Undergraduate Catalog

2008-09 Academic Year

Academics

A student reviews his notes with a professor.

Ease your transition into college life. Here you’ll find a set of UNT academic terms and their definitions, the list of degrees offered at UNT, and the group of classes known as the University Core Curriculum. To get your UNT degree you will need to meet the requirements of the core curriculum and complete the courses deemed necessary by your school or college (for example, the College of Arts and Sciences). Also in this section, you will find important information about grades, transfer credits, transcripts and graduation.

Definition of Terms

Academic Status

This term is used as an indication of a student’s academic standing with the university. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.0 to remain in good academic standing.

Academic Alert

A freshman is placed on academic alert the first term/semester the CGPA drops below a 2.0. To be removed from academic alert, the student must raise the CGPA to a minimum of 2.0 during the next period of enrollment. A student on academic alert who does not raise the CGPA to at least the minimum 2.0 at the end of the next term/semester of enrollment is placed on academic probation.

Academic Probation

A student who is not classified as a freshman, or a student who is a freshman and has been on academic alert, is placed on academic probation at the end of any enrollment period in which the CGPA drops below a 2.0.

Academic Suspension

A student who, during a probationary fall or spring term/semester, fails to raise the CGPA to the minimum 2.0 standard, or who fails to make at least a 2.25 for the term/semester, is automatically suspended from UNT for one or more long terms/semesters.

Classification of Students

Students are classified on the basis of term/semester hours passed. Semester hours passed are computed by adding transfer hours accepted, pass/no pass hours passed, graded hours passed and non-traditional credit accepted at UNT.

Undergraduate classifications are: freshmen, those who have completed less than 30 semester hours of college credit; sophomores, 30 to 59 hours completed; juniors, 60 to 89 hours completed; seniors, 90 or more hours completed but who have not received a bachelor’s degree. Graduate students are those who have graduated with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

Continuing Students

Continuing students are those who have been officially enrolled at UNT at least once during the 12 consecutive months prior to the term/semester of planned enrollment and/or have not received a degree during the same period. Students who receive a degree and reapply to the university are considered new graduate students.

Core Complete

A student who transfers to UNT as core complete has successfully completed a 42- to 48-hour common core curriculum at another state-assisted institution of higher education in Texas and will have satisfied the core curriculum at UNT.

Inactive Continuing Students (undergraduate students only)

Inactive students are undergraduates who have not been officially enrolled at UNT in the last 12 consecutive months and who have not received a degree during the same period. Inactive students are required to complete the following requirements to re-enroll:

1. complete the Texas Common Application for returning students;

2. submit transcripts from all colleges attended, if any, since leaving UNT;

3. if previous UNT enrollment was as a transient, dual credit, summer visiting student or special student, all academic credentials are required prior to re-enrollment; and

International students should contact the Office of International Admissions.

Course Numbering System

Freshman courses, 1000-1999.

Sophomore courses, 2000-2999.

Junior courses, 3000-3999.

Senior courses, 4000-4999.

Graduate courses, 5000 and above.

The graduate student enrolled in a 5000-level course that meets with a senior-level undergraduate course will be expected to complete additional requirements beyond those expected of undergraduates in the same course.

Courses 2900, 2910, 4900 and 4910, Special Problems, are used upon approval of the department chair or dean for individual instruction in any department to cover course content in special circumstances. Courses 5900, 5910, 5920 and 5930 are used in any department that offers graduate work; courses 6900 and 6910 are used in any department that offers doctoral work.

Experimental Courses, 1980, 2980 and 4980, are new courses offered on a trial basis for 1–4 hours credit each. Registration is permitted only upon approval of the department chair.

Honors College Capstone Thesis, 4951, allows a student in the Honors College to complete an honors thesis as a course within the student’s major. The Honors College Capstone Thesis is a major research project prepared by the student with the mentorship of a faculty member in the student’s major department. An oral defense is required for successful completion of the thesis.

Advanced Courses, numbered 3000 to 4999, are open to students who have 12 semester hours of credit in a given subject or who have the indicated prerequisites, and to those without the prerequisites who have the consent of the department. In some instances, college/school/departmental requirements may vary. Students should consult individual areas prior to enrolling in advanced courses.

Cumulative Grade Point Average

The cumulative grade point average (CGPA) upon which academic standards are based is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned in residence at UNT by the total number of semester credit hours (SCH) attempted in residence at UNT.

Not included in the definition of student classification for academic standards are hours granted by this university for extension courses, service experience, advanced placement, credit by examination, CLEP or transfer hours attempted but not passed.

Excluded from the calculation of the CGPA are all courses in which the student received grades of I, NP, P, PR, W or Z.

The cumulative grade point average as defined here is used only for determining a student’s academic status and is not necessarily related to the grade point average that governs eligibility for graduation or graduating with honors.

Degree Plan

The degree plan is an official document prepared in the office of the student’s academic dean. It lists all courses completed, courses not completed, proficiency examinations and all other requirements for a particular degree sought. A student should have a degree plan prepared no later than the beginning of the junior year. See also the entries for “Major,” “Double Major” and “Minor,” all in this section.

Dual/Joint Degree Programs

Dual degree programs are separate degree programs that have been approved to work together to allow students to pursue two degrees simultaneously. This may be done by using courses for the major from each degree toward the minor on the other degree or by other approved means.

Joint degree programs are separate degree programs at different institutions that have been approved to work together to offer one degree. This is made possible by sharing faculty and academic resources.

Former Students (graduate students only)

Former students are those graduate students who have not been enrolled at least once during the 12 consecutive months prior to planned enrollment and/or those who have received a degree.

Grade Point Average

The overall grade point average is used to determine student class loads, eligibility for admission to the university and certain programs, and eligibility for graduation. All GPA calculations are subject to post-audit and correction by the Registrar’s Office.

The GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of semester hours attempted. The number of semester hours attempted includes all courses with grades of A, B, C, D, F and WF unless replaced by a later grade. Courses with grades of I, NP, P, PR, W or Z are not counted as courses attempted.

Graduate Academic Certificates

The University of North Texas offers certificate programs for graduate credit at the post-baccalaureate and post-master’s levels in areas of study designed to enhance existing bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Graduate academic certificates normally require 9–18 hours of graduate-level course work (5000- and 6000-level courses). See the Graduate Catalog for additional information, including admission requirements.

Major

At least 24 semester hours in a given subject are required for a major, including 12 hours of advanced work. The number of hours required depends on the department selected.

The term “professional field” is used in the College of Business to designate the major for the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees.

Double Major

A student seeking a double major must consult with an advisor from the second department. If approved, the requirements for the second major are incorporated into the student’s degree audit.

Minor

A minor requires at least 18 semester hours in a given subject, including 6 hours of advanced work. Specific course sequences for a minor are determined by the department offering the minor. Not all degrees require a minor.

