GENERAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

  • Degrees Offered
  • Enrollment and Grading Policies
  • University Undergraduate Degree Requirements
  • University Graduate Degree Requirements

DEGREES OFFERED

The University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) is authorized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to confer ten degrees in 38 undergraduate and 45 graduate plans (majors).

DEGREES CONFERRED

PLANS OFFERED

School of Business

School of Education

School of Human Sciences and Humanities

School of Science and Computer Engineering

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY

Students are responsible for knowing all degree requirements and enrolling in courses appropriate for chosen degree plans (programs). Students also are responsible for knowing all university regulations regarding student affairs and course work standards required for study undertaken in the university. While this catalog was prepared on the basis of the best information available at the time, all information including statements of fees, course offerings, admissions and graduation requirements is subject to change without notice or obligation. The most recent information regarding degree requirements and academic standards may be obtained from the appropriate dean's office. Student affairs information may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Dean of Students, or by contacting the individual student services offices.

ENROLLMENT AND GRADING POLICIES

In conjunction with academic performance standards, the policies listed below are utilized by the university in monitoring the academic progress of students.

COURSE LOAD

Students should be aware that academic work will be at advanced levels and should consider individual abilities when determining an appropriate course load. Course load limits may be set as terms of probation or readmission to the university after suspension. The university limits course loads to a maximum of 15 hours for graduate students and 19 hours for undergraduates during the fall and spring semesters. For the summer semester, the limits are 9 hours for graduate students and 12 hours for undergraduate students.

In evaluating their ability to carry a certain course load, students should consider:

Under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, international students are required to maintain full-time enrollment during each fall and spring semester. In addition, no more than three credit hours per semester of courses taken online may be counted towards full-time enrollment for F and J student visa holders.

FULL-TIME/PART-TIME STATUS COURSE LOAD

Term    Status    Undergraduate    Graduate   
Fall and Spring Semesters    Full-time    12 hours    9 hours   
¾ time    9 hours    6 hours   
½ time    6 hours    3 hours   
Nine-Week Summer Sessions    Full-time    6 hours    5 hours   
¾ time    5 hours    3-4 hours   
½ time    3-4 hours    2 hours   
Five-Week Summer Sessions    Full-time    4 hours    3 hours   
¾ time    3 hours    2 hours   
½ time    1 hour    1 hour   

Less than half-time VA certification covers tuition and fees only. Active military receive tuition and fees only. When enrolled in a cooperative education course, students will be considered full-time for purposes of enrollment verification. Students enrolled in at least three hours of master's option course work will be considered full-time for the purposes of enrollment verification for loan deferment.

RESIDENT CREDIT

Resident credit is defined in two ways:

Students should be aware that credits earned elsewhere without prior approval from UHCL are not considered credits "earned in residence" for the purpose of fulfilling general degree requirements.

CLASS ATTENDANCE

Regular class attendance is expected of all students. What constitutes an acceptable rate of class attendance is a matter between students and their instructors, although the university expects instructors to maintain reasonable standards. Whenever instructors determine that students' absences have been excessive, they have the right to request that the appropriate associate dean withdraw the students from the course.

Withdrawal Mark

Students who drop courses or withdraw from all courses by the withdrawal date as stated in the academic calendar receive a "WX" (Withdrawal, No Evaluation). The mark of "WX" implies no evaluation of students' performance prior to withdrawal. Students may retain auditing privileges with the instructor's consent.

Student-Initiated Withdrawals

Students' applications for official withdrawal from courses or from the university must be made to the Office of Academic Records on the telephone registration system or through E-Services prior to the deadline stated in the academic calendar. Withdrawals in writing can be made by mail or by fax to 281-283-2530 and are effective on the date of receipt. Student-initiated drops and withdrawals are irrevocable. Retroactive drops or withdrawals are not permitted. Students lose all university privileges on the date the withdrawal from the university is effective.

Administrative Withdrawals

The university reserves the right to withdraw students from a class or all classes if, in the judgment of the appropriate university officials, such withdrawals are in the best interests of the students and the university. Students may be withdrawn for reasons of health, irresponsible financial conduct, unacceptable personal conduct, Honesty Code violations or other academic infractions or disregard of official summonses to respond to official requests.

DESCRIPTIONS OF LETTER GRADES

Undergraduate

Graduate

Grades of "+" or "-" are refinements of the letter grades, represent grade point variations and may be used at the discretion of the instructor.

