Registration and Enrollment Requirements
Graduate Credit
To earn graduate credit, a student must be admitted by the Dean of Graduate Studies and enrolled in an appropriate status as a graduate student. The registration must reflect the desire for graduate credit, and the course must have been approved by the Graduate Council. Coursework taken in any other status is unacceptable for graduate credit and cannot be changed retroactively to graduate credit. Special privileges are accorded UT seniors and professional students, as stated in the section on Undergraduates and Professional Students.Courses numbered at the 500-level, as well as those 400-level courses approved for graduate credit, must be taught by faculty members who (1) meet the criteria of an assistant professor or above as defined in the Faculty Handbook and (2) have been designated by the department head as being appropriate. Graduate teaching associates are ineligible to teach courses approved for graduate credit.
Consistent with the accreditation requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) that graduate curricula must be substantially different from undergraduate curricula, classes at the 400-level in which both graduate and undergraduate students are enrolled must be structured so as to reflect this distinction. That is, course requirements for graduate credit will be more rigorous and will exceed expectations for undergraduates. Graduate and undergraduate completion of the same course will not be considered equivalent. Petitions for retroactive changing of undergraduate to graduate credit will not be accepted.
Courses at the 600 level are taught by faculty who have been approved by the college or by departments, where the college has given them that responsibility. All departments/colleges have a statement of criteria used in eligibility to teach at the 600 level.
Undergraduate and Professional Students
UT KNOXVILLE SENIORSSubject to approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies, a senior at UT Knoxville who needs fewer than 30 semester hours to complete requirements for a Bachelor's degree and has at least a B average (3.0) may enroll in graduate courses for graduate credit, provided the combined total of undergraduate and graduate coursework does not exceed 15 credit hours per semester. Students who have met all requirements for graduation are not eligible for senior privilege. Approval must be obtained each semester at the Office of Graduate Student Services. A maximum of 9 hours of graduate credit at the 400 and 500 level can be obtained in this status. Some departments do not permit seniors to register for graduate courses without prior permission (see Majors and Degree Programs chart for information on restricted programs).
Courses taken for graduate credit may not be used toward both the baccalaureate and a graduate degree.
UT KNOXVILLE VETERINARY MEDICINE STUDENTS
A student in good standing in the College of Veterinary Medicine may enroll in UT graduate courses under the following conditions:
1. The student's advisor must approve in advance the student's enrollment in each course.
2. The student may take a maximum of 10 semester hours of graduate courses during the D.V.M. program.
3. Approval must be obtained each semester at registration through the Office of Graduate Student Services. The student's progress is subject to review and approval each semester by the Associate Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine.Courses taken for graduate credit may not be used toward both the D.V.M. degree and a graduate degree.
Subject to approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies and the College of Law, a law student at UT may enroll in graduate courses for graduate credit. Approval must be obtained each semester at the Office of Graduate Student Services.
Courses taken for graduate credit may not be used toward both the J.D. degree and a graduate degree. Use of such courses toward the J.D. degree are subject to guidelines approved by the law faculty.
Law Courses
A graduate student may take up to 6 semester hours of law courses and apply them toward a graduate degree, upon approval of the College of Law and the student's major professor. The graduate student must register for law courses during the registration period at the College of Law and request an S/NC grade. If the student earns a 2.0 or better, an S will be recorded on the transcript. Below 2.0, an NC will be recorded, and the course cannot be used toward meeting degree requirements. Grades for law courses will not be reflected in the cumulative grade-point average, as law courses do not carry graduate credit.Different rules apply to students enrolled in the Dual J.D.-MBA and J.D.-MPA programs. Grades must be earned according to the grading system of the respective colleges, e.g. numerical grades for law courses, letter grades for graduate courses. Refer to sections on Business Administration, Political Science, and Law under Fields of Instruction for grades acceptable to meet degree requirements.
A student enrolled in the Ph.D. in Business Administration program may use 8 semester hours or more of law courses for the supporting area via the arrangement described under Business Administration.
