ADDITION OF CLARIFYING INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSFER OF CORE COURSES FROM
STATE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IN THE SCHOOL OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES CHAPTER IN
THE UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG, 2012-2014
Type of Change X Academic Change
1. NAME OF DEGREE PROGRAM: Undergraduate Studies
2. IF THE ANSWER TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IS YES, THE COLLEGE MUST
CONSULT NEAL ARMSTRONG WHO WILL DETERMINE WHETHER SACS-COC APPROVAL IS
NEEDED.
Is this a new degree program? Yes or no? No
Does the program offer courses that will be taught off campus? Yes or no? No
Will courses in this program be delivered electronically? Yes or no? No
3. EXPLAIN CHANGE TO DEGREE PROGRAM:
Add clarifying language under the core curriculum section regarding students who transfer courses to UT that
they took at another institution while holding degree-seeking status at UT Austin. A fundamental coordinating
board rule requires that courses fulfilling a core component area at any other Texas public institution must
transfer and substitute for UT’s core requirements. This only applies to courses taken while a student does not
hold degree-seeking status at UT Austin. However, when a student is degree-seeking at UT Austin, courses
taken to fulfill core requirements must be those that are on our core course list. We have based this language
based on communication UGS has had with the coordinating board staff regarding transferring coursework
among institutions.
3a. Indicate pages in the undergraduate catalog where changes will be made. Pages 16-18
4. GIVE A DETAILED RATIONALE FOR CHANGE. INDIVIDUAL CHANGES SHOULD BE LISTED
SEPARATELY.
The new language is not a change in official policy, but rather, it is a change in interpretation many that people
thought was already in practice. UGSAC agreed that this is the direction that UT wants to take in order to
maintain autonomy for our core curriculum and to ensure that UT students take coursework that UT Austin has
deemed appropriate for the core curriculum.
5. SCOPE OF PROPOSED CHANGE
5a. Does this proposal impact other colleges/schools? If yes, then how? No
This change does not require any changes in individual college or school degree requirements. While it will
affect many students across campus, this change has been broadly supported by the members of UGSAC
and addresses specific concerns of some colleges about core course transfers that do not align well with the
UT Austin core requirements.
5b. Does this proposal involve changes to the core curriculum or other basic education requirements (42-
hour core, signature courses, flags)? If yes, explain: Yes
It involves transfer of core coursework, but this change originated in UGS.
5c. Will this proposal change the number of hours required for degree completion? No
6. COLLEGE/SCHOOL APPROVAL PROCESS
UGSAC approval date: August 26, 2011
Dean approval date: August 26, 2011
[PAGES 16-18]
CORE CURRICULUM
All students pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University must complete the following required coursework.
These requirements are consistent with statewide core curriculum guidelines; the area of the statewide core that each
requirement meets is given in parentheses in the following table.
A single course may not be counted toward more than one core area.
[Core course list course table is in separate legislation.]
State law requires that courses fulfilling a core component area (including the institutionally designated option) at
one Texas public institution must transfer and substitute for the receiving institution’s requirements. However, this
only applies to courses taken when a student does not hold degree-seeking status at UT Austin. While a student
holds degree-seeking status at UT Austin, courses taken to fulfill core curriculum requirements must meet UT
Austin core definitions in the relevant UT Austin undergraduate catalog, regardless of where they are taken.