Graduate Policies and Programs

Graduate Policies

These policies apply to all graduate students unless otherwise stated. For policies specific to Ph.D. students and Ph.D. programs, refer to the Ph.D. Policies section.

For policies specific to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D.) the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) refer to those sections of the catalog.

Credit Hours

At the University of Texas at Tyler, courses are measured in terms of credit hours. The institution has adopted the federal definition of “credit hour” as the amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time, or an equivalent amount of work for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours. 

The University of Texas at Tyler’s definition of a “credit hour” is flexible in as much as:

• The institution determines the amount of credit for student work.
• A credit hour is expected to be a reasonable approximation of a minimum amount of student work in a Carnegie unit in accordance with commonly accepted practice in higher education.
• The credit hour definition is a minimum standard that does not restrict an institution from setting a higher standard that requires more student work per credit hour.
• The definition does not dictate particular amounts of classroom time versus out-of-class student work. 
• In determining the amount of work the institutions learning outcomes will entail, the institution may take into consideration alternative delivery methods, measurements of student work, academic calendars, disciplines, and degree levels.
• To the extent an institution believes that complying with the Federal definition of a credit hour would not be appropriate for academic and other institutional needs, it may adopt a separate measure for those purposes.

• Credits may be awarded on the basis of documentation of the amount of work a typical student is expected to complete within a specified amount of academically engaged time for a typical student.

The University of Texas at Tyler may elect to award credits based on documented proficiencies demonstrated by students/applicants that are consistent with outcomes identified in the curricula for programs it has been authorized to offer.

All academic courses are developed, updated, and approved by the faculty through the undergraduate or graduate councils and the curriculum committees’ processes. 

The University of Texas at Tyler follows current requirements for credit hours as outlined by the US Department of Education, SACSCOC, and the Texas Administrative Code.  

Graduate Courses Taken by Undergraduates

UT Tyler undergraduate students within 12 hours of graduation may take up to six graduate credit hours during their final semester of study. Students may enroll in no more than 18 credits total during their final semester. Enrollment in each graduate course must receive prior approval by the graduate advisor or appropriate department chair of the college offering the course. An approved Registration Form must be submitted to the One-Stop Service Center at the time of registration. 

The preceding conditions do not apply to students in the Integrated BBA/MAcc program. Students in the Political Science 4+1 program may take up to nine graduate hours.

Undergraduate Courses Taken by Graduates

Students admitted to a graduate program who wish to take undergraduate coursework simultaneously with their graduate program must ask their graduate advisor to notify the Graduate Admissions office prior to enrolling in any undergraduate classes. Simultaneous enrollment in graduate and undergraduate courses is subject to the following conditions:

1. The graduate academic advisor must notify the Graduate Admissions office in writing prior to the student enrolling in any undergraduate classes.
2. The graduate academic advisor is responsible for ensuring proper notification is made each semester the student will take undergraduate classes as a graduate degree-seeking student in their program.
3. If the student enrolls without following the outlined procedure, they will be charged graduate tuition for all classes, regardless of level. The charges may not be appealed, and no retroactive refunds will be made. 

Admission Standards

Admission standards for graduate programs (master’s degree, certificate, and doctoral degree) at The University of Texas at Tyler shall be based on recognized predictors of success.  All graduate programs must have admission standards that incorporate at least two predictive measures. Examples of such predictors are standardized admission tests (which typically assess a combination of verbal, quantitative, writing, and analytical reasoning), undergraduate grades, previous graduate study grades, standardized tests which assess content specially linked to the discipline, professional recommendation letters and/or ratings.  Recommendation letters must address relevant motivational and experiential factors that support the likelihood that the applicant will be successful in the program to which admission is sought. Individual programs may opt to waive the entrance exam requirement if the applicant has earned a master's degree from an accredited institution or equivalent.

Consideration is also given to one or more of the following: the applicant's demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study, socioeconomic background, first generation college graduate, multilingual proficiency, geographic region of residence, and level of responsibility in other matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, and family responsibilities.

The submission of documents in support of applications for admission and fellowships such as transcripts, diplomas, test scores, references, essays, or the applications themselves, that are forged, fraudulent, altered from the original, plagiarized, materially incomplete, obtained under false pretenses, or otherwise deceptive (collectively referred to as fraudulent documents) is prohibited by The University of Texas at Tyler and may be punishable by a bar on applying for admission or fellowships, suspension, and/or expulsion. Students who submit fraudulent documents are not eligible to reapply.

A graduate program is under no obligation to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

Master's Degree Admission Requirements

Application Process

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

1. Complete a graduate application at uttyler.edu/graduate, select a specific program, pay the application fee, and have official transcripts showing proof of baccalaureate sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
2. Satisfy the entrance examination, grade-point average and any other specific requirements for the selected degree program.
3. Receive official admission to the selected degree program. 

Admissions

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

Except for the Pharm.D., students pursuing doctoral degrees are admitted only under Full Graduate Admission. Provisional admission may be granted by an individual program where circumstances warrant this exception. The requirements for admission are stated in the section for each program elsewhere in the catalog. Clinical Psychology Ph.D. students may be admitted fully pending proof of bachelor’s degree, but enrollment in graduate coursework will not be allowed until proof of bachelor’s degree is received.  Human Resource Development Ph.D. students may be admitted fully pending proof of master’s degree, but enrollment in graduate coursework will not be allowed until proof of master’s degree is received.

International Graduate Student Admissions

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

Financial Support

Graduate students will find a range of grant, loan, employment, scholarship, fellowship, assistantship, and tuition exemption and waiver programs available at UT Tyler. For additional information and eligibility requirements, refer to: uttyler.edu/financialaid/gradstudentfinaid.php and uttyler.edu/graduate/fin.

