Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Academic Information


Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts  > Academic Information

 

 

KGMCA Policies and Procedures

Advising

The goal of the advisors in the KGMCA Academic Affairs Center is to ensure that each student has access to competent academic advising at all stages of the student’s college career.
All incoming freshmen and transfer students are required to go through orientation, where pertinent policies and procedures are introduced and potential problems are discussed.

The college provides an overall view of the college, then undergraduate advisors in each department help students with the initial task of schedule planning and enrollment (registration). Thereafter, advisors are available on an ongoing basis should any questions or problems concerning academic progress occur.

Specific times when academic advising is suggested:

  • upon entering as a freshman or transfer (required)
  • for enrollment  (registration) and add/drop questions
  • to declare or change a major
  • to declare or change a minor
  • to clarify any academic policy or procedure
  • anytime UH term GPA falls below 2.0 to discuss UH resources for success, enrollment limitations and requirements in order to avoid suspension
  • anytime UH cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 (required) to discuss UH resources for success, enrollment limitation and requirements in order to avoid suspension
  • at or before 60 hours to file a degree plan (filing a timely degree plan can and does minimize lost h ours and delayed graduation)
  • at or before 90 hours and each term thereafter until graduation to verify that all requirements will be met as expected (required)

Declaration of Major

Many entering students have a well-defined career objective and major course of study. These students should declare their majors upon entering the college and should seek academic counsel from their major departments. Students who are admitted to a major in the college must enroll in at least one course each term in approved coursework for their declared major requirements.

Freshman students who are uncertain of their majors are encouraged to enroll first through Exploratory Studies and seek academic advising from the advisors for the major(s) they are considering. Before enrolling as sophomores (30 hours), students must petition for a change in major to one of the degree programs in the college.

For further information on degree requirements please read: General Degree Information - KGMCA .

Double Majors in the Arts

The Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts will not award double degrees within the same discipline or school, but students may double major within a discipline or school to earn one degree. Music students can double major within the School of Music, but may not earn two Bachelor of Music degrees. KGMCA students may not earn two BFA degrees within the School of Art or within the School of Theater and Dance, but can double major within a discipline to earn one BFA degree.

Declaration of Minor

Students who wish to declare a minor to any of the college’s degree programs must have established at least a 2.00 minimum cumulative UH grade point average and meet the requirements of the individual department. Some minor programs may have additional requirements.

For further information on minor requirements please read: Minor Requirements - KGMCA .

Change of Major

Students who wish to change their majors to any of the college’s degree programs must have established at least a 2.00 minimum cumulative UH grade point average and meet the requirements of the individual department. Some departments, including Music, Theater, and Dance, have additional requirements, which may include an audition and additional application materials. 

Students with less than a 2.00 grade point average are encouraged to obtain academic advising from the department to which they wish to change; however, they are not eligible to officially change their major until the required grade point average is attained.

Repeated Courses

Students may not count repeated course hours toward their graduation total or towards their 36 required advanced hours unless courses are listed in the catalog as repeatable, are designated as special/ selected topics or are required for their major.

Deadlines

KGMCA strictly adheres to the university calendar, e.g., deadlines for admission and enrollment (registration), and drop dates, and application for graduation, etc. Exceptions are considered only for documented, extenuating, nonacademic circumstances.

Grade Changes

Questions regarding grades in KGMCA courses must be resolved within 90 calendar days following the posting of the grade. Grade changes are approved only for correction of errors in computing the grade, and a grade change form must be submitted no later than the close of the term/summer session following the posting of the grade.

Grades of I (incomplete) must be resolved within one year of the posting of the grade. Incomplete grades must be resolved with the instructor awarding the grade. Incomplete grades cannot be resolved by re-enrolling (re-registering) for the course in question.

 Fulfillment of Grade Requirements for a Degree

To determine the fulfillment of degree requirements, the required grade point average for graduation is calculated as described in the Academic Regulations and Degree Requirements section of this catalog with the following differences:

  • No incomplete grades (grades of ‘I’) can be remaining at the time of graduation.
  • All courses taken in major and minor fields in KGMCA, including repeated and failed courses, will be considered when determining major and minor GPAs.

