Nov 21, 2024

2011-2012 Graduate Catalog

2011-2012 Graduate Catalog Archived Catalog

Graduate Degree Requirements

Educational Specialist

GENERAL MASTER’S

Degree requirements

Time Limit

The time limit for fulfilling the requirements for a master’s degree is six years. All courses included on the Program of Study must be current at the time of completion of the degree. An extension of time form, available on the Graduate School Web site, can be used to request a one‐time, one‐year extension. The request must be signed by the major professor/adviser and the dean of the college and submitted to the Office of the Graduate School for final approval.

Graduate Committee

Each student’s Program of Study is directed by a committee of Graduate Faculty. A graduate committee at the master’s level must consist of at least three members, all of whom must be appointed members of the Graduate Faculty. The thesis committee shall consist of a chairperson and at least two other persons. The chairperson must be a full-time faculty member in the thesis student’s department in a tenure-track position and should have at a minimum full master’s graduate faculty status. One other member of the committee must be a full-time faculty member in the thesis student’s department. The remaining member(s) of the committee must either be full-time faculty members in the student’s department or must possess qualifications that are deemed suitable for committee membership by the student’s department and by members of the Graduate Faculty. Non‐thesis programs with no variation in Program of Study and/or with standardized examinations are not required to have committees.

Upon establishing a committee, each student should complete a Thesis/Dissertation Committee Appointment form, obtain signatures of committee members, and submit the form to the departmental degree program secretary and a copy to the Graduate School. The committee request form will should be submitted to the Office of the Graduate School by the end of the first semester of course work by the student.

Program Of Study

Course Requirements

The total minimum credit required for a master’s degree varies from 30 to 85 semester hours as specified for the particular degree program. At least one-half of the total hours must be in the major area. Credits in elective areas are specified in the degree program or are approved by the department or school. For thesis option programs, the Program of Study must contain at least 24 hours of coursework and at least 6 hours of research/thesis.

The courses to be included in the Program of Study are determined collaboratively by the student and major advisor in consultation with the graduate committee (if a committee is required by the degree program).

Filing the Program of Study

Each degree seeking graduate student must complete and file a Program of Study (form GS #101) by the end of the first semester of enrollment in graduate coursework. All information requested must be provided before the POS will be accepted and approved by the Graduate School. The Program of Study form can be found at http://www.utc.edu/Administration/GraduateSchool/CurrentStudentForms.php.

All core courses in the degree program must be listed on the Program of Study. Elective courses may be listed on the Program of Study at that time if known but this is not required. Elective courses will be listed on the Application for Admission Candidacy (see below) when the student applies for graduation or prior to applying for graduation. Students must list on the Program of Study form (where courses are listed) whether a comprehensive exam is required or not, i.e., comprehensive exam required or comprehensive exam not required.

The courses listed on the Program of Study must be thoughtfully considered, as they dictate the academic courses necessary for partial fulfillment of the degree requirements. Students in conjunction with their advisors must pay special attention to include those courses required by the degree program.

Off‐Campus Credits

Graduate credit hours toward advanced degrees may be earned in other external programs (e.g., Division of Continuing Education) provided they contribute to a systematic Program of Study, are approved by the student’s graduate committee, and do not exceed one‐half of the credits, excluding thesis credits, required for the degree. Graduate credit is not awarded for correspondence study course work. The course must be of appropriate post-baccalaureate rigor to qualify as graduate courses.

Special Project Study

Not more than 6 hours of graduate credit may be earned in Special Project courses. See the detailed description of courses elsewhere in this publication.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit hours from other domestic universities, international universities or military educational programs may be used to fulfill requirements for master’s degrees at UTC provided they meet the criteria established in the General Requirements of the Graduate School. Up to 49% of all coursework in a graduate student’s program may be graduate credit earned elsewhere. Graduate program faculty will determine the extent of transfer credit acceptable in their respective programs.

To be considered for transfer credit in any graduate degree or certificate program, a course taken at another university must meet the following minimum criteria:
• carry graduate credit from a regionally accredited university
• have a grade of B or better
• fit within the timeframe of the student’s program of study
• not have been used for a previous graduate degree

Initiation of procedures to have transfer credit accepted is the responsibility of the student, who must have one official transcript sent to the UTC Graduate School directly from the institution(s) at which the work was taken. The student should present the syllabus to the program coordinator/director. If the program coordinator finds the coursework comparable in requirements and standards to the relevant UTC coursework and recommends the transfer credit, the course(s) may be listed on the student’s Program of Study form. This form should then be submitted to the dean of The Graduate School for final evaluation and approval. If approved, the credit will be incorporated into the student’s official academic record. In cases where a student takes an additional course or courses while pursuing a graduate degree but does not use the course as part of the program of study, the student must supply a copy of his/her program of student to verify the course(s) were not included in the program of student and therefore eligible for use as transfer credit.

