Degree requirements
General degree requirements
Writing proficiency
UNT is committed to the discovery, acquisition, development, preservation and dissemination of knowledge and the enhancement of the intellectual, cultural and proficiency levels of all who enter its programs. Fulfilling this commitment will contribute to both a better society and a more rewarding pattern of individual life. As students endeavor to complete their academic studies, they are expected to exhibit good written English skills in all university course work as a consideration in grading.
Requirements of this catalog
- A minimum of 120 semester hours.
- Completion of all requirements in the university core curriculum (42-hour minimum) (See “University Core Curriculum ”).
- A major of at least 24 semester hours. At least 12 hours of advanced work (3000/4000 level) in the major must be earned at UNT (except for the BAAS degree). See “Major” in the Academics section of this catalog.
- A minor, if required for a particular undergraduate degree, of a minimum of 18 semester hours, including at least 6 hours of advanced work (3000/4000 level). For details, see the individual requirements under specific degree programs in this catalog.
- A minimum of 36 semester hours of advanced work, 24 of which must be completed at UNT. A lower level course that, when transferred, is determined to be equivalent to a UNT upper-level course does not satisfy the requirement of advanced hours.
- An official degree plan prepared by the academic dean. It is recommended that the degree plan be made no later than the beginning of the junior year.
- A minimum grade point average of 2.000 (C) on all work attempted, including all transfer, correspondence, extension and residence work. It should be noted that the GPA that appears on grade reports and is used to determine the student’s academic status, does not include correspondence, extension and transfer work. Thus, a 2.000 GPA on the grade report does not necessarily imply eligibility for graduation.
- A minimum GPA of 2.000 (C) on all work at UNT. Transferred work may not be used to raise the GPA of work done at UNT.
- At least twenty-five percent of the total number of hours for the degree (e.g., 30 hours for a 120-hour degree) must be earned in residence.
- A proficiency in English composition. Students must show competence in written expression by receiving credit for or earning a grade of C or better in two general education English courses that have a strong writing component (Group 1: ENGL 1310 , ENGL 1311 , ENGL 1315 , LING 1312 , LING 1322 , TECM 1700 ; Group 2: ENGL 1320 , ENGL 1321 , ENGL 1325 , LING 1322 , TECM 2700 ). Students who have earned a D in one or more of these two required courses must repeat the course and raise the grade to a C or better.
Students who are transferring to UNT with more than 90 hours and who have earned a D in any of the basic English writing courses must retake the course during their first term/semester in residence.
University Core Curriculum
The University Core Curriculum is designed to ensure that all UNT students graduate with breadth of knowledge gained through their general education classes as well as depth of knowledge gained from courses in their major area of study. The core curriculum at UNT requires that students study in the “foundational component areas” of communication, mathematics, life and physical sciences, language, philosophy and culture, creative arts, American history, government/political science, and social and behavioral sciences. In addition, the UNT core curriculum includes 6 semester credit hours of core option classes. These classes help students further develop important and fundamental skills that will help them be successful in all their classes and will prepare them for their lives after college. These “core objectives” are Critical Thinking, Communication Skills, Empirical and Quantitative Skills, Teamwork, Personal Responsibility, and Social Responsibility. Through the Core, students will gain an enthusiasm for learning and an intellectual capacity that they will use throughout their lives.
Statement of Purpose
Through the Texas Core Curriculum, students will gain a foundation of knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world, develop principles of personal and social responsibility for living in a diverse world, and advance intellectual and practical skills that are essential for all learning.
More information and the list of UNT core curriculum courses may be found on the University Core Curriculum page.
Transfer of the core curriculum
A student who successfully completes the common core curriculum at a state-assisted institution of higher education in Texas may transfer as “core complete” to UNT. The student will receive academic credit for each of the courses transferred. The student will need to work with an academic advisor in the appropriate college or school academic advising office to determine if additional requirements will be necessary to satisfy the 42-hour UNT core. See also the UNT transfer articulation web page at registrar.unt.edu/faculty/transfer-articulation, where you can find information on the online transfer course equivalence tool Transferology.
