By registering at the university, the student neither loses the rights nor escapes the duties of a citizen. Enjoying greater opportunities than the average citizen, the university student has greater responsibilities. Each student’s personal life should be conducted in a context of mutual regard for the rights and privileges of others. It is further expected that students will demonstrate respect for the law and for the necessity of orderly conduct in the affairs of the community.
Students are responsible for being fully acquainted with the university catalog, handbook, and other regulations pertaining to students and for complying with them in the interest of an orderly and productive community. The student handbook, Hilltopics, is published and distributed annually and is also available online at the Dean of Students’ website (https://hilltopics.utk.edu/) so that students are aware of the university Standards of Conduct and all disciplinary regulations and procedures. Since conduct and actions will be measured on an adult standard, students should understand that they assume full responsibility for the consequences of their actions and behavior. The academic community will be judged in large measure by the actions of its members. Therefore, it is incumbent upon students to include the implications for their community in their criteria for determining appropriate behavior.
The responsibility to secure and to respect general conditions conducive to the freedom to learn is shared by all members of the academic community. This university has a duty to develop policies and procedures that provide a safeguard to this freedom. Such policies and procedures are developed at this institution with the participation of all members of the academic community. As such, the university welcomes and honors people of all races, creeds, cultures, and sexual orientations, and values intellectual curiosity, pursuit of knowledge, and academic freedom and integrity.
Failure or refusal to comply with the rules and policies established by the university may subject the offender to disciplinary action up to and including permanent dismissal from the university.
Universal Tracking (uTrack) is an academic monitoring system designed to help students stay on track for timely graduation. uTrack requirements only affect full-time, degree-seeking students.
The University of Tennessee recognizes academic advising to be a critical component of the educational experience and student success. Faculty, administrators, and professional staff promote academic advising as a shared responsibility with students. Academic advising serves to develop and enrich students’ educational plans in ways that are consistent with their personal values, goals, and career plans, preparing them for a life of learning in a global society. More information is available at https://advising.utk.edu/.
Students are assigned to advisors based on their major or exploratory track. Advising centers and designated offices in each college advise most freshmen and sophomores. Faculty advisors, working closely with the advising centers, guide most advanced students. At all levels, campus-wide guidelines for good advising are supplemented by specific college standards, guidelines, and evaluation.
Prior to enrolling for the first time at the university, all degree-seeking first-year students and transfer students are required to meet with an academic advisor. Readmitted students must also meet with an academic advisor prior to reenrolling. The following groups of students are required to meet with an advisor prior to registering for each term (fall and spring):
All other students are required to consult with an advisor for a substantial conference during a designated semester each year.
All students at the University should review carefully the prescribed curricula of the respective degree-granting units and should choose courses in accordance with the exploratory or major track that they are pursuing. (Also see Exploratory Students and General Requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree.) More information is available throughout this catalog. The student, not the advisor, bears the ultimate responsibility for educational planning, selecting courses, meeting course prerequisites, and adhering to policies and procedures. Assistance to students with academic problems or questions is provided by professors, advisors, department heads, and college deans or advising centers. Numerous other sources of academic, career, and personal counseling exist on the UT campus and are available to admitted students. These are described in this catalog under Student Affairs and Academic Services and detailed information is available on the Academic Advising website https://advising.utk.edu/.
DARS provides an automated record of a student’s academic progress toward degree completion in his/her major.
DARS was designed for colleges, deans, advisors, and students to use as an advising tool and to check graduation requirements.
DARS audits for enrolled undergraduate students are available on the web at https://cas.tennessee.edu/cas/login?service=https://myutk.utk.edu/CASLogin.aspx&AuthProvider=AD. DARS audits are also available in the advising center and/or the dean’s office of each college and in the Office of the University Registrar, 209 Student Services Building. Students should contact the Office of the University Registrar with any difficulties in accessing Banner DARS.
For questions pertaining to the content of their DARS audit, students should contact their advisor or advising office. Final certification of degree requirements rests with the Office of the University Registrar, 209 Student Services Building.
Only students who are properly registered for a course may attend it on a regular basis. Any other person in the classroom for special reasons must obtain the consent of the instructor.
Academic success is built upon regular class attendance. At the University of Tennessee, students are expected to attend all of their scheduled classes. Research shows a strong correlation between attendance and participation in class and improved student learning. A student who finds it necessary to miss class assumes responsibility for making up examinations, obtaining lecture notes, and otherwise compensating for what may have been missed.
It is the prerogative of the individual instructor to set the attendance requirements for a particular class. This means, for example, that an instructor in first year composition may state in a syllabus how many absences are allowed before a student receives a grade of No Credit.
In rare cases, students may have extenuating circumstances that make it impossible for them to attend all sessions of a class. These include military orders, court-imposed legal obligations, religious observances, extended illness, and participation in university, college, or unit sponsored activities that lead to clear experiential and educational outcomes. On the first day of class each term, or immediately after the student knows of the need to miss class because of one of these extenuating circumstances, the student should share with the instructor a document detailing the extenuating circumstance. The document should outline the dates on which classes will be missed. Students with documented extenuating circumstances should be allowed to make up missed examinations. Instructors have discretion to determine what coursework, beyond examinations, is available for make-up credit. Instructors who feel the required time away from class may be too much to allow a student to do well should consult with the student to determine whether, through extra effort and tutoring, the student may be able to achieve the learning outcomes of the class. If not, the instructor should recommend that the student withdraw from the course. If at all possible, the recommendation to withdraw from the class should occur before the end of the add/drop period. Students should consult with an academic advisor as soon as they know that a class must be dropped.
Students who fail to attend the first class (or laboratory) meeting without prior arrangements with the department concerned may lose their space in class to other students. Students should not assume that they will be officially dropped from the class; it is always the responsibility of the student to drop courses not attended. Otherwise, the student is liable for a grade of F in the course and for payment of appropriate fees.
An undergraduate course will not normally be given for fewer than fifteen students at the lower division and twelve at the upper division except by permission of the chancellor. The university reserves the right to cancel, postpone, or combine classes when necessary.
All facets of the university community have responsibilities associated with the Honor Statement. These responsibilities are unique to each sector of the university community.