Comprehensive Examination
A candidate for a graduate degree must follow the policy of the department concerning administration of comprehensive examinations. In some degree programs, comprehensive examinations are waived or options are given. Where applicable, the examination is administered by the major department or school but includes the related areas of study. The mode of this examination may be oral or written or both with the approval of the appropriate graduate committee or program graduate faculty. To be eligible to take the exam, the student must have a Program of Study submitted to the Graduate School, be enrolled during the semester the exam is administered and have a cumulative 3.0 grade point average. The examination is normally taken in the semester in which the candidate is completing course requirements. An application indicating the appropriate date and option requested (oral, written or both) for the examination must be submitted to and approved by the dean of The Graduate School at least one month prior to the date of the comprehensive examination.

A student who fails the comprehensive examination may retake the examination once if recommended by the major department. In unusual circumstances a student, with the approval of the major department, may petition the Graduate Council for a third examination.

Thesis

The thesis represents the culmination of an original research project completed by the student. The organization, method of presentation, and subject matter of the thesis are important in conveying to others the results of such research. The thesis must be prepared according to the established requirements of The Graduate School (see the Graduate School publication, Thesis and Dissertation Standards). Students required to write a thesis must continue to register for 5999r Thesis each fall and spring semester after the initial registration until the thesis is accepted by the student’s graduate committee and the Graduate School. The student must be enrolled for at least two semester hours of thesis during the semester the thesis is submitted. (Students graduating in August must register for thesis hours in the twelve week summer term.)

Thesis Final Defense

Following the defense, the student’s committee must complete the examination results report and submit the original to the Office of the Graduate School. The form is accessed on the Graduate School Web site. A copy of the thesis will be checked by the Graduate School for acceptance. The Graduate School manual, Thesis and Dissertation Standards, describes the regulations governing thesis and dissertation preparation and must be followed. It is available on the Graduate School Web site at http://utc.edu/Administration/GraduateSchool.

Thesis research is subject to review and approval by any of the University’s regulatory compliance offices.

Other

Candidacy

Admission to a graduate degree program allows the student to demonstrate ability but does not guarantee the right to continue toward a degree unless he or she is admitted to candidacy.

The Application for Admission to Candidacy should be filed in the Graduate School. In most instances the candidacy application will be filed in the semester prior to a student’s anticipated graduation semester. The appropriate form may be obtained at www.utc.edu/graduateschool/forms/index.php. In order to be eligible for admission to candidacy, the student must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA or better on all courses taken for graduate credit and have completed prerequisite and designated courses as required by the major department or school and no grade below a C in the program of study or candidacy. A course with a grade lower than C must be replaced by another course or be re-taken and a grade of C or higher earned.

In addition, some departments require that applicants for admission to candidacy successfully complete a qualifying examination prior to admission to candidacy for the degree. Please refer to the appropriate department for specific information regarding qualifying examination requirements or other departmental requirements for admission to candidacy.

The application, reviewed and signed by the major adviser and approved by the coordinator of the graduate program, must be submitted to the Graduate School office and approved by the dean of the Graduate School at least one semester prior to the date on which the degree is anticipated. A student who fails to submit a candidacy form in the semester prior to his/her anticipated graduation may have his/her degree conferral delayed accordingly.

Residency Requirement

There is no general residency requirement for the master’s degree. However, graduate degree students may be required to complete one or more semesters of full-time study as determined by the major department, school or college.

Specific Master’s Degree Requirements

Master Of Arts And Master Of Science

The Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees are both offered with the thesis option (option 1) and the non-thesis option (option 2).

1. Option One, the thesis option, requires a minimum of 30 credit hours with 24 hours earned as graduate coursework and 6 hours earned as research/thesis.

2. Option Two, the non‐thesis option, requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate coursework.

Departments or schools may require more hours for the master’s degree; therefore, students should refer to specific departmental requirements.

Other Master’s Degrees

For other specific degrees, see program information elsewhere in the Graduate Bulletin for the Master of Accountancy (M.Acc.); Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.); Masters of Education (M.Ed.); Master of Music (M.M.); Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.); Master of Science in Athletic Training (M.S.A.T.); Master of Science in Criminal Justice (M.S.C.J.); and Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N).

Educational Specialist

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EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST

Degree Requirements

The educational specialist degree in the College of Health, Education, and Professional Studies, School of Education is offered in Educational Technology, Principal Licensure, and School Psychology. Students having a master’s degree are required to complete a minimum of 30 semester hours to complete the Educational Technology program, 36 semester hours to complete the Principal Licensure program, and 36 in the School Psychology program. Students should consult the director of each program to determine specific course requirements.

Students in the program must be in good standing (GPA of 3.0 or better) to continue and for degree conferral.

Time Limit

A student must complete the educational specialist program within six years. An extension of time form, available on the Graduate School Web site, can be used to request a one‐time, one‐year extension. The request must be signed by the major professor/adviser and the dean of the college and submitted to the Office of the Graduate School for final approval.