GRADING SYSTEM

Grade   
Grade Points Per Semester Hour   
4.000    A   
3.667    A-   
3.333    B+   
3.000    B   
2.667    B-   
2.333    C+   
2.000    C   
1.667    C-   
1.333    D+   
1.000    D   
0.667    D-   
0.000    F   
WX*    Withdrawal, No Evaluation   
NG*    No Grade Submitted, Contact Instructor   
I*    Incomplete-No Credit, unless work is not completed on time, then an F is given   
CR*+    Credit   
NC*+    No Credit   
IP*++    In Progress-No Credit   

*These grades are not included in computing the grade point average

+CR/NC awarded only for CLEP, master's option and TexES course work

++IP awarded only for master's option course work

Grade Point Average (GPA)

This average is computed by multiplying the semester hours of each course attempted by the grade points earned in the particular course and then dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of hours attempted excluding those hours for which grades are shown with asterisk (*) above. GPAs will round at three decimals.

Cumulative GPA is based on the grade points earned sinceadmission to UHCL or since the last UHCL degree awarded.All UHCL undergraduate and graduate courses taken by undergraduate or post-baccalaureate students are calculated in the undergraduate GPA. All UHCL undergraduate and graduate courses taken by graduate students are calculated in the graduate GPA. Courses transferred in do not calculate in the UHCL GPA.

Incomplete Grade and Incomplete Grade Contract

A grade of Incomplete ("I") may be given at the discretion of the instructor to students who are making satisfactory progress in a course. Incompletes are typically given for emergency situations which occur after the withdrawal date but prior to the end of the semester, and which prevent the student from completing course requirements. When assigning the grade of "I," instructors provide students with an Incomplete Grade Contract that outlines the work to be accomplished before the "I" can be converted to a final grade and specifies a deadline date; this contract constitutes an agreement between instructors and students. A grade of "I" must be resolved within the time limit set by instructors; however, such limits may not be extended beyond the grade submission deadline for the next long semester following the semester in which the "I" was assigned. Failure to resolve an "I" will result in its conversion to a final grade of "F" on students' permanent records. An "I" can be converted to a final grade only. A statement denoting the lapse will appear on the transcript.

Students should not re-register for a course to complete a grade of "I." Incomplete grade contracts are submitted to the appropriate associate dean‘s office.

Students on academic probation, who have outstanding "I" grades, will remain on probation until all incompletes are resolved. "I" grades are not calculated in the GPA. An "I" which has been changed to a grade or has been converted to an "F" will be recorded and academic action taken during the semester of the grade change.

In Progress Grade

Master's Thesis, Project and Residency require continuous enrollment. A grade of In Progress ("IP") will be recorded until final grade assignment for completion of the master's option. Not all internships require continuous enrollment but those that do are eligible for "IP" grades. The "IP" grade will not automatically convert to "F" if not resolved within a specified time. At the time final grades for master's option course work are assigned, outstanding "IP" grades will be converted to Credit ("CR") or No-Credit ("NC"). If the final grades are "C" or better, six hours of the letter grade assigned will be recorded and the remaining "IP" grades will be converted to "CR." If the final grades are "C-" or below, six hours of the letter grade assigned will be recorded and the remaining "IP" grades will be converted to "NC." Faculty, with the approval of the associate dean, may change an additional three hours of "IP" to a final letter grade. Students enrolled in master's option course work are automatically enrolled in the same course each fall and spring semester until a final grade is assigned (see Automatic Enrollment). Students must complete an application for graduation by the stated deadline during their last semester of enrollment. Failure to do so will result in a delay of graduation to a future semester.

Grade Changes

Grade changes are allowed for only one of the following three reasons:

Other than removing an incomplete, grades will not be changed on the basis of extra work submitted after final grades are assigned.

Only the course instructor may assign grades for students in a course. Grade changes may be made by the instructor or the associate dean in the absence of the instructor. After one long semester, a grade change submitted by an instructor must be approved by the associate dean for the plan (program) in which the course is taught. Grade changes must be filed in the Office of Academic Records within one year after the original grade is posted. Grade changes resulting from the completion of In Progress ("IP") or Incomplete ("I") work may only be initiated by the instructor of record or the associate dean. When the grade change is processed, students will be notified by mail by the Office of Academic Records. Academic action that results from a grade change will be taken during the semester of the grade change. The changed grade will be the final grade used to compute the GPA.

Repeated Courses

If students repeat a course, it is with the understanding that the last grade earned in the course is the one counted toward fulfillment of degree requirements and hours earned.Only the hours and grade points earned on the last attempt will be counted in the Grade Point Average (GPA) calculation and in determining academic standing. With prior approval of the appropriate associate dean, students may repeat courses at another college or university to raise a grade, including "F," earned at UHCL. However, the original grade earned at UHCL will remain a part of the academic record. Courses repeated at other institutions are treated as transfer credit. They will not be considered resident credit and will not be included in the UHCL GPA.Only grades earned on repeated courses taken at UHCL will be counted in the UHCL GPA.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

The university expects students to meet certain standards of academic performance in order to maintain good standing and degree candidacy. The academic performance standards stated in this catalog apply to all students regardless of the catalog under which they entered the university.