Each student is responsible for his/her own personal integrity in academic life. While there is no affirmative duty to report the academic dishonesty of another, each student, given the dictates of his/her own conscience, may choose to act on any violation of the Honor Statement. Each student is responsible for knowing the terms and conditions of the Honor Statement and may acknowledge his/her adherence to the Honor Statement by writing “Pledged” and signing each graded class assignment and examination.
Students are also responsible for any acts of plagiarism. Plagiarism is using the intellectual property of someone else without giving proper credit. The undocumented use of someone else’s words or ideas in any medium of communication (unless such information is recognized as common knowledge) is a serious offense, subject to disciplinary action that may include failure in a course and/or dismissal from the university.
Specific examples of plagiarism are
Faculty members also have responsibilities which are vital to the success of the Honor Statement and the creation of a climate of academic integrity within the university community. Each faculty member is responsible for defining, in specific terms, guidelines for preserving academic integrity in a course. Included in this definition should be a discussion of the Honor Statement. Faculty members at their discretion may also encourage their students to acknowledge adherence to the Honor Statement by “pledging” all graded class assignments and exams. The form of pledge may include writing the honor statement on the assignment, signing the printed statement, or simply writing “Pledged.”
Additionally, it will be the responsibility of each faculty member, graduate teaching assistant, and staff member to act on any violation of the Honor Statement. It is also incumbent upon faculty to maintain an atmosphere conducive to academic integrity by insuring that each quiz, test, and exam is adequately proctored.
An essential feature of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a commitment to maintaining an atmosphere of intellectual integrity and academic honesty. As a student of the university, I pledge that I will neither knowingly give nor receive any inappropriate assistance in academic work, thus affirming my own personal commitment to honor and integrity.
Allegations of academic misconduct and dishonesty are resolved through the Student Code of Conduct. Under this code, when an act of alleged academic misconduct or dishonesty is discovered by, or brought to the attention of, an instructor, the instructor shall notify the student(s) alleged to have committed the act, provide the student(s) with information supporting the allegation, and give the student(s) an informal opportunity to respond to the information and allegation(s).
If, after providing the student(s) with an informal opportunity to respond, the instructor still believes that an act of academic misconduct or dishonesty has occurred, the instructor shall refer the incident to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, or SCCS (http://studentconduct.utk.edu/). In their referral to SCCS, the instructor shall specify the academic penalty (or penalties) that the instructor plans to impose, if any. Academic penalties are imposed at the discretion of the instructor, and may include, without limitation: a warning; a requirement to complete a repeat or replacement assignment, to be graded on its merits; loss of credit for the work involved; a reduced or failing grade for the work involved or for the course; and a recommendation that the student be dismissed from a program of study. An instructor may impose more than one penalty.
The instructor will not impose an academic penalty or assign a final end-of-term grade for the course until SCCS has resolved the allegation(s). If an end-of-term grade must be submitted while SCCS is resolving the allegation(s), the instructor will assign a temporary grade of Not Reported (NR) until the case is fully resolved.
If SCCS determines that a student is not responsible for the alleged act of academic misconduct or dishonesty, the instructor shall not impose an academic penalty.
If SCCS determines that a student has committed an act of academic misconduct or dishonesty, the instructor may at that time impose the academic penalty (or penalties) specified in the instructor’s referral to SCCS.
A student may appeal the imposition of an academic penalty, as distinct from a student disciplinary sanction, through the following procedure. A student cannot use this procedure to challenge the underlying determination that the student is responsible for academic misconduct or dishonesty.
A student may only appeal the imposition of an academic penalty on the grounds that the penalty is unreasonable or unduly harsh.
Within five business days of the determination by SCCS that a student has committed an act of academic misconduct or dishonesty, the student may appeal the imposition of an academic penalty by submitting an appeal in writing (or e-mail) to the head of the department in which the course is located. The student must specify the reason(s) they are appealing the imposition of an academic penalty.
Upon receiving an appeal from a student, the department head will, within five business days, appoint a committee of three faculty members from the department charged with reviewing the student’s appeal and conducting an appeals hearing. The instructor and the student will both be invited to appear in person at the hearing and/or provide a statement in writing (or e-mail). Within five business days of the hearing, the committee will provide a decision in writing (or e-mail) to the department head. The committee may either uphold the original penalty or recommend that the student receive a lesser penalty (or no penalty). If the committee recommends that the student should receive a lesser penalty than the one imposed by the instructor, or that the student should receive no penalty, the department head will meet with the instructor and direct the instructor to reduce the penalty as recommended.
Students may appeal their end-of-term letter grade in a course on the basis of one or more of 4 grounds:
These grade appeals are processed through a series of up to four steps, which must be followed in order: (1) Consultation with the course instructor; (2) Appeal to the department office; (3) Appeal to the college office; (4) Appeal to the Undergraduate Council. If a grade appeal is resolved to a student’s satisfaction at any one of these four steps, subsequent steps are not required. End-of-term grade appeals that are based solely on allegations of grade calculation errors terminate after step (2) is completed.
A student appealing their end-of-term grade has the burden of proof to demonstrate that one or more of the grounds for appeal applies.
Appeals of academic penalties levied by instructors due to academic misconduct are not handled through the end-of-term grade appeals process. Those penalties can be appealed through the process found in the Penalties for Academic Misconduct and Dishonesty section of the catalog.
If a student believes that their end-of-term grade has been reduced for nonacademic reasons, such as the student’s race, gender, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, or similar demographic characteristics, the student should first inform the department head of the department offering the course, and then consult with the university’s Office of Equity and Diversity.
In cases where a student believes that their end-of-term grade has been calculated in error, the following procedures apply:
An appeal that is not based solely on allegations of a grade calculation error, and that is upheld in favor of the student at the department level or higher, will result in awarding the student a grade of satisfactory. In such cases, any restriction of the use of a grade of satisfactory to satisfy major, minor, Volunteer Core (general education), or graduation requirements will be waived. The director of advising (or similar position in the college) in the student’s college will be informed of this waiver so that the waiver may be entered into the student’s degree audit record.