Core complete
A student who transfers to UNT as core complete has successfully completed the common core curriculum at another state-assisted institution of higher education in Texas and will have satisfied the core curriculum at UNT.
College or school requirements
Students must satisfactorily complete all degree requirements specified by the school or college in which the degree is offered. In many instances, the college/school/department academic program requirements may exceed the university core requirements.
Individual academic programs may require courses contained in part of the University Core Curriculum to satisfy specific degree requirements. Students may be required to take additional courses if they do not select these courses.
Graduation under a particular catalog
A student may meet the graduation requirements noted in the catalog in effect at the time of admission to UNT or the requirements in any later catalog published before the student’s graduation.
Any student transferring directly from a Texas public community college to UNT shall have the same choice of catalog designating degree requirements as the student would have had if the dates of attendance at the university had been the same as the dates of attendance at the community college. Transfer students from senior institutions or out-of-state community colleges will use the catalog in effect at their date of enrollment at UNT.
All requirements of the chosen catalog must be met within eight years of that catalog’s publication. This catalog will expire at the close of the 2032 summer semester/term.
Changes in either major or non-major requirements made necessary by altered or discontinued courses or by requirements imposed by external accrediting or certification agencies become effective for degree audit purposes at the beginning of the academic year immediately following the academic year in which the changes are published in the university catalog. The changes may include additions, deletions and other changes in prerequisite requirements for existing courses. Whenever possible, new requirements are implemented with a beginning class or upon the expiration of the appropriate time limit.
Course sequencing
For a listing of recommended courses in sequence for timely degree completion and to assess transfer course applicability, including Texas Common Core, please refer to “Undergraduate Major and Certificate Course Sequencing Maps and Transfer Guides” (registrar.unt.edu/transfer-guides).
Transfer hours from another institution
Students who complete work at another institution, to be applied toward a bachelor’s degree at the University of North Texas, should make sure that the appropriate officer of the other institution furnishes to the Office of Admissions or the Registrar’s Office at the University of North Texas a complete official transcript of such work.
The Registrar’s Office, Admissions and Academic units determine acceptable transfer credit from other institutions based on evaluation of course content as described in the catalogs of those institutions. Transfer credit may only be received for course work completed at an accredited institution of higher education unless circumstances warrant review of non-traditional, prior learning. Transfer credit from other accredited institutions will be converted to semester hours and a 4.0 grading system for evaluation purposes as appropriate. The student’s academic dean determines applicability of the credit to a degree program. Students seeking a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) degree should refer to the special provisions of the respective degree programs.
Students who have begun residence work at UNT and who have attained junior standing may, only with the prior written consent of their academic dean, enroll in and transfer hours from approved two-year colleges.
Grade points earned at other institutions are excluded in the computations of the UNT-CGPA, but transfer hours accepted are included in determining the classification and minimum required level of performance.
Additional information concerning academic status is available from the advising offices of the academic deans or the Registrar’s Office.
Because of the time required for receipt of transcripts, students otherwise eligible for graduation who complete their last course or courses elsewhere do not graduate at the end of the term/semester or summer session in which the work is completed, but receive their degrees at the close of a subsequent UNT term/semester or summer session.
At least twenty-five percent of the total number of hours for the degree (e.g., 30 hours for a 120-hour degree) must be earned in residence. Transfer hours from another institution are included in the overall GPA when determining honors for graduation.
Correspondence courses
Regulations governing correspondence courses
- A student in residence who wishes to enroll concurrently in correspondence courses at another accredited institution must first secure the written permission of the student’s academic dean at UNT. Failure to obtain advance approval may result in the refusal of the university to accept such work in transfer.
- Not more than 18 hours of correspondence courses from an accredited institution may be transferred to UNT and used toward a degree program. No more than 30 hours of the total number required for any degree may be earned by a combination of correspondence and extension.