Program Of Study

Major

The educational specialist degree is available with concentrations available in:

• Educational Technology
• Principal Licensure
• School Psychology

Prerequisites

The educational specialist degree may be completed only after the student has received the master’s degree from UTC or another recognized institution, except in School Psychology where the master’s degree is not required. Course prerequisites are determined by the area of emphasis involved.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit hours from other domestic universities, international universities or military educational programs may be used to fulfill requirements for master’s degrees at UTC provided they meet the criteria established in the General Requirements of the Graduate School. A maximum of one-third or 12 credit hours, whichever is reached first, of all coursework in a graduate student’s program may be graduate credit earned elsewhere. Graduate program faculty will determine the extent of transfer credit acceptable in their respective programs.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Degree Requirements

In order to earn the Doctor of Philosophy degree, a candidate must demonstrate mastery of a particular field of knowledge, of the techniques of research, and of the correlation of his/her specialty with the larger areas of knowledge, especially those directly related to his/her own field of interest. NOTE—A student enrolled in a doctoral degree program in education, physical therapy, or nursing practice should refer to the program section of this publication for specific rules and regulations. Additionally, the student should refer to departmental Web pages.

Admission

The candidate for admission must hold a bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited institution of higher learning and possess qualifications indicating ability to do graduate work on the doctoral level, as determined by the Graduate Faculty of the program concerned. Programs may have more specific criteria for admission, such as holding the master’s degree, and individuals should refer to specific rules and regulations in the program section of this publication.

Time Limit

There is an eight-year limit for completing all degree requirements for the PhD in Computational Engineering. All doctoral course work and the successful defense of the dissertation must be completed in an eight-year time frame that begins with the earliest course applied to the doctoral program of study. The earliest course in the doctoral program of study excludes any courses credited from a previously awarded master’s degree or transferred from another educational institution. An extension of time form, available on the Graduate School Web site, can be used to request a one‐time, one‐year extension. The request must be signed by the major professor and the dean of the college and submitted to the Office of the Graduate School for final approval.

Graduate Committee

Students are to select a major advisor and form a committee during the second semester of coursework and before completing 12 semester hours of coursework. Each student’s major advisor normally serves as the student’s research or project director.

The supervisory committee is made up of at least four members of the Graduate Faculty, selected by the student in consultation with the major advisor (four committee members plus the major advisor). At least three committee members appointed must be faculty of the major department (the discipline), including the major advisor, and at least one committee member must be external to the major department. Upon establishing a committee, each student should complete a Committee Approval Form, obtain signatures of committee members, and submit the form to the departmental degree program office.

Program Of Study

Course Requirements

At least three academic years beyond the bachelor’s degree are necessary to meet course requirements. The number of course hours will vary according to the specific requirements of the program concerned and the student’s needs.

Filing the Program of Study

All core courses in the degree program must be listed on the Program of Study. Elective courses may be listed on the Program of Study at that time if known but this is not required. Elective courses will be listed on the Application for Admission to Candidacy (see below) when the student applies for graduation or prior to applying for graduation. Students must list on the Program of Study form (where courses are listed) whether a comprehensive exam is required or not, i.e., comprehensive exam required or comprehensive exam not required.

Transfer credit hours from other domestic universities, international universities or military educational programs may be used to fulfill requirements for master’s degrees at UTC provided they meet the criteria established in the General Requirements of the Graduate School. A maximum of one-third or 12 credit hours, whichever is reached first, of all coursework in a graduate student’s program may be graduate credit earned elsewhere. Graduate program faculty will determine the extent of transfer credit acceptable in their respective programs.

Examinations

Qualifying Examination

Some departments require doctoral students to take a qualifying examination either at the beginning of or during the first year of study for the Ph.D. degree. A student must be enrolled at UTC during the semester in which the exam is administered and must have a 3.00 GPA after being admitted to the degree program (i.e., program and non‐program courses). Two or more negative votes will constitute failure for a student on a preliminary/comprehensive examination and/or thesis/dissertation defense. Students should refer to the departmental graduate handbook for their degree program for specific programmatic requirements.

Preliminary/Comprehensive Examination

Students must pass a preliminary examination on coursework in the Program of Study covering areas in the core requirements and any other associated coursework. The preliminary exam can be taken when the student is within six hours of completing all coursework, provided that adequate coursework covering the core requirements has been completed.

The preliminary examination has two parts: 1) a written portion, and 2) an oral examination of the student by the committee. The student receives the questions from the committee, submits the answers to the respective committee members, and if the responses are considered satisfactory, the student stands for an oral examination by the committee. The student’s major advisor will be responsible for scheduling the examination and reporting the results to the UTC Graduate School. Two or more negative votes will constitute failure for a student on a preliminary/comprehensive examination and/or thesis/dissertation defense. Students should refer to the departmental graduate handbook for their degree program for specific programmatic requirements.

The preliminary exam is scheduled in consultation with the student’s major advisor and committee and must be completed no less than six months in advance of the anticipated date of graduation. This exam cannot be taken in the semester the student plans on graduating. The examination must be taken by June 1, if a student intends to graduate in December; by November 1, to graduate in May; and by February 1, to graduate in August.

