Undergraduates :: Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. The minimum course load requirement (the 14-hour rule)
2. Taking courses Credit/No Credit
3. Applying for Major Sequence
4. Add/Drop/Withdraw
5. Concurrent Enrollment (going here and there at the same time)
6. Transferring Credits.
7. Degree Residency Requirements (the 30-hour rule)
8. Applying for Graduation
9. I don't see my question listed here. Who do I email and what do I need to include?

14-Hour Rule:  Generally, all engineering students must be enrolled in 14 hours during the fall and spring semester and 12 of the 14 hours must apply to the degree.  However, there are exceptions to this rule:

• Students in their first semester at the University of Texas at Austin
• Students who work over 10 hours each week: the hours are reduced based on the formula  (# HRs Worked) + 3 x (# HRs Credit) < 56
• Students with disabilities
• Single parents who must accommodate for day care schedules
• Foreign language courses are exceptions to the 12 hour rule
• Seniors who need less than 14 hours in one semester or 28 in two semesters to graduate
• PEN or GEH departmental advisor approval for reduced course load

Students registered for less than 14 hours, must complete the online Irregular Student Petition at https://utdirect.utexas.edu/engine/isp/index.WBX.

Credit/No Credit:  No class used toward a PEN or GEH degree may be taken credit/no credit.  Students taking M 304E, M 305G, CH 304K or PHY 306 to fulfill  deficiencies must take the courses for a grade.  However, the department will accept a CR for courses which are transferred in from outside the university or which are earned through placement testing.

Major Sequence:  The major sequence courses are the advanced courses applying specifically to either the Petroleum Engineering Degree or the Geosystems Engineering degree.  Students should apply for major sequence when they have seven (7) or fewer basic sequence hours remaining at the end of the current semester in which they are registered.  The Major Sequence Application form must be submitted by March 1 for admission for the following summer or fall and October 1 for admission for the following spring.

Upon application for admission, the College of Engineering will admit into the major sequence, grant conditional admission, or deem currently ineligible.  Information on being admitted to Major Sequence contains detailed information on admission procedures, status, and the appeals process.

Add/Drop/Withdraw: Students should see the departmental advisor to discuss adding or dropping any course if the change will alter the classes that were originally approved by the departmental advisor.  For adds or drops requiring the approval of the Dean, students will need to schedule an appointment with a College of Engineering Academic Advisor (ECJ 2.200, 471-4321).  A complete description of add/drop/withdrawal procedures and deadlines can be found at the   College of Engineering website.

Concurrent Enrollment:  Students must apply and be approved for concurrent enrollment. Complete the form at https://utdirect.utexas.edu/engine/concurrent/.  College of Engineering students will generally be approved for  concurrent enrollment at other colleges, as long as they are taking a minimum of 14 hours, the majority of the hours are taken at the University of Texas at Austin, and the courses are needed to fulfill the degree requirements.

Transferring Credits:  Before registering for a course at another institute of higher education, it is important to determine how the course will transfer to the University of Texas at Austin.  Most community colleges have adopted the Texas Common Course Numbering System.  Students can check course numbers at www.utexas.edu/student/admissions/ate to determine how courses will transfer to the university.  For other courses, it is wise to check with the Academic Advisors in the Office of Student Affairs (ECJ 2.200, 471-4321) or talk to the appropriate faculty advisor before taking the course.

The math sequence.  Students who start their calculus sequence at the University of Texas at Austin are advised to take both courses at the university.  A very few other universities or community colleges offer an exact equivalent, but most offer a 3-course sequence of 308K, 308L and 308M.  No one of these courses covers all of 408C or 408D.  A student transferring in with 308K can complete the sequence at the university with 308L and 308M.  M 308L is no longer taught at the university.  Advanced calculus for applications (M 427K) is often offered at other universities as a 3-hour course.  Students must have 12 hours of math so must have the 4-hour version unless the requirement is met with other math courses.

Fulfilling the Legislative Requirement for U.S. Government.  A student taking government courses outside the university should be careful.  The Texas legislature mandates coverage of both Texas and U.S. government.  Both are covered by GOV 310L, allowing a student to take a special topic in GOV 312L.  If a student takes a course outside the University of Texas at Austin and it transfers as GOV 310L or "3 TX", then GOV 312L can be taken for the second course at the university (or another government course outside the university).  But if the course transfers as "3 US", then the course has not covered Texas government, and the student must take the second course as GOV 310L at the university, or else a course outside the university that includes Texas government.  If students take both government courses outside the university, and neither covers Texas government, they may need to take another course to fulfill the legislature's requirement.  There is also a special CLEP test on Texas government that fulfills the requirement.  The PGE Undergraduate Office (CPE 3.104) has a handout explaining all the possible combinations.

The 30 hour Rule:  Of the last 30 hours of courses to be counted toward the degree, 24 must be taken at the University of Texas at Austin.  Within 30 hours of a degree, students can not take more than two 3-hour courses outside the university, including ACC, other community colleges, UT correspondence, or UT extension courses.  However, CLEP test credits will count as university hours.  Additionally, students cannot be enrolled concurrently elsewhere during the semester of graduation (including university extension or correspondence courses) and at least 60 hours toward the degree must be taken at the University of Texas at Austin.

Graduation:  A complete description of the policies and procedures for graduation can be found in the College of Engineering website.  Students need to run degree audits as they progress through their academic careers to make sure no required courses are missing.  Students must complete the graduation application in the first semester they are eligible to graduate.

Email: goes to Arletta Tompkins, the Undergraduate Coordinator at pgeundergradoffice@mail.utexas.edu Remember to *always* include your UTEID when you email this office with specific academic questions.