Graduate Certificate of Credit Programs
A graduate certificate of credit program is a series of academically coherent graduate-credit courses offered by the university as a planned program that does not lead to a degree. A candidate for a graduate certificate of credit program must be a fully admitted graduate student who has satisfactorily completed (minimum 3.0 grade-point average) the minimum requirements for a certificate described in the Graduate Catalog under Fields of Instruction. A candidate must be a graduate student in good standing and comply with all other applicable policies. Graduate certificate programs require a minimum of 12 semester credit hours taken at UT. Use of credits to fulfill requirements for a graduate degree will be at the discretion of the academic department.To receive the certificate, students must submit an application endorsed by the academic department to the Office of the University Registrar. Only those certificate programs that are officially approved by the Graduate Council will be posted on student transcripts. Graduate students in non-degree classification are not eligible to receive a graduate certificate.
Senior or Disabled Citizens
Legislation gives Tennessee citizens who are 60 years of age or older, 30-year state retirees, or those who are totally disabled, the opportunity to attend credit and non-credit courses at the University at no charge on an audit, space available basis. Legal verification of any of these conditions is required for enrollment. Students who are 65 or over, or who are totally disabled, and who desire to receive UT credit for their courses, may pay a reduced rate. Registration for day and evening classes is handled by the Evening School, 451 Communications Building, (865) 974-5361 or 1-800-676-8657.Auditors and Audited Courses
Persons who wish to attend certain classes regularly, without taking examinations or receiving grades or credit, may do so by completing a graduate application as a non-degree student, paying the application fee, registering as an auditor, and paying regular fees. Graduate students paying regular fees also are entitled to audit courses.The names of all auditors properly registered will appear on the intermediate class rolls, but will be removed from the final grade report. No record of audited coursework will appear on the permanent record.
Persons may not attend class without being properly admitted to the University and registered in the class.
Courses in Non-Standard Format
The University offers a wide variety of short courses, workshops and other courses in non-standard format for graduate credit. Minimum criteria acceptable for such credit are as follows:1. The number of contact hours should never be fewer than the equivalent of one hour per week during the term for each hour of credit awarded, i.e., 15 hours per semester hour.
2. For every contact hour, there should be at least two hours of student preparation.
3. For each hour of graduate credit under the semester system, there should be a minimum elapsed time of one week.The workload in a short course of several weeks' duration need not be distributed evenly. However, substantive and meaningful interaction between the faculty member and student should be maintained throughout. Graduate credit should not be awarded for courses considered inappropriate as part of a graduate degree program.
The Curriculum Committee of the Graduate Council monitors the policy. Each new course or change in a current course must be approved in both content and format.
Correspondence Study
No graduate credit is accepted at UT for work done by correspondence study at any university.Proficiency Examinations
A proficiency examination may be given in academic courses offered for graduate credit. Applications for proficiency examinations are available in the Office of the Registrar, 209 Student Services Building. To be eligible, a student must be admitted to graduate study. The request for examination must be approved by the head of the department offering the course. A student applying for this privilege must present evidence to the department head that he/she has the knowledge and abilities expected of graduate students who have taken the same course. Upon passing the examination with a minimum grade of B, the student will receive graduate credit. A maximum of one-fourth of the total credit hours in a master's degree program may be earned by this method, subject to approval by the student's graduate committee. A fee of $7 per credit hour must be paid before each examination. Proficiency examinations may not be used to raise the grade or change the credit in a course previously completed, nor may such an examination be repeated. Proficiency examinations taken at other institutions are not transferrable.English Proficiency
Applicants whose native language is not English must pass an English proficiency examination given by the University prior to initial registration. Students whose performance on the examination indicates a need for additional English study must enroll immediately for English 121 English Grammar Review for Non-Native Speakers (or another course assigned by the English Department) for undergraduate credit and pass with a grade of C or better. A student may not take more than 9 additional hours of coursework while enrolled in English 121. Students whose scores indicate that they are not prepared to enter English 121 will be referred to a program of intensive English study prior to enrolling in an academic program.Applicants whose native language is not English must pass an oral test in English (the SPEAK Test) before they can be assigned to classroom duties in connection with their assistantships. The SPEAK Test is administered on campus as part of the programs offered by Graduate Student Services. Scores from the Test of Spoken English (TSE) may be accepted in place of the SPEAK Test.
