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What is the Writing Component requirement?
What is the U.S. History requirement?
What is the Communication and Culture Requirement?
Will nutrition count toward meeting my Natural Science requirement?
May E 316K be repeated?
What course counts for the third English course requirement?
Will Physical Education (PED) courses count toward my Communication degree?
What is a full course load?
What is the maximum number of hours I may take in one semester?
Does it cost more to take hours beyond a full course load (12 hours)?
What if I want to register for more or less than the required 12 hours each semester?
What is the maximum number of hours I can take in Communication?
How many upper division hours will I need to complete?
May I take courses in the College of Communication or any of my degree requirements on a pass-fail basis?
What if I have an entrance deficiency?
What GPA do I need to have to be able to take Communication courses?
What grades do I need to get in my courses?
May I repeat a course?
How will I know who my designated academic advisor is?
How can my academic advisor help me?
How can I make the most of my advising session?
How do I make an appointment with my designated academic advisor?
Do you have registration tips?
What information about students is public and what is private?
What if I have an incomplete?
When do I apply for graduation?
Who do I contact about my graduation requirements?
What events are there to help students familiarize themselves with the university upon arrival?
What does flat rate tuition cover?
Is concurrent enrollment allowed?
What if I need to take a placement exam for credit during my graduating semester?
Type of degree – B.S. or B.A.?
May I declare a minor in the College of Communication?
The College requires two writing component courses. Both courses may be in the College of Communication and may be a part of the major coursework. The courses may be lower or upper-division. The course must be listed in the Course Schedule as containing a substantial writing component for that semester in order for it to count. Course numbers will display a “W” to indicate that they meet the writing component.
The legislative requirement for History is six (6) hours of American History. In the Course Schedule under the History Department course listings, the phrase "partially fulfills legislative requirement" must be present underneath the course title. That is the key phrase that confirms the course will count toward the U.S. History requirement.
This requirement consists of a three-hour course that emphasizes a non-dominant minority group in the U.S. The courses are offered in the College and are listed in the Course Schedule. This course will count toward your communication coursework required for the degree. Each semester the Office of Student Affairs provides a list of courses that will be accepted for this requirement. Check the current course offerings for more information.
No. Nutrition courses will not count toward meeting the Natural Science requirement.
English 316K, a course that is taught under three topics--World Lit., British Lit., American Lit.—MAY NOT be repeated for credit. You may take E 316K only once. Prerequisite: credit for E 306 and 27 hours of college credit.
Any course offered by the Department of English or the Department of Rhetoric and Composition which is not a repeat of RHE 306 or E 316K may count for this requirement. Be sure that you have completed any prerequisite that may be required for the course. Note: Public Relations majors are subject to different English course requirements (they must take 12 hours of English/Rhetoric, and in addition to RHE 306 and E 316K, they must take six hours from RHE 309K, 309L or 309S or 310).
Physical Education is not required for any degree in the College and PED courses will not count toward a degree. You may enroll in PED courses but they will not count toward any type of graduation credit.
To be a full time student, you need to enroll in 12 hours during the fall and spring and at least 9 hours during the summer. This can often be an important issue for insurance purposes. The University requires that if you have less than a 2.0 GPA, you must maintain a full course-load of 12 hours. If you are on financial aid, live in University housing, or receive VA and Social Security benefits you must also take at least 12 hours.
You may not register for more than 17 hours in a semester without consent (14 hours maximum during the summer). To request consent, you must visit with an academic advisor in the Office of Student Affairs.
The flat rate tuition amount for taking a full course load (at least 12 hours) or more is the same fixed rate.
Please consult an academic advisor in the Office of Student Affairs about how this decision will impact your academic progress and your financial affairs within the University.
There is a minimum and maximum number of Communication hours that you can count. This number depends on your major.
You are required to complete at least 36 hours of upper-division credit. These 36 hours include major courses as well as all other courses (such as electives). Upper-division courses are numbered 320-379. The middle digit must be 2 through 7. Example: RTF 333.
