Undergraduate FAQ
Q: What are my responsibilities?
A: Your responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Read the catalog!
- Access the online academic calendar. It contains lots of valuable information for the entire semester! (deadlines, etc)
- Repeated courses: File a repeated course adjustment form during the semester in which you are repeating the course in the Records Office.
- Maintain close contact with an advisor to avoid roadblocks in satisfying degree requirements.
- Attend class!
- Dropping a course before the posted drop dates.
- Paying for classes before the posted deadline.
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 what classes 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.
A: If you register by the internet you may pay by using a Discover Card or Master Card. Otherwise you may pay at the Bursar's Office. An installment plan is available during the Fall and Spring semesters. Please do not wait for a bill to be mailed to you. Whether or not you receive a bill you are still responsible for making all payments by the payment deadline.
Q: Are classes available in the evening?
A: All undergraduate classes needed to finish an undergraduate SOM degree at UT-Dallas are available as evening courses.
Q: Are their any Saturday classes?
A: Currently a few of the courses are offered on Saturday. We plan to increase the Saturday course offerings each semester as enrollments allow.
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: You may apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available through their website or by obtaining an application through UTD's Financial Aid Office located in the basement of the McDermott Library.
A: File a change of major form in the advising office of the newly desired major.
A: File a form in the advising office of your declared major.
Q: How do I get an incomplete?
A: A grade of incomplete may be given, at the discretion of the instructor of record for a course, when a student has completed at least 70% of the required course material but cannot complete all requirements by the end of the semester. An incomplete course grade in an undergraduate course must be completed within the time period specified by the instructor, not to exceed the deadline published in the class schedule. Students may obtain the petition form for a grade of incomplete in the Advising Office.
Q: If I repeat a course at a community college that I have already taken at UTD, does the community college course grade replace the UTD grade?
A: No! A student who wishes to repeat a course previously taken at UT-Dallas to improve a grade must repeat the course at UT-Dallas.
Q: If I fail a course at UT-Dallas, may I transfer the course from another institution?
A: No! If a student fails a course at UT-Dallas, credit for the course cannot be transferred from another institution.
Q: If I make a "D" in a class, must I repeat the class?
A: No, you don't have to. Of course, you can repeat the class to raise your GPA. You must have a 2.0 GPA overall and a 2.0 GPA in your major core to satisfy GPA graduation requirements.
Q: What courses will fulfill my advanced elective requirements?
A: Your advanced elective requirements are fulfilled by courses that are upper level or have one or more prerequisites and that are not BA or ACCT courses. When you visit with an advisor to set up a degree plan, the advisor will explain the specific elective requirements for your particular degree plan.
Q: May I use a co-op or internship credit on my degree plan?
A: You must see an advisor to discuss the possibility of using co-op or internship credit on your degree plan. The advisor must review your degree plan to determine whether or not the credit may be used toward the elective requirements on your degree plans. Neither co-op nor internship credit may be used for any requirements other than electives on your degree plan.
Q: Where do I go to find information about setting up a co-op or internship?
A: To get information about setting up a co-op or internship contact the Career Center in the basement of the McDermott Library or call 972-883-6816.
Q: How many courses may be transferred to UTD from other institutions of higher learning?
A: You must complete a minimum of 30 hours and at least half of your core courses at UTD. You must also complete at least 24 of your last 30 hours at UTD. After you begin taking classes at UTD, you must seek approval from an undergraduate advisor in the School of Management Advising Office before taking any courses outside of UTD.
Q: Is there a time limit on how long I have to complete my bachelor's degree?
A: The catalog is good for 8 years from its beginning. For example, if you start UTD under the 2000-2002 catalog, you have until the summer of 2008 to stay under that catalog. If you do not finish your degree in 8 years, you will be moved to a newer catalog and be responsible for completing any additional courses that have been added to the newer catalog.
Q: Is tutoring available at UTD?
A: Yes, the LRC Learning Resource Center, located on the first floor of the McDermott library offers a math lab and a writing lab. They also offer tutoring for many subjects offered here at UTD, in addition to math and writing intensive courses.
Q: Am I limited to how many credit hours I can take in one semester?
A: The maximum number of hours a student can take in a fall or spring semester is 18. To exceed that number, approval must be granted by the College Master, on a case by case basis. The recommended number of hours a student takes each semester can vary greatly, depending on the individual situation of the student.