At each level of appeal, the student must submit their appeal in writing (or by e-mail). The student must specify which of the grounds for appeal apply and must include any and all documentation and correspondence associated with previous levels of appeal. The student must supply the following information:
The first step of grade appeal process involves consultation with the instructor. If the student’s concerns are not resolved through consultation with the instructor, or if the instructor fails to respond to the student’s request for consultation within five business days, the student may continue the appeals process by appealing to the head of the department offering the course. If the instructor is the head of the department, the student may continue the appeals process at the college-level, bypassing the department-level appeal.
An appeal to the department head must be made no later than 30 days after the final end-of-term grade has been recorded on the student’s academic history. If the department head believes that the appeal may have merit, then the department head may either conduct a grade appeal hearing or appoint a committee of three departmental faculty members to evaluate the appeal.
If the department head chooses to conduct a grade appeal hearing, the head will invite both the student and the instructor to attend the hearing and/or provide a statement in writing (or e-mail) in order to provide information to the head. After the hearing, the department head will communicate their decision in writing to both the student and the instructor.
If the department head appoints a departmental committee to evaluate the appeal, the committee will arrange for a grade appeal hearing. The student and instructor will both be invited to attend the hearing and/or provide a statement in writing (or e-mail) in order to provide information to the committee. After the departmental hearing, the committee will inform the department head whether the appeal should be granted or denied. The department head will communicate this decision in writing to both the student and the instructor.
If the appeal is not granted at the department level, the student may appeal to the dean of the college in which the department is located. This appeal must be made no later than 30 days after the student is informed of the departmental decision. The dean of the college (or the dean’s designee) will determine whether any of the grounds for appeal apply. If the dean (or the dean’s designee) finds that none of the grounds for appeal apply, the appeal will be denied at the college level. If the dean (or the dean’s designee) finds that one or more of the grounds for grade appeal do apply, the appeal will be granted at the college level. The student will be notified in writing of the dean’s decision.
If the college office does not grant the appeal, the student may appeal to the Undergraduate Council of the Faculty Senate. An appeal to the Undergraduate Council is made in writing (or e-mail) to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs (vpaa@utk.edu) and must be made no later than 30 days after the student is informed of the college’s decision. The Vice Provost will consult with the department head and the college office to determine whether the appeal falls under the jurisdiction of the Undergraduate Council. If the Vice Provost finds that the appeal does fall under the Council’s jurisdiction, they will forward the student’s appeal to the chair of the Council’s Appeals Committee, copying the Council’s chair and vice-chair, the dean of the college and the head of the department in which the course is located, the instructor of the course, and the student.
Upon receipt of the appeal from the Vice Provost, the chair of the Council’s Appeals Committee will schedule an appeal hearing by a review panel, as specified in the Committee’s operating guidelines. The Committee chair will invite the student, the instructor, the department head, and the college dean (or designee) to appear in person at the hearing and/or to supply a written statement. The Committee will maintain minutes of the hearing.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the review panel will decide by majority vote whether the appeal should be granted. A tie vote of the review panel will be decided by the appeals committee chair. The committee chair will, in writing (or by e-mail) inform the student, instructor, department head, college office, and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs of the Committee’s decision, which is considered to be final.
To comply with Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 49-6-1202 and 49-7-110, a student who has not completed one unit of American history at the high school level must complete either six semester hours of American history at the college level, or three semester hours of American history at the college level and three semester hours of Tennessee history at the college level.
This act, also known as the Buckley Amendment, gives four basic rights to students.
FERPA provides for confidentiality of student records; however, it also provides for basic identification of people at the University of Tennessee without the consent of the individual. Release of information to third parties includes directory information, such as contained in the campus telephone book, in the online web-based people directory, and in sports brochures. Directory information includes, but is not limited to, student name, local and permanent address, Net ID, university e-mail address, telephone number, classification, graduate or undergraduate levels, full-time or part-time status, college, major, dates of attendance, degrees and awards, the most recent previously attended educational institution, participation in school activities and sports, and height and weight (for special activities). Students are notified of their FERPA rights and the procedures for limiting disclosure of directory information in Hilltopics, at Orientation for new students, and on the website of the University Registrar https://ferpa.utk.edu/.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, requires the assignment of a unique student number for internal identification of each student’s record. In December 2004, the university began assigning individual student identification numbers to newly admitted students. Students will no longer use their SSNs to conduct business or access their records.
Student identification numbers are used for university business only. The university complies with FERPA guidelines when releasing student identification numbers.
Students requiring a correction or change to their student identification numbers or to their Social Security Numbers should contact One Stop Express Student Services Center at 865-974-1111.
In order for the university to assess and improve its academic programs, periodic measurements of student perceptions and intellectual growth must be obtained. Students could therefore be asked to participate in one or more evaluative procedures which may include broad surveys of engagement or satisfaction, examinations in general education, or assessments of their major field of study. The evaluative information obtained through this process is used to improve the quality of the educational experience for current as well as future students.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) requires that each public institution for higher learning evaluate the general education skills of the senior class. Each year a percentage of the seniors are selected to participate in the assessment. The results enable the University of Tennessee to evaluate its Volunteer Core (general education) program and to qualify for needed funding from the state. Students are informed in their senior year if they have been selected to participate.
THEC also requires that each public institution for higher learning evaluate the knowledge and expertise obtained within each major area of study. Each year, a subset of all departments on campus is required to assess all graduating seniors from those respective areas. The results enable the University of Tennessee to evaluate and, where necessary, improve the quality of major fields of study. Students are informed in their senior year if they have been selected to participate.
Student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics under the provisions of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) must fulfill NCAA academic progress requirements as well as the university’s academic continuation and retention policies. In addition to meeting with college-specific academic advisors, student-athletes work with academic counselors in the Thornton Athletics Student Life Center to ensure adherence to university, SEC, and NCAA academic policies and requirements.
Though faculty members of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences take major responsibility for teaching students how to teach (i.e., pedagogy), other faculty throughout the campus teach students what to teach (i.e., subject matter). For example, the faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences has responsibility for providing the broad, general education background required of all teachers and for providing the specialized content knowledge needed by elementary and secondary teachers.