No. Courses in the College and courses specifically required for the degree (e.g., language requirement, science, U.S. History, etc.) must be taken on a letter-grade basis. Even if you are taking a Communication course as an elective, it may not be taken pass-fail (unless it is offered only pass-fail, such as the internship course).
You may take no more than 15 hours of electives on a pass-fail basis. The internship course in the student's major and coursework earned through placement tests (where you can petition for a CR grade) do not count against the 15 permitted hours. Advertising students note: The statistics course, which is a prerequisite course for certain upper-division Advertising courses, may not be taken pass-fail; a letter-grade of C is required. However, it counts only as an elective in the degree plan.
Some students enter the College with deficiencies from high school. These deficiencies must be made up (with college level coursework) before graduation and the hours taken to fulfill this deficiency will not count toward the degree. Questions about deficiencies should be directed to the Office of Student Affairs.
A 2.25 GPA is required to enroll in all upper-division Communication courses. This rule applies to all students in The University. If you do not have a 2.25 GPA, you will NOT be able to register in advance for upper-division Communication courses you wish to take the next semester. If you will have a 2.25 GPA by the beginning of the fall or spring semester then you may try to add during the first four class days (first two class days during the summer).
A grade of C is required in each course taken in the College of Communication (unless the course is offered only on a pass/fail basis). Some departments may require higher grades in individual courses; (e.g. a B is required in ADV 318J to advance in the major). Grades of D in Communication courses remain on your record and are averaged into your GPA, but the course will not count toward the hours in the major nor toward the 120 hours required for the degree. A grade of D will count in non-Communication required courses such as science, U.S. History, languages, etc.
If you repeat a course, all attempts will be used to calculate the University grade point average to determine your scholastic eligibility to remain in school. However, when you repeat a course, we will only count your most recent attempt for degree requirements.
Following their enrollment in the College of Communication, new students and returning students will receive separate email notification with information about their designated academic advisor. Students will then be able to log on to the online appointment system to view their advisor’s contact information, availability and to make an appointment. Questions and/or problems should be addressed to the Office of Student Affairs at (512) 471-1553.
It is highly recommended that you visit your designated academic advisor at various stages during your academic career.
Your academic advisor can help you:
• Ensure success in achieving your academic goals
• Provide you with up-to-date information about university, college and departmental graduation requirements.
• Provide you with information on options, limitations and advise you on the consequences of decisions related to your academic progress.
• Review your progress toward your degree and anticipate any problems.
The following list provides some tips to help you prepare for a productive advising session:
• Read the course schedule and college and department advising information for your degree program and requirements.
• Know the special requirements of your degree program, and pay attention to prerequisite and consent requirements.
• Keep track of your academic records: your current class schedule, grades, degree audits, and transfer credit evaluations. Use UTDirect to access this information.
• Visit the Career Exploration Center and the Communication Career Services Office to explore your vocational interests, job and internship opportunities.
• Accept responsibility for planning and for decision-making related to your studies.
• See an advisor regularly.
Advisors see students on an appointment basis and on a walk-in schedule Monday through Friday. You can see your designated academic advisor’s availability and make an appointment via the online appointment system, or you can make an appointment in person or over the phone by calling the Office of Student Affairs (512) 471-1553, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Always register at your first available access time. Always be prepared with alternate course selections in the event you do not receive all requested courses. When you attempt to register for a course, the computer will search for all unique numbers of the course if the requested one is unavailable.
Certain information on your student record, such as address, telephone number, dates of attendance, and degrees received, is defined as directory information and is released to the public on request. The College of Communication cannot release confidential information (even to your parents) without a signed release form from you. Complete definitions of public and private student information and regulations covering the release of such information by the University are given in General Information, Appendix C, Chapter 9, Educational Records.
The University uses the symbol 'X' to indicate a "temporary delay in reporting a final course grade." An 'X' may be given by the instructor for circumstances beyond your control, not for your convenience or for that of the instructor.