- A maximum of 6 hours of upper-level correspondence work completed in transfer will be accepted toward a degree program at UNT.
- Graduate credit is not accepted in transfer through correspondence study.
Advanced-hour credit
A lower-level course that is substituted for a UNT upper-level course may not be used to satisfy advanced-hour requirements.
Graduation
Application for graduation
Students who may be eligible to graduate must submit their application through the MyUNT student portal. (Visit registrar.unt.edu for additional information about degree application deadlines.)
Degree applications are accepted only from undergraduate students who have a minimum overall C average. See “Grade point average” for grade point calculation details. Before applying, the student also must remove grades of I in required courses necessary for graduation if these courses increase the term/semester load beyond the maximum permitted.
Students otherwise eligible for graduation who complete their final course or courses elsewhere will not graduate at the end of the term/semester or summer session/term in which the work is completed because of the time required for obtaining transcripts; such students will have their degrees conferred at the close of a subsequent UNT term/semester.
August graduates may file for graduation before the end of the spring term/semester.
Graduation with honors
Candidates for graduation whose overall grade point average (OGPA), based on grades earned in University of North Texas resident credit courses and transferred resident credit courses, is at least 3.500 but less than 3.700 are eligible to graduate cum laude; those whose OGPA, as defined above, is at least 3.700 but less than 3.900 are eligible to graduate magna cum laude; and those whose OGPA, as defined above, is 3.900 to 4.000 are eligible to graduate summa cum laude.
Hours earned through correspondence and extension courses, or pass/no pass courses, may not be counted in calculating the GPA for determination of eligibility for graduation with honors. Candidates for a second bachelor’s degree are not eligible for graduation with honors.
Commencement exercises
Commencement exercises are held in December and May. Diplomas are mailed to candidates approximately eight weeks after graduation has been verified.
Degrees and programs offered
Colleges and schools
The University of North Texas is organized into the following colleges and schools.
Honors College
College of Applied and Collaborative Studies
G. Brint Ryan College of Business
College of Education
College of Engineering
College of Information
College of Health and Public Service
Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism
College of Music
College of Science
College of Visual Arts and Design
Toulouse Graduate School
These schools and colleges offer the degrees, majors, concentrations under majors, minors, certifications, and preprofessional programs listed under Majors, minors, certificates . See individual areas in this catalog for information about undergraduate offerings. Information about advanced offerings may be found in the Graduate Catalog.
Degrees offered
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS)
Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
Bachelor of Music (BM)
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (BSBC)
Bachelor of Science in Biology (BSBIO)
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (BSCHM)
Bachelor of Science in Economics (BSECO)
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology (BSET)
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (BSMTH)
Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences (BSMLS)
Bachelor of Science in Physics (BSPHY)
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Master of Arts (MA)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Education (MEd)
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Master of Journalism (MJ)
Master of Music (MM)
Master of Music Education (MMEd)
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Master of Science (MS)
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Doctor of Audiology (AuD)
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Undergraduate academic certificates
The University of North Texas offers upper-division undergraduate academic certificates to meet workforce needs or to provide students with life/career skills and knowledge and to allow for specialization in academic disciplines. Undergraduate academic certificates require 12–20 hours, the majority of which must be advanced. See “Undergraduate Academic Certificate Programs” for additional details.
Admission
All students pursuing an undergraduate academic certificate must meet regular UNT admission requirements. Candidates for admission to the undergraduate academic certificate program must meet the minimum academic standards for the academic discipline. Post-baccalaureate students are eligible to pursue an undergraduate academic certificate.
Requirements
Undergraduate academic certificates require 12–20 semester credit hours, the majority of which must be advanced.
Students are responsible for all prerequisites specified in course requirements.
Students are expected to complete all hours for the undergraduate academic certificate requirements at UNT.
Upon completion of the requirement for an undergraduate academic certificate program, a student should apply to the academic dean of his or her college or school. Application forms are sent to the Registrar’s Office at the end of each term.
