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| General Program Requirements |
The University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) is authorized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to confer six degrees in 45 graduate majors.
Students are responsible for knowing their degree requirements and enrolling in courses appropriate for chosen degree programs. Students also are responsible for knowing all university regulations regarding student affairs and course work standards required for study undertaken in the university. While this catalog was prepared on the basis of the best information available at the time, all information including statements of fees, course offerings, admissions and graduation requirements is subject to change without notice or obligation. The most recent information regarding degree requirements and academic standards may be obtained from the appropriate dean's office. Student affairs information may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Dean of Students, or by contacting the individual student services offices.
In conjunction with academic performance standards, the policies listed below are utilized by the university in monitoring the academic progress of students.
Students should be aware that academic work will be at advanced levels and should consider individual abilities when determining an appropriate course load. Course load limits may be set as terms of probation or readmission to the university after suspension. The university limits course loads to a maximum of 15 hours for graduate students during the fall and spring semesters. For the summer semester, the limit is 9 hours.
In evaluating their ability to carry a certain course load, students should consider:
Under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, international students are required to maintain full-time enrollment during each fall and spring semester. In addition, no more than three credit hours per semester taken online may be counted towards full-time enrollment for F and J student visa holders.
| Term | Full-Time | ¾ Time | ½ Time |
| Fall and Spring Semesters | 9 hours | 6 hours | 3 hours |
| Nine-Week Summer Sessions | 5 hours | 3-4 hours | 2 hours |
| Five-Week Summer Sessions | 3 hours | 2 hours | 1 hour |
When enrolled in a cooperative education course, students will be considered full-time for purposes of enrollment verification. Students enrolled in at least three hours of master's option course work will be considered full-time for the purposes of enrollment verification for loan deferment.
Resident credit is defined in two ways:
Students should be aware that credits earned elsewhere without prior approval from UHCL are not considered credits "earned in residence" for the purpose of fulfilling general degree requirements.
Regular class attendance is expected of all students. What constitutes an acceptable rate of class attendance is a matter between students and their instructors, although the university expects instructors to maintain reasonable standards. Whenever instructors determine that students' absences have been excessive, they have the right to request that the appropriate associate dean withdraw the students from the course.
Students who drop classes or withdraw from all classes by the deadline date as stated in the academic calendar will receive one of the following grades: WQ (Student-initiated drop, No Evaluation) or WX (Administrative Drop or Withdrawal, No Evaluation). These marks imply no evaluation of students' performance prior to drop/withdrawal. Students may retain auditing privileges with the instructor's consent.
Students' applications for official withdrawal from courses or from the university must be made to the Office of Academic Records or through E-Services prior to the deadline stated in the academic calendar. Withdrawals in writing can be made by mail or by fax to 281-283-2530 and are effective on the date of receipt. Student-initiated drops and withdrawals are irrevocable. Retroactive drops or withdrawals are not permitted. Students lose all university privileges on the date the withdrawal from the university is effective.
The university reserves the right to withdraw students from a class or all classes if, in the judgment of the appropriate university officials, such withdrawals are in the best interests of the students and the university. Students may be withdrawn for reasons of health, irresponsible financial conduct, unacceptable personal conduct, Honesty Code violations or other academic infractions or disregard of official summonses to respond to official requests.
Grades of "+" or "-" are refinements of the letter grades, represent grade point variations and may be used at the discretion of the instructor.
| Grade Points Per Semester Hour | Grade |
| 4.000 | A |
| 3.667 | A- |
| 3.333 | B+ |
| 3.000 | B |
| 2.667 | B- |
| 2.333 | C+ |
| 2.000 | C |
| 1.667 | C- |
| 1.333 | D+ |
| 1.000 | D |
| 0.667 | D- |
| 0.000 | F |
| WQWX* | Student Initiated Drop, No EvaluationWithdrawal or Administrative Drop, No Evaluation |
| NG* | No Grade Submitted, Contact Instructor |
| I* | Incomplete-No Credit, unless work is not completed on time, then an F is given |
| CR*+ | Credit |
| NC*+ | No Credit |
| IP*++ | In Progress-No Credit |
*These grades are not included in computing the grade point average
+CR/NC awarded only for CLEP, master's option and TexES course work
++IP awarded for master's option course work
This average is computed by multiplying the semester hours of each course attempted by the grade points earned in the particular course and then dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of hours attempted excluding those hours for which grades are shown with asterisk (*) above. GPAs will round at three decimals.
