Q: I am an Aerospace PhD student. I have taken at least 7 dissertation credits before. This semester I am planning to defend my dissertation, which course should I enroll in?
A: You need to register for AE 7399. DOCTORAL DEGREE COMPLETION if you have not taken this before. Otherwise, you need to register in AE6699. Below is he university policy taken from the University Catalog. "Doctoral students must enroll in the appropriate 6699, 6999 or 7399 Dissertation Completion course the semester in which the dissertation is defended."
Some additional clarifications:
- You do not have to take all 9 in one semester.
- You can take AE6699 (6 credit dissertation) in a semester and then take 7399 (3-credit hour dissertation completion) in the following semester when you are to graduate
- You take AE7399 only once and only in the semester, you plan to graduate. That means, you cannot take 7399 before taking 6699.
- If you cannot graduate in the semester you are enrolled in 7399, the following semester you need to take 6699 as 7399 cannot be repeated.
- Once you start taking dissertation credit, it should be continuous. You cannot have a semester between when you do not enroll in dissertation credit.
See: http://catalog.uta.edu/academicregulations/degreerequirements/graduate/#doctoraltext
Q: How can I switch my program/plan from the Thesis option to the Non-thesis option?
A: You may indicate you wish to switch on your graduate advising form.
Q: I will be visiting my home country during the break and will return to campus 10 days after the semester begins. Is this OK?
A: No. It's not OK. The advising team will offer no help. You will bear all the consequences.
Q: What is the drop policy?
A: See http://grad.pci.uta.edu/about/catalog/current/general/regulations/#h14 for drop policy and https://www.uta.edu/business-affairs/sfs/refunds/spring.php for refund policy.
Q: I am an MS student, I have already taken at least 3 thesis credits before. This semester I am planning to defend my thesis, can I just enroll in AE 5398 THESIS?
A: No, you need to register in AE 5698. THESIS. This is a university policy stated below taken from the University Catalog.
"The student must be enrolled in six hours of thesis during the term in which the thesis is defended and the final Master's Examination is unconditionally passed."
See http://catalog.uta.edu/academicregulations/degreerequirements/graduate/#linkstext
Q: My GPA is lower than 3.0 in two semesters and I am subject to dismissal. What are my options to stay in the program?
A: If your GPA is lower than 3.0 in two consecutive semesters, you will be dismissed from the AE graduate program. When that happens, you may petition to be allowed to stay in the program one more semester. In the petition, you need to explain why your GPA has been low and why you think you can bring it up to 3.0 or beyond. The petition goes through three levels of evaluation (Graduate Advisor, Chair of the AE Academic program Committee and College of Engineering Dean’s Office). Grad Advisor and Chair of AE committee give their recommendation (deny or approve) and the final decision is made at the Dean’s Office. If your petition is approved, you will be allowed to stay in the program one more semester. By the end of that semester, if your GPA is higher than 3.0. you will be allowed to continue. Otherwise, you will be dismissed. Among other factors, three main factors are considered:
- Is there reasonable justification on low GPA?
- Has there been improvement in GPA (GPA is getting higher versus worse)?
- Is it theoretically possible to bring the GPA to 3.0 by the end of the semester?
- Petition can be found on the website.
Q: Can I take my comprehensive exam without enrolling?
A: No, you need to enroll in at least one credit hour in the semester you are to take your comprehensive exam.
Q: Can I do internship and take online courses at the same time in summer semester?
A: Yes, you can. The graduate office does not have policies about internship hours and additional courses. That decision is made at the department level.
Q: Can a course credit expire because it is not used for a degree soon enough?
A: The official policy is that Master’s coursework expires after 6 years (our policy for PhD’s relates to completion of the degree within 4 years after the comprehensive exam, not specifically coursework). After that time period, a student can petition the department to allow old coursework to be used and it would be up to the department to allow it or to make the student re-take courses.
Q: I took an elective last semester and received an incomplete for the grade. Do I have to take that same elective to graduate or will any elective suffice?
A: You can graduate with an incomplete grade on your record. You do not have to take the same class. You need to take another elective to meet the credit hour requirement for graduation, as the course with incomplete grade will not be counted towards the credit hour requirement.
Q: Can a student defend past the published date of the last day to defend on the UTA Academic calendar?
A: If a student is unable to defend by the University published deadline, they can ask their supervising professor for an extension request. This request must come in the form of an email stating why the student needs an extension as well as the date the student does plan on defending. This email must be received by maegradadvising@uta.edu on or before of the last day to defend, according to the UTA Academic calendar. Some extension limitations apply to PhD students.
Q: When can I apply for a certificate?
A: You can apply for a certificate in the semester you are graduating.
You will need to fill out a Request for Certificate form; this can be found on the MAE website at https://www.uta.edu/mae/current-students/index.php, or by coming by the advising office, WH206, and pick one up. Completed and signed forms are then turned into Wendy Ryan, in WH206.
Q: What if I want to change, update, or reactivate my application?
A: This form is for currently enrolled graduate students. Program change, refers to changing degree levels, like from a Master's to PhD or from Cert to Master. Do not submit this form if you have not already consulted with your current graduate advisor and the graduate advisor of your proposed new program. Some changes may have fees.
Q: Why am I unable to add/drop classes on my own?
A: If the last day to add/drop classes has passed; you will need to have advising process your request. Always check the academic calendar for important dates.
- Send your graduate faculty advisor an email stating exactly what class (es) you wish to add/drop.
- Dr. Subbarao (Aerospace) ae1@mae.uta.edu
- Dr. Kumar (Mechanical (A-M)) me1@mae.uta.edu
- Dr. Nomura (Mechanical (N-Z)) me2@mae.uta.edu
- Non-Thesis students maegradadvising@uta.edu
Q: I graduated last semester and I still have not received my diploma or my certificate. When can I expect to receive them?
A: Diplomas will be issued approximately 6-8 weeks after commencement ceremonies, and will be sent to graduates via USPS mail. Graduates with account balances or transcript or diploma holds must clear these before their diploma can be released for mailing. Diplomas are only kept and available for mailing for one (1) year after graduation. After one year, the graduate will need to order a replacement diploma. Certificates are issued by the Office of Records around the same time as diplomas are mailed out.
Q: What paperwork do I need complete for my Master’s thesis/Dissertation defense/Comprehensive exam and when does it need to be turned in?
A: Request to schedule forms are available online and in the MAE advising office, WH206. You will need to return the filled-out paperwork, with all signatures attached, to Wendy Ryan, WH206, a minimum of two weeks before you plan on defending. https://www.uta.edu/mae/current-students/index.php
Q: When do I need to find a supervising professor?
A: You will need to find a supervising professor within your first two semesters in the program. You can review our professors’ current research by visiting our faculty directory. https://www.uta.edu/mae/faculty-directory.php#_top
Q: I am a thesis student. Can I register for ME5398 (thesis) twice to satisfy the 6-hour requirement?
A: No. You must take ME5698 in the last semester.
Q: What is the procedure to take up internship?
A: For international students, you need to submit (1) the CPT form (2) an offer letter to OIE. You also have to enroll in ME6196-0xx. All students must discuss internships with their graduate faculty advisor for approval.
Q: I have been dismissed. What do I need to do?
A: You will need to file an online petition to continue which must be approved. Petition and instructions are available on the MAE website and in the MAE Advising office, Woolf Hall 206. https://www.uta.edu/mae/current-students/index.php