The Registrar’s Office posts undergraduate academic certificates to students’ transcripts at the end of the semester earned. The office prints and mails the certificates to the students.
Note: Hours used for attaining an undergraduate academic certificate could potentially exclude a student from consideration for the $1,000 Tuition Rebate since all hours earned for the undergraduate academic certificate are counted in the total hours earned toward a degree.
Requirements for a second bachelor’s degree
To be eligible for a second bachelor’s degree, a student must meet all current catalog requirements for the second degree, including 12 hours of advanced courses in a field different from the major for the first bachelor’s degree.
Degree terminology
Major
A major requires a minimum of 24 semester hours in a given subject, including 12 hours of advanced work.
Double major
A student who fulfills the specified requirements for two different majors under a single degree completes a double major. A double major consists of two majors with the same degree type (e.g. Bachelor of Science). Each major consists of a minimum of 24 unique major requirement semester credit hours including 12 hours of advanced work. A second major is not considered a concentration (see concentrations).
Double degree
A student who fulfills the specified requirements for two different degree types (e.g. Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts) at UNT. To be eligible to earn double degrees, the student must meet all of the current graduation and program specific requirements, including the major requirement (in both degrees) of a minimum of 24 hours including 12 hours of advanced work. Major courses beyond the minimum requirement of 24 hours, may apply toward both degrees, if applicable. A student must graduate with both degrees simultaneously. If one degree is completed before the other, then the second degree would require post-baccalaureate status.
Dual degree
A dual degree allows a student to study at two or more institutions and earn a degree from both institutions. Dual degrees are established programs as shown in the catalog.
Concentration
A concentration is a minimum of 18 semester credit hours of coursework in a recognized area of study within the academic discipline. Concentrations are placed on the UNT transcript and diploma.
Specialization
A specialization is a minimum of 12 semester credit hours of coursework in a focused area of study within an academic discipline, specializations are not on the UNT transcript or diploma.
Emphasis
An emphasis is less than 12 semester credit hours of coursework in a focused area of study within an academic discipline, emphasis do not appear on the UNT transcript or diploma.
Grad Track
Grad Track programs allow exceptional undergraduate students to apply up to 12 credit hours of approved graduate level courses to complete the requirements of an undergraduate degree and apply toward the graduate degree. Applications for Grad Track programs are submitted through the major department after the student has completed at least 75 credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5. Grad Track students may begin taking graduate-level courses after completing 90 credit hours and must complete the bachelor’s degree within one academic year after beginning their first pathway course. Students in the Grad Track must apply for admission to the graduate program, generally by the end of their first term in the Grad Track program. See grad track options in undergraduate catalog.
Second bachelor’s degree
Students who wish to obtain a second bachelor’s degree, after the conferral of a bachelor’s degree from an institution with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recognized accreditation or an equivalent credential from a foreign institution recognized by UNT. To be eligible to receive a second bachelor’s degree, the student must meet all of the current graduation and program specific requirements, including at least 24 new hours, 12 of which must be advanced in a field different from the major of the first bachelor’s degree, completed once you declared the second bachelor’s degree. Advising is provided by the college in which the second bachelor’s degree is sought.
Degree plan
The degree plan is an official document prepared in the office of the student’s academic dean. It lists all courses completed, courses not completed, proficiency examinations and all other requirements for a particular degree sought. A student should have a degree plan prepared no later than the beginning of the junior year. See also the entries for “Major,” “Double Major” and “Minor,” all in this section.
Degree audit
The degree audit is an official document prepared in the office of the student’s academic dean that lists courses completed, courses to be completed, proficiency examinations and all other requirements for a particular degree program. A student should have a degree audit prepared no later than the beginning of the junior year.
Minor
A minor requires at least 18 semester hours in a given subject, including 6 hours of advanced work. Specific course sequences for a minor are determined by the department offering the minor. Not all degrees require a minor.
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