Undergraduate Catalog

2006-07 Academic Year

The University

The University of North Texas is a student-centered public research university and is the flagship of the UNT System. The university stands as the most comprehensive in the Dallas–Fort Worth region, offering 93 bachelor’s, 111 master’s and 50 doctoral degree programs, many nationally recognized.

UNT is a thriving university with a legacy of excellence in a broad range of academic areas. It is also one of the largest universities in Texas, enrolling more than 33,500 students. Founded in 1890, UNT takes pride in its outstanding faculty, high academic standards and diverse student body. Offering a traditional college experience at an affordable cost, UNT boasts a 19:1 student-faculty ratio and Division I-A athletics. Named one of America’s 100 Best College Buys® for 10 consecutive years, UNT also provides more than 60 centers and institutes which serve the public good.

The university is committed to academic excellence, to student success and to serving as an intellectual resource for the community, state and nation.

History of the University

UNT was founded in 1890 as Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute. Joshua C. Chilton, the founding president, leased facilities above a hardware store on Denton’s square to establish a teacher training institute. His charge to the faculty at its first assembly remains an important part of UNT’s value system: “It will be our aim to become leaders in the education of the young men and women of Texas, fitting them to creditably fill the most important positions in business and professional circles. We desire the cooperation of all who believe in higher education and who want to see our state in the very front of intellectual as well as material progress.”

The university has had seven names through the years.

1890 Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute
1894 North Texas Normal College
1901 North Texas State Normal College
1923 North Texas State Teachers College
1949 North Texas State College
1961 North Texas State University
1988 University of North Texas

Incoming students score well above the national and state averages on the SAT, and they choose UNT for the quality of its programs, many of which are nationally ranked. More degree programs at UNT are nationally accredited than at any other university in the Dallas–Fort Worth region (see list of accrediting organizations following the index). UNT “firsts” through the years include:

• First jazz studies program in the U.S., which is consistently ranked the nation’s best.
• First emergency administration and disaster prevention program in the U.S.
• First peace studies program in the Southwest.
• First oil and petroleum accounting program in the U.S.
• First patent for a silicon-based ultra-sensitive chemical sensor for use in integrated circuit fabrication.
• First business computer information systems program in the U.S.
• First PhD program in art education in the U.S.
• First bachelor’s degree in electronic merchandising in the U.S.
• First online school library preparation program in the U.S.
• First accredited counseling program in the U.S., which still ranks among the nation’s best.

Location

UNT is in Denton, a friendly college town of about 100,000 people located 35 miles north of Dallas and Fort Worth. The main campus, which is the largest residential campus in the region, public or private, has 158 buildings on about 800 acres. The Research Park is located 4.5 miles north of the main campus and is accessible by shuttle buses, as are a residence hall and athletic facilities at Eagle Point and the Mean Green Village, immediately southwest of the main campus.

Many business, industry, education, government and cultural activities that support university studies are in the Dallas–Fort Worth region, the fifth largest metropolitan region in the country.

The University’s Mission

The University of North Texas is the largest and most comprehensive research and doctoral degree-granting institution in the North Texas area and the flagship of the UNT System. The university is committed to excellence in teaching and the discovery and application of knowledge through research and creative activities. As an educational leader in the North Texas region, the university is dedicated to the development of the area as a top region in the nation.

The university:

• achieves high-quality instruction, scholarship and service by:
  • fostering excellence and innovation in teaching and learning;
  • supporting research and creative activities that expand knowledge, strengthen undergraduate and graduate programs, and promote the application of knowledge for the benefit of society;
  • assuming a primary leadership role in addressing community needs of the North Texas region and the state; and
  • maintaining academic integrity through free and open inquiry including the examination of values;
• stresses understanding and appreciation of the historical, intellectual, technological, scientific and cultural nature of the search for knowledge;
• promotes the advancement and preservation of the arts;
• nurtures development of students by providing continuing opportunities for intellectual, physical, emotional, social and career growth;
• supports a culturally diverse environment and advocates mutual respect for all members of the university community as they strive for excellence;
• provides a high quality residential environment and opportunities for lifelong learning; and
• enhances access to higher education through the use of emerging information and telecommunication technologies.

The university continues to expand its relationship with the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth; to develop the University of North Texas Dallas Campus (UNT System Center at Dallas); and to cultivate partnerships with elementary and secondary schools, community colleges, other universities, businesses, government agencies and nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of education and community life.

The University’s Vision

The University of North Texas will be one of the state’s top-tier universities that provides premier educational, intellectual, research and cultural resources. As the flagship of a multi-institutional university system and the leading university of its region, UNT will be recognized for education, research, creative activities and public service, and for advancing innovations in the enhancement of learning. UNT will be an inclusive and diverse institution with an international perspective, helping to create high-quality graduates, an informed citizenry, and a workforce well prepared for the global economy.