Prerequisites
Graduate work in any program must be preceded by sufficient undergraduate work in the major and related areas to satisfy the department that the student can do graduate work successfully in the chosen field. Individual undergraduate records are examined and evaluated by the appropriate department before admission to a degree program is granted. Questions about program prerequisites should be addressed to the advisor.Advisor/Major Professor
Every graduate student must have an advisor from the major department. This professor advises the student about courses, supervises the student's research, and facilitates communication within the major department, to other departments and with the Dean of Graduate Studies. The advisor must approve the student's program each semester. Many departments assign a temporary advisor to direct the entering student's work during the period in which the student is becoming acquainted with the institution and determining the focus of research interests, and in which the department is forming a judgment concerning the student's promise as a scholar. As early as appropriate, the student requests a professor in the major department to serve as the advisor. This major professor and the student together select a graduate committee. The student is expected to maintain close consultation with the major professor and other members of the graduate committee with regard to progress in the program. Other responsibilities of the advisor/major professor are explained under individual programs.Departmental Liaison
To assist graduate students in other majors, one faculty member in each academic department has been designated as a liaison. The liaison is identified in the list of faculty under each department. The liaison acts as a departmental contact to assist non-departmental students with course selection and other academic matters.Registration
Registration is required of all graduate students when using University facilities and/or faculty time. The minimum number of hours for registration is one. Registration allows use of services such as library checkout, laboratories, and recreation facilities not open to the public.Information concerning registration is available in the Timetable of Classes or at Circle Park Online each term. Registration is accomplished via telephone or web. During priority registration, a schedule and bill is mailed to the registrant. Payment is due by the deadline noted on the bill. A graduated late fee is assessed to any student who fails to register during priority registration. Additional information can be obtained from the University Registrar's Office, (865) 974-2101.
Failure to pay tuition and fees before the deadline, as noted each semester on the schedule/bill, will result in cancellation of the schedule. Retroactive registration is not allowed.
Non-degree students in unrestricted programs (see Majors and Degree Programs Chart ) may obtain permission to register from the Office of Graduate Student Services. Non-degree students with no declared major must obtain permission from the department/program head to register for courses in restricted fields.
Conditional Registration
A person who appears to meet the admission requirements for graduate study may be allowed to register for an initial term after submitting the Graduate Application for Admission form and application fee. Time is allowed to obtain transcripts and additional requirements for admission. Students who fail to gain admission within seven weeks after registration will NOT be permitted to register again until all admission requirements are met.International students may not register conditionally.
Registration for Use of Facilities
Students using University facilities, services or faculty time, including summer term, must be registered. Normally, students are registered for coursework or thesis/dissertation credit. Students who are not taking coursework and are not yet eligible to register for thesis or dissertation hours, must register for course 502 (Use of Facilities) if they wish to have borrowing privileges in the University Library or to use computer labs, other labs, or other university resources.Course Description
Each course listed in the Graduate Catalog contains information in abbreviated form. The course number indicates the level at which the course is taught. All 500- and 600-level courses are graduate courses. The 400-level courses are upper division courses available for graduate credit only if listed in the Graduate Catalog. To receive graduate credit for these, a student must so request at registration.With permission of the instructor, an undergraduate student with at least a B average (3.0) may take a 500-level course for undergraduate credit. Exclusions include course 500, 502, and independent or directed study courses for which there are appropriate undergraduate course alternatives.
The official course title appears following the course number. Numbers in parentheses following the course title indicate the semester hours credit. If the credit is variable, to be determined in consultation with the instructor, the minimum and maximum are shown (e.g. 2-3). The credit hours are followed by a course description indicating the content to be covered.
Prerequisite courses must be taken prior to the course in question. Corequisite courses may be taken prior to or concurrently with the specific course. Both prerequisites and corequisites are checked during registration. Recommended prerequisites should be taken previously but are not mandatory. Required background is the knowledge base needed before taking the course.
Some courses may be repeated for a maximum number of hours allowable toward a degree program. This number is stated for each repeatable course with the exception of Thesis 500, Dissertation 600, and Registration for Use of Facilities 502. Courses may be cross-listed with two or more departments, an arrangement indicated by a parenthetical statement: (Same as Psychology 543). The course description is given only under the primary department.
"S/NC only" indicates that the course may be taken only for Satisfactory/No Credit grading. Refer to section on Grades.
A symbol indicating the semester or frequency that the course is normally offered is included at the end of many course descriptions:
F-Fall
Sp-Spring
Su-Summer
E-Every semester
A-Alternate yearsThese codes are indicated only for Knoxville campus classes and are subject to change without notice. The Timetable of Classes, published several weeks prior to each semester, is the official notification of courses offered for a given semester. Students should contact the appropriate department/program head concerning courses to be offered in future semesters.