Graduate Orientation

Graduate Orientation is available online to all admitted students within one week of acceptance to the University. Students can access the orientation course through Canvas by visiting uttyler.edu/graduate/orientation.

Auditing

Audits may only be processed during the period from the first day of courses through the Census Date of each session. All approvals must be signed within this date range; any forms signed prior to the first day of classes will be considered void. Auditing a course means that one can attend class meetings and have access to course materials but will not receive credit or a grade for the course.

As Audits differ significantly from regular enrollments, individuals should be aware of the following characteristics of Audited courses:

• An automatic grade of 'AU – Audit' will be assigned at the time of registration
• Courses with the 'AU' grade cannot be dropped once added
• Courses with the 'AU' grade do not earn academic credit
• Courses with the 'AU' grade do not qualify students for advanced standing examinations
• Participation in class activities is at the sole discretion of the instructor
• Audit fees are non-refundable and are based on the total credit hours of Audited courses as follow:
  • 1-3 hours = $50
  • 4-6 hours = $100
  • 7-9 hours = $150
  • 10-12 hours = $200
• Certain courses are ineligible for Audit registration including, but not limited to:
  • Any course offered on an individual instruction basis
  • Any course requiring the use of laboratories, computers or studio spaces
  • Faculty led study abroad courses
  • All courses offered through the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy

A student may Audit one or more courses by taking the following steps:

1. Complete the Course Audit Request form available in the One-Stop Services Center (STE 230). One form must be completed per course being audited.
2. Obtain required signatures of the Instructor and either the Chair or Dean.
3. To register, return the completed Course Audit Request form to the One-Stop Services Center (STE 230).
4. Make payment of all applicable audit fees at the One-Stop Services Center (STE 230). Students who are residents of the State of Texas and are 65 years of age or older may claim an exemption from audit fees at the One-Stop Services Center at the time of registration.

Academic Fresh Start

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

International Student Seeking a Graduate Degree by Distance Learning

Applicants from countries other than the United States may be admitted to online degree programs subject to the following standards:

• Satisfy the general admission requirements for the degree program, including English language proficiency.
• International students admitted to degree programs offered through distance learning technologies are not eligible to receive an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status). International students are not eligible for on-campus study unless they hold an F-1 visa.
• International students studying through distance learning technologies from foreign countries are not permitted to hold on-campus employment.

Student Seeking a Second Master's Degree

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

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

Concurrent Enrollment in Two Master’s Degree Programs

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

Transient Admission: Student Pursuing Degrees at Other Universities

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

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

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

Transient Admission: UT Tyler Students at Other Universities

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

Admission Denial Appeal Process

Applicants denied admission to a graduate program may appeal the decision within five days of receiving the admission decision. The appeal must be based on the grounds that the denial was a violation of the admissions policy and procedure or that the applicant’s application was not evaluated in accordance with the criteria for admission set forth by the intended graduate program/department. Denials to graduate programs with restricted admissions based on their capacity to effectively serve students may not be appealed.

Students may appeal their admission decision by completing an application for appeal of an admission decision. This form is published on The Graduate School Forms website. The appeal should include any supporting documentation that supports the appeal.

Any appeal of an admission decision to a graduate program shall be submitted in writing to the advisor for the program. The advisor shall have 10 work-days to respond in writing to the appeal. If the applicant is not satisfied with the decision, he or she may appeal in writing to the chairperson of the department. The chairperson shall respond in writing within 10 work-days. The next level of appeal is the dean of the college in which the program is located. The dean will respond in writing within 10 work-days of receiving the appeal. The final level of appeal will be the Admission Appeal Subcommittee of the Graduate Council. The subcommittee will respond in writing within 10 work-days of receiving the appeal. The decision of the committee is final.

Any appeal of an admission decision to a program with limited capacity, e.g., Pharm.D., Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, shall be submitted in writing to respective program’s Office of the Dean. The Dean, or designee, shall have 10 work-days to respond in writing to the appeal. Further appeals are not available.

Appeals must be received prior to the term for which the applicant is seeking admission. If there is insufficient time to complete the appeal process before the beginning of the term for which the applicant seeks admission, the admission semester may be moved to the subsequent semester so the case may be reviewed.

Transfer of Graduate Credit

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

Graduate Scholastic Load

The minimum credit hour load to be considered a full-time graduate student is nine semester hours during the fall, spring, or summer semester. These can be any combination of graduate or undergraduate courses.  The maximum credit hour load permitted is 12 semester hours during the fall, spring, or summer semester. Students wishing to exceed the maximum credit hour load must obtain permission from the Dean of the College of their major. In the summer semester sessions, students may not exceed 3 credit hours in the Short Summer session, 6 credit hours in each of the Summer I or Summer II sessions, or 12 credit hours in the Long Summer or Nursing 14-Week sessions.  In programs with registration in sessions in the fall and spring semesters, students may not exceed 6 credit hours in each of the 7-Week 1 or 7-Week 2 sessions.  Enrollment status is defined in terms of semester credit hours. 

Enrollment Status per Financial Aid regulations (minimum credits required):

Full-Time	3/4 Time	Half-Time	Less than Half
9	7	6	5 or fewer

Time Limitation

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

Catalog Year

To graduate, a student must fulfill catalog requirements in effect at the time of admission to a graduate program; however, a student who is continuously enrolled must complete all requirements within six years or be subject to degree requirements of a subsequent catalog. If a matriculated student has a break in enrollment at UT Tyler for three consecutive semesters or more, the student is required to complete a readmission application. If a student is readmitted, the applicable catalog is the one in effect at the time of readmission. Written requests for exceptions may be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School for consideration.