An 'X' may be given by your instructor for the following reasons:
1. If you miss a final exam because of a legitimate non-academic problem such as illness. Notify your instructor and the department and/or your Dean's Office immediately. If you miss a final due to illness or injury, get medical confirmation -see a medical doctor. Talk to your instructor about your situation and make arrangements to take the exam as soon as possible. The key point is that you need to have immediate communication with your instructor. Only the instructor may grant a delay of the final exam. If you miss the final exam and do not make arrangements to complete the final, you will receive an 'F' in the course.
2. If you have incomplete work in a course, you may receive an 'X' depending upon the circumstances. You must have a passing average in your other work, including the final examination, to be eligible. You must get your instructor's approval and make arrangements with the instructor to complete the required work for the course.
3. You have been given a re-examination privilege. If you fail the final exam of a course but otherwise have a 'C' average in the course, at the discretion of the instructor, you may be allowed to retake the final exam. You will receive an 'X' until your final grade is reported. You must make at least a 'C' on the re-examination. If you do not, a final course grade of 'F' is recorded.
In all three cases, the instructor should send a grade change form to the Office of Student Affairs once you have completed the missing coursework. The Student Dean must give final approval. The final course grade will then replace the 'X' and your GPA will be refigured.
NOTE: The 'X' will not have a negative effect on your grade point average for the time being, but it will change to an 'F' at the end of the next long-session semester if you do nothing about it. If you will complete the 'X', do not enroll for the course again. To get credit for the course, you simply finish the course in which you have the 'X.'
You must apply for graduation on the Office of Student Affairs website by the deadline listed in the Course Schedule. The deadline falls around mid-semester. However, we encourage you to meet with an advisor before or during registration to make sure you are enrolling for the correct coursework.
Advisors will discuss actual number of hours and requirements you need to graduate. They can also help you with next semester's schedule, calculate your GPA or answer any academic question you may have. It's also good to look at your Interactive Degree Audit (IDA), which can be used to determine the hours you have remaining for your degree. Visit our office regularly to be sure you are still on track. For more information on graduation requirements, please consult an academic advisor in the Office of Student Affairs.
Two programs you may participate in include CommUnity and Gone to Texas. CommUnity takes place at the beginning of every fall semester. We invite you and other new freshmen and transfer students to visit the College to meet other students, faculty and staff in an informal setting. You are treated to dinner and live entertainment. At the dinner, representatives from various student organizations are on hand to give information to students interested in taking part in nonacademic activities. Gone to Texas is The University’s version of CommUnity and takes place later in the evening on the same day. You and the other students from across campus will have the opportunity to meet other students, learn about student organizations and take part in various activities that will introduce them to The University.
The flat rate tuition amount covers academic program costs, including tuition, mandatory fees and charges, and college and course incidental fees. Students taking a full load (12 or more semester credit hours) are charged the flat rate tuition amount for their college. Each college flat rate tuition amount is prorated for students taking less than 12 semester credit hours.
While you are enrolled at The University, you cannot attend another university/college except under certain circumstances. For example, one stipulation is that you must be enrolled full-time at UT to enroll concurrently at another institution. Concurrent enrollment applies to Continuing Education (correspondence, extension) or courses at another university or college. Contact Student Affairs before attempting to take a course concurrently as you must get approval in advance by filling out a “Petition for Concurrent Enrollment” and agreeing to the policy rules.
If you plan to take a placement exam for credit during your graduating semester, you must take the test and petition for credit prior to the graduation application deadline, which is mid-semester. If you cannot obtain credit prior to the mid-semester deadline, you must apply to graduate the following semester.
Many years ago, the differences between a B.S. and B.A. degree were much greater. Nowadays, there are only slight differences and many Universities see little distinctions between the two. The College of Communication has chosen to award B.S. degrees (except for those receiving a Bachelor of Journalism) because many of our students wish to receive and work for more than one degree. If the college awarded a B.A. degree, this would not be possible as you are only allowed to receive ONE B.A. degree. Because the college awards a B.S. degree, you may pursue degrees in other majors.
If you are a student of The College of Communication you may not declare a minor. As an alternative, you may consider special certificate programs such as the Business Foundations Program, the Latino Media Studies Program, and the Elements of Computing Program. Information on each of those programs, and other special academic opportunities has been included in the College of Communication Student Handbook.