Prerequisite

A prerequisite is a course or other preparation that must be completed before enrollment in another course. All prerequisites are included in catalog course descriptions.

Schedule Changes (Add/Drop, Withdrawal)

Students may make adjustments to their schedules by adding and/or dropping classes or by withdrawing. Specific procedures must be followed in making these changes. (See Enrollment section of this catalog for details.)

Note: Students dropping all of their courses must go to the Registrar’s Office or send a written request to the Registrar’s Office to withdraw.

Semester Hour

A semester hour is the unit of credit at UNT; the credit allows for 1 lecture hour a week for 15 weeks or the equivalent. In course listings, figures in parentheses following the course credit hours indicate the number of clock hours per week devoted to lecture and laboratory. When it appears, the third and final number in these parentheses indicates the number of recitation hours per week.

Summer Visiting Student

A summer visiting student is an undergraduate student (U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien) who has been enrolled at another college or university and who enrolls at UNT for any summer session/term with the intent of returning to the home institution upon completion of summer studies. Summer visiting students must reapply each summer that enrollment is sought.

Term/Semester/Session

The academic year includes three terms/semesters: fall, spring and summer. During the summer term, a number of sessions are scheduled. Presently the options include 3W1 (three week one), 5W1 and 5W2 (five week one and two), 8W1 (eight week one), 10W (ten week) and the full summer term.

Track

A track is a group of courses designed for students seeking specialized training toward specific career objectives or a group of courses designed to meet a specific need within a degree program.

At UNTHSC only, concentrations under the major are referred to as tracks.

Transient Student

A transient student is an undergraduate student who has been enrolled at another college or university and who plans to attend UNT for one long term/semester only and then to return to the college or university where previously enrolled.

Undergraduate Academic Certificates

The University of North Texas offers upper-division undergraduate academic certificates to meet workforce needs or to provide students with life/career skills and knowledge and to allow for specialization in academic disciplines. Undergraduate academic certificates require 12–20 hours, the majority of which must be advanced. See “Undergraduate Academic Certificate Programs” for additional details.

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS)
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
Bachelor of Music (BM)
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (BSBC)
Bachelor of Science in Biology (BSBIO)
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (BSCHM)
Bachelor of Science in Economics (BSECO)
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics (BSEP)
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology (BSET)
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (BSMTH)
Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology (BSMT)
Bachelor of Science in Physics (BSPHY)
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Master of Arts (MA)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Education (MEd)
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Master of Journalism (MJ)
Master of Music (MM)
Master of Music Education (MMEd)
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Master of Science (MS)
Doctor of Audiology (AuD)
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Colleges and Schools

The University of North Texas is organized into the following colleges and schools.

These schools and colleges offer the degrees, majors, concentrations under majors, minors, certifications, and preprofessional programs listed under “Academic Program Options.” See individual areas in this catalog for information about undergraduate offerings. Information about advanced offerings may be found in the Graduate Catalog.

General Degree Requirements

Writing Proficiency

UNT is committed to the discovery, acquisition, development, preservation and dissemination of knowledge and the enhancement of the intellectual, cultural and proficiency levels of all who enter its programs. Fulfilling this commitment will contribute to both a better society and a more rewarding pattern of individual life. As students endeavor to complete their academic studies, they are expected to exhibit good written English skills in all university course work as a consideration in grading.

Graduation Under a Particular Catalog

A student may meet the graduation requirements noted in the catalog in effect at the time of admission to UNT or the requirements in any later catalog published before the student’s graduation.

Any student transferring directly from a Texas public community college to UNT shall have the same choice of catalog designating degree requirements as the student would have had if the dates of attendance at the university had been the same as the dates of attendance at the community college. Transfer students from senior institutions or out-of-state community colleges will use the catalog in effect at their date of enrollment at UNT.

All requirements of the chosen catalog must be met within eight years of that catalog’s publication. This catalog will expire at the close of the 2017 summer semester/term.

Changes in either major or non-major requirements made necessary by altered or discontinued courses or by requirements imposed by external accrediting or certification agencies become effective for degree audit purposes at the beginning of the academic year immediately following the academic year in which the changes are published in the university catalog. The changes may include additions, deletions and other changes in prerequisite requirements for existing courses. Whenever possible, new requirements are implemented with a beginning class or upon the expiration of the appropriate time limit.

Texas Success Initiative

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a state statute requiring all undergraduate students who enter a Texas public institution of higher education to either demonstrate readiness for college-level reading, writing and mathematics before enrolling in college-level academic course work by achieving the statutory threshold(s) on the state-approved readiness assessments or meet one of the conditions for exemption from the testing requirement. Students must satisfy all TSI requirements before receiving a baccalaureate degree.

Exemptions:

Students are exempt from readiness testing if any of the following exemption categories applies.

1. Reading: ACT: Composite 23 and English 19

SAT: Composite 1070* and Critical Reading/Verbal 500

TAKS: ELA 2200 with a writing score of 3

2. Math: ACT: Composite 23 and Math 19

SAT: Composite 1070* and Math 500

TAKS: Math 2200

3. Writing: ACT: Composite 23 and English 19 SAT: Composite 1070* and Critical Reading/Verbal 500

TAKS: ELA 2200 with a writing score of 3

*SAT Composite = Critical Reading plus Math scores.

ACT and SAT scores are valid for five years from the date taken.

TAKS scores are valid for three years from the date taken.

4. A student who has graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education.

5. A student who transfers from a private or out-of-state institution of higher education and who has satisfactorily completed college-level course work as determined by UNT.

6. A student who has previously attended another Texas public institution of higher education and has been determined to have met readiness standards by that institution.

7. A student who is serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States, the Texas National Guard, or as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and has been serving for at least three years preceding enrollment.

8. A student who on or after August 1, 1990, was honorably discharged, retired or released from active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States, the Texas National Guard, or as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States.

Exemption documentation should be submitted to Academic Readiness, Stovall Hall, Room 117, or mailed to 1155 Union Circle #305217, Denton, TX 76203-5017.

Readiness Assessment and Course Placement

UNT accepts scores on the ACCUPLACER, ASSET, COMPASS or THEA tests for assessment purposes. These state-approved tests measure college-level readiness in reading, mathematics and writing. Minimum score thresholds required to demonstrate college readiness in each subject area as follows:

Reading

Math

Writing

ACCUPLACER

78

63

80 objective with 5 essay or 6 essay only

ASSET

41

38

40 objective with 5 essay or 6 essay only

COMPASS

81

39

59 objective with 5 essay or 6 essay only

THEA

230

230

220

Students participate in a developmental program for each semester of enrollment for those subjects where readiness has not been demonstrated. Students may demonstrate readiness by either passing the highest level of indicated developmental course work (C or better) or by scoring above statutory thresholds on one of the approved tests.