Graduate students may voluntarily adopt new requirements for their current program when updated requirements are made available in a catalog published after their original admission. When a student chooses to take this action, an updated degree plan detailing how they will complete their graduation requirements under the new catalog must be completed and approved by the graduate advisor and department chair. All graduation requirements must still be completed within six years of the student’s original admission.

Catalog Policy Changes

Changes in University regulations and policies become effective for all enrolled students in the year for which the catalog is in force, regardless of the year of initial enrollment. Thus, students may choose to satisfy degree requirements specified in an earlier catalog, but all must observe University regulations and follow graduation procedures prescribed in the Catalog in force in the intended semester of graduation.

Change of Program

If a student desires to change from one graduate program to another graduate program, the student must complete the Graduate Change of Program form, which is available on the Office of Graduate Admissions forms website uttyler.edu/graduate/forms/.

Course Enrollments

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

Grading System

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

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

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

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

There is a one-year time limit for grade changes and only the original instructor of the course may change a grade; in cases where the original instructor is no longer employed by UT Tyler, the department chair may submit a grade change on their behalf. CR, P, and W designations may not be changed to letter grades. An "I" must be removed from the student’s record within one year. See specific sections that elaborate on the institutional policies concerning the designations CR/NC, I, and W.

Calculation of Grade Point Average

UT Tyler calculates students’ grade point average (GPA) using only coursework completed in residence, and truncates all GPA values at two decimal places, without rounding. The GPA calculation uses only grade points and attempted semester credit hours from courses with grades of A, B, C, D, and F. 

The following categories of courses are not applicable to the GPA:

1. Courses with grades of I, IP, W, P, CR, NC, and AU 
2. Courses completed at other institutions 
3. Undergraduate courses (numbered 4999 and below), including required prerequisite or leveling courses. Additionally, these courses will not be counted toward academic program requirements and will not satisfy minimum graduate credits required to be completed at UT Tyler.

When a student repeats a course, the calculation of their GPA will be impacted depending on whether the repeat was for grade replacement or not (See Repeating Courses and Grade Replacement Policy). 

• If a grade replacement is used, the grade points and attempted semester credit hours from the prior attempt are excluded from GPA calculations, and only those from the most recent attempt will apply. 
• If a grade replacement is not used (non-replacement), the grade points and attempted semester credit hours from all attempts will apply to GPA calculations.

If the student receives a W in the repeated course, only the grade points and attempted semester credit hours from the prior attempt will apply to GPA calculations. If the student receives a grade of I or IP in the repeated course, only the grade points and attempted semester credit hours from the prior attempt will apply to GPA calculations until a final letter grade is assigned to the most recent attempt, at which point the applicable rules (replacement or non-replacement) will be applied.

Credit/No Credit Option

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

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

Incomplete Policy ("I" Grade)

If a student, because of extenuating circumstances, is unable to complete all of the requirements for a course by the end of the semester, then the instructor may recommend an Incomplete (I) for the course. The "I" may be assigned in lieu of a grade only when all of the following conditions are met: (a) the student has been making satisfactory progress in the course; (b) the student is unable to complete all course work or final exam due to unusual circumstances that are beyond personal control and are acceptable to the instructor; and (c) the student presents these reasons prior to the time that the final grade roster is due. The semester credit hours for an Incomplete will not be used to calculate the grade point average for a student.

The student and the instructor must submit an Incomplete Form detailing the work required and the time by which the work must be completed to their respective department chair or college dean for approval. The time limit established must not exceed one year. Should the student fail to complete all of the work for the course within the time limit, then the instructor may assign zeros to the unfinished work, compute the course average for the student, and assign the appropriate grade. If a grade has not been assigned within one year, then the Incomplete will be changed to an F, or to NC if the course was originally taken under the CR/NC grading basis.

IP Grade

The IP “in progress” grade is used for pre-defined courses such as internship or supervised practice in a public school setting that normally extend past the grading period deadline. It may also be used for a sequence of courses where a final grade is not recorded until the sequence is completed.

Courses that use the “IP” grade are designated as such during the course approval process or grandfathered in on approval of the Office of Academic Affairs. The “IP” grade can only be applied to such courses and does not substitute for the “I” grade. An IP grade remains on the transcript until the final grade is changed via the Change of Grade electronic process.

Courses graded IP are not used in calculating a student’s grade point average.

Pass/Fail Policy

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

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

Repeating Courses

A student may repeat any course previously taken at UT Tyler that would not normally be repeatable for credit if the last grade received in the course was a “C”, “D” or “F” for master's and Ph.D. students. Repeated courses may not be taken on a CR/NC or P/F basis. Students repeating a single course more than two times may be billed at a higher tuition rate. All grades will appear on the student’s official transcript. Once the degree has been awarded by UT Tyler, a student may repeat a course taken prior to graduation, but the repeated course will not be used to recalculate the grade point average.

Students who repeat a course in which they previously earned credit hours based on a grade of “D” or higher and earn an additional grade of “D” or higher, without using the grade replacement option may only apply earned credit hours from one course completion toward a master’s or Ph.D. degree.

Students cannot enroll in repeated courses through the myUTTyler Student Center; submission of a Course Repeat / Grade Replacement Enrollment Form to the One-Stop Services Center is required for all course repeats. See the Grade Replacement policy for additional details.

With the approval of their department chair, dean, and the Dean of the Graduate School, students may retake courses originally completed with a grade of “B” or better, provided those courses were completed more than six years prior to the student’s expected term of graduation. Any such repeats will be noted on the student’s transcripts as having been repeated “Not for Grade Replacement”.