Cumulative GPA is based on the grade points earned sinceadmission to UHCL or since the last UHCL degree awarded. All UHCL undergraduate and graduate courses taken by graduate students are calculated in the graduate GPA. Courses transferred in do not calculate in the UHCL GPA.
A grade of Incomplete ("I") may be given at the discretion of the instructor to students who are making satisfactory progress in a course. Incompletes are typically given for emergency situations which occur after the withdrawal date but prior to the end of the semester, and which prevent the student from completing course requirements. When assigning the grade of "I," instructors provide students with an Incomplete Grade Contract that outlines the work to be accomplished before the "I" can be converted to a final grade and specifies a deadline date; this contract constitutes an agreement between instructors and students. A grade of "I" must be resolved within the time limit set by instructors; however, such limits may not be extended beyond the grade submission deadline for the next long semester following the semester in which the "I" was assigned. Failure to resolve an "I" will result in its conversion to a final grade of "F" on students' permanent records. An "I" can be converted to a final grade only. A statement denoting the lapse will appear on the transcript.
Students should not re-register for a course to complete a grade of "I." Incomplete grade contracts are submitted to the appropriate associate dean‘s office.
Students on academic probation, who have outstanding "I" grades, will remain on probation until all incompletes are resolved. "I" grades are not calculated in the GPA. An "I" which has been changed to a grade or has been converted to an "F" will be recorded and academic action taken during the semester of the grade change.
Master's Thesis, Project and Residency require continuous enrollment. A grade of In Progress ("IP") will be recorded until final grade assignment for completion of the master's option. Not all internships require continuous enrollment but those that do are eligible for "IP" grades. The "IP" grade will not automatically convert to "F" if not resolved within a specified time. At the time final grades for master's option course work are assigned, outstanding "IP" grades will be converted to Credit ("CR") or No-Credit ("NC"). If the final grades are "C" or better, six hours of the letter grade assigned will be recorded and the remaining "IP" grades will be converted to "CR." If the final grades are "C-" or below, six hours of the letter grade assigned will be recorded and the remaining "IP" grades will be converted to "NC." Faculty, with the approval of the associate dean, may change an additional three hours of "IP" to a final letter grade. Students enrolled in master's option course work are automatically enrolled in the same course each fall and spring semester until a final grade is assigned (see Automatic Enrollment). Students must complete an application for graduation by the stated deadline during their last semester of enrollment. Failure to do so will result in a delay of graduation to a future semester.
Grade changes are allowed for only one of the following three reasons:
Other than removing an incomplete, grades will not be changed on the basis of extra work submitted after final grades are assigned.
Only the course instructor may assign grades for students in a course. Grade changes may be made by the instructor or the associate dean in the absence of the instructor. After one long semester, a grade change submitted by an instructor must be approved by the associate dean for the programin which the course is taught. Grade changes must be filed in the Office of Academic Records within one year after the original grade is posted. Grade changes resulting from the completion of In Progress ("IP") or Incomplete ("I") work may only be initiated by the instructor of record or the associate dean. When the grade change is processed, students will be notified by mail by the Office of Academic Records. Academic action that results from a grade change will be taken during the semester of the grade change. The changed grade will be the final grade used to compute the GPA.