Research

Each candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree must conduct research and present a dissertation on that research that 1) demonstrates a mastery of the techniques of research and 2) makes a very distinct contribution to the major field. Each candidate must present a proposal of the dissertation research for approval by the supervisory committee, and defend the research before the committee when the dissertation has been completed.

For the purposes of candidacy, a student can gain approval of his or her research topic in two ways: 1) by submitting a concise and focused (two or three-page) abstract of the intended research topic to committee members; or 2) by submitting the full dissertation research proposal to committee members (see the section below on dissertation proposal). Degree programs will determine how the research topic is to be approved, i.e., an abstract or research proposal. The major advisor should ensure that all committee members find the research acceptable.

Dissertation Proposal

Each candidate must present to his or her committee a formal written proposal of the research to be included in the dissertation. The proposal should be concise, focused, and contain the following: 1) sufficient background information for the committee members, 2) a clear statement of the topic to be addressed by the research, 3) a review of pertinent work by others related to this topic, 4) the precise research questions and issues to be addressed by this research, and 5) justification for the research. Also, the candidate must attach a tentative outline of the final dissertation document. The proposal must be presented in the manner requested by the committee. Acceptance of the proposal and the dissertation outline by all members of the committee is the responsibility of the major advisor.

Admission To Candidacy

A student will be admitted to candidacy under the following conditions:
• the dissertation topic selected and approved
• the graduate coursework satisfactorily completed (cumulative 3.0 GPA or better) as deemed appropriate by the Graduate Committee
• the final Program of Study officially approved and accepted in the Office of the Graduate School and any changes if needed;
• the comprehensive/preliminary examination passed

Upon completion of the above‐noted conditions, the Admission to Candidacy form should be sent to the Office of the Graduate School with the examination results.

Dissertation And Final Defense

The dissertation should answer the research question(s) posed in the dissertation proposal and contribute in a significant way to the body of knowledge in the major field. Upon completion of the research, the candidate submits a draft of his or her dissertation to each committee member two weeks prior to the scheduled final defense. The dissertation must be a contribution to knowledge and conform to the formatting standards of the UTC Graduate School (see the publication, Thesis and Dissertation Standards).

In consultation with his or her major advisor, the candidate files a request for a final defense at least two weeks in advance of the intended date of the examination. The final defense will have two parts: (1) a public presentation of the dissertation followed by (2) a defense of the dissertation before the student’s committee members. At the discretion of the candidate’s committee, the dissertation defense may be closed to include only the student, the committee, and a representative of the UTC Graduate School.

To qualify for graduation in a given semester, the Final Defense must take place before the “Last day to hand in the dissertation to the Graduate School” as published in the Graduate Academic Calendar of this publication, so as to provide ample time to meet this deadline after the final defense. A student must be enrolled at UTC during the semester in which the examination is administered. The request to take this examination must be filed by the student with the Office of the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the anticipated date of the examination. The student or a committee member may request that the Graduate School appoint an outside observer to attend the dissertation defense. The graduate coordinator of the student’s graduate program is responsible for seeing that the examinations are held and the final results reported to the Graduate School.

This final report must be filed by the date given in the Academic Calendar in this publication. One negative vote will not constitute failure for a student on a preliminary/comprehensive examination and/or thesis/dissertation defense. Two negative votes will constitute failure for a student on a preliminary/comprehensive examination and/or thesis/dissertation defense. A student who fails to defend his or her dissertation cannot apply for another until a period of four months has elapsed from the date of the original defense. Two failures to defend his or her dissertation will result in the student’s removal from candidacy.

Following the defense, the student’s committee must complete the examination results report and submit the original to the Office of the Graduate School. The form is accessed on the Graduate School Web site. A copy of the dissertation will be checked by the Graduate School for acceptance. The Graduate School manual, Thesis and Dissertation Standards, describes the regulations governing thesis and dissertation preparation and must be followed. It is available on the Graduate School Web site at http://utc.edu/Administration/GraduateSchool.

Dissertation research is subject to review and approval by any of the University’s regulatory compliance offices.

Dissertation Publishing

Dissertations will be submitted to UMI Dissertations Services for its on-line and paper-based bibliographic reference collection. Depending on the nature of the information in the dissertation, public access to the dissertation through UMI Dissertation Services may be restricted or embargoed for a specified time. The dean of the Graduate School should be consulted for approval in these situations. The committee signature page, complete with required signatures, must be submitted in print to the Graduate School before the dissertation will be reviewed. For security reasons, signatures should not be scanned for the PDF document; this page will remain absent of signatures for the electronic version (UMI ProQuest). The Graduate School will retain a copy of the signature page with the original signatures for archival purposes.

Other

Residency Requirement

Students must be in residence at UTC for a period of at least two semesters during the period in which doctoral studies are performed. If the Program of Study includes coursework completed within the University of Tennessee System at UTK or UTSI, then residency on these campuses associated with this coursework will be counted toward this residency requirement.