Grade Replacement

A student may request grade replacement for only two course repeats (See Repeating Courses policy) during their master's career at UT Tyler; Ph.D. students are ineligible for grade replacement. When a course is repeated for grade replacement, only grade points and attempted semester credit hours from the most recent attempt are used to calculate the GPA. However, all grades will appear on the student’s official transcript. Students must complete a Course Repeat / Grade Replacement Enrollment Form (found on the Registrar’s Form Library) and note the repeated course as “For Grade Replacement” at the time of enrollment.

In cases where a student repeats an eligible course without requesting grade replacement or has exhausted their available number of “For Grade Replacement” repeats, the student must note the course as repeated “Not for Grade Replacement” on a Course Repeat / Grade Replacement Enrollment Form at the time of enrollment. If a student selects “For Grade Replacement” after exhausting their available grade replacements, the form will be processed as if “Not for Grade Replacement” were selected. For all course repeats using the “Not for Grade Replacement” option, both the original and last grade earned in the course will be used to calculate the overall grade point average.

If a student attempts to repeat a course but withdraws and receives an automatic “W,” the attempt counts against the grade replacement limit and the original grade remains. In cases where a student is granted a "W" based on administrative review, as part of completely withdrawing from a semester, or under the Withdrawal for Active Military Service policy, the course will be administratively reclassified as repeated "Not for Grade Replacement", the attempt will not count against the grade replacement limit, and the original grade remains. Students may, on or prior to the Census Date, request in writing to change their “For Grade Replacement” / “Not for Grade Replacement” selection for a repeated course by contacting the One-Stop Services Center.

A student may not exercise grade replacement for courses taken at UT Tyler and repeated at another college or university, nor may grade replacement be used when a course taken elsewhere is repeated at UT Tyler. The grade replacement option may not be exercised to remove a grade awarded in a case of academic dishonesty. Once a degree has been awarded by UT Tyler, grade replacement may not be used to replace a grade taken before that degree was awarded.

Grade Appeals

Disputes regarding grades must be initiated within sixty (60) days from the date of receiving the final course grade by filing a Grade Appeal Form with the instructor who assigned the grade; this is separate from the Application for Appeal form submitted to the Student Appeals Committee, which does not rule on grade disputes as described in this policy. If the student is not satisfied with the decision, the student may appeal in writing to the Chairperson of the department from which the grade was issued. In situations where there is an allegation of capricious grading, discrimination, or unlawful actions, appeals may go beyond the Chairperson to the Dean of the college from which the grade was issued with that decision being final.

Non-Grade Academic Student Complaints

Students wishing to formally file an academic complaint, other than a grade appeal, may do so at https://www.uttyler.edu/academic-affairs/student-complaint. All complaints will be directed to the appropriate source for resolution within 10 work-days of being received.

Withdrawals

Withdrawals for All Students 

Prior to the first day of classes, students should conduct all drops online via their Student Center in the myUTTyler system. This functionality is disabled once classes begin for each term. 

Partial and Complete Withdrawals

From the first day of classes through the Last Day to Withdraw, students may process a partial withdrawal (dropping from one or more but not all of their classes) or complete withdrawal (all classes in a term) via the online Course Drop or Withdrawal Request Form, available here, and processed fully online. During the first three days of each Fall and Spring semester only, students may also complete a paper Course Drop or Withdrawal Request form, which is available at the One-Stop Services Center (STE 230).

Drops/withdrawals after Census Date and before the Last Day to Withdraw will result in a grade of W. Courses dropped prior to Census Date won’t appear on the student’s record or the transcript.  Emailed, mailed, or faxed requests will not be processed.  

All drops/withdrawals are final once processed. Students should take care to complete their web-form accurately prior to submission for processing.

• All drop/withdrawal requests will be processed as of the date the request is submitted via the web-form.
• If more than one form is submitted, each submission will be processed as of the date submitted.
• Students may not officially withdraw from a course after the "Last Day to Withdraw," as listed on the Academic Calendar. Late submissions will not be processed. Students who miss the withdrawal deadline or cease to complete work toward their courses after this point will automatically receive an F, or whatever grade they would earn based on their already completed work in the course.
• After the Last Day to Withdraw, students should complete the Unofficial Withdrawal Form for Financial Aid to notify the University of their intent to cease attendance for any course or for the entire term.  The date on which a student submits an Unofficial Withdrawal Form for Financial Aid will serve as the official date for Title IV purposes.

Students who feel their ability to withdraw was negatively impacted by circumstances beyond their control may submit an appeal to the Student Appeals Committee. 

Withdrawals as part of a Swap

Students seeking to swap courses (add one course to replace another) during the period from the first day of classes through the Census Date of any session should not submit a withdrawal request for the course being dropped as part of their swap. Doing so will result in the student remaining enrolled in the course being dropped until the drop request has been processed and may result in the student being dropped for non-payment if arrangements have not been made to cover charges for both courses.

Students completing a swap during this period should do so by either submitting a Registration Form to the One-Stop Services Center (STE 230), or sending an email containing detailed information about the courses to be added/dropped from their UT Tyler student email account to Enroll@uttyler.edu. In the case of emailed requests, the swap will be processed effective the date the email was received.

Withdrawals for Pharmacy Students 

Pharmacy students must follow the procedures outlined by the College of Pharmacy Office of Academic Affairs.

Withdrawals for International Students, Veterans, Student Athletes, Scholarship Recipients, and Students with Financial Aid Awards

International students, veterans receiving VA benefits, student athletes, scholarship recipients, and any students who have been awarded financial aid wishing to submit any withdrawal form must obtain the appropriate approval during the online processing of the form.  Housing and Student Business Services will be notified after the withdrawal has been processed.

Students in these groups must consult with the appropriate advisor before any schedule changes are made, as changes may negatively impact their status, benefits, or eligibility. 

