explore the wide variety of options
available. We emphasize using multiple resources to help you learn
about yourself and the majors and career paths available. You and
your academic advisor will work together throughout your time as a
UGS student to develop a major exploration plan pertinent to your
personality, interests, and goals. Choosing a major is an on-going
process that involves gathering information about the following
four parts:
Major Exploration
Part I: YOURSELFBefore you can choose your major, you’ll need to
reflect on your personal characteristics. You need to gain
knowl-edge and understanding about your interests, skills, personal
and professional values, personality traits, per-sonal experiences,
and goals. It is important to take all of these factors into
consideration while making a decision about a major or career.
Part II: YOUR EDUCATIONAL OPTIONSIt is important for you to
learn about the majors, minors, certificates, and licensure
programs that are available to you at UT. You’ll need to learn as
much as you can about a major before you try to make a decision,
including what the course requirements are, specialization options,
academic abilities and skills required, and licensure programs.
Students who declare a major at the beginning of their freshman
year are typically uncertain about their choice (usually 3 out of
every 4 – that’s 75%!). Many of these students have not yet had the
time to research and explore all the options, and as a result over
two-thirds change their major. The more information you have, the
more likely you are to stick with your major decision.
Part III: YOUR JOB AND CAREER OPTIONSIn most career fields,
major doesn’t necessarily matter. Many graduates are employed in
jobs and career fields that are not directly related to the subject
in which they chose to major. Still, knowing which careers are
somewhat related to an academic major can help you make a more
informed decision. When learning more about job and career options,
be sure to seek out information about the opportunities that exist,
the related skills you need to have, the marketability of the job
or career, the salary, and minimum educational requirements.
Part IV: YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH DECISION MAKINGOnce you have
explored the first three parts of choosing a major, you should have
sufficient information to make a decision. When approaching this
step, it’s helpful to have a clear understanding of your
decision-making process. Re-flecting on decisions you’ve made in
the past and thinking critically about the outcomes can help you
create an action plan for declaring your major. The goal is to
integrate the information you’ve learned throughout your
exploration process and find a major that fits with who you are and
who you think you might want to be.
**Remember**• You are NOT choosing what you’re go-
ing to do for the rest of your life.
• Major doesn’t (have to) equal career.
• There is no “perfect” or “right” major, just some you’ll be
happier with than others.
• Neither a magic test nor your advisor will tell you what major
you should choose.
Ready to get started??Scan this QR code with your smart
phone to visit Wayfinder, UGS’ major exploration website.
Use Wayfinder to research majors and certificate programs on
campus, read career stories from professionals in a
variety of industries, and do some self-exploration
exercises!
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Wayfinder
Wayfinder is a customizable major exploration web-site developed
by the School of Undergraduate Stud-ies that is divided into three
sections: Finding Your Way, Explore, and Everyone Has a Story.
Finding Your Way is comprised of videos explaining the four
pieces of knowledge you need to choose a major and demonstrates how
you can use the site to increase your knowledge in these areas.
Explore is a one-stop-shop for information about majors at UT.
Majors and certificate programs are grouped into categories, but
can also be browsed al-phabetically. Click on a major or
certificate to find information including a general description,
person-ality of students in that major, application require-ments,
degree plans, skills gained, and more.
Everyone Has a Story gives you the chance to learn about the
major-to-career experiences of profession-als across numerous
industries. Online Course Schedule
The online course schedule lists all the courses being taught,
in a given semester, for every major. Reading the course titles and
descriptions can tell you more about the type of classes and
learning experiences you will have in a particular major.
Career Assessments
After first meeting with a career counselor, you’ll be eligible
to sign up to take a career assessment. While there is no magic
test that will tell you what to major in, these assessments do tell
you more about your person-ality and interests, information
pertinent to your major search. Stop by JES A115 to schedule an
appointment with a career counselor who can help you decide if a
career assessment will be helpful.
“What Can I do with a Major in...”
Visit the following website: www.lifelearning.utexas.edu to find
online Handouts like “What Can I do with a Major in...,” “Exploring
Careers,” “Graduate School Planning,” and more.
Tools to Help you Explore
Internal Transfer Informations SessionsMany colleges on campus
provide internal transfer in-formation sessions that help you learn
more about the college, majors offered, and requirements for
getting into that college. Look on a college or school’s website
for dates and times.
Internships and Volunteer ExperiencesInternships and volunteer
experiences provide op-portunities to experience a work environment
first-hand and get exposure to the type of work you might see in a
particular job or career field. They can also help you make
connections with potential future em-ployers.
Instructors and ProfessorsFaculty can provide lots of
information about their department and possible careers related to
the sub-jects they teach.
Find Wayfinder online:
1. Go to utexas.edu/students.2. Under “Academic Support,” click
on
“Wayfinder: Get help choosing a major.”
Academic Departments
Talking to advisors can be a good way to get more in-formation
about a major. In some departments, stu-dents are not required to
attend an information session and can simply contact an advisor.
Additionally, the department web pages contain helpful
information.
Upper-Class Students (Juniors and Seniors) Students who have
been pursuing majors you want to know more about could offer some
insight about the majors they are pursuing.
The Co-OpConsider going to the Co-Op and reviewing the
text-books affiliated with a particular major.
Meeting with your advisor and with a career counselor will help
you explore your values, interests, strengths, weaknesses, and
goals as well as assist in investigating major and career options.
In addition to those meetings, the following tools can aid you in
your search:
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Internal TransfersUT is divided into 12 undergraduate schools
and colleges, and since UGS is not a degree-granting college, you
will eventually transfer out once you’ve identified a good-fit
major. This process is called an internal transfer. As you explore
your educational options as a UGS student, it is important to
understand the internal transfer require-ments of the majors and
colleges in which you’re interested. While some have a relatively
simple process for trans-fer, others require applications. For
example, some schools require you to take specific classes and earn
a particular GPA before you’re eligible to apply. Other majors
might require a minimum number of hours taken in residence (i.e. in
a University of Texas at Austin classroom).
1. Go to utexas.edu/students.2. Under “Academic Support,”
click on “Wayfinder: Get help choosing a major.”
3. Click on “Explore.”4. Select the major about
which you wish to find information
Find internal transfer info using Wayfinder:
Make sure to familiarize yourself with the internal transfer
require-ments for each major to help you decide whether or not your
choice is realistic and to help you make choices about your course
schedule each semester. Below are some resources you can use to
learn about internal transfer requirements.
• Wayfinder: http://www.utexas.edu/ugs/wayfinder/explore/major•
College/major internal transfer websites • Internal transfer
information sessions - Offered by most
colleges/majors that require an application.