Information regarding other teaching fields and educational specialties is available through the following campus offices.
Information regarding general teacher preparation is described in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences section of this catalog and is available through the college’s Licensure Services, A313 Claxton Complex.
Students admitted to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, may receive credit on the basis of performance on one or more of the following examinations. Several academic departments at UT grant academic credit for satisfactory test scores. Each participating department decides the acceptable score for credit.
College credit is granted and recorded on the student’s transcript for satisfactory test scores. Credit is granted as S (Satisfactory) grading and does not affect the student’s grade point average.
Students admitted to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, may receive credit on the basis of performance on one or more of the Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations offered each May by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) in 20 subject areas. These tests are usually taken by students during their junior or senior year of high school.
Disciplines at UT which grant advanced placement credit for satisfactory test scores include art, biology, chemistry, Chinese, computer science, economics, English, French, geography, geology, German, history, Latin, mathematics, music, physics, political science, psychology, Spanish, and statistics. Each participating department decides the acceptable score for credit. Information may be obtained from https://admissions.utk.edu/apply/college-admission-requirements/ or from Arts and Sciences Advising Services.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is a rigorous pre-university course of studies that leads to examinations for highly motivated secondary school students.
Students who have participated in the International Baccalaureate Program through their high schools may receive credit based on satisfactory test scores as established by UT Knoxville’s participating departments. Each participating department decides the acceptable score for credit. Information may be obtained from https://admissions.utk.edu/apply/college-admission-requirements/ or from Arts and Sciences Advising Services.
Students admitted to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, may receive credit on the basis of performance on one or more of these examinations. Several disciplines at UT grant academic credit for satisfactory test scores. Each participating department decides the acceptable score for credit. More information may be obtained from https://admissions.utk.edu/apply/college-admission-requirements/ or from Arts and Sciences Advising Services.
With departmental approval, examinations such as the College Level Examinations Program (CLEP) of the College Entrance Examination Board and the State of Tennessee’s Statewide Dual Credit Challenge Exams and Specific Industry Certification Exams may be used to earn credit.
Students who want to use proficiency or other examinations to earn credit for work or material mastered through non-credit courses or experiences should contact the dean of the college that offers the course for which credit is sought.
Based on the number of months of active duty military service, students may receive three to twelve hours of academic credit from the departments of Physical Education and Military Science and Leadership. Students should submit a copy of their DD214 to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions so that the number of months of active duty may be determined. Upon review, students may receive credit, as appropriate, for MLSL 101 (2), MLSL 102 (2), MLSL 202 (3), and PYED LD (5). Credit is not awarded if the student already has credit for MLSL 101 , MLSL 102 , or MLSL 202 through transfer credit or through UT registration.
In addition to the credit described above, academic credit can be awarded for credit earned at military service schools. To receive course credits, students should provide to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions an official transcript from the Community College of the Air Force or their Joint Services Transcript (JST). Credit is awarded following the American Council on Education (ACE) credit recommendation guidelines for military course completions. UT awards LD (lower division)/UD (upper division) credit for courses in the lower/upper level category. UT does not award credit for the vocational or graduate level categories.
Beginning fall 2019, students may receive course credit for military learning experiences that appear on the student’s JST record. Credit is awarded following ACE credit recommendation guidelines that have been reviewed and approved by UT Knoxville faculty. For some military learning experiences, UT awards LD/UD credit for learning experiences that match the lower/upper level category. Information is available at https://veterans.utk.edu/.
LD/UD credits are normally acceptable as general elective course credit; however, students should contact their college’s advising center or major adviser to determine if the LD/UD credit will satisfy specific degree requirements.
Students who want to use proficiency or other examinations to earn credit for work or material mastered through non-credit courses should contact the dean of the college that offers the course for which credit is sought.
For questions concerning your credit evaluation, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 865-946-3864 or utktransfereval@utk.edu. Additional information is available at https://registrar.utk.edu/for-transfer-students/transfer-credit-policies-and-procedures/transfer-credit-military/.
Dual enrollment courses enable students to take college-level courses and earn college credit prior to high school graduation. Students who took courses through dual enrollment at UT will have credit recorded on their UT academic transcript. Admitted students seeking credit from transfer institutions for courses taken through dual enrollment need to have an official college transcript sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. For questions about the evaluation of transfer credits, contact the transfer evaluators in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions Transfer Center.
Several honors options are available. The Chancellor’s Honors Program is available to entering first-year students, current first- and second-year students, and qualified transfer students. For a description of this program please see Chancellor’s Honors.
Most colleges have college-wide honors programs.
Many academic departments have honors programs. All of these programs require that at least 12 hours of honors courses be used in satisfaction of degree requirements though some departments may require more. A cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and a senior research project or thesis are required for award of the honors degree. For specific requirements see individual program degree requirements.
Courses designated as honors courses are available to all students with requisite ACT/SAT scores and previous acceptable academic performance. Please see specific course descriptions for registration requirements.
Chancellor’s Honors students, College Scholars, and students participating in a departmental or college-level honors program at UT are eligible to complete upper-division courses as Honors-by-Contract, which is a customized approach requiring completion of a written contract delineating additional effort. See https://honors.utk.edu/ for details on the contract.
Each term, a public announcement is made of students passing a semester’s work summa cum laude (3.9 through 4.0), magna cum laude (3.7 through 3.89), and cum laude (3.5 through 3.69). To be eligible, students must complete at least 12 hours (including any graduate coursework), not counting work taken on a Satisfactory/No Credit basis.
Subject to approval by the Dean of the Graduate School, a senior at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who needs fewer than 30 semester hours to complete requirements for a bachelor’s degree and has at least a B average (3.0) may enroll in graduate courses for graduate credit. During the fall and spring semesters, the combined total of undergraduate and graduate course work cannot exceed 18 credit hours. During the summer semester, the combined total cannot exceed 12 credit hours.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, offers accelerated combined bachelor’s/master’s programs in some areas of study. These programs are designed for, and limited to, students with exceptional undergraduate academic performance in their major field of study.