Undergraduate Academic Status

Undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.000 or better in course work at UHCL. Each school may establish standards beyond the university's minimum cumulative GPA requirement. A minimum of 2.000 cumulative GPA is required to graduate. All course work taken as an undergraduate will be used in calculating the grade point average and determining academic status even when those courses are not counted toward degree requirements.

Graduate Academic Status

Graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or better in course work at UHCL. Each school may establish standards beyond the university's minimum cumulative GPA requirement. A minimum of 3.000 cumulative GPA is required to graduate. All course work taken as a graduate student will be used in calculating the grade point average and determining academic status even when those courses are not counted toward degree requirements.

Academic Probation

Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.000 (3.000 for graduate students) will be placed on academic probation. Students who are on academic probation must earn a minimum 2.000 semester GPA (3.000 for graduate students) on course work each subsequent semester until the grade point deficiency is removed. Only course work taken at UHCL will be applied toward the grade point deficiency. Students on academic probation, whose cumulative GPA meets minimum requirements, will remain on probation until all incompletes are resolved. Students who leave the university on academic probation will be readmitted on academic probation. Academic probation will be noted permanently on students' academic records.

Academic Suspension

Students who are on academic probation and earn less than a minimum 2.000 semester GPA (3.000 for graduate students) will be suspended from the university. During academic suspension, students may not enroll, audit or visit classes at the university. Academic suspension will be noted permanently on students' academic records.

Reinstatement

Students who are suspended from the university for the first time may apply for reinstatement after one semesterof non-enrollment. Students on suspension for the second time are eligible to apply for reinstatement after one year of non-enrollment. Students who have been suspended three times are suspended indefinitely. All academic suspensions are career specific (UGRD and GRAD).The suspension count is reset to zero for undergraduate students who pursue a UHCL graduate degree. Reinstatement following suspension is not automatic. Students who are eligible and seek reinstatement must submit to the associate dean of the school to which they wish to return a written petition justifying their readiness to resume satisfactory academic work at the university. Students who are non-degree-seeking [plan (major) codes NONDEGRUG, NONDEGREGR or NONDEGRPB] petition the Office of the Provost. At the time of application for reinstatement from academic suspension, students desiring to change their major from one school to another must submit a Request for Academic Record Change (ARC) form along with a petition for reinstatement to the associate dean of the school to which they wish to be admitted. Courses taken at another college or university while students are on suspension from UHCL may not fulfill UHCL upper-level or graduate degree requirements. Such courses may only be used with special permission from the associate dean. If a student has completed additional lower-level requirements during the suspension, it is advisable to include a transcript with the petition, in addition to having an official transcript sent to the Office of Admissions. Students petitioning for reinstatement over five years after their last term of attendance at UHCL must also resubmit official transcripts from universities and colleges previously attended. Records from previous institutions are destroyed after five years of academic inactivity.

Petitions for reinstatement must be submitted by the following dates:

Summer Semester    April 1   
Fall Semester    July 1   
Spring Semester    November 1   

Students who have not been enrolled for at least one year must file an admissions application with the Office of Admissions and meet the requirements for readmission of former students after reinstatement has been granted.

If students are allowed to enter the university after academic suspension, they enter on academic probation and will remain in that status until their cumulative GPA meets the minimum requirement of 2.000 for undergraduates or 3.000 for graduates.A student who is reinstated must undergo mandatory advising until such time that he/she returns to academic good standing. Disciplinary suspensions are not covered by this policy. For details of the UHCL disciplinary policy, see the Student Life Policy Handbook.

DEAN'S LIST

At the end of each semester, all undergraduate students who earn nine or more credit hours during a fall or spring semester (or six or more credit hours during a summer semester) will be considered for the Dean's List. To be named to the Dean's List, students must be in the top 10 percent of eligible students in their schools, based on semester GPA.Students who receive any form of the grades of "I," "D," "NG," "NC," or "F" during the semester are not eligible for the Dean's List.

STANDING

Students have junior standing when they have earned 29 or fewer UHCL semester hours. They are classified as seniors when they have earned at least 30 UHCL hours but have not been awarded a bachelor's degree. Post-baccalaureate students have previously earned bachelor's degrees and are enrolled in undergraduate course work at UHCL. These students are considered as undergraduate students for all academic purposes and are not eligible to enroll in graduate courses except under the provision outlined for undergraduate enrollment at the graduate level. Graduate standing is given to those students who have earned a bachelor's degree and have indicated their intent to study in the graduate career (level) or pursue teacher certification at UHCL by submitting a graduate studies application.

