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Admission is defined as permission to enroll in courses for academic credit. Admission to the university does not ensure admission to degree candidacy in an academic discipline. Admission to candidacy is a separate process and is accomplished by completion of an approved Candidate Plan of Study (CPS) in the academic school which houses the chosen degree plan.
For admission purposes, students are categorized as "new" or "former." Definitions of these classifications are:
Applicants may be admitted at the following levels:
| Office of Admissions | |
| Student Services/Classroom Building, suite 1.102 | |
| Phone | |
| General Admissions Information and Deadlines | 281-283-2500 |
| Catalog and Application Requests | 281-283-2500 |
| Undergraduate and Graduate Evaluation Questions | 281-283-2500 |
| Application Status Questions | 281-283-2500 |
| Secretary to the Director of Admissions | 281-283-2541 |
| Website | www.uhcl.edu/admissions |
Within each level, students may be degree-seeking, non-degree-seeking or transient.
Email as the Official Communication Vehicle
The university assigned campus email is the official communication vehicle for all student communications with academic administrative offices. It is the student's responsibility to check their email regularly.
Readmission of Former Students
To reactivate admission, former students must:
Former graduate students who do not have graduate examination scores on file will be required to submit the appropriate examination results to the Office of Admissions before the second semester of re-enrollment.
To change levels from undergraduate to graduate or to change programs, former students must submit a new Application for Admission and verify that they meet the admission criteria.
Former students who have not enrolled for a period of five years will need to file a new application and provide new documentation for admission (i.e., transcripts, etc.). Former institution records are only held for a five-year period. Students who leave the university on academic probation will be readmitted on probation. Students whose permission to register was terminated due to academic deficiency must be reinstated by the appropriate dean prior to readmission or the associate vice president of academic affairs if non-degree-seeking.
Students who graduate from UHCL must complete a new application and pay $35 in order to continue taking classes.
Documentation for Admission from U.S. Institutions
All documents presented to meet the admissions requirements must be official. Transcripts must be mailed directly from the former institution(s) to the Office of Admissions. Hand delivered transcripts will be accepted as official only if they have been printed within the past 60 days and are submitted in a sealed university envelope from the issuing institution. Unofficial transcripts, student copies of transcripts or transfer work shown on transcripts other than those taken from the institution issuing the transcript will not be accepted as official records for coursework. Documents must reach the Office of Admissions by the appropriate deadlines. Applicants who are enrolled at another institution at the time their application for admission is filed must arrange for the registrar at that institution to submit a statement of courses in progress followed by an official transcript at the end of each term.
If applicants knowingly withhold information or submit fraudulent information about enrollment at any other collegiate institution, the application will be considered invalid and students may be administratively withdrawn from classes with no refund.
Documentation for Admission from International Institutions
International students must supply the UHCL Office of Admissions with official transcripts, mark (grade) sheets and confirmation of degrees or diplomas of any and all academic studies attempted at other colleges/universities prior to enrollment. All students must supply two sets of official transcripts in the original language and English translation (if necessary) describing all academic studies completed and attempted before the final evaluation can proceed. Transcripts should plainly indicate the dates of attendance, the subjects and the marks (grades) earned. They should also reflect any degrees or diplomas awarded.
Official transcripts are to be issued and forwarded directly to UHCL by the registrar, principal or responsible head of each institution attended. When this is not possible, documents certified by an embassy or consular official as true copies may be accepted. Uncertified copies are not acceptable.
The university makes a reasonable determination of those courses completed outside of the United States. However, international students may be required to have a catalog match evaluation performed by an outside agency as approved by the respective school in order to determine course equivalencies. This evaluation is at the student's expense.
Upon receipt of all supporting documentation, the Office of Admissions will determine the eligibility of applicants for admission to the university and will notify applicants of this determination as soon as possible. When applicants are accepted, they will receive information regarding additional procedures to be followed prior to registration. Notification of acceptance to a specific degree plan (program) will come from individual schools.