For Information about submitting the online Course Drop or Withdrawal Request Form, please contact the One-Stop Services Center:

Phone:  903-566-7180

Email:  enroll@uttyler.edu

Medical Withdrawal/Course Load Reduction

Students who experience a significant medical or mental health issue may request withdrawal or a reduction in their course loads without unnecessary academic penalty. All requests will require documentation from a medical/mental health professional. 

A medical withdrawal/course load reduction from the university can be granted only for the current or immediately preceding semester.

Dropping or withdrawing from classes may affect financial aid eligibility, veteran's benefits, athletic eligibility, housing, or international student status. Students must consult with those departments prior to dropping or withdrawing.  All drops or withdrawals approved for undergraduate students will result in grades of “Q” that are exempt from the 6-Drop Rule.

Request Procedures

To request a medical withdrawal/course load reduction a student may apply for and submit the Medical Withdrawal/Course Load Reduction document, with the Medical Withdrawal/Course Load Reduction option selected, to the Student Counseling Center (UC 3170) either in-person or via their Patriot email to Meddrop@uttyler.edu. The following required documentation must be provided for all appeals:

• A typewritten request with an explanation of why the student is requesting a withdrawal or course load reduction, including the dates of when the problem started and specifically regarding how the problem affected the student’s ability to complete the semester in question.
• The class(es) you wish to drop, and the last date of attendance/participation in each.
• Official supporting documentation from a licensed doctor, physician, medical professional, or mental health professional who has provided long-term care to, or recently evaluated, the student.  Documentation from a recent hospitalization, if relevant, should also be provided. The application and all associated documents will be forwarded to the Medical Withdrawal Committee, which consists of licensed professionals from the Student Counseling Center and the Student Accessibility and Resources office, for review. Applications submitted without appropriate documentation may be subject to automatic denial.

Students will receive an email notification at their Patriot email regarding the outcome of their appeal after the Committee has reached its decision. Students may also be contacted by the Committee to request additional documentation or information prior to a decision being rendered.

Students whose requests are not approved by the Committee may contact the Associate Dean of Students (903.566.7197) directly to discuss additional resources and options. 

Confidentiality 

Any supporting documentation will be considered confidential and treated as such by the Committee and will not be shared outside the Committee unless a special request has been made by the Provost or Provost’s designee on a need-to-know basis. The student’s written request for the withdrawal, all supporting documentation, and the committee’s recommendation will remain the responsibility of the Associate Dean of Students and will be stored securely in the Student Counseling Center. For each approved application, the final recommendation will be forwarded to each office that must be involved in its processing, where related records will be retained as necessary. These offices may include the Office of the Registrar, Financial Aid, Enrollment Services, Student Business Services, International Programs, and the Veteran’s Resource Center. If false information or documentation is provided as part of the application process the documentation will be provided to appropriate University officials.

Dropping Courses Late

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

Withdrawal for Active Military Service

If a student who is in the Reserves or National Guard withdraws due to being ordered to active duty for purposes other than training, the university, at the student’s option, shall:

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

Students must provide a copy of their official orders, or a statement from their commanding officer to the Military and Veteran Success Center (MVSC) as part of exercising a withdrawal under this policy.

Active-duty students who deploy in the normal course of their duties for a period of more than 30 days should contact the MVSC to discuss their options for continuing their classes or withdrawing under the above policy.

Excused Absences

Excused Absence for Religious Holy Days

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

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

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

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

Excused Absence for Active Military Service

A student who is in the Reserves or National Guard and receives orders to active duty for training (ADT) after a semester begins should immediately inform their professors of their activation and provide the Military and Veterans Success Center (MVSC) a copy of the military orders. An active-duty student who anticipates difficulty in completing their classes after a semester begins due to military duty should immediately inform the MVSC to discuss options for continuing their classes. 

Such students will be excused from attending classes, turning in assignments, taking examinations, or participating in any other required activity if the absence is for no more than 25% of the total number of class meetings (excluding final examination period). If the absence is for more than 25% of the class meetings, please refer to the policy on Withdrawal for Military Service.

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

Should any dispute arise as to the student’s inability to complete assignments or examinations within a reasonable time after the absence, the student should first contact the MVSC for an informal resolution with the academic department. If an informal process is not successful, the student may institute a grade grievance process after the final course grade is recorded.

Discrimination Complaints

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

Student Records

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

Probation/Suspension for Master's Degree Students

The policy below is the minimum policy for graduate students at the University of Texas at Tyler. Individual programs may have stricter criteria for probation and/or suspension from a program.

Graduate Academic Probation

The following information on probation and suspension does not apply to doctoral students. Each doctoral program has its own guidelines for probation and suspension.

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

Students placed on probation will automatically be dropped from the subsequent semester. Students will need to meet with their advisor, in-person or via Patriot email, and secure approval on the Graduate Student Probation Petition for Readmission form. Non-degree seeking students must obtain the signature of the Dean of the Graduate School in the place of the academic advisor. Students must submit the form to the One-Stop Services Center before they can be re-enrolled and should not register for more than nine hours (or fewer, at the discretion of the academic department.)

Students on academic probation must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above in the subsequent semester. Failure to do so results in continued probation. Students on continued probation must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above in the subsequent semester. Failure to do so results in a second term of continued probation. Continued probation status is allowed for only two terms, and failure to reach a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above following the second semester in this status will result in suspension (see Graduate Academic Suspension policy). Students placed on continued probation will also be dropped from the subsequent semester(s) and must follow the same procedure to re-enroll as described above for students placed on probation.

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

Graduate Academic Suspension

A graduate student whose cumulative grade point average has not reached 3.0 or above following their second semester of continued probation will be suspended from the University for one semester or full summer for failure to meet the terms of continued probation. A student suspended from the University for the first time will be dropped from the subsequent semester(s) and must receive approval for readmission from the program advisor and the appropriate dean.