MISSED EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Students are expected to be present at all announced examinations, including final examinations. Unless satisfactory alternate arrangements are made with instructors, missed examinations will be considered as failed. Students who must be absent from classes for the observance of a religious holy day (as defined by the Texas Education Code) will be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence. Students needing to reschedule an examination or assignment for a holy day should submit a letter of request or appropriate form to each instructor within 15 days from the first class day of the semester. An instructor should acknowledge receipt where indicated on the form and return a copy to the student. A new date for taking an examination or completing an assignment missed for a holy day shall be set by the instructor. Should an instructor not honor the request for rescheduling examinations or assignments for holy days by setting reasonable new due dates, students may appeal the decision to their associate dean. The instructor or associate dean may require a letter of verification of the observed holy day from the religious institution.

UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT IN GRADUATE COURSES

Seniors who are degree-seeking students at UHCL and who wish to take graduate courses may qualify and enroll in them subject to these conditions:

Undergraduate courses are defined as those courses with course numbers in the 3000 and 4000 range. Graduate courses are defined as those courses with course numbers in the 5000,6000, 7000, and 8000 range.7000 and 8000 range courses are restricted to doctoral students.

Graduate courses taken as an undergraduate will only calculate in the undergraduate hours earned and in the undergraduate GPA. Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate non-degree-seeking students are not eligible to enroll in graduate courses.

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM

UHCL is the first upper-level educational institution in Texas to award the bachelor's degree to inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). This program is administered by the School of Human Sciences and Humanities and offers the Bachelor of Science and the Master of Arts degrees.

ACADEMIC APPEALS

Academic appeals include those appeals related to grades and academic plans (programs) or degree requirements. Specific instructions are provided below for each type of academic appeal. In all instances, the university expects that every attempt will be made initially to resolve such disputes informally through discussions by all relevant parties prior to initiating formal procedures.

Grade Appeals

All appeals relating to specific course grades require that students first seek a satisfactory solution with the instructor. If this is not possible or the instructor cannot be reached, the student must send a written statement detailing the grounds for the appeal to the associate dean of the school in which the grade was earned. This written request must be received by the associate dean within 45 days from the calendar date when grades are available as reported in the UHCL class schedule for that semester. The associate dean will then initiate the appropriate procedures to review the appeal. The student will be notified in writing of the decision. The student may appeal this decision in writing to the dean within 15 working days of notification. The dean's decision is final on all grade appeals.

APPEALS OF ACADEMIC PROGRAM OR DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

All appeals relating to specific program requirements (e.g., residency requirements, master's degree option decisions) require that students submit a written petition to the associate dean of the degree-granting school detailing the grounds for the appeal. The associate dean will respond in writing with a decision. The student may appeal this decision in writing to the dean within 15 working days of notification. The dean's decision is final.

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

Preamble and Code

Academic honesty is the cornerstone of the academic integrity of the university. It is the foundation upon which the student builds personal integrity and establishes a standard of personal behavior. The university can best function and accomplish its mission in an atmosphere of the highest ethical standards. The university expects and encourages all students to contribute to such an atmosphere by observing all accepted principles of academic honesty. This policy is designed to encourage honest behavior and is jointly administered by faculty and students.

HONESTY CODE: The Honesty Code is the university community's standard of honesty and is endorsed by all members of the University of Houston-Clear Lake academic community. It is an essential element of the university's academic credibility. It states:

I will be honest in all my academic activities and will not tolerate dishonesty.

Section I: Responsibilities

Joint Responsibility: Students and members of the faculty are jointly responsible for maintaining the academic integrity of the university by following the Academic Honesty Code and by refusing to participate in or tolerate scholastic dishonesty.

Student Responsibility: All students at the University of Houston-Clear Lake are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in all academic work attempted while enrolled at the university. This standard of conduct includes reporting incidents of alleged violation of the honesty policy to the instructor involved or, if necessary, to the appropriate academic dean. Each student acknowledges, by the mere act of turning in work for a grade, that he or she has honored the Academic Honesty Code.

Faculty Responsibility: Faculty are responsible for helping students comply with the Academic Honesty Policy by noting the Honest Code on the class syllabus. Instructors should help minimize student temptation to violate the code by enacting adequate security precautions in the preparation, handling and administering of graded work. Instructors are responsible for discussing incidents of alleged violation of the Honesty Code with the student involved, outlining authorized penalties for violation of the Honesty Code and notifying the student's academic dean of record and the Dean of Students when a determination has been made that a student has violated the Honesty Code, regardless of which type of academic sanction the instructor chooses to administer.

While all students are expected to maintain the highest standards of personal academic honesty, it is recognized that some students may not meet these standards. This policy is designated to address, in a uniform manner, cases of alleged violation of the Honesty Code.