Students are individually advised into the appropriate developmental program according to their developmental need. UNT offers course-based and non–course-based developmental programs. Developmental courses offered at UNT include:

Reading

Writing

Math

*NCTM courses are held at UNT and taught by North Central Texas College staff. Advisors use the following guidelines for developmental math course placement:

MATH 1010/NCTM 371

NCTM 351

NCTM 331

ACCUPLACER

57–62

50–56

43–49

ASSET

36–37

34–35

31–33

COMPASS

34–38

29–33

24–28

THEA

220–229

219–220

0–199

All students below reading and/or writing thresholds are placed in EDRE 1200 and/or ENGL 1200. In addition to courses offered at UNT, students may meet their developmental program course needs through concurrent enrollment in equivalent course work at another institution of higher education. International students may meet their initial remedial needs through Intensive English Language Institute course work before enrolling at UNT full-time.

Non–course-based programs include workshops, tutorials and self-paced instruction. This program option is generally available to students for only one semester. Advisors monitor student progress in their non–course-based programs through the semester.

Demonstrating College Readiness

Students may demonstrate college readiness or otherwise satisfy TSI requirements by any of the following:

1. Successfully completing the highest level of the appropriate developmental course with a C or better.

2. Achieving a score above the statutory threshold on an approved readiness assessment.

3. Placing into college-level reading, math or writing according to UNT academic placement guidelines.

4. Demonstrating an applicable documented disability and registering with the UNT Office of Disability Accommodation.

Requirements of This Catalog

General University Requirements

1. A minimum of 120 semester hours.

2. Completion of all requirements in the university core curriculum (42-hour minimum) (see below).

3. A major of at least 24 semester hours. At least 12 hours of advanced work (3000/4000 level) in the major must be earned at UNT (except for the BAAS degree). See “Major” in the Academics section of this catalog.

4. A minor, if required for a particular undergraduate degree, of a minimum of 18 semester hours, including at least 6 hours of advanced work (3000/4000 level). For details, see the individual requirements under specific degree programs in this catalog.

5. A minimum of 42 semester hours of advanced work, 24 of which must be completed at UNT. A lower level course that, when transferred, is determined to be equivalent to a UNT upper-level course does not satisfy the requirement of advanced hours.

6. An official degree plan prepared by the academic dean. It is recommended that the degree plan be made no later than the beginning of the junior year.

7. A minimum grade point average of 2.000 (C) on all work attempted, including all transfer, correspondence, extension and residence work. It should be noted that the GPA that appears on grade reports and is used to determine the student’s academic status, does not include correspondence, extension and transfer work. Thus, a 2.000 GPA on the grade report does not necessarily imply eligibility for graduation.

8. A minimum GPA of 2.000 (C) on all work at UNT. Transferred work may not be used to raise the GPA of work done at UNT.

9. Twenty-five percent of the university minimum of 120 semester hours (i.e., 30 hours) must be earned in residence.

10. A proficiency in English composition. Students must show competence in written expression by receiving credit for or earning a grade of C or better in two general education English courses that have a strong writing component (ENGL 1310, 1311, 1312, 1313, 1315, 1320, 1321, 1322, 1323, 1325, 2700 and 2702). Students who have earned a D in one or more of these two required courses must repeat the course and raise the grade to a C or better.

Students who are transferring to UNT with more than 90 hours and who have earned a D in any of the basic English writing courses must retake the course during their first term/semester in residence.

University Core Curriculum Requirements

The University Core Curriculum is designed to give all graduating students basic intellectual competencies in reading, writing, speaking, listening, critical thinking and computer literacy. This core body of knowledge requires study in the tools of language and thought, mathematics, natural sciences, social and behavioral sciences (including U.S. history and political science), visual and performing arts and humanities.

The UNT Core Curriculum complies with the mandates of the 1997 Texas Legislature regarding requirements for state-assisted institutions.

Individual academic programs may require courses contained in parts of the University Core Curriculum. Students who wish to take courses that will fulfill both core and major requirements simultaneously should check with academic advisors for assistance in selecting core courses.

Students may also choose to use core courses to meet the minimum number of advanced hours required by their degree.

Requirements

Note: Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS) numbers, when applicable, are indicated in parentheses following the UNT course number and title. Some courses may have additional equivalents. See the Courses of Instruction section of this catalog for additional information about the TCCNS.

1. English Composition and Rhetoric (6 hours): Addresses the ability to access information and write clearly, coherently and correctly. This requirement may be satisfied by credit in ENGL 1310-1320 (ENGL 1301-1302), 1311-1321*, 1312-1322**, 1313-1323 or 1315-1325. ENGL 2700 (ENGL 2311) may be substituted for ENGL 1320 and ENGL 2702** may be substituted for 1322 upon approval of the school/college. Note: A grade of C or better is required on courses applied toward this requirement. See your advisor for assistance.

2. Mathematics (3 hours): The ability to apply mathematical techniques to the analysis and solution of problems is common to all academic programs. This requirement may be satisfied by at least 3 semester hours credit in any mathematics course at the level of college algebra or higher that meets the student’s degree program requirements. The student may choose from the following courses:

3. Natural Sciences (6 hours): Enables the student to understand, construct and evaluate relationships in the natural sciences, and to understand the bases for building and testing theories. This requirement may be satisfied by earning 6 semester hours in two laboratory sciences that meet the science requirement of the student’s degree program. The student may choose from the following courses:

4. U.S. History (6 hours): Texas state law requires that the university may not award a baccalaureate degree or a lesser degree or academic certificate unless the student has credit for 6 semester hours in American History. A student is entitled to submit as much as 3 hours of credit, or its equivalent, in Texas History in partial satisfaction of this requirement. The university may determine that a student has met the requirement by work transferred from another accredited college or upon successful completion of an advanced standing examination. The student may satisfy the entire 6-hour American/Texas history requirement by advanced standing examination. This requirement may be satisfied by credit in HIST 2610 (HIST 1301) and 2620 (HIST 1302) (United States History) or HIST 2675* and 2685* (Honors United States History). Advanced U.S. History courses may be used to satisfy the 6-hour U.S. History legislative mandates. Texas History (HIST 4700) may substitute for 3 hours of U.S. History.

5. Political Science (6 hours): Texas state law requires that the university not award a baccalaureate degree or a lesser degree or academic certificate unless the student has completed 6 hours of credit in American Government to include consideration of the constitutions of the United States and Texas. The university may determine that a student has met the requirement in whole or in part on the basis of credit transferred from another accredited college or upon successful completion of an advanced standing examination. The university may grant as much as 3 hours of credit toward satisfaction of this requirement for substantially equivalent work in an approved senior ROTC unit. The student may satisfy the entire 6-hour political science requirement by advanced standing examination. Specific courses required are PSCI 1040 (GOVT 2301) (American Government) and PSCI 1050 (GOVT 2302) or 1060 (American Government); or PSCI 1041* and 1051* (Honors American Government); or PSCI 1085* (The American Political and Economic Experience); 3 advanced hours in American Government may be substituted for PSCI 1050.

