University Studies, B.A.

About the University Studies Bachelor’s Program

University studies is an interdisciplinary major that encourages integrative learning and fosters new areas of learning and discovery by facilitating student learning across department and college boundaries. Administered by University Studies within the Office of the Provost, a Bachelor of Arts in University Studies provides a unique course of study that allows students flexibility in choosing three distinct areas of study. Each area is referred to as a “concentration.” Although the three concentrations exist as separate programs within the university, they are normally unavailable as a combination of courses in an existing degree program. For example, a student might focus on a specialization in environmental journalism with concentrations in journalism, plant and soil sciences, and environmental toxicology. Each area exists in different colleges as part of separate degree programs, but only a major in university studies will allow students to study the three concentrations as a unit.

Coursework in the B.A. degree must total 120 semester hours. Prerequisites for courses selected in the areas of concentration must be completed and, depending on the concentration, may not count toward the 18-hour minimum per area of concentration. A minimum of 40 upper-division hours is required for the degree.

Students seeking a B.A. in University Studies will be required to make a C or better in 6 hours of Integrative Studies: INTS 3300  and INTS 4350 ; these courses must be taken in succession. Concentration areas must combine in such a way that they provide an integrative or thematic specialization without significantly replicating any existing departmental major. Students must be in good academic standing to apply for the major.

Students interested in a university studies degree must begin the process by contacting a university studies degree advisor to organize a course of study that meets existing university, degree, and minor requirement standards. With the degree advisor’s assistance, each student must develop a degree plan that consists of (1) a concentration declaration form and (2) a degree plan incorporating a listing of all courses completed and/or in progress as well as a listing of all intended or enrolled courses related to the degree and major. A student choosing to change an already established area of concentration must be appropriately advised by a university studies advisor and submit a new degree plan. A final audit of degree requirements will be conducted prior to the start of a student’s final term.

Credit by Exam. Seniors must receive written permission from the University Studies Student Services Office prior to attempting credit by examination and provide proof of notification upon registering for an exam in Academic Testing Services.

Grading Practices. Credits for a course in which a grade of D is earned may not be applied toward fulfillment of any concentration area. No course may be used more than once on a degree plan unless it has been approved by the University Studies Student Services Office or has the statement “may be repeated for credit” in the official published course description.

Final 30 Hours. The final 30 credit hours applied to a degree program must be completed with Texas Tech University enrollments. Credit for courses taken at other institutions must have prior written approval from the Office of the Provost.

Communication Literacy Requirement. Communication Literacy courses for the University Studies major are INTS 3300  and INTS 4350 .

Degree Plan and Intention to Graduate. Students are encouraged to file degree plans with their academic advisor as soon as their academic goals are clearly defined and no later than two subsequent semesters after earning 45 credit hours. The Intent to Graduate form must be submitted no later than the last day of classes of the term prior to graduation. Students must be enrolled at Texas Tech University in their graduation semester.

Contact: University Studies, 332 Drane Hall, T 806.742.7100, www.depts.ttu.edu/universitystudies