Section II: Violations

Honesty Code Violations: Any conduct or activity by a student intended to earn or improve a grade or receive any form of credit by fraudulent or dishonest means is considered an Honesty Code violation. In addition, engaging in any conduct including the following examples which a reasonable person in the same or similar circumstances would recognize as academic dishonesty is considered a violation. Examples of violations of the Honesty Code include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Acquiring information:
    1. Acquiring information for any assigned work or examination from any source not authorized by the professor.
    2. Working with another person or persons on any assignment or examination when not specifically permitted by the instructor.
    3. Observing the work of other students during any examination.
    4. Using, buying, selling, stealing, soliciting, copying or possessing, in whole or part, the contents of an unadministered examination.
    5. Purchasing, or otherwise acquiring and submitting as one's own work, any research paper or other writing assignment prepared by others.
    6. Providing information:
    7. Providing answers for any assigned work or examination when not specifically authorized by the instructor to do so.
    8. Informing any person or persons of the contents of any examination prior to the time the examination is given.
  2. Plagiarism:
    1. Incorporating the work or idea of another person into one's own work without acknowledging the source of that work or idea.
    2. Attempting to receive credit for work performed by another person, including papers obtained in whole or part from individuals or other sources.
    3. Copying copyrighted computer programs or data files belonging to someone else.
    4. Conspiracy - agreeing with one or more persons to commit any act of academic dishonesty.
  3. Fabrication of information:
    1. Falsifying the results obtained from a research or laboratory experiment.
    2. Presenting results of research or laboratory experiments without the research or laboratory experiments having been performed.
    3. Substituting for another student to take an examination or to do any academic work for which academic credit will be received. Changing answers or grades after an academic work has been returned to the student and claiming instructor error.
    4. Submitting work for credit or taking an examination and employing a technique specifically prohibited by the instructor in that course, even if such techniques would be acceptable in other courses.
  4. Abuse of resource materials:
    1. Mutilating, destroying, concealing, stealing or altering any materials provided to assist students in the completion of academic work, including library books, journals, computer files, microfilm and microfiche files, materials placed on reserve by the instructor or any such materials as the instructor may provide or assign.
    2. Copying any data files or copyrighted computer program(s) for one's own personal use or the use of others.
    3. Copying without permission of the owner, or mutilating or destroying any copyrighted media, printed or electronic (for example, film, video, music, graphics, art, photography or manuscript).
    4. Failure to report - failing to report to the instructor any incident in which a student witnesses an alleged violation of the Academic Honesty Code. Details regarding the Academic Honesty Enforcement Procedures, Resolutions, Sanctions and Academic Honesty Council can be found in Student Life Policies in hard copy and on-line at the UHCL Web site and in the Faculty Handbook on-line at the UHCL Web site. Further policies governing alteration or misuse of university documents or furnishing false information to university officials may also be found in Student Life Policies or online at the UHCL Web site.

Records

The dean of students shall retain a copy of all Honesty Code Violation Forms. If the sanction imposed is a final grade penalty, suspension or expulsion, the registrar's office is notified and a record of the notification is maintained in the registrar's office according to the prescribed operating procedures of that office. If the student is found in violation of the Honesty Code and the penalty is anything except suspension or expulsion, the form does not become a part of the student's permanent record or transcript. Instead, it is retained by the dean of students. If the student is found in violation of the Honesty Code and the penalty is suspension or expulsion, the record becomes part of the student's permanent academic file and the notation of "Disciplinary Suspension" or "Disciplinary Expulsion" is placed on the transcript. In the case of suspension, the notation will be removed at the conclusion of the specific suspension period at the written request of the student. In the case of expulsion, the entry is noted permanently.

UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

University undergraduate degree requirements include:

LOWER-LEVEL REQUIREMENTS

  1. Fulfillment of the statutory requirements of the state of Texas including:
    1. Six hours of U.S. History* (three hours may be Texas History).
    2. Six hours of Constitutions of the United States* and Texas.
  2. Demonstration of written and oral proficiency by completing six hours of English* composition with grades of "C-" or better. Grades of "D+" or below are not acceptable.
  3. Completion of:
    1. Three hours of college-level algebra or higher mathematics.**
    2. Three hours of natural science with laboratory.
    3. Three hours of humanities.
    4. Three hours of social sciences.

If approved, up to 18 hours of earned correspondence, or CLEP credit may apply as lower-level credit toward graduation. A maximum of three hours of activity credit may be applied toward graduation.

*Certain English, mathematics, history and government credit may be earned by successful completion of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations. No more than three hours in history and in government may be earned through CLEP.

**The college-level algebra requirement may be satisfied in two ways:

CORE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS

To assure that all graduating students possess broad intellectual perspectives, students must complete a 42 semester-hour core curriculum before graduation. These requirements are built into students' Candidate Plans of Study. UHCL's core curriculum is designed to assure that graduating students demonstrate competencies in reading, writing, speaking and numerical comprehension and calculation, and that they demonstrate an understanding of historical reasoning, social perspectives and an appreciation of the scientific method and the arts. The 42 semester-hour requirement also complies with the Texas Education Code, Chapter 61, Subchapter S mandates as well as core curriculum rules from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The following outline describes UHCL core curriculum requirements. The requirements are normally satisfied by course work taken at the lower-level or freshmen/sophomore levels. Where individual schools at UHCL specify particular lower-level courses to fulfill core requirements, the required courses are listed in their Texas Common Course Numbering System form. If a student presents a Field of Study Curricula (FOSC), UHCL will accept the credits and apply them to the degree program.