If students repeat a course, it is with the understanding that the last grade earned in the course is the one counted toward fulfillment of degree requirements and hours earned.Only the hours and grade points earned on the last attempt will be counted in the Grade Point Average (GPA) calculation and in determining academic standing. With prior approval of the appropriate associate dean, students may repeat courses at another college or university to raise a grade, including "F," earned at UHCL. However, the original grade earned at UHCL will remain a part of the academic record. Courses repeated at other institutions are treated as transfer credit. They will not be considered resident credit and will not be included in the UHCL GPA.Only grades earned on repeated courses taken at UHCL will be counted in the UHCL GPA.
The university expects students to meet certain standards of academic performance in order to maintain good standing and degree candidacy. The academic performance standards stated in this catalog apply to all students regardless of the catalog under which they entered the university.
Graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or better in course work at UHCL. Each school may establish standards beyond the university's minimum cumulative GPA requirement. A minimum of 3.000 cumulative GPA is required to graduate. All course work taken as a graduate student will be used in calculating the grade point average and determining academic status even when those courses are not counted toward degree requirements.
Graduate students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.000 will be placed on academic probation. Graduate students who are on academic probation must earn a minimum 3.000 semester GPA on course work each subsequent semester until the grade point deficiency is removed. Only course work taken at UHCL will be applied toward the grade point deficiency. Students on academic probation, whose cumulative GPA meets minimum requirements, will remain on probation until all incompletes are resolved. Students who leave the university on academic probation will be readmitted on academic probation. Academic probation will be noted permanently on students' academic records.
Graduate students who are on academic probation and earn less than a minimum 3.000 semester GPA will be suspended from the university. During academic suspension, students may not enroll, audit or visit classes at the university. Academic suspension will be noted permanently on students' academic records.
Students who are suspended from the university for the first time may apply for reinstatement after one semesterof non-enrollment. Students on suspension for the second time are eligible to apply for reinstatement after one year of non-enrollment. Students who have been suspended three times are suspended indefinitely. All academic suspensions are career specific (UGRD and GRAD).The suspension count is reset to zero for undergraduate students who pursue a UHCL graduate degree. Reinstatement following suspension is not automatic. Students who are eligible and seek reinstatement must submit to the associate dean of the school to which they wish to return a written petition justifying their readiness to resume satisfactory academic work at the university. Students who are non-degree-seeking [major codes NONDEGREGR] petition the Office of the Provost. At the time of application for reinstatement from academic suspension, students desiring to change their major from one school to another must submit a Request for Academic Record Change (ARC) form along with a petition for reinstatement to the associate dean of the school to which they wish to be admitted. Courses taken at another college or university while students are on suspension from UHCL may not fulfill UHCL graduate degree requirements. Such courses may only be used with special permission from the associate dean. If a student has completed additional lower-level requirements during the suspension, it is advisable to include a transcript with the petition, in addition to having an official transcript sent to the Office of Admissions. Students petitioning for reinstatement over five years after their last term of attendance at UHCL must also resubmit official transcripts from universities and colleges previously attended. Records from previous institutions are destroyed after five years of academic inactivity.
Petitions for reinstatement must be submitted by the following dates:
| Summer Semester | April 1 |
| Fall Semester | July 1 |
| Spring Semester | November 1 |
Students who have not been enrolled for at least one year must file an admissions application with the Office of Admissions and meet the requirements for readmission of former students after reinstatement has been granted.
If students are allowed to enter the university after academic suspension, they enter on academic probation and will remain in that status until their cumulative GPA meets the minimum requirement of 3.000 for graduates.A student who is reinstated must undergo mandatory advising until such time that he/she returns to academic good standing. Disciplinary suspensions are not covered by this policy. For details of the UHCL disciplinary policy, see the Student Life Policy Handbook.
Graduate standing is given to those students who have earned a bachelor's degree and have indicated their intent to study in the graduate level or pursue teacher certification at UHCL by submitting a graduate studies application.
