Course Substitution Requirements

Students with documented disabilities may be considered for a course substitution when disability-related limitations substantially affect their ability to complete a specific academic requirement.

Course substitution requests are reviewed individually. A substitution can only be considered when the student's documentation supports the request and the course is not an essential element of the student's degree program.

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General Requirements

Before a course substitution can be considered, the student must:

• Register with Student Disability Services.
• Be eligible for disability-related services based on documentation submitted to SDS.
• Provide documentation that supports the specific course substitution request.
• Be enrolled in a degree program in which the course being considered for substitution is not an essential element of the program.

Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee that a course substitution will be approved. Each request is reviewed individually based on the student's documentation and degree requirements.

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Foreign Language Course Substitution

Students requesting a foreign language course substitution must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. The student must have documentation of a learning disability in reading that was diagnosed or reevaluated during or after the ninth-grade year of high school.
2. If the learning disability in reading was diagnosed before ninth grade, the student must provide documentation showing a continuous need for disability-related services during high school. This may include ARD or Section 504 Committee reports from each of the three years of high school that specifically reference the learning disability in reading.
3. The documentation must also include a diagnosis of an auditory processing disorder or identify weaknesses in auditory processing.
4. Foreign language must not be an essential component of the student's degree program.

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Mathematics Course Substitution

Students requesting a mathematics course substitution must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. The student must have a formal diagnosis of a learning disability in mathematics that was diagnosed or reevaluated during or after the ninth-grade year of high school.
2. The student must not have completed algebra, logic or another higher-level mathematics course at a college or university with a grade of C or higher.
3. Mathematics must not be an essential component of the student's degree program beyond applicable university or state requirements.

A mathematics course substitution does not satisfy Texas Success Initiative requirements. TSI requirements are established by the state and must be satisfied separately.

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Physical Education Course Substitution

Students requesting a physical education course substitution must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. The student must provide written documentation from a treating physician describing the medical condition that prevents participation in physical activity.
2. Physical education must not be an essential component of the student's degree program.

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Course Substitution Process

1. Register with Student Disability Services. The student must be registered with SDS and eligible for services based on the documentation submitted.
2. Discuss the request with SDS. The student should contact their SDS counselor or case manager to discuss the course requirement and disability-related need for a substitution.
3. Provide supporting documentation. SDS reviews the student's documentation to determine whether it supports the requested course substitution.
4. SDS makes a recommendation. If the documentation supports the request, SDS sends a letter of recommendation to the associate academic dean of the student's college or the dean's designee.
5. The academic college reviews the request. The academic college determines whether the course is an essential element of the student's degree program and whether the substitution can be approved.
6. Determine an appropriate substitution. If the request is approved, the associate academic dean or designee meets with the student to discuss course substitution options. The academic college determines the course or requirement that will be used as the substitution.

Students should begin this process before enrolling in or making changes to courses related to the requested substitution.

University procedures for course substitutions are established in OP 34.22: Establishing Reasonable Accommodation for Students with Disabilities.

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Questions About Course Substitutions?

If you believe your disability may affect your ability to complete a specific course requirement, contact Student Disability Services to discuss your documentation and whether a course substitution may be appropriate.

Email Student Disability Services