UPPER-LEVEL REQUIREMENTS

Students must complete an approved Candidate Plan of Study (CPS). This plan must include:

TIME LIMITATION ON COURSE WORK PRIOR TO ADMISSION

Upper-level credit earned more than seven years prior to the most current admission to undergraduate study at UHCL may not be counted unless approval is granted by the dean of the school. It is the prerogative of the dean to determine 1) whether the courses meet current standards of the discipline, and 2) whether students can demonstrate sufficient retention of the content to apply it.

UHCL CORE CURRICULUM    SCHOOL OF EDU    SCHOOL OF BUS    SCHOOL OF HSH    SCHOOL OF SCE   
Communication    6 Hours: Composition (ENGL 1301 & 1302)    6 Hours: Composition (ENGL 1301 & 1302)    6 Hours: Composition (ENGL 1301 & 1302)    6 Hours: Composition (ENGL 1301 & 1302 or Technical Writing)   
Math    3 Hours: College Algebra (MATH 1314) equivalent, OR higher math    3 Hours: College Algebra (MATH 1314) OR higher math    3 Hours: Mathematics for Liberal Arts (MATH 1332) OR College Algebra (MATH 1314), equivalent OR higher math    3 Hours: College Algebra (MATH 1314) ORhigher math   
Natural Science    3 Hours: Earth/Physical Science 3 Hours: Life Science    6 Hours: Natural Science    6 Hours: Natural Science    6 Hours: Natural Science   
Humanities and Visual & Performing Arts    3 Hours: Visual and Performing Arts 3 Hours: Literature    3 Hours: Visual and Performing Arts 3 Hours: Other Humanities    3 Hours: Visual and Performing Arts 3 Hours: Literature    3 Hours: Visual and Performing Arts 3 Hours: Other Humanities   
Social & Behavioral Science    6 Hours: US History (3 hours could be Texas History) 6 Hours: Political Sci (3 hours U.S., 3 hours Texas Government 3 Hours: World Geog. (GEOG 1301)    6 Hours: US History (3 hours could be Texas History) 6 Hours: Political Sci,. (3 hours U.S., 3 hours Texas Government) 3 Hours: Soc/Behavioral Science    6 Hours: US History (3 hours could be Texas History) 6 Hours: Political Sci. (3 Hours U.S., 3 hours Texas Government 3 Hours: Soc/Behavioral Science    6 Hours: US History (3 hours could be Texas History) 6 Hours: Political Sci. (3 hours U.S., 3 hours Texas Government) 3 Hours: Soc/Behavioral Science   
ADD'L 6 HOURS    EDU    BPA    HSH    SCE   
Communication    3 Hours: Public Speaking    3 Hours: Speech    3 Hours: Speech    3 Hours: Speech   
Computer Competency    3 Hours: By satisfying course work or passage of a competency examination    3 Hours: By satisfying course work or passage of a competency examination    3 Hours: By satisfying course work or passage of a competency examination    3 Hours: By satisfying course work or passage of a competency examination   

LIMITATION ON BUSINESS COURSES FOR NON-BUSINESS MAJORS

Undergraduate students who are not majors in the School of Business can earn a maximum of 25 percent of the credit toward their degree in courses from the business fields of accounting, decision sciences, economics, finance, information systems, management, marketing and statistics.

ADDITIONAL BACHELOR'S DEGREES

Students possessing a bachelor's degree from UHCL or another accredited institution may earn an additional bachelor's degree in a different plan (major) by satisfying the following:

Students pursuing additional bachelor's degrees will be classified as post-baccalaureate and considered as undergraduates for all purposes including standards for academic performance. Credits earned and applied toward any degree previously earned may not be applied toward an additional bachelor's degree. Students pursuing two or more degrees simultaneously may not apply the same credit to more than one degree.

DOUBLE MAJORS

Students may earn a baccalaureate degree with two plans (majors) (i.e., a double major) provided they meet all the following requirements:

The University of Houston-Clear Lake does not recognize any number of plan (major) above two for a single baccalaureate degree. Students who want official university recognition for more than a double major must earn more than one baccalaureate degree.

GRADUATION UNDER A PARTICULAR CATALOG

Degree-seeking students should file Candidate Plans of Study (CPS), normally in the first semester of enrollment. Graduation requirements will be those of the UHCL Catalog in effect when the CPS is signed and dated by the appropriate dean's office and will be effective on that date.