Study Elsewhere

Under certain conditions, a student’s graduate committee may require a doctoral student to go elsewhere to take a certain number of advanced courses or perform research.

Doctor Of Education

Degree Requirements

The multidisciplinary Doctoral Program in Learning and Leadership (Ed.D.) equips participants with an understanding of the relationship that learning plays in the leadership process. Our philosophy supports the development of reflective leaders as practitioners in a variety of organizations and focuses on the interwoven nature of learning and leadership. The curriculum emphasizes the proficiency that individuals will need as they pursue the challenges of organizational change.

The doctoral program of study incorporates specific competency and skills within the participant’s professional environment through the practical application of course activities. A combination of hybrid/blended required course work ensures that the individual’s specific professional goals are supported. Members of each doctoral cohort initially complete a set of core courses (30 credit hours) prior to transitioning to a personalized area of focus. Upon completion of the core, individuals will have the opportunity to concentrate their studies in a particular cognate area through focused elective course work (24 credit hours) and the dissertation research (12 credit hours minimum).

Other major elements of the program include the development of an Individualized Learning and Leadership Program (ILLP) and the successful preparation and defense of the dissertation. The ILLP involves the development of a comprehensive plan of learning objectives consistent with program competencies. The competency domains are Learning, Leadership, Research, Measurement, Organizational Effectiveness, Technology and Innovation, and Communication.

Admission And The Admission Process

Applicants for admission to the program will be required to meet two levels of admission: admission to the Graduate School and admission to the doctoral program. An applicant for admission to the program must hold a master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution or foreign equivalent, have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on all graduate coursework taken prior to receiving the master’s degree, and a minimum of two years of practical experience in an organizational setting.

Admission requirements are sufficiently rigorous to ensure that participants in the program are academically talented and professionally dedicated. The admission and review criteria are designed to help ensure that, once admitted, each applicant is likely to succeed in the degree program.

Admission to the Graduate School requires the following conditions:
1. Receipt of a master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution or foreign equivalent.
2. Grade point average of 3.0 on all graduate coursework taken prior to receiving the master’s degree.
3. Submission of official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test.
4. Applicants whose native language is not English will also need to provide certification of English proficiency through submission of either TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Application for admission to the doctoral program in education requires:
1. Submission of a 3-5 page Statement of Purpose Essay focusing on the applicant’s motivation and aspirations upon entering the program.
2. Three letters of recommendation from professional colleagues, supervisors or former university professors.
3. A minimum of two years practical leadership experience in an organizational setting.
4. Interview.

Detail application and admission instructions are provided elsewhere in this publication.

Time Limit

There is a ten-year limit for completing all degree requirements for the doctorate in Learning and Leadership. All doctoral course work and the successful defense of the dissertation must be completed within ten years. The ten year time frame begins with the earliest course applied to the doctoral Program of Study, including any applicable transfer credits. A one year extension sent to the dean of the Graduate School may be requested by the student and must be accompanied with endorsing signatures of the dissertation chair and all committee members.

Program Of Study

Course Requirements

A minimum of 66 semester hours beyond the master’s degree are necessary to meet the requirements for the Doctor of Education degree. Coursework on the Program of Study must be approved by the student’s advisor as current in the discipline at the time the degree is awarded.

Filing the Program Of Study

Each degree seeking graduate student must complete and file a Program of Study (form GS #101) by the end of the second semester of enrollment in graduate coursework. All information requested must be provided before the POS will be accepted and approved by the Graduate School. The Program of Study form can be found at http://www.utc.edu/Administration/GraduateSchool/CurrentStudentForms.php.

All core courses in the degree program must be listed on the Program of Study. Elective courses may be listed on the Program of Study at that time if known but this is not required. Elective courses will be listed on the Application for Admission to Candidacy (see below) when the student applies for graduation or prior to applying for graduation. Students must list on the Program of Study form (where courses are listed) whether a comprehensive exam is required or not, i.e., comprehensive exam required or comprehensive exam not required.

Transfer Credit

This Ed.D. program is unique in terms of its delivery and its concentration upon integration of subject matter. Thus the transfer of coursework from other institutions is not practical, with the exception of coursework in the focused electives. A participant may request to transfer up to 15 focused elective credits from previous post-master’s graduate work, with approval from the adviser and program director. All courses must support the development of the ILLP. Only courses taken within five years of entrance into the program may be transferred. Coursework that is transferred will be limited to certain areas that are relevant to the focus (concentration) of the participant’s program as focused electives. All transfer courses must be graduate level (5000 level or above). Field-based experience (i.e., practica, internships, etc.) will not be approved for transfer.

Admission to Candidacy

The participant will be admitted to degree candidacy upon successful completion of the following requirements:

Submission and approval of Admission to Candidacy application.
Successful completion of 54 credit hours.
Successful achievement of a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 or above in the doctoral program with no more than two grades below a “B” grade.
Successful passage of the competency assessment (ILLP).