6. Visual and Performing Arts (3 hours): Promotes awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts, critical analysis and formation of aesthetic judgments, and appreciation of the arts as fundamental to the health and survival of any society. This requirement may be satisfied by 3 hours credit in any of the following:

7. Humanities (3 hours): Addresses knowledge of the human condition and human cultures, especially in relation to behaviors, ideas and values expressed in works of human imagination and thought. This requirement may be satisfied by 3 hours credit in any of the following:

8. Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours): Addresses knowledge of how social and behavioral scientists discover, describe and explain the behaviors and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, events and ideas. This requirement may be satisfied by 3 hours credit in any of the following:

9. Understanding the Human Community (6 hours): Increases the student’s knowledge of himself or herself and his or her community by examining individual, community and societal issues. Courses not only provide students the opportunity to examine themselves and to explore the relationships between individuals and society, but also enable students to develop a sense of personal and global responsibility.

* Course offered for Honors College students only.

** Course offered for international students only.

*** Course offered for elementary education students only.

Transfer of the Core Curriculum

A student who successfully completes a 42- to 48-semester-credit-hour common core curriculum at a state-assisted institution of higher education in Texas may transfer as “core complete” to UNT. The student will receive academic credit for each of the courses transferred. The student will need to work with an academic advisor in the appropriate college or school advising office to determine if additional requirements will be necessary to satisfy the 42-hour UNT core. See also the UNT Core Curriculum Transfer Articulation web page at essc.unt.edu/registrar/articulation or UNT’s Course Applicability System (CAS) web site at unt.transfer.org for more information.

College or School Requirements

Students must satisfactorily complete all degree requirements specified by the school or college in which the degree is offered. In many instances, the college/school/department academic program requirements may exceed the university core requirements.

Individual academic programs may require courses contained in part of the University Core Curriculum to satisfy specific degree requirements. Students may be required to take additional courses if they fail to select these courses.

Undergraduate Academic Certificate Programs

The University of North Texas offers upper-division undergraduate academic certificate programs to meet workforce needs or to provide students with life/career skills and knowledge and to allow for specialization in academic disciplines.

Admission

All students pursuing an undergraduate academic certificate must meet regular UNT admission requirements. Candidates for admission to the undergraduate academic certificate program must meet the minimum academic standards for the academic discipline. Post-baccalaureate students are eligible to pursue an undergraduate academic certificate.

Requirements

Undergraduate academic certificates require 12–20 semester credit hours, the majority of which must be advanced.

Students are responsible for all prerequisites specified in course requirements.

Students are expected to complete all hours for the undergraduate academic certificate requirements at UNT.

Upon completion of the requirement for an undergraduate academic certificate program, a student should apply to the academic dean of his or her college or school. Application forms are sent to the Registrar’s Office at the end of each term.

The Registrar’s Office posts undergraduate academic certificates to students’ transcripts at the end of the semester earned and prints the certificates, which are mailed by the school or college awarding them.

Note: Hours used for attaining an undergraduate academic certificate could potentially exclude a student from consideration for the $1,000 Tuition Rebate since all hours earned for the undergraduate academic certificate are counted in the total hours earned toward a degree.

Degree Requirement Modifications Based on a Disability

In accordance with university policies, and state and federal regulations [especially Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act], the University of North Texas endeavors to make reasonable academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities who require accommodation in order to fulfill the requirements for a degree. Modification of degree requirements may be considered in instances where:

All requests for modification must be finalized in the office of the dean of the college or school in which the student is enrolled and must be filed early in the student’s degree program. The dean has sole authority to make decisions for modifying college degree requirements, but no modification that compromises the integrity of the degree will be granted. Modifications of certification requirements cannot be considered by UNT and should be directed to the applicable agency. A student must come to the ODA to document a disability and then, if appropriate, the student will receive a letter supporting a substitution to take to the dean of his or her college.

A student who encounters access problems in a campus instructional facility or who wishes to request accommodation in a course because of a disability (i.e., sign language interpreters, material in alternate format, modified testing) should follow the procedures listed below:

1. Students must be registered with the ODA and receive an Accommodation Request form to present to their instructors. This form will contain information relative to the reasonable accommodations of the student and will assure the instructor that proof of disability is on file with the ODA. Students who do not present such a form can be referred to the ODA for assistance in completing the Accommodation Request. The ODA collects proof of disability and recommended compensation techniques from the licensed or certified professional making the diagnosis of disability.

2. Preferably within the first week of class, qualified students must notify the instructor of the need for academic adjustments and present the letter containing suggested accommodations from the ODA.

3. The qualified student should confer with the instructor to reach mutual agreement on how accommodation is to be achieved and to discuss the challenges of the course, teaching methods, learning techniques, testing methodologies, special equipment needs, access challenges and other pertinent topics.

Application for Graduation

Applications for graduation are available in the Registrar’s Office and in the academic advising office of the school or college in which the candidate is enrolled. (Visit www.unt.edu/admissions.htm or the online academic calendar at www.unt.edu/catalog/calendar.htm for degree application deadlines.)

Degree applications are accepted only from undergraduate students who have a minimum overall C average. See “General University Requirements” in the Academics section of this catalog for grade point calculation details. Before applying, the student also must remove grades of I in required courses necessary for graduation if these courses increase the term/semester load beyond the maximum permitted.

Students otherwise eligible for graduation who complete their final course or courses elsewhere will not graduate at the end of the term/semester or summer session/term in which the work is completed because of the time required for obtaining transcripts; such students will have their degrees conferred at the close of a subsequent UNT term/semester.

August graduates may file for graduation before the end of the spring term/semester.

Requirements for a Second Bachelor’s Degree

To be eligible for a second bachelor’s degree, a student must meet all current catalog requirements for the second degree, including 12 hours of advanced courses in a field different from the major for the first bachelor’s degree.

Degree Plan/Audit

The degree audit is an official document prepared in the office of the student’s academic dean that lists courses completed, courses to be completed, proficiency examinations and all other requirements for a particular degree program. A student should have a degree audit prepared no later than the beginning of the junior year.

Grading System

UNT’s grading system uses the letters A, B, C, D, F, P, NP, I, PR, W and WF. The letter Z is used to indicate that a grade was not properly received and/or recorded for a course.

A — excellent work, four grade points for each semester hour.

B — good work, three grade points for each semester hour.

C — fair work, two grade points for each semester hour.

D — passing work, one grade point for each semester hour.

F — failure; given when a student (1) has failed the course while still officially enrolled at the end of the term/semester; (2) is failing a course and misses the final examination without satisfactory explanation; or (3) stops attending class without processing an official drop or withdrawal.

P — passed; a credit grade (1) on pass/no pass option, (2) on student teaching, and (3) in selected undergraduate and graduate individual problems, research, thesis and dissertation courses.

NP — not passed; a failing grade on the pass/no pass option; non-punitive.