A student readmitted to the University after having been suspended must complete a Graduate Student Suspension Petition for Readmission form, with signatures from both their academic advisor and the appropriate college dean, to register. Non-degree seeking students must obtain the signature of the Dean of the Graduate School in the place of the academic advisor and college dean. The student will return on final probation.

Students returning from suspension and on final probation must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above in the subsequent semester. Failure to do so will result in permanent dismissal from the graduate program and the University.

Graduate Restart

The Graduate Restart procedure is designed to allow returning students who performed poorly in their initial attempt at graduate studies to have a fresh start toward meeting graduation requirements for a degree or credit-granting certificate.

A graduate student who has not been enrolled at UT Tyler for at least 12 months prior to readmission may petition the Dean of the Graduate School to remove from his/her graduate cumulative grade point average from all grades earned during the student's prior enrollment at the University. Thus, the student who re-enrolls under the Graduate Restart option automatically forfeits the right to use any of the previous graduate course work, including previously accrued transfer work, toward the current degree requirements. Only courses attempted following readmission either at the University or other institution after readmission will be applied to the degree requirements.

Restart petitions may be filed for readmission to a program in which a student was not previously successful or for admission to a different graduate program. Restart petitions must be approved by the graduate program advisor/coordinator or Chair of the program, the Dean of the college and the Dean of The Graduate School.

If readmission is granted under the Graduate Restart option, the following will apply:

1. Enroll within one year (12 months) of the granting of the petition.

2. Maintain good academic standing according to the current Graduate School policies.

3. Policies on probation and suspension apply differently to Graduate Restart students only in that suspension will result in dismissal from the University.

All hours attempted and all grades earned before and after Graduate Restart will remain on the student's official, permanent academic record (transcript). Graduate Restart affects only the cumulative graduate grade point average for the restarted program of study. The Graduate Restart process does not remove evidence/documentation of the student's overall academic history at the university such as grades previously received, even if a course is repeated in the process of Graduate Restart.

A student may exercise the Graduate Restart option only once in their graduate career at the University, regardless of the number of times the student enters/attends a graduate degree program at UT Tyler.

To be considered for Graduate Restart, students must meet with the advisor of the graduate program in which they seek their degree and provide a compelling justification for reinstatement. The advisor will submit a Graduate Restart Request Petition available at uttyler.edu/graduate/forms/. Students should explain how circumstances that previously impeded one's success in graduate school have been addressed and how their likelihood for success has improved.

Students must submit all materials required for full admission to the program (GRE scores, recommendation letters, statement of purpose, etc.) To participate in Graduate Restart a student must meet all the requirements for Full Graduate Admission. No provisional or conditional admission is allowed.

A student should carefully review this information to make sure that the terms of the program are understood. If the student agrees to the provisions of Graduate Restart, s/he should sign the petition form and submit it to the advisor for the graduate program. All required documents to support the application for admission must be submitted as well. For the Graduate Restart applicant, the catalog in effect at the time of the Graduate Restart application is effective. The Graduate Restart option is tied to the admission process and may only be requested at the time of readmission.

Thesis

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

Guidelines and Procedures

Students considering enrollment in a thesis course should access the Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Guidelines (and Sample Pages) at the following address:  uttyler.edu/graduate/thesis-dissertation/thesis-students.php. These guidelines describe procedures for typing, formatting, and submitting the thesis.  

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Federal regulations and University policy require that all investigations using animals or human beings as subjects of research be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board before such investigations may begin.

Data cannot be collected for any dissertation based on the use of animals or human beings as subjects without prior review and approval in accordance with university procedures. More information can be found online at: uttyler.edu/research/compliance/.

Even if a student believes that his/her research may be "exempt", the proposed research must still be reviewed prior to initiating collection of data.

Thesis Committees

Committee Composition

A student who has been advanced to the thesis stage is responsible for forming a thesis committee. Members of the committee must review and approve the student’s research proposal. The student and the committee work in union on the scope, plan, and progress of the thesis research and manuscript. Note the following policies regarding committee composition:

Committee Size & Potential Members

Thesis committees must be comprised of at least three members (a chair and two supporting faculty members). The majority of the committee members should be faculty from the student’s graduate program. Appropriately qualified faculty may serve on a committee at the request of the student and the graduate program. Categories of graduate faculty membership are described online at uttyler.edu/graduate/gradfaculty/credential.

Thesis chairs must complete and submit the Appointment of Thesis Committee form to gradforms@uttyler.edu for Graduate School approval before the student is eligible to enroll in thesis hours. The form is available online at uttyler.edu/graduate/thesis-dissertation.

Committee Chair

The Committee Chair is the student's primary mentor. She or he is responsible for directing and guiding the student’s research and writing activities. He or she should possess expertise in the student’s chosen research topic. It is the responsibility of the student to select an appropriate topic and to ensure that a faculty member with expertise in the topic is available and willing to serve as chair. The Committee Chair must be appropriately qualified for his/her role on the committee. It is possible to have co-chairs on a committee.

Oral Defense of Thesis

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

An invitation created by the student may be sent to gradforms@uttyler.edu and will be forwarded on behalf of The Graduate School to all full-time faculty members. All committee members are expected to be present at the defense. The final oral may be open to the public. A thesis is accepted only after the approval of a majority of the examining committee members. If there are co-chairs of the committee, both must indicate approval of the thesis defense.