Examinations

Preliminary/Comprehensive Examination

Participants must successfully complete a comprehensive evaluation of their doctoral work (ILLP), as described in the Program Guide.

The comprehensive examination must be completed successfully before the student is admitted to candidacy for the degree. Two or more negative votes will constitute failure for a student on a preliminary/comprehensive examination and/or thesis/dissertation defense.

The comprehensive examination for admission to candidacy for the degree must be taken at least six (6) months prior to the student’s anticipated graduation date The student must file an application to take the examination at least ten working days prior to the anticipated date of the examination; this request will be filed with the Office of the Graduate School. A student must be enrolled at UTC during the semester in which the examination is administered.

Dissertation And Defense

The dissertation is required of all candidates for the Doctor in Education, and a minimum of 12 semester hours of research for the dissertation must be completed. The dissertation represents the culminating project for the degree. In the completion of the dissertation, the participant will show evidence of competence in conceptualizing, carrying out, and reporting research. In addition the dissertation must be a contribution to the field under investigation. Doctoral students in the Learning and Leadership program shall be continuously enrolled in the fall, spring and summer semesters for no fewer than two semester hours during each semester when completing the dissertation. The dissertation must be prepared in accordance with the Graduate School publication Thesis and Dissertation Standards.

The final defense must be scheduled no sooner than ten working days after a copy of the final manuscript has been distributed to all members of the Dissertation Committee. To qualify for graduation in a given semester, the Final Defense must take place before the “Last day to submit the dissertation to the Graduate School” as published in the Graduate Academic Calendar, so as to provide ample time to meet this deadline after the final defense. A student must be enrolled at UTC during the semester in which the defense is administered. The request to for the defense must be filed by the student with the Office of the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the anticipated date of the defense. The student or a committee member may request that the Graduate School appoint an outside observer to attend the dissertation defense. The graduate coordinator/director of the student’s graduate program is responsible for seeing that the defenses are held and the final results reported to the Graduate School.

This final report must be filed by the date given in the Academic Calendar. One negative vote will not constitute failure for a student on a preliminary/comprehensive examination and/or thesis/dissertation defense. Two negative votes will constitute failure for a student on a preliminary/comprehensive examination and/or thesis/dissertation defense. A student who fails to defend his or her dissertation cannot apply for another until a period of four months has elapsed from the date of the original defense. Two failures to defend his or her dissertation will result in the student’s removal from candidacy.

Graduate Committee

The dissertation committee is comprised of four members: the dissertation Chair, the methodologist, plus two additional members. The chair and methodologist must be members of the Learning and Leadership faculty and possess full doctoral status. It is the responsibility of the Chair to guide the learner in the selection of the committee. All members of the committee must hold graduate faculty status at UTC. Members of the committee should include faculty whom the committee chair and learner believe can make substantive contributions to the learner’s dissertation. The Chair is urged to invite a committee member from an academic unit outside the Learning and Leadership program. Relevance and expertise regarding the dissertation topic and methodology is the rationale for selection of all members. The Program Director and Dean of the Graduate School shall approve the membership of the dissertation committee. Any questions regarding eligibility of committee members should be directed to the Program Director.

Dissertation Publishing

Other

Residency Requirement

All participants must complete a residency requirement for the degree. This requirement will be satisfied as follows:

Attendance and successful completion of the program induction.
Attendance and successful completion of all required face-to-face seminars during the core Program of Study.

DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

Degree Requirements (Entry-Level And Transition)

ENTRY-LEVEL (Professional) Concentration

The entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program at UTC is designed to prepare graduates to meet entry-level practice expectations of the physical therapy profession. The curriculum addresses current approaches to the evaluation and management of movement system disorders while simultaneously preparing the graduate to assume a role in prevention, wellness and health promotion. Classroom and clinic-based instruction provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to practice competently in today’s dynamic healthcare environment. By integrating current theory and research into all foundational science and applied clinical science courses, the entry-level DPT Program of Study prepares students to develop and implement evidence-based intervention plans leading to outcomes that enhance the movement competencies of clients with disorders of the musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary, or integumentary systems.

The mission of the program: the Department of Physical Therapy is committed to developing engaged, competent life-long learners who provide evidence-based physical therapy to the community through teaching, research, service and leadership.

The goals of the program include:
NPTE pass rate: Graduates from the program will demonstrate a pass rate on the National Physical Therapy Examination that is equal to or higher than the national average for pass rates for first time takers who are graduates of US PT programs.

Safe Practice: Upon graduation from the program, all graduates will have demonstrated entry-level performance in a safe manner which minimizes risk to self, patients/clients, and others.

Professional Behavior: Upon graduation from the program, all graduates will have demonstrated professional behaviors in all situations at entry-level performance.

Students who are accepted into the professional program must be enrolled on a full-time basis for each of the eight semesters of the physical therapy curriculum. The curriculum combines classroom and laboratory training with independent study and clinical experiences in multiple health care settings. A variety of instructional methods are employed to enable students to develop the essential manual and clinical skills. The coursework is arranged according to a prescribed sequence and schedule that all students must follow.