Students are expected to be present at all announced examinations, including final examinations. Unless satisfactory alternate arrangements are made with instructors, missed examinations will be considered as failed. Students who must be absent from classes for the observance of a religious holy day (as defined by the Texas Education Code) will be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence. Students needing to reschedule an examination or assignment for a holy day should submit a letter of request or appropriate form to each instructor within 15 days from the first class day of the semester. An instructor should acknowledge receipt where indicated on the form and return a copy to the student. A new date for taking an examination or completing an assignment missed for a holy day shall be set by the instructor. Should an instructor not honor the request for rescheduling examinations or assignments for holy days by setting reasonable new due dates, students may appeal the decision to their associate dean. The instructor or associate dean may require a letter of verification of the observed holy day from the religious institution.
Graduate courses are defined as those courses with course numbers in the 5000,6000, 7000, and 8000 range.7000 and 8000 range courses are restricted to doctoral students.
Graduate courses taken as an undergraduate will only calculate in the undergraduate hours earned and in the undergraduate GPA. Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate non-degree-seeking students are not eligible to enroll in graduate courses.
Academic appeals include those appeals related to grades and academic programsor degree requirements. Specific instructions are provided below for each type of academic appeal. In all instances, the university expects that every attempt will be made initially to resolve such disputes informally through discussions by all relevant parties prior to initiating formal procedures.
All appeals relating to specific course grades require that students first seek a satisfactory solution with the instructor. If this is not possible or the instructor cannot be reached, the student must send a written statement detailing the grounds for the appeal to the associate dean of the school in which the grade was earned. This written request must be received by the associate dean within 45 days from the calendar date when grades are available as reported in the UHCL class schedule for that semester. The associate dean will then initiate the appropriate procedures to review the appeal. The student will be notified in writing of the decision. The student may appeal this decision in writing to the dean within 15 working days of notification. The dean's decision is final on all grade appeals.
All appeals relating to specific program requirements (e.g., residency requirements, master's degree option decisions) require that students submit a written petition to the associate dean of the degree-granting school detailing the grounds for the appeal. The associate dean will respond in writing with a decision. The student may appeal this decision in writing to the dean within 15 working days of notification. The dean's decision is final.
Academic honesty is the cornerstone of the academic integrity of the university. It is the foundation upon which the student builds personal integrity and establishes a standard of personal behavior. The university can best function and accomplish its mission in an atmosphere of the highest ethical standards. The university expects and encourages all students to contribute to such an atmosphere by observing all accepted principles of academic honesty. This policy is designed to encourage honest behavior and is jointly administered by faculty and students.
HONESTY CODE: The Honesty Code is the university community's standard of honesty and is endorsed by all members of the University of Houston-Clear Lake academic community. It is an essential element of the university's academic credibility. It states:
I will be honest in all my academic activities and will not tolerate dishonesty.
Joint Responsibility: Students and members of the faculty are jointly responsible for maintaining the academic integrity of the university by following the Academic Honesty Code and by refusing to participate in or tolerate scholastic dishonesty.
Student Responsibility: All students at the University of Houston-Clear Lake are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in all academic work attempted while enrolled at the university. This standard of conduct includes reporting incidents of alleged violation of the honesty policy to the instructor involved or, if necessary, to the appropriate academic dean. Each student acknowledges, by the mere act of turning in work for a grade, that he or she has honored the Academic Honesty Code.
Faculty Responsibility: Faculty are responsible for helping students comply with the Academic Honesty Policy by noting the Honest Code on the class syllabus. Instructors should help minimize student temptation to violate the code by enacting adequate security precautions in the preparation, handling and administering of graded work. Instructors are responsible for discussing incidents of alleged violation of the Honesty Code with the student involved, outlining authorized penalties for violation of the Honesty Code and notifying the student's academic dean of record and the Dean of Students when a determination has been made that a student has violated the Honesty Code, regardless of which type of academic sanction the instructor chooses to administer.