If applicants are rejected, they will be informed of the appeal procedures for reconsideration of their application. Applicants should be able to judge the validity of the petition by reading the requirements for admission. Exceptions will not be made without substantial cause.
University Policy on Discretionary Authority
The university reserves the right to reject any applicant whose records do not indicate potential success at UHCL, notwithstanding the completion of other requirements.
The university also reserves the right to further evaluate any applicant by using psychological, achievement and/or aptitude tests and personal interviews.
Additionally, the university reserves the right to reject any applicant who falsifies information submitted for admission or used to determine admissibility to the university, and to deny readmission to any former student who has falsified university documents or used a university official's signature inappropriately for personal benefit or gain.
Acceptance into a Degree Program
Acceptance of students into degree programs is determined by the admission standards of each school. Once students have been admitted to a degree program, degree candidacy status is achieved by the completion of a Candidate Plan of Study (CPS). Until the CPS has been completed and signed by all parties, the credits students earn at UHCL do not automatically count toward completion of a degree program.
Applicants for undergraduate admission may request that an institution of higher education not consider academic course credits or grades earned 10 or more years prior to the starting date of the semester for which applicants seek admission. Further, if applicants who make this election obtain a degree and apply for admission to a postgraduate or professional school, only the grade point average earned after the Academic Fresh Start may be considered along with other criteria the institution uses to evaluate admission. If Academic Fresh Start is elected, all courses taken prior to 10 years must be excluded; requests for partial exclusions will not be considered.
Academic Fresh Start is to be used for undergraduate admission purposes only. Once students are enrolled, requests for consideration are not accepted. Once Academic Fresh Start is elected, it may not be revoked. In all cases, students requesting Academic Fresh Start must be Texas residents for the purpose of tuition and fees.
Students who were originally exempt from the TexasSuccess Initiative (TSI) because of hours completed prior to fall 1989 and now have chosen to ignore those hours by invoking Academic Fresh Start are still TSI exempt. Coursework that included prerequisites or university requirements, that are ignored through invocation of Academic Fresh Start, must be retaken in order to be admitted to the university or to take upper-level coursework.
To invoke Academic Fresh Start, students must submit a written request to the Office of Admissions prior to first registration, and after meeting with an admissions counselor, sign the Academic Fresh Start Acknowledgment Form.
Encumbrances/Service Indicators
If transcripts, graduate examination scores or other required documents are not received by the third week of classes, the student record will be encumbered. An encumbrance is a hold on a student's record that will not allow them to register for the next semester untilall required transcripts, graduate examination scores or other required documents are received.Failure to provide official transcripts may generate holds that will hinder future registration attempts and stop the release of records, including UHCL transcripts. Similar restrictions can be rendered on additional encumbrances that vary by office.
Undergraduate Admission Requirements
Favorable action on an application to the University of Houston-Clear Lake depends on satisfying requirements for admission. Admission is defined as permission to enroll in courses for academic credit. Admission to the university does not ensure admission to degree candidacy in an academic discipline. Admission to candidacy is a separate process and is accomplished by completion of an approved Candidate Plan of Study (CPS) in the academic school. All applications and documentation (i.e., transcripts test scores, etc.) must be received by the deadlines described below.
Undergraduate students who wish to participate in Early Registration should submit their application and required documents by March 1 for summer and fall or October 1 for spring. Applications and/or required documents received after these dates will enable students admitted to the university to participate in Open or Late Registration. the Early Registration deadline will be eligible for Open or Late Registration but will not have transcripts evaluated or possibly forwarded to the schools until after the beginning of the semester. Pre-registration advising for these students will be of a general nature the first semester of enrollment.
Undergraduate students who meet the following academic requirements and deadlines will be considered for admission to UHCL.