Achieving the Vision

To achieve this vision, the University of North Texas will:

• advance excellence in basic and applied research, original scholarship and artistic activities that expand the core of knowledge for future discoveries, lead to new technologies, devise solutions to problems facing society, enhance citizens’ quality of life and instill a sense of discovery and creative insight in our students;
• employ its status as a major doctoral degree granting institution and the talents of its nationally and internationally recognized teacher-scholars to support strong undergraduate and graduate academic programs taught by the same faculty and providing research opportunities for students;
• emphasize selected academic programs and create new academic and professional programs that have or can achieve wide recognition for excellence;
• promote excellent, accessible and affordable higher education to the region’s growing and demographically diverse population through partnerships with educational entities and the business, public and not-for-profit communities;
• foster a residential learning environment for students living on or near the campus that promotes tradition, instills institutional and societal values, and encourages the development of a lifelong connection to the UNT community;
• lead in offering learners access to education through satellite locations, the Internet and other electronic resources, and partnerships with other institutions;
• serve as an important source for lifelong learning, professional education and outreach activities, and as a prime venue for artistic performances and exhibitions and sports events; and
• be an essential partner in meeting the expanding needs of the Dallas–Fort Worth region, the largest metropolitan area in the state.

Faculty

At the heart of the university’s efforts to carry out its mission are the faculty. Individually, UNT faculty members have been singled out for contributions to their teaching and research fields through diverse national and international awards.

Collectively, the faculty have contributed significantly to research and scholarship within various fields through numerous publications, presentations at scholarly conferences, concerts, recitals, exhibitions and performances.

Faculty leadership in teaching, research, creative activities, performance and service activities has created national and international reputations for excellence for a number of academic programs within the university’s 11 schools and colleges.

Student Life

A wide array of student clubs and organizations offer UNT students friendships with people of similar interests and avenues for organized and meaningful service. Included are national honor societies, national professional societies and departmental clubs, an active Greek system and special focus groups with interests that encompass everything from residence life to politics and sports. For information, call (940) 565-3807.

University Libraries

Library facilities at the University of North Texas function as the nerve center for teaching and academic research. In addition to a major collection of electronic journals, books and databases, five campus facilities house just under two million cataloged holdings, including books, periodicals, maps, documents, microforms, audiovisual materials, music scores, full-text journals and books. A branch library is located at the University of North Texas Dallas Campus.

Library Collections

Willis Library holds one of the country’s largest music libraries, extensive phonographic disc and tape collections, a broad humanities and social sciences collection, the University Archives, and the Rare Books and Texana collections. Other unique library collections include the private jazz collections of Stan Kenton, Don Gillis, Whit Ozier and Leon Breeden; the private library of Anson Jones, president of the Republic of Texas; Texas county histories; miniatures; and examples of important early publishing, printing and binding styles. The library is a depository for U.S. and Texas government documents, including the Texas Register. The library also serves as an online morgue (cybercemetery) for government web sites and documents.

The Media Library in Chilton Hall houses a large collection of audiovisual materials, including motion pictures, tapes, recordings and videodiscs, DVDs, videocassettes, 16mm films and audio CDs.

The Science and Technology Library, housed in the Information Sciences Building, emphasizes physics, chemistry, biology and library science and includes an outstanding collection in mathematics.

The Research Park Library, supporting the College of Engineering, has a collection of journals and materials focused on computer science and engineering, materials science and engineering, electrical engineering and engineering technology. There are two library locations: reference assistance and current periodicals in Room B112; and the library collection, bound periodicals and reserves in Room M130.

The Library Annex houses more than 400,000 lesser-used materials and the preservation and technical services departments of the University Libraries. Items located in the annex are so noted in the libraries’ online catalog and may be requested if needed for research. The Library Annex, located just off Airport Road on Precision, is near the main campus.

Special Services of the Libraries

Through the libraries’ membership in TexShare, students with a TexShare library card may borrow materials at college, university and public libraries throughout the state of Texas. Contact library staff for details. Active participation in AMIGOS Library Services Inc. provides access to a variety of computerized library services, including interlibrary loans, bibliographic database searching and shared cataloging. The libraries have a large number of electronic databases available for public use, both on and off campus, via computer linkage. The UNT Libraries hold a membership in the Center for Research Libraries. The center, which functions as an extension of the local collections, is dedicated to acquiring and lending materials that complement and supplement the collections of the major research libraries of North America. The University Library has been designated a major research library by the U.S. Department of Education.

Computer Services

Centralized computing services that support instruction, research and student learning are provided through Academic Computing Services (ACS). ACS is a division of the Computing and Information Technology Center and is located in Room 119 of the Information Sciences Building. These services include support for a wide range of research computing platforms, student messaging, training, consulting and a university computing help desk (www.unt.edu/helpdesk).