Participation in one of these programs must be approved both by the faculty members of the department offering the program and by the Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School. A student pursuing an accelerated combined bachelor’s/master’s program may take a limited number of 400- or 500-level graduate courses for graduate credit during her/his final undergraduate year and use these courses to satisfy disciplinary elective requirements in the student’s bachelor’s degree program. The number of graduate credit hours that may be applied to a student’s bachelor’s degree requirements is determined by the faculty members offering the program, but may in no case exceed nine credit hours. Students participating in an accelerated combined bachelor’s/master’s program must adhere to the policies for “Seniors Eligible for Graduate Credit.” Students pursuing an accelerated combined bachelor’s/master’s program must have an overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 in the term prior to enrollment in coursework that will apply to the master’s degree; however, individual departments may require more rigorous standards.
Undergraduate students are classified according to the following chart on the basis of semester hours passed.
To be considered a full-time undergraduate student in any semester, a student must be enrolled in 12 or more semester hours, including the full summer term. Six hours for each separate term of the summer session are required for full-time classification. Three-quarter time status ranges from 9 to 11 semester hours, half time ranges from 6 to 8 semester hours, and less than half time ranges from 1 to 5 semester hours. Audit hours are not considered in the computation.
Each course offered by the university is identified by the name of the academic discipline and a three-digit course number. These numbers indicate course level.
| Course Numbers | Level |
| 000-099 | Noncredit; preparatory. |
| 100-299 | Lower division; primarily for freshmen and sophomores. |
| 300-499 | Upper division; primarily for juniors and seniors; when taken for graduate credit, the letter G will precede the course credit hours on the grade report. |
| 500-599 | Graduate; sometimes available for undergraduate credit; when taken for undergraduate credit, the letter U will precede the course credit hours on the grade report. |
| 600-699 | Advanced graduate; open to graduate students; available for undergraduate credit (with approval of instructor) for students holding a degree who are taking additional work as undergraduate non-degree students; when taken for undergraduate credit, the letter U will precede the course credit hours on the grade report. |
| 800-899 | Veterinary Medicine; Law. |
| 900-999 | Law. |
Some undergraduate course numbers include one of the following single-letter suffixes:
For a course number that includes a suffix, the “base course” is defined to be the course that has the same course number with no suffix. Every course number that includes a suffix must have a corresponding base course in the Student Information System; the base course may have a status of either Active or Archived. Active base courses will be listed in the Undergraduate Catalog, but Archived base courses will not appear in the Undergraduate Catalog while in Archived status.
For repeat/replace purposes, course numbers that include a suffix are considered to be equivalent to both the corresponding base course and courses with other suffixes. For example, a student who does not successfully complete GEOL 202 may repeat the course by enrolling in GEOL 202R or GEOL 202S in a future term, and a student who does not successfully complete GEOL 202S may repeat the course by enrolling in GEOL 202 or GEOL 202R in a future term. In these cases, the Grade Replacement policy will apply.
When an academic program requires students to complete a course that includes a suffix, neither the corresponding base course nor a course with a different suffix may be used to satisfy program requirements unless the department approves the substitution. For example, if a student’s major requires the student to complete GEOL 202S , the student cannot use either GEOL 202 or GEOL 202R to satisfy this requirement without prior department approval.
When an academic program requires student to complete a base course, a course that includes a suffix may be used to satisfy program requirements. For example, if a student’s major requires the student to complete GEOL 202 , the student may also use GEOL 202R or GEOL 202S to satisfy this requirement.
Lower-division courses are offered at the 100- and 200-levels. These courses generally have one or more of the following characteristics:
100-level courses should be suitable for first-year college students, although students beyond their first year frequently enroll in 100-level courses to explore new subjects or to satisfy prerequisite requirements for their major or minor courses. 200-level courses should be suitable for second-year college students, although well-prepared first-year students can succeed in these courses.
Upper-division courses are offered at the 300- and 400-levels. These courses often require students to have previously completed extensive college-level study in the same subject area or in closely-related subject areas, and generally have one or more of the following characteristics:
300-level courses should be suitable for third- and fourth-year college students, but are typically inappropriate for graduate students (except possibly for purposes of remediation). 400-level courses should be suitable for fourth-year college students, although well-prepared third-year students can succeed in these courses.
Some 400-level courses are available for graduate credit; these courses are listed in the Graduate Catalog. All 400-level courses taught for graduate credit must provide information in the syllabus describing the additional learning outcomes and/or other requirements that must be satisfied in order for a student to receive graduate credit.
All college level coursework earned at a post-secondary degree granting institution in good standing with their academic accrediting association will be evaluated for transfer credit. Generally, those institutions will be accredited by one of seven accrediting associations. College level coursework completed at a post-secondary institution not accredited by one of the listed accrediting associations may require additional approval from a Department Head. Academic accrediting associations:
Students from non-United States colleges or universities should consult the transfer evaluators in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions Transfer Center for transfer eligibility.
Prior to enrolling at another institution, UT Knoxville students should carefully review their specific program requirements and policies with their academic advisor. For instance, many UT Knoxville programs require a grade of C or higher in certain courses. The student bears the ultimate responsibility for educational planning, selecting courses, meeting program requirements, and adhering to policies and procedures. More information is available at https://advising.utk.edu/.
More detailed information is available in the Admission to the University section of this catalog.
Students who participate in UT Knoxville study abroad programs and register for UT Knoxville courses earn the same graded credit as they would for courses taken on campus. All grades are calculated in the UT grade point average.
Students who participate in all other study abroad programs from accredited institutions will be subject to the same transfer policies as students studying at domestic institutions. All hours and grades count toward the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship (TELS) but are not calculated in the UT grade point average.
The university offers a petitioning procedure through which students can occasionally gain exceptions to the general rules included in this catalog. It is the direct responsibility of the student who seeks to deviate from the rules to complete the petitioning process. In cases where this might affect the student’s eligibility to enroll in a particular course, the student should begin the petitioning process during the previous term and must gain final approval for the petition no later than the add deadline of the term involved.
The steps involved in this process are as follows.