While all students are expected to maintain the highest standards of personal academic honesty, it is recognized that some students may not meet these standards. This policy is designated to address, in a uniform manner, cases of alleged violation of the Honesty Code.
Honesty Code Violations: Any conduct or activity by a student intended to earn or improve a grade or receive any form of credit by fraudulent or dishonest means is considered an Honesty Code violation. In addition, engaging in any conduct including the following examples which a reasonable person in the same or similar circumstances would recognize as academic dishonesty is considered a violation. Examples of violations of the Honesty Code include, but are not limited to, the following:
The dean of students shall retain a copy of all Honesty Code Violation Forms. If the sanction imposed is a final grade penalty, suspension or expulsion, the registrar's office is notified and a record of the notification is maintained in the registrar's office according to the prescribed operating procedures of that office. If the student is found in violation of the Honesty Code and the penalty is anything except suspension or expulsion, the form does not become a part of the student's permanent record or transcript. Instead, it is retained by the dean of students. If the student is found in violation of the Honesty Code and the penalty is suspension or expulsion, the record becomes part of the student's permanent academic file and the notation of "Disciplinary Suspension" or "Disciplinary Expulsion" is placed on the transcript. In the case of suspension, the notation will be removed at the conclusion of the specific suspension period at the written request of the student. In the case of expulsion, the entry is noted permanently.
UHCL has established minimum requirements for graduate course work leading to the Doctor of Education, Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Healthcare Administration and Master of Healthcare Administration/Master of Business Administration degrees. All graduate students must have an approved CPS that fulfills all university requirements and all degree program requirements. The university requirements for the doctoral degree are:
Please see the School of Education section of this catalog for the details of the courses required.
The university requirements for the master's degree are:
All master's option course work requires continuous enrollment until completion. See Automatic Enrollment - Master's Option Course Work in the catalog. Students enrolled in at least three hours of master's option course work, excluding the capstone course, will be considered full time for purposes of enrollment verification for loan deferment, but not for purposes of determining eligibility for veteran's benefits or financial aid. This deferment is limited to no more than three long semesters of enrollment. Students who plan to graduate at the end of their last semester of Master's Option enrollment must file an application to graduate by the stated deadlines.
The Master's Thesis requires continuous registration until completion, for a minimum of six hours; some programs may require more than six hours. If a student does not maintain continuous registration in the master's thesis, previously accumulated master's thesis credits will not count toward the master's degree. A grade of In Progress ("IP") will be recorded on the transcript until completion. For details, please consult the appropriate academic advisor. All students registering for thesis must submit a copy of both the "Steps in Completing a Thesis" and the "Thesis Preparation Guide." These may be obtained from the associate dean of their school. Individual schools may provide additional information regarding specific school requirements.
The master's thesis must present evidence of:
The thesis will require an abstract of 150 words or less. Students should submit three unbound copies, the fee for binding the thesis and the fee for its placement in University Microfilms Library to the Director of the Library by the deadline specified in the academic calendar. At that time, students may elect to copyright the thesis.
The master's project requires continuous registration until completion, for a minimum of six hours; some programs may require more than six hours. If a student does not maintain continuous registration in the master's project, previously accumulated master's project credits will not count toward the master's degree. A grade of In Progress ("IP") will be recorded on the transcript until completion.
The master's project may be widely and variously conceived but must present evidence of:
The master's internship and residency are designed to provide important learning experiences complementary to the academic preparation gained in course work. In general, the residency must represent application of master's level instruction to materials or situations that are new to students. The internship should provide an opportunity for students to evaluate the relevance of theoretical or academic perspectives to the work environment.
The extended course work option requires at least six semester hours of course work in addition to the minimum of 30 semester hours required for graduation. Option 4 also requires successful completion of a capstone course or a comprehensive examination.
Students may appeal previous academic actions or decision by faculty members regarding master's degree options 1, 2 or 3 by following the academic appeals process.