After the oral defense is passed and the thesis is deemed ready for publication, all members of the committee sign the Thesis Signature page. When the student submits the final copy to the academic department for signatures, they must also email gradmanuscripts@uttyler.edu and copy their advisor, thus notifying The Graduate School that the manuscript has been delivered to the academic department for signatures. The student sends the completed manuscript including the signed signature page to gradmanuscripts@uttyler.edu for final formatting approval. Detailed instructions are available here: uttyler.edu/graduate/thesis-dissertation/

Failure of Examinations

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

Thesis Submission Deadlines

The final PDF copy of the thesis, prepared under standards as defined in the Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Guidelines must be submitted via email to gradmanuscripts@uttyler.edu for a technical review no later than two weeks before the last day of final exams of the semester of intended graduation. The PDF version must include a scanned copy of the signature page with all signatures present. After making any required changes, a PDF of the entire thesis/dissertation (including scanned copies of any signature pages) should be submitted via email to gradmanuscripts@uttyler.edu. After final formatting approval, students will receive a signed Thesis Approval Form and Electronic Thesis Submission Form, as well as information on author rights and instructions for submitting the thesis/dissertation in electronic format to the Robert R. Muntz Library's digital repository, Scholar Works.

No late manuscripts are accepted. Failure to meet the deadline will delay graduation by one semester.

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

Grading Policy

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

Approval

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

Graduation Guidelines and Procedures

Graduation Requirements--Master's

1. Complete a Graduate Transfer Credit Approval form within the first semester following admission to a program that identifies the transfer credit awarded and specifies any special requirements.
2. Complete the total number of semester credit hours and other requirements of the degree plan (including transfer credit) within a six-year period. Courses completed on a credit-granting basis (CR) may not be applied toward a graduate degree without approval of the graduate coordinator or the appropriate department chair.
3. Earn a “C” or better in all courses applied to the degree.
4. Earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher on all work counted toward the degree.
5. Pass and/or complete comprehensive examination(s) if required for the program.
6. Submit an approved thesis, if required for the program, by the deadlines published by The Graduate School. See Thesis in this section.
7. Follow the steps to apply for graduation on the Registrar’s Office website: uttyler.edu/registrar/graduation/applying-for-graduation.
8. See the Graduation section of the Office of the Registrar website for additional information on this process.

Application for Graduation Deadlines

In order to facilitate a timely pre-graduation review of their graduation eligibility, all students are highly encouraged to apply prior to the Priority Filing Date for their term of graduation, as found here: uttyler.edu/registrar/graduation/applying-for-graduation.

Summer graduates may 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.

Verification of Degree

A degree will not be granted until all requirements have been verified by the academic department and the Registrar. All incomplete grades, required transcripts from other institutions, required examinations, and other evidence of outstanding requirements must be verified 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, graduation will be denied, and the student must re-file for graduation subject to the filing for graduation guidelines.

Graduate Policies--Ph.D.

The Ph.D. degree is granted in recognition of exceptional attainment in a specific field as demonstrated by passing coursework, the successful completion of required examinations and the successful defense of a dissertation based on original research that makes a significant contribution to the knowledge base of the student’s field of study.

Ph.D. Excessive Hours Fee ("99-Hour Rule")

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

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

Program of Study

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

Admissions

Typically, the University of Texas at Tyler admits students to its Ph.D. programs under the Full Admission criteria. The requirements for admission are stated in the section for each program elsewhere in the catalog.

Transfer of Graduate Credit

Transfer of graduate credit from an accredited institution is limited to a total of no more than 12 semester hours. The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. may accept up to 15 semester hours of transfer credit. Individual Ph.D. programs may adopt more restrictive limits. Hours transferred into a Ph.D. program should represent credit earned after the award of the master’s degree. Exceptions to the number of hours transferred may be requested by the program to the Dean of the Graduate School. Only credit with a grade of “B” or better may be transferred. Credit earned more than six calendar years before admission to the program will not be accepted for transfer.

The program will determine what courses, if any, are accepted for transfer. The Ph.D. student may be examined on all transferred courses at the time of the Ph.D. proficiency examinations.

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

University Requirements for Ph.D. Degree

1. Satisfactory completion of all coursework required by the plan of study.
2. Satisfactory completion of the Proficiency Examination.
3. Completion of the required residency requirements before Candidacy is awarded.
4. Graduate cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
5. Satisfactory completion of the Oral Dissertation Defense.
6. Submission of an electronic version of the approved dissertation including the dissertation abstract and a copy of Human Subjects or Animal Subjects approval form (if required).
7. Completion of Ph.D. degree requirements within five years after being admitted to candidacy.
8. Follow the steps to apply for graduation on the Registrar’s Office website: uttyler.edu/registrar/graduation/applying-for-graduation. 

Grading Policies

See general graduate policies.

Repeating a Course

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

Academic Good Standing for Ph.D. Students

Each Ph.D. program has its own standards for academic good standing. Refer to those sections of the catalog. 

Dissertation Process

Dissertation Proposal

Each Ph.D. program will determine when the dissertation proposal must be approved relative to taking Proficiency Examinations (i.e., before, after, or concurrently).

Ph.D. Proficiency Examination

All Ph.D. students are required to pass a Proficiency Examination in the major field before writing the dissertation. Each Ph.D. program will determine whether the Proficiency Examination is written and/or oral.

The proficiency examination is typically taken after the student has completed a significant portion, if not all, of the program’s coursework. However, a student may not be advanced to candidacy or register for dissertation hours until all coursework is completed, and all portions of the Proficiency Examination have been passed satisfactorily.

The student must be in good academic standing and registered for a minimum of three credit hours in the semester in which any portion of the examination or a re-examination is taken. 

Examination Committee

The Proficiency Examination Committee is composed of members of the program's Ph.D. faculty.