Many students are undecided about their major when they enter the University of Tennessee. Students who have no clear idea of which college or major to pursue and/or those who are trying to decide among majors that are not in a single college are designated as University Exploratory. Students who are deciding among one or more majors that are all offered by the same college are designated as exploratory students for that college (e.g., Arts and Sciences Exploratory, Business Exploratory, etc.).
Exploratory students follow a track of courses that will allow them to explore major options as well as make progress toward graduation through the completion of Volunteer Core (general education) courses.
All full-time, degree-seeking students who first entered Fall 2013 or later must transition out of the exploratory track into a major no later than the end of their fourth tracking semester at the University of Tennessee. Transfer students with less than 45 hours of transferrable work who are admitted as exploratory students must transition out of the exploratory track into a major no later than the end of their second tracking semester. Transfer students with 45 hours or more of transferrable work must be admitted directly into a major and college.
The faculty of all colleges expect students to communicate effectively in standard written English in laboratory reports, examinations, essays, and other written assignments. If a student cannot fulfill the requirements for a course because of an inability to communicate in writing, the instructor will give the student an IW to designate “incomplete due to writing.” Any student who receives an IW should contact the Writing Center director (writingcenter@utk.edu; 212 Humanities and Social Sciences Building).
The unit of credit is the semester credit hour. One semester credit hour represents an amount of instruction that reasonably approximates both 50 minutes per week of classroom-based direct instruction and a minimum of two hours per week of student work outside the classroom over a fall or spring semester. Normally, each semester credit hour represents an amount of instruction that is equivalent to 700 minutes of classroom-based direct instruction. The amount of time that is required to earn one semester credit hour in a laboratory, fieldwork, studio, or seminar-based course varies with the nature of the subject and the aims of the course; typically, a minimum of two or three hours of work in a laboratory, field, studio, or seminar-based setting is considered the equivalent of 50 minutes of classroom-based direct instruction. Semester credit hours earned in courses such as internships, research, theses, dissertation, etc. are based on outcome expectations established by the academic program.
Each course at the university carries a number of credit hours specified in the course description. At the completion of each course, a student will be assigned a grade reflecting the student’s performance in the course. Passing grades carry a certain number of quality points per credit hour in the course. A student’s grade point average is obtained by dividing the number of quality points the student has accumulated at UT Knoxville by the number of hours the student has attempted at UT Knoxville, not including hours for which grades of I, N, NC, NR, P, S, and W have been received.
Quality Points Per
Semester Hours of Credit
First year composition courses are offered on a system of A, A–, B+, B, B–, C+, C, I, NC, W grading. All entering first year students, except international students, should enroll in a first year composition sequence during their first year unless they have been awarded equivalent credit through credit by examination or dual-enrollment or other transfer coursework.
Under extraordinary circumstances and at the discretion of the instructor, the grade of I (Incomplete) may be awarded to students who have satisfactorily completed a substantial portion of the course but cannot complete the course for reasons beyond their control.
The following grades carry no quality points and hours for which these grades are earned are not counted in computing a student’s grade point average.
The purpose of this system is to encourage the student to venture beyond the limits of those courses in which the student usually does well and, motivated by intellectual curiosity, explore subject matter in which performance may be somewhat less outstanding than work in other subjects. To this end, Satisfactory/No Credit (S/NC) grading has been developed for undergraduate courses (100-, 200-, 300-, and 400-level courses).
ABC/N grading is an alternative to the standard A-F grading system. Courses offered only on the ABC/N grading system are identified in the course description. For a course offered on the ABC/N grading system:
Transfer students are held to the same program requirements and policies as UT students. For students who transfer to UTK coursework in a course with ABC/N grading, only courses for which a grade of C or higher was earned will be eligible to meet program requirements.
R-prefix Grades
In Fall 2020, the UTK Faculty Senate permitted students who experienced specific extenuating circumstances associated with COVID-19 to change the grading mode in one or more classes. A student whose request to change grading modes was approved, and who received a grade of C–, D+, D, or D–, will have that grade reported on the academic history with the letter R as a prefix (for example, RD). R-prefix grades will be reported on a student’s transcript as CR, and students will earn credit hours for courses in which they earn R-prefix grades. R-prefix grades may be used to satisfy Volunteer Core (General Education) requirements. At the discretion of a department, R-prefix grades may be used to satisfy major, minor, and concentration requirements. Grades with the R prefix will not be included in the calculation of the student’s cumulative grade point average, but will be included in the calculation of an in-state student’s HOPE grade point average.
A change of the final course grade may occur in cases of arithmetical or clerical error, removal of a grade of Incomplete, or as the result of a successful grade appeal (as outlined in the “Grade Appeal Procedure” section). An undergraduate student may not submit additional work, rewrite an assignment, nor repeat an examination to raise a final grade.
Students who are struggling with a class should talk with their advisor before deciding whether to withdraw from and/or plan to repeat a class.
Students must be enrolled in a course during the term in which the coursework is initiated.
Undergraduate students may enroll for a maximum of 19 credit hours each semester. Enrollment in more than 19 hours must be approved by the dean of the student’s college or school.
Undergraduate students may enroll in one course during any mini session. Enrollment that exceeds the maximum must be approved by the dean of the student’s college.
Undergraduate students may enroll for a maximum of 6 credit hours for each of the first and second sessions. Students may enroll for a maximum of 12 credit hours for those courses that extend through the entire session. Students may enroll for a maximum of 12 credit hours in any combination of summer session courses. Enrollment that exceeds the maximum must be approved by the dean of the student’s college.
Students may enter classes as auditors with the consent of the instructor. The instructor will determine the appropriate requirements or restrictions. Auditors receive no credit and the audited course will not be recorded on the transcript. The student’s name will appear on the class roll to inform the instructor that the student is properly enrolled as auditor.
Auditors are required to register and pay fees. Prior to the add deadline, a change from credit to audit or from audit to credit must be made by completing the change of credit portion of the Add Course (Change of Registration) form and having it processed by the academic department responsible for the course. Once the drop deadline is passed, a change will not be allowed.
Students must meet prerequisite and corequisite requirements for all courses with such restrictions, and no student shall be permitted to register for those courses in which the requirements have not been met.