I — I is a non-punitive grade given only during the last one-fourth of a term/semester and only if a student (1) is passing the course and (2) has justifiable and documented reason, beyond the control of the student (such as serious illness or military service), for not completing the work on schedule. The student must arrange with the instructor to finish the course at a later date by completing specific requirements. These requirements must be listed on a Request for Grade of Incomplete form signed by the instructor, student and department chair and must be entered on the grade roster by the instructor. Grades of I assigned to an undergraduate course at the end of the Fall 2007 semester and later will default to F unless the instructor has designated a different automatic grade. See also “Removal of I” policy in the Academics section of this catalog.

PR — used to show that work is in process on thesis or dissertation in courses numbered 5950 and 6950.

W — drop or withdrawal without penalty. Given when a student drops a course or withdraws from the university prior to the end of the sixth week of classes of long terms/semesters or corresponding dates for summer sessions (specific dates are published in the online academic calendar at www.unt.edu/catalog/calendar.htm). See regulations for dropping and withdrawing. After that time the student must have a passing grade for the instructor to assign a grade of W for a dropped course; otherwise, the grade of WF is recorded.

WF — drop or withdrawal with a failing grade. Instructor may drop a student with a grade of WF from courses for nonattendance. May be assigned from the 7th through the 13th week of classes of long terms/semesters or corresponding dates for summer sessions (specific dates are published in the online academic calendar at www.unt.edu/catalog/calendar.htm). See regulations for dropping and withdrawing.

Note: No grade points are allowed for grades F, I, NP, P, PR, W, WF or Z.

A complete record of all previously used grades and grading systems is detailed on the official transcript.

Grade Point Average

The overall grade point average is used to determine student class loads, eligibility for admission to the university and certain programs, and eligibility for graduation. It is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of semester hours attempted. All GPA calculations are subject to post-audit and correction by the Registrar’s Office.

The number of semester hours attempted includes all courses with grades of A, B, C, D, F and WF unless replaced by a later grade. Courses with grades of I, NP, P, PR, W or Z are not counted as courses attempted.

Academic Standards

Minimum standards have been set that a student must achieve at the end of a given enrollment period in order to remain in good academic standing. The minimum academic requirement for undergraduate students is a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (CGPA).

The CGPA upon which academic standards are based is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned in residence at UNT by the total number of semester credit hours (SCH) attempted in residence at UNT. Excluded in this calculation are all courses in which the student received grades of NP, P, W, Z or I. The cumulative grade point average as defined here is used only for determining a student’s academic status and is not necessarily related to the grade point average that governs eligibility for graduation.

In calculating grade points, grades count as follows: A = 4 points per semester credit hour, B = 3 points, C = 2 points, D = 1 point, F and WF = 0 points.

Classification for the purpose of establishing the academic standing of the student is determined by the sum of all hours attempted in residence in regularly graded courses at UNT, hours passed in pass/no pass graded courses at UNT, and hours transferred from other institutions. Not included in the definition of student classification for academic standards are hours granted by the university for extension, service experience, advanced placement, credit by examination, CLEP or transfer hours attempted but not passed or accepted by the university for academic credit.

A student is placed on academic alert or academic probation at the end of any enrollment period in which the CGPA on work attempted in residence at this university does not equal or exceed 2.0.

Regulations Governing Students on Academic Alert

A freshman is placed on academic alert the first term/semester the CGPA drops below 2.0. To be removed from academic alert, the student must raise the CGPA to a minimum of 2.0 during the next period of enrollment.

A student on academic alert who does not raise the CGPA to at least the minimum 2.0 at the end of the next term/semester of enrollment is placed on academic probation.

Regulations Governing Students on Academic Probation

A student who is not classified as a freshman, or a student who is a freshman and has been on academic alert, is placed on academic probation at the end of any enrollment period in which the CGPA drops below a 2.0.

A student remains on academic probation at the end of any enrollment period in which the student earns at least a 2.25 GPA but does not achieve the minimum 2.0 CGPA.

A student remains on academic probation during any summer enrollment in which the student fails to raise the CGPA to the minimum 2.0 CGPA.

A student who, during a probationary fall or spring term/semester, fails to raise the CGPA to the minimum 2.0 standard, or who fails to make at least a 2.25 GPA for the term/semester, is automatically suspended from UNT for one or more long terms/semesters. (See “Regulations Governing Students Under Academic Suspension.”)

The electronic grade report and student’s academic standing are available online at the end of each term/semester at my.unt.edu. Each student is responsible for knowing whether the minimum CGPA has been achieved and whether they are eligible to re-enroll or remain enrolled in the university. Any student enrolled when ineligible will be withdrawn by the Registrar, and no special consideration will be given to such student on a plea of ignorance of academic status. If the cumulative record is believed incorrect, the student should contact the Registrar’s Office.

Regulations Governing Students Under Academic Suspension

A student who is suspended from the university for failure to meet the standards prescribed in the “Regulations Governing Students on Academic Probation” is prohibited from re-enrolling for the following long term(s)/semester(s) as outlined below:

First suspension: One long term/semester

Second suspension: Two long terms/semesters

Third suspension: Indefinite

A student who has been suspended for an indefinite period may request, at the end of two calendar years from the time of the suspension, a review of the case by the appropriate academic dean.

Each student is responsible for knowing the minimum CGPA requirements and the standards for academic standing. Any ineligible student who enrolls during a long term/semester will be withdrawn by the Registrar, regardless of whether the student has registered or pre-registered and paid fees. The student should be aware that course work taken at another institution while the student is suspended from the University of North Texas may not apply to a degree.

A student who has been suspended from the University of North Texas re-enters on academic probation. A student under academic suspension may attend the UNT summer enrollment periods. If, at the end of the summer enrollment period, a student raises the CGPA to the 2.0 minimum standard, the student will be reinstated in good academic standing.

Course Duplications

A student may take a course a second or subsequent time. The Registrar’s Office will post duplications at the request of the student, at the request of an academic advisor or upon review of the student’s record. Until a duplication is posted the Registrar’s Office includes a repeated course in the student’s cumulative record of hours attempted and grade points earned. The Registrar includes without exception any course repeated more than once in the student’s cumulative record of hours attempted and grade points earned. Departments may count the highest grade for departmental GPA requirements; however, the academic dean uses only the last grade recorded in certifying the student’s eligibility for graduation.

Undergraduate students who enroll in the same course more than twice may be charged additional tuition amounts.

Status Changes Due to Course Duplications

A student request for the recording of a course duplication made before or on the last class day of any term or session will be reflected in the hours attempted and grade points earned at the beginning of the term/semester or session.

If a student who is on academic alert or academic probation requests the recording of course duplications, and the resulting adjusted CGPA equals or exceeds the minimum 2.0 academic standard, the academic alert or probation status will be removed if the student notifies the Registrar’s Office on or before the last class day for that term/semester or session. Otherwise, the student will remain on academic alert or probation for that enrollment period and be subject to attendant penalties.

