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School of Urban and Public Affairs

School of Urban and Public Affairs

Finalizing Your Degree Plan

student

What Does "Finalize" Mean?

To “finalize” your degree means that you have meet with your Advisor for the specific purpose of updating your degree plan so that it accurately reflects coursework completed and coursework remaining. A finalized degree is one that is signed by you, your Advisor, and the INTS Director. The information on your finalized degree plan is then entered into the MyMav system. Please retain this important document for your files.

When Should I Finalize?

You must finalize your degree plan when you have completed 75 credit hours.  Ultimately it is your responsibility to know when this occurs and then to schedule a meeting with your Advisor.

How Do I Finalize?

STEP #1: Schedule a meeting with your Advisor by calling 817-272-2338. Please do not ask your Advisor to make this appointment for you. Say to the person answering the phone that “the purpose the meeting is to finalize your degree plan.”

STEP #2: BEFORE YOUR MEETING, DO THE FOLLOWING:

  • Carefully review your degree plan to see if the courses that you have not yet taken (1) are still relevant to your professional goal, (2) are available during the semester that you need to take them, and (3) are scheduled on the days and times that fit your schedule.
  • Substitute new courses for those that will not fit your schedule or that are no longer relevant to your professional goal. All substitutions must be approved by your Advisor.
  • When you make course substitutions, make certain that you substitute an upper level course for an upper level course. You may substitute an upper level course for a lower level course. You must have a minimum of 36 upper level hours on your degree plan overall to graduate. Eighteen (18) of these hours must be in the Area of Concentration, and 12 of these hours must be taken at UTA.
  •  Make certain that you have satisfied the university’s oral and computer proficiency requirements.
  • If your program focus has changed since entering the INTS program, you must revise your Statement of Purpose Essay so that it more accurately expresses your new professional or academic goal.

STEP#3: Bring your revised degree plan and revised Statement of Purpose essay to the meeting. FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE WORK SPECIFIED IN STEP #2 AND FAILURE TO BRING THIS WORK TO THE MEETING WILL RESULT IN YOUR HAVING TO RESCHEDULE THE MEETING.

STEP#4: Sign and date your finalized degree plan before leaving the office. Your Advisor will provide you with a copy of your degree plan at this time. After the Director signs your degree plan, you should request a copy of the signed copy as well.