Applying for Graduation

Degrees are not awarded automatically upon completion of the scholastic requirements. To be a candidate for a degree, students must submit an application for graduation by the stated deadline in the university schedule, for the intended term of graduation. Candidates for graduation who were previously disapproved must reapply Graduation  applications are submitted online through myUH.

Successful graduation candidates can anticipate the posting of the degree within 60 days after the official closing date of the term, and the receipt of their diplomas approximately two weeks after the degree is posted.

Undergraduate Course Load

Course loads for undergraduate students are determined by university policy, curriculum of study, and personal factors such as work and family responsibilities. See the Academic Regulations and Degree Requirements section of this catalog for a complete discussion of course loads. In general, for those students who expect to complete the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in about four years, the maximum undergraduate course loads for the Fall and Spring terms are as follows:

Classification (and in Good Academic Standing)*

Term/Session

Maximum Credit Hours

Freshman Fall or Spring 16.0
Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, Post -Baccalaureates Fall or Spring 19.0
All Summer 1 or Summer 3 12.0
All Summer Session 2 7.0
All Summer Session 4 7.0
All All Sessions Combined 14.0

*An undergraduate or post baccalaureate student who is on Academic Probation or Academic Warning shall enroll in no more than 5 hours in Summer Session 2 or Summer Session 4, or 10 hours in Summer Session 1 or Summer Session 3.

The totals listed above include all courses for which students may wish to enroll. Permission to take course loads above these maximums must be approved by the faculty advisor (or the chair of the major department) and dean. (See Regulations and Requirements section for details on maximum course loads and overloads for Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions. Students on probation or academic warning must check regulations and requirements for specific class load limitations.)

Academic Grievance Policy

In the normal conduct of education at the University of Houston, justifiable grievances may arise concerning the violation of university, college, or department academic policies or procedures. KGMCA is committed to resolving these grievances in a fair, orderly, and expeditious manner. To that end, the college has established informal and formal procedures beginning at the department level for settling academic grievances.

An academic grievance refers to an action taken against a student by a member of the faculty (including part-time instructors and teaching assistants), staff, or administration that either violates a university, college, or department academic policy or procedure or prejudicially treats the student on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, handicap, veteran status, or any other nonacademic status.

Because assigning a grade or evaluating a student’s work performance involves the faculty’s professional judgment and is an integral part of the faculty’s teaching responsibilities, disagreement with an instructor concerning a grade or evaluation is not a justifiable grievance to be factors such as those mentioned in the previous paragraph can be shown to have affected that grade or evaluation.

A student with a justifiable grievance that can be substantiated should initiate academic grievance proceedings within 90 calendar days of the action in dispute.

Any student who believes he or she has an academic grievance involving KGMCA should first try to resolve the grievance informally with the faculty member or other involved parties within 90 calendar days of the action in dispute. In some cases, the student may have to discuss the grievance with the department chair, the college officer designated by the dean, or both before obtaining a satisfactory resolution.

If the informal discussions do not resolve the academic grievance, the aggrieved student may initiate a formal grievance by submitting a written complaint to the chair of the department involved (or the college officer designated by the dean if the chair is the focus of the grievance) as soon as the informal proceedings have ended.

The aggrieved student who does not obtain a satisfactory resolution at the departmental level may file a formal appeal first with the office of the dean and then, failing to obtain satisfaction, with the office of the senior vice president for academic affairs.

Academic Warning

First time in college (FTIC) freshman students who earn less than a 2.00 grade point average in the first long/full term(i.e., Fall or Spring) of enrollment at the University of Houston shall be placed on academic warning. Students on academic warning must be advised by their major department advisor and may also be required to be advised by the Academic Advising Center of Undergraduate Scholars at UH. KGMCA students on academic warning may not enroll for more than 12 credit hours of enrollment in Fall and Spring terms and no more than five hours in Summer Session 2 or Summer Session 4, or 10 hours in Summer Session 1 or Summer Session 3.

