Degree Requirements
Application for a Degree
The student is responsible for applying for a degree with the Records and Registration Office no later than the beginning of his or her final year. A student who neglects to file an application must wait until the next degree-conferring period to be awarded a degree.
Second Bachelor’s Degree
A second bachelor’s degree may be earned whenever a student simultaneously completes the requirements for more than one degree (ex: B.A. and B.S.) or, after receiving one degree, returns to the university to complete another degree.
A student may receive a second bachelor’s degree provided that:
- All specific requirements for both degrees are met.
- The curriculum for the second degree includes at least 25 percent of the minimum hours required for the degree not applied to the first degree. These hours must consist of courses taken at UTC. A grade point average of at least 2.0 is required in these courses.
- The additional hours beyond the first degree shall include a minimum of 12 hours taken at UTC in the major department of the second bachelor’s degree. A grade point average of at least 2.00 is required in these courses.
Post-baccalaureate students with bachelor’s degrees from regionally accredited colleges or universities who are seeking undergraduate UTC degrees are not subject to UTC general education requirements. However, they are subject to major requirements, including general education courses specifically required for the major. Post-baccalaureate students who are not seeking a UTC degree also do not need to meet UTC general education requirements.
Pre-Professional Programs
Combined Programs
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offers both three- and four-year programs leading to the bachelor’s degree for students preparing for study in certain professional areas. In the four-year program the degree is granted upon completion of 120 semester hours, which include both the general education requirements and major and elective hours. Under the combined programs a student may receive the bachelor’s degree from UTC after completing three years or a minimum of 98 semester hours of undergraduate study plus the first year of professional school. The combined programs available include the bachelor’s degree for students preparing for the study of medicine, dentistry, or medical technology.
Before entering professional school, the student in a combined program must have completed all but 24 of the total semester hours required for the bachelor’s degree. The requirements in general education and in a major must be completed as a part of this program. While transfer work may be accepted, at least the last 24 semester hours of the three-year undergraduate program must be earned at UTC.
The student is responsible for having a transcript of the first year’s work at a professional school sent to the University and for filing application for the degree.
Preparation for Health Professions
Students wishing to enter dentistry, medicine, or other health fields such as cytotechnology, dental hygiene, medical technology, pharmacy, or veterinary medicine may complete their pre-professional training at UTC before going to professional school.
The various curricula available at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga have been prepared with the cooperation of The University of Tennessee, Memphis, and include the specific requirements for admission to the respective colleges of the health science units there. The veterinary medicine program is offered at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
In general, these same programs will also meet the minimum admission requirements to other professional colleges offering degrees in these health sciences. Students wishing to prepare for professional institutions other than The University of Tennessee, Memphis, should consult the catalogs of those schools to determine the specific preparation required for admission. In all cases, final decision for admission rests with the college involved.
Dentistry
Although applicants may be admitted to the College of Dentistry of The University of Tennessee, Memphis, with a minimum of 90 semester hours in academic subjects, preference is given to those who have already completed a baccalaureate. Admissions requirements include 6 hours of English composition, 8 hours of general biology, 8 hours of general chemistry, 8 hours of organic chemistry, and 8 hours of general physics. Upper level biology courses (selected from cellular biology, comparative anatomy, embryology, genetics, histology, microbiology, and physiology) are recommended. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 in all required subjects attempted and in cumulative coursework is normally required for admission. For general electives, courses in calculus, foreign language, literature, biochemistry, social sciences, and behavioral sciences are suggested.
A student in a combined program who is working toward a bachelor’s degree from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga must complete at least 98 hours, including all general education requirements, as well as requirements for a specific major offered by UTC before entering the College of Dentistry. After the successful completion of the first year at the College of Dentistry, the student will be awarded the bachelor’s degree from UTC.