Students must be prepared to complete upper-level college work of satisfactory quality by meeting at least one of the following:
In calculating admissibility, developmental or remedial courses will not be accepted for transfer and will not be counted toward meeting the 54 semester-hour requirement for regular transfer or the 45 semester hours for concurrent enrollment. A maximum of three semester hours will be counted toward the completion of bachelor's degree work at UHCL. If courses have been repeated, only the last attempt will be considered in evaluating admission requirements. If the last grade earned is an "F," the course will not be counted toward meeting the admission requirement even if a passing grade was earned on an earlier attempt.
An accredited institution is a college or university which has received accreditation from one of the following recognized regional accrediting commissions: New England Association of Colleges and Schools, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or the Western Association of Colleges and Schools. Proprietary, vocational-technical, bible and other specialized, single purpose institutions that are not recognized by a regional accrediting agency are excluded. Credits earned prior to an institution receiving accreditation are excluded.
Undergraduate Admission Procedures
All applicants for admission must present documented evidence that they meet the appropriate requirements for admission. International students have special documentation requirements that are listed in the International Admissions section of this catalog.
The steps for admission are:
Undergraduate - Special Admissions
Undergraduate students who have not met the undergraduate admission requirements may be approved for admission under the following conditions:
Undergraduate and Graduatetransient students who wish to enroll in the university for one semester only will not be required to meet the mathematics or composition admission requirements. All other admission criteria must be met. Transient students who wish to enroll in a second semester must obtain permission from the associate dean of the school offering the course they wish to take and submit another application and application fee to the Office of Admissions. Students must gain this approval before submitting their application, as the fee will not be refunded.
Undergraduate transient students are exempt from TSI under certain conditions. Undergraduatestudents must meet all five of the following requirements or the TSI exemption does not apply:
•Must enroll as non-degree-seeking transient: NONDEGTRUG for undergraduates andNONDEGTRGR for graduates.
Transient students planning to enroll in graduate courses in the School of Business must have permission from the Office of the Associate Dean prior to registering.
Transient Student Enrollment - Summer Sessions
Students seeking undergraduate admissions as a transient/visiting student for summer school from another university or college must have accumulated at least 30 semester credit hours with grades of "C" or better. Grades of "C-"or below are not acceptable. Students must also have completed six semester credit hours of freshman composition with grade of "C-" or better. They will not be required to meet the mathematics admission requirement, but must be in compliance with TSI and show evidence of eligibility to return to their last institution attended. To gain admission as a transient/visiting student, the applicant must complete the application for admissions and provide transcripts from all institutions attended. In addition, the student must provide documentation from the home institution stating the student has been approved to enroll in a specific course by the Registrar's office and/or the academic advisor. The student will be limited to taking six semester credit hours. Admission as a visiting student terminates at the end of the summer sessions. If the student chooses to become a UHCL student, he/she must meet the current undergraduate admissions requirements at the time of admissions:
Texas Success Initiative (formerly THEA)
The Texas State Education Code requires that all students who enter Texas public institutions for the first time be assessed for reading, writing, and mathematics skills. Performance on the test will be used as a condition of admission to UHCL and all other Texas upper-level universities. To give Texas public higher education more flexibility in their efforts to develop better academic skills among students who need them for success in college, the 78 Texas Legislature repealed the Texas Academic Skill Program and replaced it with the Texas Success Initiative (to be coded as Texas Education Code 51.3062).
Transfer students who have attended a public institution of higher education in Texas must have completed the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirement prior to enrolling in upper-level courses. Students who are entering from other Texas public institutions must already have satisfied the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). Students entering from out-of-state or private institutions may satisfy TSI requirements based on a review of specific coursework as determined by the Office of Admissions. All students must take the TSI test and pass any portions shown as outstanding after review of previous testing and/or previous coursework.
Assessment of General Education Core Competencies
Entering undergraduates (first bachelor's degree candidates) are expected to participate in an assessment of core competencies (e.g., reading, critical thinking and mathematics) developed in the general education curriculum. Students will be randomly selected during their first long semester (fall, spring) of attendance at UHCL. The test results will provide UHCL with the specific information for continuous improvement in teaching and learning.
Accepting College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Credit
In all cases, UHCL will accept CLEP credit only if it has been posted to students' transcripts at another regionally accredited institution of higher education.