Academic Probation

Students are placed on academic probation if their cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00. Freshman and sophomore students on academic probation are required to seek advising in their major departments in order to obtain academic support to improve academic performance and avoid academic suspension. KGMCA students on probation may not enroll for more than 12.0 credit hours of enrollment in Fall and Spring terms and no more than five hours in Summer Session 2 or Summer Session 4, or 10.0 credit hours in Summer Session 1 or Summer Session 3.

Students on academic probation whose cumulative grade point average is below 2.00 but whose term GPA is higher will remain on continued academic probation. Students on academic probation will be removed from that status when their cumulative grade point average is at or above 2.00.

Students on academic probation whose cumulative grade point average is below 2.00 and whose term GPA is below 2.00 will be placed on academic suspension and will be restricted from future enrollment until the terms of their suspension have been met.

Suspension & Readmission

Any student suspended from the college for academic or disciplinary reasons is ineligible to return during the designated period of suspension. Effective Fall 2011 all suspended students must reapply to the university through UH Admissions. Students from other Colleges seeking readmission to KGMCA should refer to the KGMCA Policies and Procedures for Readmission and Contracts:

 While on suspension at UH, a KGMCA student may not enroll in classes as follows:

  • First suspension: student must sit out the next full term, either the Fall or the Spring. (Summer does not count as a full term).
  • Second suspension: student must sit out one full year (12 months).
  • Third suspension: student will not be readmitted to UH.
KGMCA does not grant readmission during Summer terms. Students should be advised that readmission is neither automatic nor guaranteed.
A student readmitted from academic suspension enters the term on probation and must fulfill the following requirements to avoid further academic action.
  1. Enroll in no more than 12.0 credit hours of approved courses during the term of reentry and each term thereafter while on continued academic probation.
  2. Earn a minimum 2.00 grade point average during the term of reentry and each term thereafter while on continued academic probation.
  3. Monitor progress of course work closely and properly drop any course if necessary.
  4. Additional requirements may apply.
Failure to attend the university during the term of readmission cancels the readmission approval. Students may reapply for any subsequent Fall or Spring term by posted deadlines.

Independent Study Courses and Internships

Each KGMCA area provides opportunities for majors and minors to take independent study courses and/or internships. Participation in independent study courses and/or internships requires an approved petition to be on file in the appropriate department. KGMCA students may use no more than 6 credit hours of Independent Study and/or Internship courses to satisfy any major requirements in KGMCA, and no more than 6 credit hours to satisfy any minor requirements in KGMCA.

Manual verification is needed to ensure that no more than 6 credit hours of Independent Study/Internships are used towards either all KGMCA major requirements or all KGMCA minor requirements.

Note: If a student takes nine or more hours of internship/independent study courses, no more than nine hours will be given a letter grade.

Transfer Credit

Questions concerning transfer credit are resolved by the petition process. This process originates in the department of the major, and the petitions are routed to the relevant department and dean’s offices.

Dean’s List

The Dean’s List, a tabulation of the names of all undergraduate honor students, is compiled each term. To qualify for this recognition in KGMCA, students must earn a 3.50 minimum grade point average (the grade of S is not counted) on twelve or more credit hours completed during the term. At least nine of the twelve credit hours must be letter grades. Students who earn a grade of I (except in a senior honors thesis course), D, F, or U during the term are excluded from consideration for the Dean’s List. Students who have filed a Request to Withhold Public Information form with the university will not be listed.

For additional information regarding general degree requirements, please see the General Degree Information - KGMCA .

Programs Abroad

For information about study abroad programs sponsored both by the University of Houston and other universities, and for scholarship information on study abroad, contact Learning Abroad, 105 Ezekiel Cullen, 713-743-9167.

Accreditation

Programs in the Moores School of Music are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music https://nasm.arts-accredit.org/.