Change of Registration
The permanent record will show all courses for which the student has registered except those audited and those from which the student has withdrawn during the first 10 calendar days after the beginning of classes.Students who fail to attend the first class meeting without prior arrangement with the department MAY BE DROPPED from the course to make space available to other students. Students have the responsibility to assure that they have been dropped. Otherwise they may receive a grade of F in the course.
TYPE OF CHANGE DEADLINE Add course 10 days
Between 11-42 days with instructor’s and advisor’s signatureChange credit/grading 10 days
Between 11-42 days with advisor’s signatureDrop course without W 10 days Drop course with W 84 days See Timetable of Classes each term for exact date. A student may change registration by accessing the telephone registration system or at Circle Park Online. If additional permission is necessary, a student must execute a change of registration at the Office of the University Registrar, with approval of the instructor, advisor and Office of Graduate Student Services.
Total withdrawal from registration for a semester must be processed through the Office of the University Registrar.
Course Loads
The maximum load for a graduate student is 15 hours, and 9 to 12 hours are considered a full load. For the summer term, graduate students may register for a maximum of 12 semester hours in an entire summer term or for a maximum of 6 semester hours in a 5-week summer session. Students may enroll in only one course during a mini-term session.Students holding a one-half time assistantship normally should enroll for 6-11 semester hours. A one-fourth time graduate assistant normally should take 9-13 semester hours. A student on a one-half time assistantship who takes six semester hours will be considered full time. Refer to the Policy for the Administration of Graduate Assistantships for additional information.
Students receiving financial aid should consult with the department/program head concerning appropriate course loads. Courses audited do not count toward minimum graduate hours required for financial assistance.
Registration for more than 15 hours during any semester, or for more than 12 hours in the summer term, is not permissible without prior approval. The academic advisor may allow registration of up to 18 hours during a semester if the student has achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.6 or better in at least nine hours of graduate work with no outstanding incompletes. No more than 12 hours are permissible in the summer term without prior approval.
Grade-Point Average and Grades
A cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 is required on all graduate coursework taken at UT to remain in good standing and to receive any graduate degree or certificate from the University. All coursework taken for graduate credit is computed into the GPA.Grades in graduate study have the following meanings:
A (4 quality points per semester hour), superior performance.
B+ (3.5 quality points per semester hour), better than satisfactory performance.
B (3 quality points per semester hour), satisfactory performance.
C+ (2.5 quality points per semester hour), less than satisfactory performance.
C (2 quality points per semester hour), performance well below the standard expected of graduate students.
D (1 quality point per semester hour), clearly unsatisfactory performance and cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements.
F (no quality points), extremely unsatisfactory performance and cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements.
I (no quality points), a temporary grade indicating that the student has performed satisfactorily in the course but, due to unforeseen circumstances, has been unable to finish all requirements. An I is NOT given to enable a student to do additional work to raise a deficient grade. The instructor, in consultation with the student, decides the terms for the removal of the I, including the time limit for removal. If the I is not removed within one calendar year, the grade will be changed to an F. The course will not be counted in the cumulative grade-point average until a final grade is assigned. No student may graduate with an I on the record.
S/NC (carries credit hours, but no quality points), S is equivalent to a grade of B or better, and NC means no credit earned. Courses in which NC is received may be repeated for a grade of S. A grade of S/NC is allowed only where indicated in the course description in the Graduate Catalog. The number of S/NC courses in a student's program is limited to one-fourth of the total credit hours required.
P/NP (carries credit hours, but no quality points), P indicates progress toward completion of a thesis or dissertation. NP indicates no progress or inadequate progress.
W (carries no credit hours or quality points), indicates that the student officially withdrew from the course.
The grading system available for a course is based on the level of the course. Courses numbered 100-499 are graded letter grade or S/NC, except where noted otherwise in the catalog. Courses numbered 500-699 are graded letter grade only, except where the graduate catalog indicates S/NC only or optional S/NC or letter grade. Veterinary Medicine courses are letter grade only except where noted S/NC only. Law courses are numeric, except where noted otherwise. There are restrictions regarding the use of S/NC graded courses, including the number of hours that may be used toward any degree program.
No graduate student may repeat a course for the purpose of raising a grade already received, with the exception of NC. A graduate student may not do additional work nor repeat an examination to raise a final grade. A change of grade may occur only in cases of arithmetic or clerical error. An instructor may not initiate a change of grade as a result of a reevaluation of the quality of the student's performance nor as a result of additional work performed by the student.
