Frequently Asked Questions
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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 Academic Calendar.
- 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.
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Q: How do I register, add, and drop classes?
A: Freshmen must see their advisor to register. Those with permission may register online using the
Orion system. After the beginning of classes students must see their advisor to drop or withdraw from classes.
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Q: How do I pay my tuition?
A: To make payment online you must use the
EZPay system. 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.
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Q: What do I do if I want to take classes off campus?
A: Students should meet with their advisor first to find out if the class they are going to take off campus will transfer at UT Dallas. Students should also see their advisor because if they are in their last 30 hours at UT Dallas they can only take 6 hours off campus. It is called the 24/30 rule, and it is required in order to graduate from UT Dallas.
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Q: What is the 24/30 rule?
A: One of the graduation requirements is that 24 of a student's last 30 hours must be taken at UT Dallas. That means only 6 hours in your last 30 hours can be taken elsewhere. That is why it is so important to speak with your advisor before taking classes off campus.
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Q: How do I change my major?
A: File a change of major form in the advising office of the newly desired major before registration and no later than the first day of classes of a semester/term. Students with a cumulative GPA below 2.00 may only change their major with permission from the Associate Dean from both the sending and receiving school. If the change of major is approved, the student will then be responsible for meeting all program requirements and course prerequisites of the catalog in effect at the time of the change. The General Education or Core Curriculum requirements, however, remain those of the catalog in force at the time of matriculation unless the student specifically chooses those of a more recent catalog. In the first semester of change to a new major, the student must meet with an academic advisor to prepare a degree plan.
Deadlines and Fees for Changing majors
The Registrar’s Office will accept Undergraduate Change of Major forms for processing up to the close of business on the first day of classes of each semester term. Forms received after the first day of classes will be processed effective for the next/following semester/term.
All students are allowed to change majors twice in a given academic year at no charge. The academic year begins August 1st and is completed the last day of July each year.
If a student elects to change majors more than two times during an academic year, the third change requires a $25.00 fee. EXCEPTION: There is no charge to move to, or from, the “undeclared major” category.
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Q: How do I declare a minor?
A: File a form in the advising office of your declared major. The advisor will fill out a minor course selection form that will show all of the classes you need to take in order to get the minor you want. You also will have to fill out a change of major/minor form that you turn in to the registrar's office.
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Q: How do I find out what constitutes as a core curriculum class?
A: The course lookup is a great resource to use. It can be accessed through the UT Dallas homepage and is listed under student essentials as well as a link located under our "quick links". To begin with, make sure you are in the correct semester. Once you are in the correct semester, click on the arrow next to "Core Curriculum". Highlight whichever core you are looking for and then hit "search". This will showcase all of the classes available for that semester for the core requirement that you were looking for.
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Q: If I repeat a course at a community college that I have already taken at UT Dallas, does the community college course grade replace the UT Dallas 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.
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Q: If I fail a course at UT Dallas, may I transfer the course from another institution?
A: Students who fail a course in residence at UT Dallas may repeat the course at another accredited college or university. A student may not transfer an equivalent course if that course was taken at UT Dallas with a passing grade (D's included). Upon completion of the course with a grade of at least 'C' (2.00 on a 4.00 scale), the course may be transferred to UT Dallas where it will meet the content requirements of the course failed in residence and contribute hours toward graduation. However, the grade of 'F' earned at UT Dallas will remain a part of the student's academic record and will be computed as a part of the cumulative grade point average (GPA).
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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. Be aware that some courses require a grade of C- or better in a prerequisite course (many math courses, for example). See the course descriptions in the catalog for specific information.
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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 at UT Dallas under the 2008-2010 catalog, you have until the summer of 2016 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.
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Q: Is tutoring available at UT Dallas?
A: Yes, the
GEMS center, located in the Alexander Clark Center offers a math lab, writing center, and success coaching. The GEMS center also offers Peer Led Team Learning and houses certain TA's who hold office hours and tutoring in their centralized location.
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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. Students wishing to register for more than 18 semester credit hours must have the permission of the Associate Dean. Students authorized to enroll in more than 18 semester credit hours in a long semester may not withdraw from any class without permission of the Associate Dean. Failure to secure that permission before withdrawing from a class will limit the student to a maximum of 18 semester credit hours in future semesters.
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Q: What are the graduation requirements for UT Dallas?
A: The undergraduate catalog lists all of the requirements that students must fulfill in order to graduate from UT Dallas. You can access the undergraduate catalog from our "quick links" or from the UT Dallas webpage.
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