If a student is suspended at the end of a term/semester during which the student has repeated a course and the posting of that duplication will result in a CGPA that would have been sufficient to be continued on probation at the end of that term/semester (or to be cleared), the student will be reinstated if the student requests the duplication and applies for reinstatement at the Registrar’s Office. The delayed posting of course duplications completed during prior enrollment periods cannot be used as a basis for altering suspension history or reinstating lost registration schedules.

Courses duplicated Fall 2005 and later will result in a re-evaluation of a student’s suspension history beginning with the term that the duplication was completed. The delayed processing of course duplications and updating of suspension history cannot be used as justification for reinstating lost registration schedules.

Academic Standards for Transfer Students

New UNT students who have fewer than 30 hours of transfer credit, excluding non-traditional credit, who are admitted via individual review and have less than a 2.0 grade point average will be placed on academic alert. Other transfer students with 30 or more hours of transfer credit who are admitted via individual review are placed automatically on academic probation if their transfer cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0. See “Transfer Students” in the Admission section of this catalog for a statement of current minimum entrance requirements for transfer students. To avoid academic suspension, transfer students admitted on academic probation must make a grade point average equal to or exceeding the minimum 2.0.

Transfer students admitted to UNT in good standing are subject to the same minimum academic requirements as continuing students. Thus, if at the end of the first enrollment period a transfer student’s grade point average on all work attempted at UNT does not meet the minimum 2.0 CGPA requirement, the student will be placed on academic alert or academic probation for the next period of enrollment and the Regulations Governing Students on Academic Alert or Academic Probation will apply.

Transfer students who have more than 30 credit hours and are admitted to UNT on academic probation are evaluated at the end of their first long term/semester in attendance, at which time they are either cleared from probation or suspended. To avoid academic suspension, the student must have earned a CGPA on all work attempted at UNT equal to or greater than the minimum 2.0.

Additional information concerning academic status is available from the offices of the academic deans or the Registrar’s Office.

Transfer Hours from Another Institution

Students who complete work at another institution, to be applied toward a bachelor’s degree at the University of North Texas, should make sure that the appropriate officer of the other institution furnishes to the Office of Admissions or the Registrar’s Office at the University of North Texas a complete official transcript of such work.

The Office of Admissions or the Registrar’s Office determines acceptable transfer credit from other institutions based on evaluation of course content as described in the catalogs of those institutions and in consultation with appropriate academic units at UNT as necessary for clarification. Transfer credit may only be received for course work completed at an accredited institution of higher education. Transfer credit from other institutions will be converted to semester hours and a 4.0 grading system for evaluation purposes as appropriate. The student’s academic dean determines applicability of the credit to a degree program. Students seeking a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) degree should refer to the special provisions of the respective degree programs.

Students who have begun residence work at UNT and who have attained junior standing may, only with the prior written consent of their academic dean, enroll in and transfer hours from approved two-year colleges.

Grade points earned at other institutions are excluded in the computations of the CGPA, but transfer hours accepted are included in determining the classification and minimum required level of performance.

Additional information concerning academic status is available from the advising offices of the academic deans or the Registrar’s Office.

Because of the time required for receipt of transcripts, students otherwise eligible for graduation who complete their last course or courses elsewhere do not graduate at the end of the term/semester or summer session in which the work is completed, but receive their degrees at the close of a subsequent UNT term/semester or summer session.

Transfer hours from another institution are included in the overall GPA when determining honors for graduation.

Transfer of the Core Curriculum

A student who successfully completes a 42- to 48-semester-credit-hour common core curriculum at a state-assisted institution of higher education in Texas may transfer as “core complete” to UNT. The student will receive academic credit for each of the courses transferred. The student will need to work with an academic advisor in the appropriate college or school academic advising office to determine if additional requirements will be necessary to satisfy the 42-hour UNT core. See also the UNT Core Curriculum Transfer Articulation web page at essc.unt.edu/registrar/articulation or UNT’s Course Applicability System (CAS) web site at unt.transfer.org for more information.

Advanced-Hour Credit

A lower-level course that is substituted for a UNT upper-level course may not be used to satisfy advanced-hour requirements.

Effects of Withdrawal on Academic Status

Any student who withdraws from UNT prior to the end of the sixth week of classes (or the equivalent dates for summer sessions) is given grades of W and is not penalized with a reduced CGPA. Any student who withdraws after this period, but at least two weeks before the first day of final exams (summer session, six class meetings prior to finals; three week session, three class meetings prior to finals), is given grades of W or WF depending upon the student’s grade average at the time of withdrawal. Grades of WF are included as hours attempted in calculating a student’s minimum UNT cumulative grade point average required to remain in good standing. A student who does not officially withdraw from the university is held responsible for grades of F and is placed on probation or suspended from the university if the grades of F bring the CGPA below the minimum required. For official dates and deadlines for withdrawal, visit www.unt.edu/catalog/calendar.htm.

Students Called to Active Duty

Texas Education Code 54.006 (f) indicates, “Beginning with the summer semester of 1990, if a student withdraws from an institution of higher education because the student is called to active military service, the institution, 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 course work and who has demonstrated sufficient mastery of the course material.”

In order to be eligible for options under this law, a UNT student must produce a copy of his or her orders. Withdrawal may or may not require that the student talk with each instructor depending on timing in the semester; however, the latter two options do require that the student talk with his or her instructors and come to a decision as to which solution is best for each class given timing and circumstances. A student called to active duty may consider the following options:

1. withdrawal with a full refund of appropriate tuition/fees;

2. incomplete grades with the one-year I (Incomplete) removal time limit starting with the end of active duty; and/or

3. a final grade if the course is essentially over and the course material has been sufficiently mastered (determined by the instructor).

Grade Reports

The electronic grade report and academic standing are available online at my.unt.edu at the close of each term/semester. If the grade report or the academic standing is believed to be in error, the student should contact the Registrar’s Office within 30 days following the first class day of the succeeding term/semester.

At mid-term/semester in the long session, instructors may provide individual written warnings to students who are doing unsatisfactory class work. These warnings are mailed from the Registrar’s Office upon request by the instructor.

Transcripts

Transcript request information can also be found on the Registrar web page (www.unt.edu/registrar).

Before an official transcript can be released, all financial or administrative obligations to the university must be resolved. To check for blocks, please refer to the student center at my.unt.edu. UNT transcripts may be ordered in person at the Registrar’s Office or by written request. When sending a written request, include:

Mail your written request to:

University of North Texas
Registrar’s Office
Attn: Transcripts
1155 Union Circle #311400
Denton, TX 76203-5017
Or fax the written request to:
940-565-3878
Attn: Transcripts

If you have any questions concerning transcripts, please contact the Registrar’s Office in person or call the Registrar’s Office at 940-565-2111.