Refer to Law Courses under Registration and Enrollment Requirements and Law under Fields of Instruction for Law grading system.
Academic Standards
Graduate education requires continuous evaluation of the student. This includes not only periodic objective evaluation, such as the cumulative grade-point average, performance on comprehensive examinations and acceptance of the thesis or dissertation, but also judgments by the faculty of the student's progress and potential. Continuation in a program is determined by consideration of all these elements by the faculty and the head of the academic unit.The academic records of all graduate students are reviewed at the end of each semester, including the summer term. Graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on all graduate courses taken for a letter grade of A-F. Grades of S/NC, P/NP, and I, which have no numerical equivalent, are excluded from this computation.
Departments and programs may have requirements for continuation or graduation in addition to the minimum requirements set forth in this Catalog for all graduate programs. It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with the special requirements of the department or program.
Upon completion of nine hours of graduate coursework, a graduate student will be placed on academic probation when his/her cumulative GPA falls below 3.0. A student will be allowed to continue graduate study in subsequent semesters if each semester's grade-point average is 3.0 or greater. Upon achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.0, the student will be removed from probationary status.
If a student is on academic probation, the degree or non-degree status will be terminated by the Dean of Graduate Studies if the student's semester GPA falls below 3.0 in a subsequent semester. When the particular circumstances are deemed to justify continuation, and upon recommendation of the appropriate academic unit and approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies, a student on probation whose semester GPA is below 3.0 may be allowed to continue on a semester-by-semester basis.
Dismissal of a graduate student by a department or program is accomplished by written notice to the student, with a copy to Graduate Student Services. In those cases where the department's requirements for continuation are more stringent than University requirements for graduate programs, the Dean of Graduate Studies will evaluate the student's record to determine whether the student is eligible to apply for a change of status and register in another area of study. Registration for courses in a department from which a student has been dismissed will not be permitted, except by written authorization from that department.
Academic Honesty
Academic integrity is a responsibility of all members of the academic community. An honor statement is included on the application for admission and readmission. The applicant's signature acknowledges that adherence is confirmed. The honor statement declares that:An essential feature of The University of Tennessee is a commitment to maintaining an atmosphere of intellectual integrity and academic honesty. As a student of the University, I pledge that I will neither knowingly give nor receive any inappropriate assistance in academic work, thus affirming my own personal commitment to honor and integrity.PLAGIARISMStudents shall not plagiarize. Plagiarism is using the intellectual property or product of someone else without giving proper credit. The undocumented use of someone else's words or ideas in any medium of communication (unless such information is recognized as common knowledge) is a serious offense, subject to disciplinary action that may include failure in a course and/or dismissal from the University. Some examples of plagiarism are:
Using without proper documentation (quotation marks and a citation) written or spoken words, phrases, or sentences from any source,
Summarizing without proper documentation (usually a citation) ideas from another source (unless such information is recognized as common knowledge),
Borrowing facts, statistics, graphs, pictorial representations, or phrases without acknowledging the source (unless such information is recognized as common knowledge),
Submitting work, either in whole or in part, created by a professional service and used without attribution (e.g., paper, speech, bibliography, or photograph).Extreme caution should be exercised by students involved in collaborative research to avoid questions of plagiarism. If in doubt, students should check with the major professor and the Dean of Graduate Studies about the project. Plagiarism will be investigated when suspected and prosecuted if established.
Appeals Procedure
The Graduate Council Appeal Procedure can be obtained at the Office of Graduate Student Services. Normally, grievances should be handled at the departmental level through the student's advisor or the department or program head. Further appeal may be made to the Dean of the respective college, the Dean of Graduate Studies, the Graduate Council, and ultimately to the Provost.The Graduate Council hears appeals concerning the interpretation of and adherence to university, college and department policies and procedures as they apply to graduate education. The Council does not review grievances concerning grades, which are reviewed at the department or college level. Grades are appealed first to the faculty member and then, if necessary, to the department head and dean of the college.
Appeal procedures in regard to allegations of misconduct or academic dishonesty are presented in Hilltopics under "Student Rights and Responsibilities." Students with grievances related to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability or veteran status should file a formal complaint with the Office of Diversity Resources and Educational Services (DRES).