Format

While The Graduate School does not dictate the format for the Proficiency Examination, it is expected that the examination will be appropriately rigorous. Also, the policies and rules for the form, timing, scheduling, sequence, and conduct of the proficiency examination must be uniform for all students in the program and available in written form (handbook, etc.) to all students.

Proficiency Examination

The student is considered to have satisfactorily completed the Proficiency Examination when the members of the Proficiency Examination committee have determined that a candidate has met the criteria established for satisfactory performance.

A student who fails the proficiency examination twice is not allowed an additional examination and is automatically dismissed from the university.

Appeal

A student may appeal the outcome of a Proficiency Examination by submitting a written petition to the director of the Ph.D. program within 10 work-days of being notified of the outcome of the examination. The path of the appeal process is from the director of the Ph.D. program to the department chairperson to the dean of the college and to the Dean of the Graduate School. The decision of the Dean of the Graduate School shall be final.

Application for Candidacy

When a student has completed all required coursework, has satisfactorily completed all portions of the proficiency exam, and is in good academic standing, and the report is submitted to The Graduate School, the student is admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

Dissertation

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

The Graduate School has established guidelines for dissertations. These are available at uttyler.edu/graduate/thesis-dissertation/thesis-students.php.

Individual Ph.D. programs may also offer guidelines with requirements beyond those established by The Graduate School.

All Ph. D. candidates are required to complete and defend a dissertation. The university requires a minimum of nine hours of dissertation credit. However, most Ph. D. programs require more hours.

Ph.D. candidates are required to register for a minimum of one credit of dissertation during fall and spring semesters until the dissertation is accepted by The Graduate School. (See, Enrollment Requirements)

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Federal regulations and University policy require that all investigations using animal or human beings as subjects of research be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board before such investigations may begin. Data based on the use of animals or human beings as subjects cannot be collected for any dissertation without prior review and approval in accordance with university procedures.

Dissertation Committee

The dissertation committee is established early in the research process and must be approved by The Graduate School—using the Appointment of Dissertation Committee form.  Once the committee has been approved, the student is allowed to register for dissertation hours.

The dissertation committee is composed of a dissertation advisor, who chairs the committee, and at least two other Graduate Research Faculty members. The advisor must be qualified to chair dissertations and be from the department from which the degree is sought. At least one more of the committee members must be from the department in which the degree is being sought and hold the required Graduate Research Status.

Candidates are encouraged to include scholars from outside the program to serve as members of dissertation committees. The outside members may be selected from among Graduate Research Faculty from other academic programs or from other institutions where scholarly work is conducted. All members of a dissertation committee must possess the appropriate graduate faculty qualifications for their role on a committee.

Candidates are also encouraged to select a member of the UT Tyler Graduate Faculty, external to the program, to provide mentoring/guidelines during the proposal development and dissertation defense process. Mentors are not voting members of the committee. 

To avoid both the fact and the appearance of conflict of interest, family members, spouses, ex-spouses, significant others, or members otherwise related by blood or marriage or residing in the same household may not simultaneously serve on the same committee.

The role of the dissertation committee is to mentor the student’s research and writing and approve the dissertation following an oral defense. Ph.D. students are required to consult with members of the dissertation committee throughout the progress of the research. Some programs may require Ph.D. candidates to submit an annual progress report to the dissertation committee.

Defense of Dissertation Proposal

The dissertation proposal is developed in consultation with the dissertation chair and input as needed from committee members. Following approval of the dissertation chair, the proposal is distributed to the dissertation committee prior to proposal defense. The dissertation proposal defense is held in closed session with the committee and requires a majority of committee votes for a decision. The committee may recommend acceptance, revisions, or rejection. The committee may determine a second defense is needed following revision. The proposal must be approved by the committee prior to submitting it for review and approval to the Institutional Review Board.

Oral Defense

The dissertation chair is responsible for determining that the dissertation draft is appropriate in form and content for committee evaluation. If substantial revisions are necessary, they should be completed before the oral defense is scheduled.

The Request to Schedule Oral Defense form signed by the Dissertation Committee Chairperson must be submitted to and approved by The Graduate School no later than 10 working days before the date of the oral defense.

The oral defense is open to the public. However, once the defense is completed, the student and visitors must leave the room while the Committee discusses the students’ performance and votes on the outcome. The student is invited back into the room to receive the Committee’s decision.

The student is considered to have completed the oral defense successfully only when the majority of the Committee votes in the affirmative. Each committee member indicates his/her vote by signing the Final Oral Defense Report form. The committee may require alterations and corrections, but these should constitute relatively minor changes agreed to by the majority of the committee members. The dissertation chairperson is responsible for verifying that the changes required by the committee have been made. 

If the examination is judged unsatisfactory by a majority of the voting members, the Committee must decide whether the student will be permitted to do a second oral defense. If a second examination is required, the committee must be the same as the original one unless a substitution is approved by the Graduate School Dean. A student who fails the oral defense twice is not allowed an additional examination and the student is automatically dismissed from the program and candidacy revoked.

The final decision of the examining committee is referred to The Graduate School using the Oral Defense Report form, which must be submitted to gradforms@uttyler.edu no later than 5 business days following the oral defense.

Format Review

After successfully defending the dissertation and making any changes requested by the committee, the student must submit an electronic draft of the complete dissertation along with a signature page signed by the entire committee to The Graduate School for format review. Review of the draft for format requirements will take approximately two weeks. After final formatting approval, students will receive a signed Dissertation Approval Form and Electronic Dissertation Submission Form, as well as information on author rights and instructions for submitting the thesis/dissertation in electronic format to the Robert R. Muntz Library's digital repository, Scholar Works.

The Graduate School has created a checklist to guide candidates through the final steps of the dissertation defense and approval process. The checklist is available at uttyler.edu/graduate/thesis-dissertation/thesis-students.php.

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