The periods for add, drop, and change of grading for sessions within the full term, summer, and mini term are determined based on a percentage of the equivalent deadline for the full term. For exact dates see the Timetable/Financial Deadline Calendars on the University Registrar’s website at https://registrar.utk.edu/calendar/https://registrar.utk.edu/calendar/. Deadline dates may be adjusted if the deadline falls on a holiday, weekend day, or spring recess.
For full term fall and spring classes, undergraduate students may add classes through the seventh calendar day counted from the beginning of the term.
For single session fall and spring classes, undergraduate students may add classes through the sixth calendar day counted from the beginning of the session.
Because of the nature of some classes, permission of the department head may be required to add a course after the first day of the term or session. Students may also, as departmental policies permit, change class sections through the add deadline.
For all courses, there is a short window of time at the start of the term or session when a student may drop a course without any grade notation on the academic record. Drop deadlines for all terms and sessions are outlined on the Timetable/Financial Deadline Calendars found on the Office of the Registrar’s website. After the published deadline, a student may still drop individual course(s) from their active schedule through the final day of classes for the session or term of the course with a grade notation of “W” (Withdrawn) on the academic record. Please see “Additional Regulations” for further guidance and information on dropping classes.
NOTE: If a student must drop all of their active courses for a term after it has begun, an official University Withdrawal is required.
The following are additional regulations related to dropping individual full term fall and spring classes after the seventh calendar day of the term, or dropping individual single session fall and spring classes after the sixth calendar day of the session:
Failure to attend a class is not an official withdrawal and will result in the assignment of an F grade.
Undergraduate students who need to drop all of their courses and leave the university before a term is finished may withdraw at any point through the last day of classes for the term. Please see https://onestop.utk.edu/withdraw/ for instructions regarding the withdrawal process. The word “withdrawn” will be posted on the student’s transcript.
Total withdrawal from a term (fall, spring, or summer) is prohibited if any grade except W has been earned and posted to a student’s academic record during the first session of the term.
The following regulations govern total withdrawal from a term:
Students who are enrolled or eligible to enroll at the university may participate in extracurricular activities as permitted by the individual club or organization.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, expects all students who enroll to make progress toward graduation. To graduate from UT, a student must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. The university reviews students’ academic records at the end of each term to determine academic standing. The catalog contains additional requirements for specific programs.
A student is in good academic standing when both the student’s term and cumulative GPAs are 2.0 or higher or, if after two consecutive terms, the student’s cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher and at least one term GPA is also 2.0 or higher.
A student will be placed on Academic Probation after (1) their cumulative GPA falls below the minimum acceptable level of 2.0 for one semester or (2) their semester GPA falls below the minimum acceptable level of 2.0 two consecutive semesters of enrollment. During each semester a student is on Academic Probation, they must participate in a special directive advising and Academic Success Center programming to help them address concerns that are impacting their academic performance and to outline a plan for achieving academic success. While on Academic Probation, students must have met with an advisor prior to registering for all following semesters, which includes summer semester. This model of early intervention is designed to help students regroup and position themselves for academic success. Students on Academic Probation status during a semester will automatically be dismissed at the end of that semester if both:
Students who begin their enrollment in UT in Summer semester cannot be dismissed until at least the following Spring semester.
A student will no longer be on academic probation when their cumulative grade point average is 2.0 or higher and their semester grade point average is 2.0 or higher. This policy is in place in recognition of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s minimum grade point average of 2.0 for graduation.
Academic dismissal is the end result of a pattern of receiving grades that are below the university’s standards for good academic standing (GPA of 2.0 or better).
Students who have been academically dismissed are not eligible to enroll in classes, either full-time or part-time at the University of Tennessee (including on-line courses). Academically dismissed students are not permitted to live in university housing and no longer have the privileges provided through the UT student identification card (VolCard). Academically dismissed students must remain away from the university for a mandatory absence and should use the period of dismissal to reflect on and address the factors that led to poor performance.
Students who have been academically dismissed and who are readmitted will be dismissed again if they fail to earn a 2.0 minimum term GPA at the end of the first semester after readmission and every term thereafter until the cumulative GPA reaches a 2.0.
For further information on readmission after academic dismissal, see Readmission to the University under the Admission to the University section of this catalog.
After a First Academic Dismissal, a student may continue UT enrollment without interruption so long as they meet eligibility conditions and commit to required actions. Dismissal Reinstatement permits a student to continue UT enrollment but does not necessarily return a student to the college in which they were enrolled. Students who have been academically dismissed and don’t meet the academic requirements of their college are required to pursue another degree program in a different college; Dismissal Reinstatement does not change the academic requirements of a college.
A student is eligible for Dismissal Reinstatement after their First Academic Dismissal if they meet all of the following criteria:
While in Dismissal Reinstatement status, students must:
At the end of the semester, students under Dismissal Reinstatement who do not meet the required 2.00 semester GPA requirement will be academically dismissed as a First Academic Dismissal, and will not be eligible for Dismissal Reinstatement in the future.
At the end of the semester, students under Dismissal Reinstatement who meet the required 2.00 semester GPA requirement are permitted to continue enrollment without interruption with an academic standing of Probation if the cumulative GPA is less than 2.00 or with good academic standing if the cumulative GPA is 2.00 or higher.
Academic Second Opportunity is designed to assist the student who was not successful in progressing toward a degree during a previous attendance at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, but is now performing satisfactory work. Granting it is an acknowledgment by the university that the student’s earlier work is not consistent with his or her academic potential but that the work earned since return is. This policy is not intended to allow students to progress directly into a major. Exceptions to progression standards must be made at the college level.
An undergraduate student may petition for Academic Second Opportunity upon meeting the following requirements.
Decisions on granting Academic Second Opportunity are made by committee. If the student’s petition is approved, all previous academic work and grades will remain on the permanent record, but the grades for such work will not be used in computing the grade point average or in determining academic standing. Previous credits earned with a grade of C or better will continue to meet major, distribution, and graduation requirements.
To graduate, a student granted Academic Second Opportunity must complete at least 30 hours at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, following readmission. Academic Second Opportunity may be granted only once. If hours earned during the previous attendance have already been applied toward the completion of an awarded degree from a four-year institution, Academic Second Opportunity will not be granted. Registration at another college or university since the previous UT Knoxville enrollment will not prevent a student from qualifying.