Grade Books

University policy requires that grade books be retained by the departmental chair for five years.

Tests

University policy requires that departments retain tests for one year after the term/semester has been completed or return tests to students. If the tests are returned, students are responsible for producing the tests should a grade appeal be necessary.

Grade Appeals

1. Any student who believes a grade has been inequitably awarded should first contact the instructor who awarded the grade to discuss the issue and attempt to resolve the differences. Any instructor no longer associated with UNT at the time of the appeal will be represented in these proceedings by the chair of the department in question. A student not in residence the term/semester following the awarding of the grade or a resident student who is unable to resolve the differences with the instructor has 30 days following the first class day of the succeeding term/semester to file a written appeal with the chair of the instructor’s department, or the equivalent administrative unit.

2. The chair may follow any of the four procedures below, or a combination of them:

a. The chair may confer with the instructor; or

b. The chair may request that the instructor submit a written reply to the student’s complaint; or

c. The chair may conduct a meeting of the two parties; or

d. The chair may refer the case directly to the appropriate departmental committee, as outlined below.

In following one of the first three procedures above (a, b or c), the chair should make a judgment on the merits of the case and recommend a specific action in regard to the disputed grade. Either the student or the instructor may appeal the recommendations of the chair.

3. The appropriate departmental committee to hear cases sent directly to it by the chair or appealed to it by either the student or the instructor shall be constituted as follows and shall perform the following duties.

a. It shall be an ad hoc committee consisting of two faculty members from the department in which the grade is being questioned, one of those members to be chosen by the student and one to be chosen by the instructor. If either party to the dispute declines to choose a member of the committee, the department chair will select that member. The third faculty member of the committee, who shall serve as chair, will be chosen either from within or without the department by agreement of the student and the instructor. If they cannot agree upon this third member, the member is chosen by the chair of the department, with the proviso that the student and the instructor may agree to stipulate that the third member of the committee be chosen from a related department rather than the department in question.

b. This ad hoc committee should require written statements from each participant in the dispute. Judgments may be rendered upon the basis of these statements, upon other evidence submitted in support of the statements and upon the basis of an oral hearing, if such a hearing seems necessary.

c. The committee must make a recommendation for disposition of the case within 30 days of its appointment.

d. All records in the case will be filed with the chair of the department in which the grade was originally awarded.

4. Either party to the dispute has 15 days following the rendering of the ad hoc committee recommendation to appeal that recommendation to the dean of the respective college, if the appeal is based solely upon alleged violations of established procedures. Substantive matters, up to and including the refusal of the instructor to act in accordance with the ad hoc committee’s recommendation or the student’s refusal to accept the verdict, may not be appealed to the dean.

5. The dean of the college in question, after a review of the submitted written materials (and oral hearings if desired), shall make within 15 days a ruling about procedural questions. Said ruling may be appealed by either the student or the instructor to an ad hoc committee composed of three faculty members appointed by the dean and representing departments other than the one in which the disputed grade was awarded and three students appointed by the Committee on Committees of the Student Government Association.

a. This ad hoc committee will have 30 days from the date of its appointment to complete its work.

b. This committee shall operate within the guidelines set out for departmental ad hoc committees in 3b above.

c. All rulings made by this committee regarding procedural questions shall be final.

d. All documents related to the case shall be returned to the chair of the originating department for department files.

Grade Changes

No grade except I may be removed from a student’s record once properly recorded. Changes are not permitted after grades have been filed except to correct clerical errors.

Requests for error correction must be initiated immediately after the close of the term/semester for which the grade was recorded.

A faculty member who believes an error has been made in calculating or recording a grade may submit in person a request for a grade change to the department chair and the appropriate dean. The Registrar accepts requests for grade changes only from the academic deans.

Removal of I

A student may remove a grade of I within one year by completing the stipulated work. After the student completes the stipulated work, the instructor records the final grade on a UNT Grade Change Form and obtains the department chair’s signature. The instructor’s academic dean completes processing with the Registrar’s Office, where the grade point average is adjusted accordingly. For undergraduate courses taken Fall 2007 or later, if a student does not complete the stipulated work within the time specified, the grade of I will default to F unless the instructor has designated a different automatic grade. The GPA is adjusted accordingly, and the student will be subject to academic penalty should any exist.

Pass/No Pass Option

Undergraduate Students

An incoming freshman or any undergraduate in good standing with a C average or better on all work attempted in residence at UNT may schedule one course a term/semester on the pass/no pass option. Seniors may elect more than one pass/no pass course during their final term/semester.

A maximum of 18 semester hours of credit under the pass/no pass option may be applied toward the bachelor’s degree. Only courses counted as electives on the student’s degree plan may be scheduled under the pass/no pass option. These hours are not used in calculating the grade point average, but count as full credit.

A grade of D or better will be shown as a P. If the course is not passed, the record will show NP and the hours attempted will not be used in calculating the grade point average.

The pass/no pass option for a particular course is elected at the time of registration. Requests are processed after the term/semester begins. Students may change to the regular grading system in the office of their academic dean any time before the end of the sixth week of classes, or the corresponding point of a summer session, provided the eligibility requirements above are met.

Courses taken under the regular grading system may not be repeated as pass/no pass courses unless a grade of W was previously received.

A student who changes majors is not automatically denied credit for a pass/no pass course that becomes a degree audit requirement for the new major. The decision is made by the academic dean of the new department. However, under no circumstances is a grade of P changed to a letter grade.

Transfer students have the same pass/no pass privileges and restrictions, but they must pass 30 semester hours of regularly graded courses at UNT to be eligible for graduation.

Graduate Students

Graduate students may enroll under the pass/no pass option only for undergraduate courses that are not required as a deficiency makeup or as a graduate degree requirement.

Courses Automatically Graded Pass/No Pass

Certain graduate-level individual instruction courses will be graded pass/no pass when classes are taught on campus in those departments whose faculty have voted for the use of this grading system for individual instruction.

Dean’s List and President’s List

Students completing at least 12 hours of class work in regularly graded courses taken in residence during the long session with a grade point average of 4.0 are eligible for recognition on the president’s list. Students with a grade point average of 3.5 or above are eligible for recognition on the dean’s list. Students are notified of this recognition by the president or the appropriate academic dean.

Graduation with Honors

Candidates for graduation whose overall grade point average, based on grades earned in University of North Texas resident credit courses and transferred resident credit courses, is at least 3.500 but less than 3.700 are eligible to graduate cum laude; those whose GPA, as defined above, is at least 3.700 but less than 3.900 are eligible to graduate magna cum laude; and those whose GPA, as defined above, is 3.900 to 4.000 are eligible to graduate summa cum laude.

Hours earned through correspondence and extension courses, or pass/no pass courses, may not be counted in calculating the GPA for determination of eligibility for graduation with honors. Candidates for a second bachelor’s degree are not eligible for graduation with honors.