Students transferring within a year directly to UHCL from a Texas public community college may petition the school's associate dean to have the initial CPS use the degree requirements of the catalog in effect when the students began the last period of continuous enrollment at the community college or a subsequent catalog. The effective date of the CPS will be either the date the students began the last period of continuous enrollment at a college prior to transferring to UHCL or January 1 of the academic year of the catalog used.

If students maintain continuous enrollment, they are entitled to graduate under the degree provisions on the CPS. Failure to enroll in and satisfactorily complete at least one course in a 12-month period shall break students' continuous enrollment for the purpose of the CPS. The associate dean may require revision of the CPS of students who have not maintained continuous enrollment. The revision may bring the plan into conformance with provisions of any catalog issued after the effective date of the plan. Students may, with the approval of their advisor and associate dean, amend their CPS to comply with the provisions of catalogs issued after the effective date of a previously filed CPS. When degree requirements change because of changes in standards set by regulatory authorities, licensing authorities or accrediting agencies, CPSs for all students in affected programs may be revised. In such cases, the university will seek to alter the CPS only to the extent required to meet the new standards.

Degree requirements must be completed within seven years from the effective date of the CPS. Exceptions may be granted by the appropriate dean. Undergraduate students exceeding the time limit will automatically come under the provisions of a more recent catalog, the specific edition to be determined by the appropriate dean's office.

Applying for Graduation

Degree candidates must officially apply for graduation in the Office of Academic Records within the first three weeks of the semester in which they plan to graduate, but no later than the date specified in the academic calendar. Students who miss the specified deadline to apply may request to submit a late application for consideration. If approved, there will be a $20 late fee. To be eligible to apply for graduation, students must have completed or be enrolled in the final courses required to meet graduation requirements. A non-refundable fee of $65 is required. If students do not graduate at the close of the semester for which they have applied, they will be required to reapply and pay another $65 fee during the subsequent semester in which they intend to graduate. As there is no graduation ceremony in the summer, students who graduate in August will be eligible to participate in the December ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed to recipients within six weeks after the graduation date. Students who graduate from UHCL must complete a new application and pay $35 in order to continue taking classes.

Graduation with Honors

Undergraduate students who complete their degree requirements with exceptionally high scholastic averages will be eligible to graduate with honors. Those who are in the top two percent of each school's enrollment of their class will be eligible to graduate summa cum laude; those in the next three percent, magna cum laude; and those in the next five percent, cum laude. The minimum cumulative grade point average for consideration is 3.500.

UNIVERSITY GRADUATE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

UHCL has established minimum requirements for graduate course work leading to the Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Healthcare Administration and Master of Healthcare Administration/Master of Business Administration degrees. All graduate students must have an approved CPS that fulfills all university requirements and all degree program requirements. The university requirements are:

MASTER'S DEGREE OPTIONS

All master's option course work requires continuous enrollment until completion. See Automatic Enrollment - Master's Option Course Work in the catalog. Students enrolled in at least three hours of master's option course work, excluding the capstone course, will be considered full time for purposes of enrollment verification for loan deferment, but not for purposes of determining eligibility for veteran's benefits or financial aid. This deferment is limited to no more than three long semesters of enrollment. Students who plan to graduate at the end of their last semester of Master's Option enrollment must file an application to graduate by the stated deadlines.

Option 1: Master's Thesis

The Master's Thesis requires continuous registration until completion, for a minimum of six hours; some programs may require more than six hours. If a student does not maintain continuous registration in the master's thesis, previously accumulated master's thesis credits will not count toward the master's degree. A grade of In Progress ("IP") will be recorded on the transcript until completion. For details, please consult the appropriate academic advisor. All students registering for thesis must submit a copy of both the "Steps in Completing a Thesis" and the "Thesis Preparation Guide." These may be obtained from the associate dean of their school. Individual schools may provide additional information regarding specific school requirements.

Objective

The master's thesis must present evidence of:

The thesis will require an abstract of 150 words or less. Students should submit three unbound copies, the fee for binding the thesis and the fee for its placement in University Microfilms Library to the Director of the Library by the deadline specified in the academic calendar. At that time, students may elect to copyright the thesis.

Option 2: Master's Project

The master's project requires continuous registration until completion, for a minimum of six hours; some programs may require more than six hours. If a student does not maintain continuous registration in the master's project, previously accumulated master's project credits will not count toward the master's degree. A grade of In Progress ("IP") will be recorded on the transcript until completion.

Objective

The master's project may be widely and variously conceived but must present evidence of:

Option 3: Master's Residency or Internship

Objective

The master's internship and residency are designed to provide important learning experiences complementary to the academic preparation gained in course work. In general, the residency must represent application of master's level instruction to materials or situations that are new to students. The internship should provide an opportunity for students to evaluate the relevance of theoretical or academic perspectives to the work environment.