Lower-Level Credit - UHCL will accept credit earned through CLEP, as specified by the faculty, for the following purposes:
If approved, up to 18 hours of correspondence, extension or CLEP credit may apply as lower-level credit toward graduation. No more than three hours in History and in Government may be earned through CLEP.
Upper-Level Credit - UHCL will accept credit earned through CLEP credit for upper-level work, but each school at UHCL will decide whether CLEP credit accepted by the university can be applied toward specific degree requirements.
The Office of Admissions evaluates non-traditional learning experiences after receiving appropriate supporting credentials and petitions from students. Credit is recognized only for non-traditional learning experiences as described in the American Council on Education (ACE) publication. ACE recommendations are followed as closely as possible in considering the amount, level and type of credit to be recognized.
Recognized non-traditional credits will be treated as transfer credits and may be considered for admission. In some degree plans (programs) these credits may not be accepted. Previous work because of its nature and not its inherent quality may be determined to have no applicability to specific degrees sought by students. This determination is made within each school.
Transfer of Undergraduate Credit
As an upper-level institution, UHCL does not teach freshman or sophomore courses and cannot equate lower-level courses from other institutions with courses offered at UHCL. Instead, UHCL:
Transfer disputes as defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may arise when a lower-level course is not accepted for credit by a Texas institution of higher education. Any dispute between institutions involving transfer of lower-level credit will be handled according to the guidelines and procedure established by the Coordinating Board. A copy of the Coordinating Board guidelines may be obtained in the Office of the Provost or on line at www.uhcl.edu/provost.
The University of Houston-Clear Lake has developed a series of articulation agreements with community colleges in the Houston area. The transfer plans are meant as guides to recommended coursework at these colleges that will aid students as they transfer into programs at UHCL.
Students who plan to attend, or are currently attending, one of the following colleges are encouraged to work closely with the counseling offices at these institutions as they prepare to transfer. Articulation guides may be obtained at each of these colleges:
| Alvin Community College | Brazosport College | College of the Mainland |
| Galveston College | Houston Community College | Kingwood College |
| Lee College | Montgomery College | North Harris College |
| Pearland College Center | San Jacinto College - Central | San Jacinto College - North |
| San Jacinto College - South | Tomball College | Wharton County Junior College |
Unilink is a program that enables community college students to experience university life while still enrolled as freshmen and sophomores at a community college. The benefits include a signed combined community college and UHCL degree plan under the current UHCL catalog and participation in many UHCL campus activities. Many other benefits are outlined in the program guide. To be eligible to participate students must:
For more information about Unilink, contact an Enrollment Management Counselor in the Office of Admissions at 281-283-2500.
Graduate Admission Requirements
Applicants who have earned a bachelor's degree from an approved regionally accredited institution and who are eligible to return to the last institution attended will be considered for admission to graduate studies.
Admission to the university does not ensure admission to degree candidacy in an academic discipline. Separate admission criteria must be met within each school.
Graduate Application Deadlines - Schools
School of Business - Applicants should take the GRE or GMAT to ensure test results will be received by UHCL by the application deadline: August 1 for fall admission, December 1 for spring admission, May 1 for summer admission.
School of Human Sciences & Humanities' Professional Psychology Programs - Students interested in admission to Family Therapy, Clinical Psychology or School Psychology must apply between December 10 and January 25 for all semesters.
School of Education Counseling Program - Complete applications from students interested in admission to the Counseling Program must be received no later than July 1 for fall admission, October 1 for spring admission and March 1 for summer admission.
School of Education Superintendent's Certificate Program - Completed applications must be received by July 15 for fall, November 15 for spring and April 15 for summer.
