Graduate FAQ
Q: What are my responsibilities?
A: Your responsibilities include:
- Timely filing of all application materials
- Making time to periodically visit an academic advisor
- Keeping track of each semester's progress on your degree plan
- Knowing and observing all prerequisite course requirements, you can be dropped from a course if you do not have the listed prerequisites
- Applying for graduation according to the deadlines published in the Course Schedule
- Meeting all degree requirements of your degree plan as well as the general requirements outlined in the Catalog of the year specified by your degree plan
Q: What is the process for admission into the MBA, the MS, or the MA programs within the School of Management?
A: Admission into the program has three distinct steps:
- Submit the following application materials to the Admissions Office in the basement of the McDermott Library.
- An official GMAT or GRE score report
- Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
- An official TOEFL score report (Test of English as a Foreign Language) completed no more than two years prior to application to UTD School of Management is required of all international students.
- A resume detailing the applicant's employment history since high school is required of all applicants.
- Letters of references from 3 people (employers, community leaders, teachers, etc), are required of all applicants.
- One page essay outlining the applicant's academic interests and goals is required.
- All application materials are forwarded to the School of Management and reviewed to guarantee the selection of the most qualified applicants based upon a review of the items listed above.
- Once all paperwork has been received and processed, you will be notified of your admission status.
Q: What are the application deadlines?
A: For domestic applicants:
- Fall: July 1
- Spring: November 1
- Summer : April 1
- Fall: May 1
- Spring: September 1
- Summer : March 1
Q: I took the GRE already. Do I have to take the GMAT as well?
A: No, if you already have GRE scores and meet departmental standards, you may use those scores for admission review. This option is only available for those applicants who took the GRE prior to submitting an application. If you have not taken either test, you must take the GMAT exam.
Q: I haven't taken the GMAT but want to take classes. What can I do?
A: Upon a review of the credentials of a student seeking regular admission to the School of Management Master's level graduate programs, the admissions committee may recommend that the applicant, with the concurrence of the Dean of Graduate Studies, be granted a Conditional Admission. All applicants admitted on a conditional basis have the one initial semester of admission, (fall, spring, or summer), to satisfy the conditions stipulated. This may include but is not limited to; presenting a competitive score on the GMAT or GRE exam, retaking the GMAT or GRE exam in an attempt to present a competitive score, or enrolling in and completing with a satisfactory grade point average a specified group of lower level courses to enhance the academic background of the student in the appropriate areas. A student who successfully completes the stipulated conditions within the one semester may reapply for readmission to full and regular status within their chosen Master's Program. A student allowed to enroll in graduate level courses during their one semester of conditional admission is limited to enrolling in six credit hours of coursework chosen from the list of basic business core courses corresponding to their chosen degree plan. See a School of Management Graduate Advisor for further information.
Q: I am a new student: what should I do?
A: General recommendations:
- Obtain a UT-Dallas Catalog from the UTD Bookstore. The Catalog gives general university regulations and course descriptions. There is also an online catalog.
- Access the online class schedule. The Class Schedule lists the classes that are offered in the current semester.
- Stop by the SOM Advising Office for specific program information or to resolve any questions.
A: The degree plan is an official document that lists all the courses required for your chosen degree and shows how the courses that you have completed are applied toward the degree.
Q: When should I get a degree plan?
A: Ideally you should visit with a School of Management Academic Advisor to obtain a degree plan prior to enrolling in your first semester.
Q: What if a course on my degree plan is not available to take?
A: Contact your academic advisor to initiate the procedure to approve possible course substitutions. Any deviation from the degree plan must be approved prior to enrollment in the course.
Q: How do I register, add, and drop classes?
A: All these procedures are explained in the Class Schedule. During regular registration you may register in the basement of the library, the Advising Office or by internet.
Q: How many hours can be transferred into the program?
A: Up to 12 hours of graduate level course work from other universities may be transferred into the MS-AIM, the MS-MAS, the MS-ITM and the MA-IMS degree programs. Up to 15 hours of coursework from other universities may be used to transfer credit into the MBA degree program. See Transfers & Waivers.
Q: Are their any other limitations on transferring work from other institutions?
A: Transfer credits may be granted for equivalent graduate course work taken at other universities with a grade of B or better within the past six years. Consult the UTD Graduate Catalog for further details. Applications for transfers may be obtained in and submitted to the School of Management Advising Office, SOM 2.250.
Q: Can courses be taken at other institutions after enrolling in a School of Management graduate program?
A: Students officially admitted to a School of Management graduate program must obtain prior approval before taking any courses at another university. The resultant transfer hours may be denied if prior approval is not obtained. See the School of Management Advising Office for details on applying for pre-approvals.
A: Waivers are approved by the appropriate Program Director through a process which allows a student to skip a core course and take the next higher level course in the same academic area with no reduction in the overall program credit hour requirements. Waivers of program requirements may be granted in recognition of previous coursework completed with a grade of B or better within the past six years in a specific business program area. See Transfers & Waivers.
Q: What if I want to change to a different graduate program within the School of Management?
A: Students may change their intended degrees within the School of Management as long as they are in good standing (3.0 GPA) and meet the current admission requirements of the new degree program. A Change of Major form (available in the SOM Advising Office) must be completed and submitted to your academic advisor.
Q: How do I satisfy the calculus prerequisite for graduate study within the School of Management graduate programs?
A: Completion of MATH 5304 or the undergraduate equivalent, (MATH 1325) satisfies the calculus prerequisite for all Masters level programs. Students who do not have these requirements may be admitted into the school, but must satisfy them within the first 12 hours of UTD course work. Certain programs within the School of Management may require additional prerequisites.
Q: Why do I have to take this calculus course when I feel capable of passing the courses without it?
A: Math 5304 is a review course that covers material from the two semesters of undergraduate calculus required of all SOM Bachelor degree students. This course is not just a prerequisite for a few classes, it is a program prerequisite as well. It is considered the defining course for all management studies at UT-Dallas. Graduates of the SOM are expected by industry to have achieved a high level of quantitative skill. In fact a large percentage of graduate students in the SOM come into the program with backgrounds in math and engineering. Math 5304 is designed to equip you with the tools to be competitive with the students who have strong quantitative backgrounds.
Q: How long do I have to complete my master's degree?
A: All course work applicable to a master's degree must be completed within one consecutive six year period, including any transfer coursework.
Q: I was originally admitted on a conditional basis. Now that I am degree seeking, how do I transfer the courses I took as a conditionally admitted student into my degree plan?
A: A: Applicable courses you took at UT-Dallas as a conditionally admitted student will be automatically transferred towards your degree program once you have been admitted to full degree seeking status.
Q: Are employment services available?
A: Employment services are available for undergraduate and graduate students seeking employment or career information through the Career Center in the basement of the McDermott Library.
Q: Where can I get financial aid information?
A: See the Financial Aid web site.