Option 4: Extended Course Work

The extended course work option requires at least six semester hours of course work in addition to the minimum of 30 semester hours required for graduation. Option 4 also requires successful completion of a capstone course or a comprehensive examination.

Appeals

Students may appeal previous academic actions or decision by faculty members regarding master's degree options 1, 2 or 3 by following the academic appeals process.

Requesting and Repeating Comprehensive Examination

Students who have selected degree programs requiring comprehensive examinations are responsible for requesting the examinations in writing from the dean of the school at least ten days prior to the examination. Associate deans and/or chairpersons of students' degree committees offer guidance concerning students' readiness for the examination and the form of the request. Students who have been reported to a dean for failing a comprehensive examination may request a second comprehensive examination no sooner than one long semester after the semester in which the examination was failed. Normally, comprehensive examinations will not be administered more than two times. Appeals to this policy will follow the normal academic appeals process.

TIME LIMITATION ON PAST COURSE WORK

Courses completed more than five years prior to the most current admission to graduate study at UHCL may not be counted toward fulfillment of the required number of hours unless approval is granted by the appropriate dean.

LIMITATION ON COURSES IN THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Degree-seeking graduate students outside the School of Business must limit their programs of study to less than 50 percent of their course work in the School of Business.

ADDITIONAL MASTER'S DEGREES

Students possessing a master's degree from UHCL or another accredited college or university may earn an additional master's degree in a different degree program by satisfying the general requirements for the master's degree. Under certain circumstances, credit from one UHCL graduate degree may be applied towards a second UHCL graduate degree. The following provisions apply only to masters programs of 36 hours or more. Students should be aware that a course taken more than five years earlier cannot be applied towards a degree, unless approval is granted by the dean of the school. With respect to the provisions which follow, schools choosing to offer additional masters degrees reserve the right to set additional requirements for degrees awarded by that school including the right to not offer such degrees. Students should be aware that the faculty of the individual schools as set forth in the schools' procedures determine the approved Candidate Plan of Study in all cases of graduate work.

SIMULTANEOUS UHCL MASTER'S DEGREES

Students pursuing two master's degrees simultaneously, may earn both degrees by completion of a special "Simultaneous Master's Degree CPS" subject to the following provisions:

Note: Students with the Simultaneous Master's Degree CPS, who wish to complete only one of the two degrees must follow the basic university graduate degree requirements for that degree.

NON-SIMULTANEOUS UHCL MASTER'S DEGREES

Students pursuing an additional master's degree, may earn the additional degree by completion of a special "Additional Master's Degree CPS" subject to the following provisions:

DUAL GRADUATE DEGREE POLICY

(SIMULTANEOUS, NON-SIMULTANEOUS AND DUAL DEGREES)

The University of Houston-Clear Lake has approved a policy that permits schools to apply graduate credit earned at UHCL toward more than one UHCL graduate degree. Specific requirements and approvals are completed by the individual school.

GRADUATION UNDER A PARTICULAR CATALOG

As long as students maintain continuous enrollment, they are entitled to graduate under the degree provisions in effect at the time the Candidate Plan of Study (CPS) is filed. Degree-seeking students should file a CPS during the first semester of enrollment at UHCL. Filing of the CPS is completed when it is signed and dated by the appropriate dean and is effected on that date. Failure to enroll in and satisfactorily complete at least one course in a 12-month period shall break continuous enrollment for the purpose of the CPS. The dean may require revision of the CPS of students who have not maintained continuous enrollment. The revisions may bring the plan into conformance with provisions of any catalog issued after that in effect when the plan was filed or last revised. Students may, with the approval of their advisor or dean, amend their CPS to comply with the provisions of catalogs issued after the initial filing of the CPS. Degree requirements must be completed within five years from the effective date of the CPS. Exceptions may be granted by the appropriate dean. Graduate students exceeding the time limit will automatically come under the provisions of a more recent catalog, the specific edition to be determined by the dean.

Applying for Graduation

Degree candidates must officially apply for graduation in the Office of Academic Records within the first three weeks of the semester in which they plan to graduate, but no later than the date specified in the academic calendar. Students who miss the specified deadline to apply may request to submit a late application for consideration. If approved, there will be a $20 late fee. To be eligible to apply for graduation, students must have completed or be enrolled in the final courses required to meet graduation requirements. A non-refundable fee of $65 is required. If students do not graduate at the close of the semester for which they have applied, they will be required to reapply and pay another $65 fee during the subsequent semester in which they intend to graduate. As there is no graduation ceremony in the summer, students who graduate in August will be eligible to participate in the December ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed to recipients within six weeks after the graduation date. Students who graduate from UHCL must complete a new application and pay $35 in order to continue taking classes.

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