Pre-Physical Therapy

All students admitted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program must have completed a bachelor’s degree before entering the program. Students interested in pursuing physical therapy should seek advisement from the physical therapy faculty by calling the program office to schedule an appointment.

Admission

Applicants must be admitted to the doctorate in physical therapy degree program and the Graduate School to register for courses. Enrollment is limited, and the number of qualified applicants may exceed the number of students who can be admitted.

Selection by the admissions committee is based upon a number of factors including overall GPA (calculated for all academic courses attempted up to the point of application to the program), GPA for prerequisite science courses alone, GRE and references.

Applicants with the best combination of these factors will be selected for the class. Students may apply who have a minimum cumulative GPA and science GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale and meet the minimum prerequisite requirements. Entrance into the program is contingent upon the completion of all prerequisites with a minimum grade of “C.”

Applicants are required to apply for admission through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Application forms and information are available on-line at www.ptcas.org and on the Physical Therapy Web site: www.utc.edu/physicaltherapy.

Applicants are responsible for assuring the completion of the packet prior to the deadline. Following review of application materials the decision of the admissions committee is e-mailed to each applicant. Students are asked to verify their acceptance to the program in writing. Classes begin in late August.

In order to comply with hospital accreditation (JCAHO) standards, students accepted to the DPT program will be required to undergo a Criminal Background Check. A written report verifying the student applicant has been granted a Level 2 Criminal Background Check clearance must be received in the Physical Therapy office prior to being enrolled in DPT coursework. Information about how to obtain an approved Level 2 Background Check clearance report may be found on the Physical Therapy Department website: www.utc.edu/physicaltherapy.

If a student is admitted to the DPT program, but declines to accept a position in the class to which he or she has been admitted, the student must reapply to be considered for admission to the program at a later date.

In order to provide the opportunity to receive notification of program admission as early as possible we have established a soft deadline of October 1st each year with a close date of November 15th each year.

With a soft deadline you can still apply to the program after the deadline has passed. However we may give less or no consideration to applicants who apply after the soft deadline. It is possible that our program may move from a soft to a firm deadline at any point during the cycle.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must have the following to apply:

Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0/4.0
Minimum science grade point average of 3.0/4.0. The nine courses used to calculate the science GPA are:

Biology I & II

Chemistry I & II

Physics I & II

Human Anatomy, Human Physiology

Exercise Physiology

Completed six of the nine science prerequisites listed above.
Competitive GRE General Test Scores no more than five years old. UTC College Code 1831.
Two PTCAS references, including one from a license physical therapist.
PT observation hours. See Application Instructions on the department’s website for details. www.utc.edu/Academic/PhysicalTherapy/admissions.php

Expenses And Transportation

Each student admitted to the program is required to purchase professional liability insurance annually. Additional expenses include laboratory/clinical attire and dissection instruments. Classes are required during the summer semester of both the first and second years of the program. Physical therapy clinical experiences scheduled throughout the academic year require students to provide their own transportation to the clinical sites. Full time clinical experiences are scheduled during the summer semesters of both the first and second years. Students must be financially prepared to meet costs incurred for travel and living expenses in other cities throughout the United States during clinical education courses.

Program Of Study

A list of all courses, grades and electives must be included on the Program of Study Form that signed by the Department Head of the DPT program before being routed to the Graduate School.

Candidacy

A student will be admitted to candidacy under the following conditions:

ninety-one hours (completion of the second year of summer coursework) on the Program of Study is completed satisfactorily
professional and ethical fitness is deemed satisfactory

Upon completion of the above‐noted conditions, the Admission to Candidacy form should be sent to the Office of the Graduate School.

Continuation And Graduation Standards

Practice standards of the physical therapy profession require that graduates be prepared to practice safely and competently within the physical therapy scope of practice. To ensure safe and competent performance by students enrolled in the program, the following continuation standards must be met for students to remain enrolled in the program:

1. To progress in physical therapy, students are required to:

a. maintain a 3.0 for all courses taken in the professional program period,
b. complete the program in sequence, following the Program of Study. Each semester must be successfully completed before progressing to the next semester,
c. maintain an active liability insurance policy for clinical courses,
d. maintain current CPR certification and health insurance, and
e. maintain full clearance of Level 2 Criminal Background Check

2. If in the judgment of the faculty there is reason to question the emotional or physical condition of a student or the safety or quality of physical therapy care provided, the faculty has the right and obligation to exclude the student from the clinical practice environment.

3. Students who fail courses may be denied progression in the program. Students may repeat failed courses only at the discretion of the retention and progression committee or the Department Head of the Physical Therapy Department.

4. Statement of Ethical and Professional Standards. In certain programs such as physical therapy, professional success depends upon factors other than those measured by normal evaluations in course work. The faculty has the right to separate a student from the program who is not likely to succeed professionally, despite earning acceptable grades. Failure to maintain the high ethical and professional standards of the physical therapy profession may subject a student to suspension, dismissal or other appropriate remedial action by the physical therapy faculty.