In addition to the services directly supported by Academic Computing Services, computer services are also available from the University Libraries and many college, school and departmental computer support centers. Computer networks are installed in all academic departments, providing connectivity with a variety of general-purpose and specialized computing equipment. Online courses are offered with support from the Center for Distributed Learning using computing systems supported by the Computing and Information Technology Center.

Student Computing Services

Fourteen general access microcomputer laboratories, housing approximately 700 computers, are available to all students for use of both Windows and Macintosh personal computers. Laser printers are provided in all labs. Approximately 30 additional special-purpose labs serve students in particular disciplines or students living in university residence halls. In addition, all residence hall rooms have connections to the campus network, allowing students to have high-speed access to the Internet on their own computers.

Academic Computing Services provides electronic mail to all students via EagleMail, a web-based e-mail system. EagleMail is used as an official communication medium between the university and students. Internet services available to students include personal web page publishing. Many buildings, including the University Union and libraries, have wireless network access, which is available to enrolled students.

Research Computing Support

Academic Computing Services provides support for a variety of microcomputer-based software applications. Site licenses are maintained for microcomputer versions of SPSS, SAS, S-Plus, STATA, and Matlab, which provide statistical analysis capabilities.

Several statistical analysis packages, including SAS, SPSS and S-Plus, are provided in many of the general access labs. Academic Computing Services also maintains a multi-node computing cluster to support concurrent execution of long-running user-compiled programs for computation-based research.

The Computing and Information Technology Center serves as a repository for a substantial body of machine-readable data including the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) data archives, Standard and Poor’s COMPUSTAT and the Center for Research in Security Prices’ (CRSP) data sets. The University Libraries also maintain a number of databases and other research materials on CD-ROM servers that are accessible through the campus network.

Consulting, Training and Help Desk Services

Consulting and training are provided by Academic Computing Services to facilitate the use of research and instructional computing facilities by students. A series of short courses is offered each term/semester to allow students to gain the expertise necessary to use campus computer systems effectively. A number of computer-based training programs are accessible within student laboratories or via the web (www.unt.edu/training). Experienced consultants are available to assist students with technical problems.

The Computing and Information Technology Center (CITC) operates a campuswide help desk service to provide students with information and help on a variety of computing problems (www.unt.edu/helpdesk).

Benchmarks Online (www.unt.edu/benchmarks), CITC’s newsletter, is published monthly and serves as an excellent resource for current information systems at UNT.

Accreditation

The University of North Texas is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools [1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097; telephone (404) 679-4500] to award bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Inquiries to the commission should relate only to the accreditation status of the institution.

In addition, the University of North Texas offers programs accredited by the following organizations.

AACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.

Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration

Accreditation Council for Cooperative Education

Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications

American Chemical Society

American Library Association

American Psychological Association

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Association for Behavior Analysis

Commission on English Language Program Accreditation

Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology

Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs

Council on Rehabilitation Education

Council on Social Work Education

Foundation for Interior Design Education and Research

National Association for the Education of Young Children

National Association of Schools of Music

National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

National Recreation and Park Association/American Association of Leisure and Recreation Council on Accreditation

State Board for Educator Certification

Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology

Addresses of accrediting organizations are printed following the index.

In addition, the University of North Texas offers programs that are approved or recognized by:

American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance

Council for Exceptional Children

Educational Leadership Constituent Council

International Reading Association

International Society for Technology in Education

National Association for the Education of Young Children

National Council of Teachers of English

National Council of Teachers in Mathematics

Institutional Memberships

The University of North Texas holds the following memberships.

American Association of State Colleges and Universities

American Council on Education

American College Dance Festival

American Political Science Association

Association of Texas Colleges and Universities

Association of Texas Graduate Schools

Broadcast Education Association

Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities

Conference of Southern Graduate Schools

Council for Chemical Research

Council for Higher Education Accreditation

Council for Public University Presidents and Chancellors

Council of Graduate Schools

Council on Undergraduate Research

Dallas Dance Council

Federation of North Texas Area Universities

Greater Denton Arts Council

National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges

National Collegiate Honors Council

Oak Ridge Associated Universities

Society of Cinema Studies

Texas Association of Broadcast Educators

University Film and Video Association

UNT System and University Officers

Board of Regents

John Robert “Bobby” Ray, Chair (2007), Plano
Burle Pettit, Vice Chair (2007), Lubbock
Marjorie B. Craft (2007), DeSoto
Robert A. Nickell (2009), Dallas
Charles D. Mitchell (2011), Dallas
Al Silva (2011), San Antonio
C. Dan Smith (2011), Plano
Gayle W. Strange (2009), Denton
Rice M. Tilley, Jr. (2009), Fort Worth

Student Regent

Brittany Adams (2007), UNT student

UNT System Officers
Administration

Lee F. Jackson, MPA, Chancellor of the University of North Texas System

Norval F. Pohl, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and President of the University of North Texas