Petition must be made no later than the academic term prior to the one when the degree will be granted. Students should consult the Office of the University Registrar’s website (https://onestop.utk.edu/academic-second-opportunity/) for instructions and Academic Second Opportunity petition form. To initiate the petitioning process, students should meet with designated advisors in their colleges.
A proficiency examination may be given in any academic course offered for undergraduate credit. University policy is to reserve to departments the decisions as to which courses, if any, can be passed by proficiency examinations. Proficiency examination credit is available only for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, students.
When applying to a department for a proficiency examination, a student should present evidence of having developed the abilities, knowledge, and attitudes expected of those who have taken the course in question. The giving of the examination must be approved by the head of the department in which the course is offered. The Proficiency Exam Form is signed by the department head; then, the form and the payment are presented to a One-Stop counselor.
Subject to the grading policy of the college in which the student is enrolled, and except for courses which are graded only on as S/NC basis, a student who passes a proficiency examination and who wishes to have the grade recorded may choose to take the grade on the examination (A, A–, B+, B, B–, C+, or C) or take an S. An S gives credit for the course but does not affect the grade point average. If a grade of C–, D+, D, D–, or F is made on a proficiency examination, the department is expected to note the attempt but no record of the examination is made on the student’s transcript. The maximum credits obtainable through proficiency examination and the use of proficiency examinations to remove failing grades (also the grade of I) are determined by the department offering the proficiency examination.
Entering international students whose native language is not English are required to take the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, English Proficiency Examination to determine placement in the appropriate English course. No credit for any English course is awarded through this special examination.
Final exams must be given during the final exam period at the scheduled time and in the scheduled place, unless extraordinary circumstances justify a change in either time or place. Such a change must be approved in advance by the appropriate department head after consultation with the Office of the University Registrar. Alternative (non-exam) uses of the scheduled exam period may be designated by the instructor. Examples would include group presentations, presentations of final projects, or general discussions regarding course content.
Students are not required to take more than two exams on any day. The instructor(s) of the last non-departmental exam(s) 1 on that day must reschedule the student’s exam during the final exam period. It is the obligation of students with such conflicts to make appropriate arrangements with the instructor at least two weeks prior to the end of classes.
In-class, written quizzes or tests counting more than 10% of the semester grade may not be given the last five calendar days before the study period. The study period, designated as “Study Day” on the Academic Calendar, is set aside for final examination study. There should be no assignments or projects due during this time.
No exams may be scheduled during the designated Study Period. No regular exams may be scheduled during the “Make Up Exam” times.
1 Some units offer departmental exams in which one, common exam period is assigned to all sections of a particular course. These exams should not be rescheduled.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, requires a minimum of 120 credit hours to earn a bachelor’s degree. Students choosing to pursue two degrees simultaneously must complete at least 30 hours in addition to the total hours required for one bachelor’s degree. These additional hours apply only to those seeking a second degree and not to students who simultaneously pursue a second major, concentration, or minor. To receive a bachelor’s degree, a student must also complete all of the requirements listed below.
Some colleges within the university have special requirements above and beyond those stated here. Students are advised to consult the appropriate section of this catalog for any further degree requirements. Each program presented by the candidate for a bachelor’s degree is reviewed and approved for meeting the degree requirements by the Office of the University Registrar. Grades cannot be changed for courses within a degree that has been awarded.
Students who wish to participate in their graduating class commencement ceremony will need to place a cap and gown order with the University Center Book and Supply Store. Orders placed after the deadline date established by the Book and Supply Store will be subject to a late fee.
A student’s name, the degree awarded, and primary major are included on the diploma. Any additional majors, concentrations, and minors only appear on a student’s academic transcript.
Multiple concentration listings may appear on a student’s transcript when a minimum of 12 distinct credit hours differentiates one concentration from another. Once a bachelor’s degree has been awarded, students may not add a different area of concentration.
Students may pursue any available second majors. Second majors will be noted on students’ transcripts upon graduation. Meeting the requirements of second majors may lengthen students’ academic programs. Once a bachelor’s degree has been awarded, students may not add a second major to that degree.
Minors are available in most departments or programs in which majors are offered. Requirements for specific minors vary by program and are discussed under each department or program. Courses taken to satisfy major requirements or the university’s Volunteer Core (general education) requirements may, when appropriate, be used for the minor. Students must satisfy requirements for a minor under the same catalog used for the major. Minors will be noted on students’ transcripts upon graduation. Meeting the requirements of minors may lengthen students’ academic programs. Once a bachelor’s degree has been awarded, students may not add a minor to that degree.
A student holding a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning may receive a second bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. UT students currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree may choose to pursue two degrees simultaneously. To earn a second degree, all students must satisfy the following.
Students are able to enroll in additional post-baccalaureate coursework in lieu of pursuing a second baccalaureate degree. Students are further encouraged to pursue graduate studies toward an advanced degree. Once a bachelor’s degree has been awarded, a student may not add a second bachelor’s degree in the same major as the first bachelor’s degree even if the student wants to pursue a different concentration in that major.
A student holding a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning who enrolls at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, intending to work toward a second bachelor’s degree will be considered to have fulfilled the Volunteer Core (general education) requirement established by the faculty at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Students should be aware that many majors require completion of an intermediate level sequence of a foreign language, and some majors require more stringent math and science requirements than may have been required by their previous institution. Students should review the detailed transfer information on majors/degrees for the specific requirements of their prospective UT major at https://registrar.utk.edu/for-transfer-students/ .
Latin honors designations are conferred upon graduating undergraduate students who have displayed a high level of achievement during their university career.
Students graduating using this Undergraduate Catalog receive their degrees with Latin honors as follows:
• magna cum laude
• summa cum laude
These Latin honors categories are based on a student’s cumulative average (including any graduate coursework) at the end of the graduation semester. Latin honors categories for students graduating using earlier Undergraduate Catalogs can be found in those Catalogs. The cumulative average for students in the Audiology and Speech Pathology Dual Degree Program will be determined by combining coursework at both the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.