Semesters and Course Loads
A student’s enrollment status is determined by the number of credit hours for which the student is enrolled in residence in a semester.
Long-session semesters: For graduate students, nine credit hours is considered full-time status for long semester, which include the traditional Fall and Spring semesters. All students that are supported by a research (GRA) or teaching (TA) position must enroll for a minimum of nine hours to maintain their student employee status. This is also the minimum that is required for all international students. Generally, research assistantships and teaching assistantships will pay for a maximum of nine hours, so virtually all full-time MS&E students take nine hours during long session semesters so that they do not incur additional costs. Anything under nine credit hours is considered part-time.
Summer session: For graduate students, three credit hours is considered full-time status for long semester. The Graduate School requires registration during the summer if you are making use of any UT facilities except the library. Fellowship holders, AIs, TAs, or GRAs, must be registered for three hours in any summer session if they will be receiving funding during that summer. Anything under three credit hours is considered part-time. Students do not need to be registered for summer courses to be considered continuously enrolled within their program.
Course Modality: International students are often limited on the “mode” of the courses they take, meaning that the courses must be listed as either “Face-to-Face” or “Hybrid” in the University Course Catalog to comply with visa requirements. Similar restrictions also apply to those using their Veterans Benefits. If you have questions concerning the mode of a course, please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator or the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Office.
Grade Point Average: You must maintain at least a B (3.0) average in both your major and supporting courses to remain in good standing in the Graduate School. However, to qualify for PhD candidacy, you must have a GPA of 3.30 in Core courses. You can check your current GPA anytime through your Graduate Degree Planner via UT Direct. This will include your Program of Work GPA, which are the courses that are counted toward your 30 minimum credit hours. If you see that any of your courses are applied incorrectly, contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.
If you fall under the necessary GPA, you are at risk for academic dismissal. Per the Graduate Catalog: “A graduate student whose cumulative graduate grade point average falls below 3.00 at the end of any term of enrollment will be warned by the Office of Graduate Studies that their continuance in the Graduate School is in jeopardy. The student must attain a cumulative graduate grade point average of at least 3.00 during the next term they are enrolled or be subject to dismissal. During this period, the student may not drop a course or withdraw from the University without the approval of the graduate advisor and the graduate dean.” Scholastic warning statuses are reflected on your permanent record. Dismissal from the program will also result in a notation on their UT academic record and can only be readmitted by petition.