Students who have selected degree programs requiring comprehensive examinations are responsible for requesting the examinations in writing from the dean of the school at least ten days prior to the examination. Associate deans and/or chairpersons of students' degree committees offer guidance concerning students' readiness for the examination and the form of the request. Students who have been reported to a dean for failing a comprehensive examination may request a second comprehensive examination no sooner than one long semester after the semester in which the examination was failed. Normally, comprehensive examinations will not be administered more than two times. Appeals to this policy will follow the normal academic appeals process.
Courses completed more than five years prior to the most current admission to graduate study at UHCL may not be counted toward fulfillment of the required number of hours unless approval is granted by the appropriate dean.
Degree-seeking graduate students outside the School of Business must limit their programs of study to less than 50 percent of their course work in the School of Business.
Students possessing a master's degree from UHCL or another accredited college or university may earn an additional master's degree in a different degree program by satisfying the general requirements for the master's degree. Under certain circumstances, credit from one UHCL graduate degree may be applied towards a second UHCL graduate degree. The following provisions apply only to masters programs of 36 hours or more. Students should be aware that a course taken more than five years earlier cannot be applied towards a degree, unless approval is granted by the dean of the school. With respect to the provisions which follow, schools choosing to offer additional masters degrees reserve the right to set additional requirements for degrees awarded by that school including the right to not offer such degrees. Students should be aware that the faculty of the individual schools as set forth in the schools' procedures determine the approved Candidate Plan of Study in all cases of graduate work.
Students pursuing two master's degrees simultaneously, may earn both degrees by completion of a special "Simultaneous Master's Degree CPS" subject to the following provisions:
Note: Students with the Simultaneous Master's Degree CPS, who wish to complete only one of the two degrees must follow the basic university graduate degree requirements for that degree.
Students pursuing an additional master's degree, may earn the additional degree by completion of a special "Additional Master's Degree CPS" subject to the following provisions:
(SIMULTANEOUS, NON-SIMULTANEOUS AND DUAL DEGREES)
The University of Houston-Clear Lake has approved a policy that permits schools to apply graduate credit earned at UHCL toward more than one UHCL graduate degree. Specific requirements and approvals are completed by the individual school.
As long as students maintain continuous enrollment, they are entitled to graduate under the degree provisions in effect at the time the Candidate Plan of Study (CPS) is filed. Degree-seeking students should file a CPS during the first semester of enrollment at UHCL. Filing of the CPS is completed when it is signed and dated by the appropriate dean and is effected on that date. Failure to enroll in and satisfactorily complete at least one course in a 12-month period shall break continuous enrollment for the purpose of the CPS. The dean may require revision of the CPS of students who have not maintained continuous enrollment. The revisions may bring the plan into conformance with provisions of any catalog issued after that in effect when the plan was filed or last revised. Students may, with the approval of their advisor or dean, amend their CPS to comply with the provisions of catalogs issued after the initial filing of the CPS. Degree requirements must be completed within five years from the effective date of the CPS. Exceptions may be granted by the appropriate dean. Graduate students exceeding the time limit will automatically come under the provisions of a more recent catalog, the specific edition to be determined by the dean.
Degree candidates must officially apply for graduation in the Office of Academic Records within the first three weeks of the semester in which they plan to graduate, but no later than the date specified in the academic calendar. Students who miss the specified deadline to apply may request to submit a late application for consideration. If approved, there will be a $20 late fee. To be eligible to apply for graduation, students must have completed or be enrolled in the final courses required to meet graduation requirements. A non-refundable fee of $65 is required. If students do not graduate at the close of the semester for which they have applied, they will be required to reapply and pay another $65 fee during the subsequent semester in which they intend to graduate. As there is no graduation ceremony in the summer, students who graduate in August will be eligible to participate in the December ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed to recipients within six weeks after the graduation date. Students who graduate from UHCL must complete a new application and pay $35 in order to continue taking classes.