Examinations for Graduate Candidacies
All new graduate students must provide scores on one of the following standardized tests to the Office of Admissions except as exempted below. Former students who have not previously submitted graduate examination scores must submit scores during their first semester of re-enrollment unless their school or program requires submission of these scores prior to re-admission. Scores must come directly from the testing agency. Hand-carried or student copies will not be accepted. Applicants should contact the associate dean of the school to which they are applying to determine if there is an application deadline, how scores are considered in the admissions process and if scores more than five years old will be acceptable. If a test is not required before admission to a specific school or program, students may enroll and be admitted on a conditional basis. They will be required to take the appropriate test during their first term of enrollment. Students will not be allowed to register for subsequent terms until scores are received. Non-degree applicants will be exempt from the standardized test requirement but will be required to meet all admissions requirements if they change their status to degree seeking. The university will waive the graduate test score requirement for applicants with an earned doctorate from a U.S. institution, e.g., Ph.D. or Ed.D. Exemptions will be made by the university for applicants who have an M.D., D.D.S. (or other appropriate dental degree) or J.D. degree and are licensed to practice in the U.S. The School of Business will exempt applicants who have earned a graduate degree from a business school accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. A Graduate Acceptance Committee of SCE may ask the Dean to exempt an applicant who has an earned graduate degree in an appropriate field of study from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
The GMAT is required by the MBA plan (program), the Master of Arts degree in Human Resource Management and the Master of Science degrees in Accounting, Finance and Management Information Systems. The GRE is required in:
Environmental Management
Healthcare Administration
The GRE or MAT is acceptable.
The GRE is required.
Science and Computer Engineering
The GRE is required.
The institutional code number for UHCL is R6916 for the GRE. For the GMAT, select your code by program of interest:1FD-BS-78 Masters in Healthcare Administration1FD-BS-08 MBA, Part Time1FD-BS-45 MA in Human Resource Management1FD-BS-29 MS in Accounting1FD-BS-71 MS in Environmental Management1FD-BS-86 MS in Finance1FD-BS-81 MS in Management Information Systems1FD-BS-93 MHA/MBA Joint Degree1FD-BS-97 MS in Computer Information SystemsInformation and applications for the GRE, GMAT or MAT may be obtained from the UHCL Office of Career and Counseling Services or from the testing companies. For GRE call 609-771-7670 or 510-654-1200 or write Graduate Record Examinations; Educational Testing Service; P.O. Box 6000; Princeton NJ 08541-6000. For GMAT, call 800-717-4628 or writePearson VUE Attention: GMAT Program; PO Box 581907; Minneapolis, MN; 55458-1907. For MAT, call 800-622-3231 or write The Psychological Corporation; 555 Academic Court; San Antonio, TX 78204-2956.
All applicants for graduate admission must present documented evidence that they meet the appropriate admission requirements. International students have special documentation requirements. See Documentation for Admission from International Institutions (page 11).
Students seeking admission to a graduate program must:
Degree-seeking applicants should request that:
Transcripts should reach the Office of Admissions at least 30 days prior to the semester in which the students wish to enroll. If transcripts are delayed, students may be allowed to register under the following provisions:
Master's degree plans (programs) require a minimum of 30 semester hours; at least the final 24 semester hours must be resident credits earned at UHCL. The possibility of transferring credit toward a master's degree is limited to no more than 12 semester credit hours and in most instances may not exceed six semester credit hours.
Previously earned graduate credits are not necessarily applicable:
Undergraduate and Graduate International Applicants
Since it may take additional time to obtain and evaluate credentials from higher education institutions outside the United States, all applications and credentials for international applicants must be received by the following deadlines:
| Term of Application | Application Deadline |
| Summer Semester | March 1 |
| Fall Semester | March 1 |
| Spring Semester | October 1 |
In addition to meeting the documentation and admission requirements (see Documentation for Admission from International Institutions, page 11); international students must submit the following:
International students are not eligible to apply for admission as non-degree students. They must apply for degree-seeking status for a specified degree plan (program).
All international undergraduate students who have not earned the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree must take the Texas Success Initiative) (TSI) test prior to enrolling in their first semester at UHCL. Graduate students seeking initial teacher certification in the School of Education are required to take the TSI test (see TSI section of catalog). Official SAT or ACT scores may waive TSI requirement.