Public Information Policies – Texas Privacy and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Acts

State law, with few exceptions, gives individuals the right to be informed about the information UNT collects about the individual. It also gives individuals the right to receive and review this information and the opportunity to have UNT change any incorrect information. UNT’s privacy policy (no. 1.7.9) is available at www.unt.edu/untpolicy.

Pursuant to Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code, known as the Public Information Act, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended (FERPA), also known as the Buckley Amendment, the university has established policies relating to the accessibility of student information in the custody of the University of North Texas. The UNT FERPA policy statement appears in its entirety in the UNT Policy Manual, policy number 18.1.9. Information not covered by the FERPA will be released only in accordance with the policy on public information found in policy number 10.6 of the UNT Policy Manual. Requests for such information must be made in writing.

The FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. Student have the right to:

1. Inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a written request for access.

Students should submit written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department or other appropriate official. The university official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the university official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

2. Request the amendment of personal education records the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.

A student may ask the university to amend a record that he or she believes is inaccurate or misleading. The student should write to the UNT System Office of General Counsel, clearly identify the part of the record he or she wants changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. Students may request a hearing to review a denial of a request to amend educational records. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the decision to deny a request to amend.

3. Generally, the FERPA requires written consent before personally identifiable information contained in a student’s education records may be disclosed. However, the FERPA authorizes disclosure of this information without the student’s consent under certain circumstances. One such exception is directory information.

Directory information consists of a student’s full name, address, university provided e-mail address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, classification, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of athletic team members, dates of attendance, degrees, awards received, the last educational agency or institution attended previous to UNT, and photograph.

Directory information regarding the student will be provided to the public upon request unless the student files a request in the Registrar’s Office asking to be excluded from the directory or from any other requests for directory information from outside entities. The request should be submitted prior to the 12th class day in the fall and spring terms, the 2nd class day of a three week session, or the 4th class day of a five week summer session. A request to withhold information may be submitted after the stated deadline for a term or session, but information may be released between the deadline and receipt of the request. The file of a student who has asked to be excluded from the directory information will remain excluded until the student requests, in writing, that the exclusion be removed.

Individuals may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if they believe the University of North Texas has failed to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The complaint should be sent to:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202

The University of North Texas will disclose information from a student’s education records without the written consent of the student to the following individuals or under the following conditions:

1. School officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records. A school official is a person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the university has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Regents; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

2. Officials of another school, upon request, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

3. Certain officials of the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Attorney General, the Comptroller General, state and local educational authorities, and certain state or federally supported education programs.

4. In connection with a student’s request for or receipt of financial aid, as necessary to determine the eligibility, amount or conditions of the financial aid, or to enforce the terms and conditions of the aid.

5. If allowed to be reported or disclosed pursuant to state law adopted before Nov. 19, 1974; if the allowed reporting or disclosure concerns the juvenile justice system’s ability to effectively serve the student whose records are released; or pursuant to state law adopted after Nov. 19, 1974, if the reporting or disclosure concerns the juvenile justice system’s ability to effectively serve, prior to adjudication, the student whose records are released and the person(s) to whom the records are disclosed certify in writing that the information will not be further disclosed without the prior written consent of the parent of the student.

6. Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the university.

7. Accrediting organizations to carry out their functions.

8. Parents of an eligible student who claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.

9. To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena.

10. Appropriate parties in a health or safety emergency, including a student’s parent(s).

11. Information designated as directory information by the university unless the student has requested such directory information be withheld.

12. The parent of a student who is not an eligible student or to the student.

13. An alleged victim of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense. The disclosure may only include the final results of any institutional disciplinary proceeding with respect to the alleged crime or offense, regardless of whether the university concluded a violation occurred.

14. The general public if the institution determines as a result of a disciplinary hearing that the student committed a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense in violation of university rules or policy or state or federal law.

15. A parent of a student under the age of 21 regarding a university determination that the student violated federal, state or local law or university policy governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance.

For information regarding the university’s policy on access to records and to request accessibility to university records, contact the UNT System Office of General Counsel.

UNT Cooperative Education and Internships

The university offers off-campus learning opportunities through the Cooperative Education and Internships Program. Cooperative education experiences are processes of education that formally integrate students’ academic studies with practical experience in paid positions that involve multiple work terms/semesters with participating employers. Through this integration of study and practical experience, students may enhance their academic knowledge, their personal development and their professional preparation. The teaching faculty and on-site supervisors share in the education of cooperative education students.

Alternating term/semester (full-time) and parallel (part-time) positions are available through the program for undergraduate students who have a 2.5 or higher grade point average and have completed at least 12 hours at UNT. Graduate students must be admitted to a graduate degree program, have a 3.0 or higher GPA and must have completed at least 9 semester hours.

The Cooperative Education and Internships Program also facilitates internships. Internships involve only one term/semester of work related to a major. Requirements for internships vary by academic department, and information regarding them is available through Cooperative Education and Internships.

No more than 12 credit hours for bachelor’s degree candidates and 6 credit hours for master’s degree candidates may be earned through internships or cooperative education courses. Internship or cooperative education credit hours may be applied as part of the major or professional field, approved supporting courses, as free electives, or as academic credit in addition to degree requirements, as determined by the appropriate academic dean.

The Cooperative Education and Internships Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Cooperative Education (Accreditation Council for Cooperative Education, Stevens Institute of Technology, Castle Point, Hoboken, NJ, 07030; 201-216-8228). For further information, contact Cooperative Education and Internships in person in Marquis Hall, Room 208; by phone, 940-565-2861; or visit the web site at coop.unt.edu.

Center for Achievement and Lifelong Learning

The Center for Achievement and Lifelong Learning provides the administrative structure for continuing education programs to meet professional education and career development requirements of adult groups.

Continuing education programs (conferences, seminars, workshops, etc.) for all of the schools and colleges of the university can be coordinated by the center. This assistance includes financial planning in accordance with official university procedures; arrangements for housing, food service, meeting space, transportation and audiovisual equipment; and assistance with preregistration and on-site registration.

Continuing education credit is awarded by the center, and these records, which are kept on permanent file, are reported to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as an important part of the accreditation process.

Online minicourses and programs, including business and professional certification courses and test preparation programs (LSAT, GRE and GMAT), also are major emphases.

The center is responsible for arranging and scheduling the use of university classroom facilities for off-campus groups and for university departments for purposes other than credit classes.

The Center for Achievement and Lifelong Learning is located in Marquis Hall, Rooms 212-230. For additional information, call 940-565-2656, visit the web site at www.unt.edu/ccecm or write to the director, 1155 Union Circle #310560, Denton, TX 76203-5017.

Undergraduate Working Catalog

Academics

Undergraduate Admissions

(800) UNT-8211
(868-8211) (toll-free)
AskUNT: unt.custhelp.com

UNT Switchboard

(940) 565-2000

Campus Tours

Schedule a tour online
(940) 565-4104