Uniform Undergraduate Degree Requirements

All bachelors' degrees conferred by Texas Tech University are based on the satisfactory completion of specific authorized degree programs comprised of a minimum of 120 semester hours. A student's major subject is the degree program in which he or she is working. The degree programs are offered through the seven undergraduate instructional colleges of the university and are usually supervised by the departments in each college.

Requirements for undergraduate degrees, therefore, are established at these three different levels: (1) the university as a whole (Uniform Undergraduate Degree Requirements), (2) the college through which the degree is conferred, and (3) the particular degree program in which the student is working. Students should familiarize themselves with all three sets of requirements that must be fulfilled before the degree is granted.

Immediately following are explanations of the Uniform Undergraduate Degree Requirements of the university that apply to all undergraduate degrees conferred.

Core Curriculum requirements also apply to all candidates for baccalaureate degrees. These requirements appear in the next section of this catalog.

Residence Credit. The minimum actual residence required of each student is two consecutive semesters or the equivalent, and the minimum amount of residence work required is one-fourth of the total hours applicable toward the degree sought. In addition, the student must complete the last 30 hours at Texas Tech. These hours may include a maximum of 6 semester hours in correspondence course work, provided the minimum residence and course work requirements stated above have been met.

Course work taken through the Division of Extended Studies at Texas Tech University or at any other institution will not be counted as residence credit. A Texas Tech resident student may apply up to 18 hours of course work completed at a distance through Extended Learning toward a bachelor's degree.

The term "residence" as a degree requirement should not be confused with "residence" in the state of Texas for tuition purposes. Residence credit as used here means credit for work done while enrolled in and attending classes at Texas Tech University.

Graduation Under a Particular Catalog. A student is expected to complete the degree requirements set forth in a particular university catalog. Normally this will be the catalog in effect at the time the student enters a post-secondary school program, assuming that it has not changed from the original degree objective. For the student who changes a degree objective after beginning a college career, the degree requirements in effect when the student is officially admitted to the college from which the degree is to be received will be applicable. Only with the specific approval of the academic dean may a different catalog be selected. In no case may a student complete the requirements set forth in a catalog more than seven years old. When necessary, a catalog issued later than the student's first registration may be selected by the academic dean in conference with the student.

The annual Undergraduate Catalog is published in the summer, and its provisions apply during the following school year, September through August. However, a student who registers for the first time in the university during a summer session is subject to the degree requirements set forth in the catalog effective for the fall semester immediately following the initial enrollment.

Double Major. A student interested in pursuing a double (dual) major should contact his or her academic dean for specific requirements. A double major will typically require more than 130 hours.

Application for Degree. A candidate should file an application for a degree in the academic dean's office at the time designated by the dean. Veterans must file a degree plan by the time they have accumulated 64 semester hours.

Students who file an application for a degree in the semester or summer session in which they expect to complete the work for a bachelor's degree, but who have less than the number of grade points required for graduation, will be granted only conditional admission to candidacy. In this status, students act on their own responsibility in making graduation arrangements.

Commencement Exercises. Diplomas are awarded at the end of each semester and the summer terms. Commencement exercises are held at the end of each long semester and at the end of the second summer term. Students may participate only in the commencement exercises that immediately follow completion of their degree requirements.

Second Bachelor's Degree. No second bachelor's degree is conferred until the candidate has completed at least 24 semester hoursexclusive of credit by examinationin addition to the courses counted toward the first bachelor's degree.


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LAST UPDATE: 6-1-00


Jan 21, 2020