Language Proficiency Requirements for Non-U.S. Citizens
All students regardless of immigration status who are citizens of countries where English is not the native language must demonstrate English proficiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to admission.
Students must submit a minimum score of 550 on paper tests, with section scores of 50 or higher. A TOEFL score of 213 is the minimum requirement for computer-based tests. Score reports may not be more than two years old. Only original scores will be accepted. For students who choose to take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in lieu of the TOEFL, the minimum overall score is 6.0 or higher band. On the new iBT TOEFL test a score of 79 - 80 is required.
Procedure to Apply for English ProfIciency Waiver
Students who request a waiver of the TOEFL or IELTS must submit a petition in writing with supporting documentation to the Office of Admissions a minimum of 60 days prior to the term in which they wish to enroll. Action will be taken only when full documentation is provided. Waiver of the TOEFL or IELTS requirements may be considered only under the following conditions and cannot be waived for students who are on non-immigrant visas.
Co-Enrollment (International Students)
International students seeking undergraduate degrees at UHCL may obtain an International Student Advisor's permission to co-enroll at another institution. A concurrent enrollment letter must be obtained from a UHCL international advisor prior to registration at the school where the student will be concurrently enrolled. Proof of payment for concurrent enrollment at another institution of higher education must be provided to a UHCL international advisor for the current semester.
Undergraduate applicants who lack no more than nine semester credit hours of lower-level core curriculum or foundation courses may transfer to UHCL and co-enroll at UHCL and another institution to complete the lower-level core or foundation requirements. In all cases, students must maintain full-time status and must enroll for at least three semester credit hours at UHCL. Department of Homeland Security stipulates that no more than three credit hours of on-line courses per semester may be counted towards full-time enrollment for F and J student visa holders.
Each school within the university has unique advising procedures designed to best serve the needs of its students. New students to the university are advised to take courses that meet general plan (program) requirements during their first semester of enrollment. In subsequent semesters, students should enroll in courses that fulfill the requirements of the Candidate Plan of Study. Non-degree-seeking students are advised by the Office of Career and Counseling Services.
Students seeking advice on registering for courses during their first semester may see advisors available in each school or program prior to or during the registration period. Information on the advising procedures of each school may be obtained from the following offices:
| Offices for Advising Information | ||
| Bayou Building | ||
| Room | Phone | |
| School of Business | 2111 | 281-283-3110 |
| School of Education | 1231 | 281-283-3600 |
| School of Human Sciences and Humanities | 1510 | 281-283-3333 |
| School of Science and computer Engineering | 3611 | 281-283-3711 |
| Career and Counseling Services (non-degree seeking)Student Services/Classroom Building | 3.109 | 281-283-2580 |
Candidate Plans of Study (CPS) outline the coursework necessary for students to complete a desired degree at UHCL. All degree-seeking students must file a CPS.
Schools differ in the way the CPS is developed. In all schools, however, development of the CPS begins in the first semester after enrolling in classes. Students should contact the advising office for their school during their first semester of enrollment for detailed CPS information.
Revisions of Degree Status and Plan Codes
Students may at any time file a Request for Academic Record Change asking that their plan (major) be changed. These forms are available in each school.
If degree-seeking students wish to change to non-degree status, they should complete an Academic Record Change in the Office of Academic Records.
Students wishing to change from non-degree-seeking to degree-seeking status must file a new application for admission with the Office of Academic Records and submit the appropriate application fee. In addition, they must submit all official documentation required by degree-seeking applicants (see Documentation for Admission, page 11) and await evaluation by the Office of Admissions before being granted degree-seeking status. Achieving degree-seeking status does not ensure admission to candidacy in an academic discipline. Candidacy is achieved by completion of a signed CPS with the student's school of record. All changes to degree status and plan codes made by the census date may be applied to that semester. All changes made after the census date will be applied to the following semester.
When students graduate from UHCL, they must re-apply to the university as a former student and pay the application fee before resuming classes.