Ronald Blanck, DO, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and President of the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth

T. J. “Jack” Morton, JD, Senior Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations

Nancy S. Footer, JD, Vice Chancellor and General Counsel

Phillip C. Diebel, BBA, CPA, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Business Affairs

Richard L. Escalante, MA, Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services

Cassandra Berry, BA, Associate Vice Chancellor for Equity and Diversity

Deborah S. Leliaert, MEd, Associate Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing

UNT Officers
Administration

Lee F. Jackson, MPA, Chancellor of the University of North Texas System

Norval F. Pohl, PhD, President of the University of North Texas, including the UNT Dallas Campus (UNT System Center at Dallas)

Howard C. Johnson, PhD, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Interim Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer

Suzanne V. LaBrecque, PhD, Vice Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

Philip M. Turner, EdD, Vice Provost for Learning Enhancement

Celia Williamson, PhD, Special Assistant to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Philip M. Turner, EdD, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs for Distance Education

Richard Rafes, JD, PhD, Senior Vice President for Administration

Phillip C. Diebel, BBA, CPA, Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs

Gregory McQueen, PhD, Senior Vice President for Advancement

Bonita C. Jacobs, PhD, Vice President for Student Development

Deborah S. Leliaert, MEd, Vice President for University Relations, Communications and Marketing

Joneel Harris, PhD, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management

Cassandra Berry, BA, Associate Vice President for Equity and Diversity

John R. Todd, PhD, Interim Associate Vice President for Institutional Research and Accreditation

John Ellis Price, PhD, Vice Provost for the UNT Dallas Campus (UNT System Center at Dallas)

Thomas L. Evenson, PhD, Faculty Executive Assistant to the President.

Paul Dworak, PhD, Director of Compliance

Richard Villareal, BS, Director of Athletics

Academic Deans

Honors College,
Gloria C. Cox, PhD, Dean

College of Arts and Sciences,
Warren W. Burggren, PhD, Dean

College of Business Administration,
Kathleen Cooper, PhD, Dean

College of Education,
M. Jean Keller, EdD, Dean

College of Engineering,
Oscar N. Garcia, PhD, Dean

School of Library and Information Sciences,
Herman Totten, PhD, Dean

School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management,
Judith C. Forney, PhD, Dean

College of Music,
James Scott, DMA, Dean

College of Public Affairs and Community Service,
David W. Hartman, PhD, Dean

School of Visual Arts,
Robert Milnes, PhD, Dean

Robert B. Toulouse School of Graduate Studies,
Sandra Terrell, PhD, Dean

University Libraries,
B. Donald Grose, PhD, Dean of Libraries

Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science,
Richard J. Sinclair, PhD, Dean

University Diversity Statement

The University of North Texas has a history of seeking to preserve an atmosphere of openness and tolerance. It is committed to maintaining an unpretentious and accepting atmosphere welcoming to anyone who strives to achieve his or her personal best. UNT possesses and values an increasing diversity among the individuals who make up its community. This is one of UNT’s greatest strengths.

Individuals within the UNT community are unified by a primary purpose: learning. With that primary purpose in mind, UNT works to advance ideals of human worth and dignity by facilitating open discussion, supporting rational resolution of conflict and encouraging examination of values.

Harassment based on individual differences is inconsistent with UNT’s mission and educational goals. Every member of the UNT community enjoys certain human and constitutional rights, including the right to free speech. At the same time, individuals who work, study, live and teach within this community are expected to refrain from behavior that threatens the freedom, safety and respect deserved by every community member in good standing.

Every member of the UNT community must comply with federal and state equal opportunity laws and regulations. Such compliance is not only a given standard, but is, in fact, a baseline from which our community works to assure fairness and equity to all who pursue their educational and professional goals here.

Students, faculty or staff who have concerns or questions should contact the appropriate office. Students should call the Dean of Students at (940) 565-2648. Faculty and staff should call the Equal Opportunity Office at (940) 565-2103. TDD access: (800) 735-2989.

Americans with Disabilities Act

The University of North Texas does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s disability and complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act in its admissions, accessibility, treatment and employment of individuals in its programs and activities.

The university provides academic adjustments and auxiliary aids to individuals with disabilities, as defined under the law, who are otherwise qualified to meet the institution’s academic and employment requirements. For information, call the Office of Disability Accommodation at (940) 565-4323, TDD access: (940) 565-2958 or (940) 369-8652; the Equal Opportunity Office at (940) 565-2103; or the Division of Equity and Diversity at (940) 565-2456. TDD access is available through Relay Texas: (800) 735-2989 or (940) 369-8652.

Date of initial release: July 1, 2006  —  Copyright © 2006 University of North Texas
Page updated: October 20, 2006 — Comments or corrections: catalog@unt.edu

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