TRANSITION (Post-Professional) Concentration

The transition Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT) concentration is a non-traditional track leading to the currently approved DPT degree designed for working professionals who are already licensed physical therapists. It serves as a bridge program to allow therapists prepared at the bachelor’s and master’s level to earn the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

Admission

The applicant must meet admission requirements for The Graduate School at UTC. (See Admission Requirements ). In addition, each applicant must have completed the following: a) earned either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in physical therapy from an institution accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, b) be a currently U.S. licensed physical therapist in good standing, c) have at least two years of experience working as a licensed physical therapist and d) have a computer with high speed Internet access and specifications adequate to access Blackboard mediated instructional support material.

Program Description

The tDPT concentration is a 30 credit hour program consisting of 18 hours of core courses and 12 credit hours of electives. The tDPT courses are delivered using a distance education format.

Students are admitted as a cohort each fall and spring semester and will be expected to complete the core courses as a cohort.

Program Of Study

A program of study must be submitted to the Office of the Graduate School during the second semester of coursework. A list of all courses, grades and electives must be included on the Program of Study Form that is signed by the Department Head of the DPT program before being routed to the Graduate School.

Candidacy

A student will be admitted to candidacy under the following conditions:

• satisfactory completion of the first semester coursework on the Program of Study for master’s prepared students or
• satisfactory completion of the second semester coursework on the Program of Study for bachelor’s prepared students, and
• professional and ethical fitness is deemed satisfactory

Upon completion of the above‐noted conditions, the Admission to Candidacy form should be sent to the Office of the Graduate School.

DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE

Degree Requirements

The UTC DNP curriculum is based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2006) Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice. Regardless of the entry point, DNP curricula are designed so that all students attain the DNP end-of-program competencies. Because different entry points may exist, the curricula will be individualized for candidates based on their prior education and experience. For example, early in the transition period, most students entering the DNP will have a master’s degree based on the AACN Essentials of Master’s Nursing Education (1996). Graduates of such programs would already have attained many of the competencies defined in the DNP Essentials. Therefore, their program will be designed to provide those DNP competencies not previously attained. The DNP curriculum will comply with accreditation standards specified by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). CCNE is officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency and is an autonomous accrediting agency contributing to the improvement of the public’s health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing.

Admission

The first candidates for the degree will be post-MSN students who are certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse administrators, clinical nurse specialists or other nursing specialists.

1. Admission to the program is accomplished in two steps: admission to the UTC Graduate School and admission to the DNP program.
2. Applicants to the DNP must meet the general UTC Graduate School requirements of graduation from a regionally accredited college or university.
3. Applicants must complete a Graduate School Application.
4. Official transcripts from all schools attended, both undergraduate and graduate, must be sent directly to the Graduate School.
5. Applicants holding the MSN degree must present a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0-point scale from their highest degree earned or they may present an acceptable MAT or GRE score for consideration if their GPA is below 3.0.
6. Applicants holding the BSN degree but not the MSN degree must send Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores to the Graduate School and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.
7. A non-refundable application fee, a resume and a completed DNP application, along with three letters of reference, must be sent to the Graduate School. One of the letters must be from a person familiar with the applicant’s professional nursing practice.
8. Upon completion and submission of the Graduate School’s requirements, and after admission to the Graduate School, the Graduate School Office will forward all required items to the School of Nursing.
9. Applicants will participate in the interview process with the DNP Admissions Committee. The School of Nursing DNP Admissions Committee will make a decision for acceptance into the program based upon the overall potential for the applicant’s success in the program. This recommendation will be forwarded to the Director of the School of Nursing and the Dean of the Graduate School for official action.
10. Applicants must provide evidence of current RN licensure and APN licensure as applicable.
11. For applicants holding the MSN degree, evidence of specialty recognition should be provided.

Retention/Progression Policies

1. Conform to the “Continuation Standards” as stated in the UTC Graduate Catalog.
2. Successful achievement of a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above in the doctoral program.
3. Student’s earning a “C” or less in any course will be required to repeat the course. Any student who earns a “C” or less in two courses during their enrollment will be considered for dismissal from the School of Nursing. Students must also meet the standards of the Graduate School related to academic progression. See Graduate Catalog http://www.utc.edu/Administration/Records/Catalogs/ for Graduate School Standards related to academic progression.
4. Maintain clinical requirements and other policies as published in the School of Nursing DNP Student Handbook.

Dismissal Policies

Students who violate professional or academic policy will be subject to dismissal from the nursing program.

1. Students found guilty of unprofessional conduct, negligent habits or other causes as specified in the Board of Nursing Rules and Regulations of Registered Nurses will be dismissed from the program.
2. Students who violate the American Nurses Association (ANA) code of ethics policy will be dismissed from the program.
3. Students who have a cumulative GPA that falls below 3.0 will be subject to the UTC Graduate Catalog Continuation Standards.
4. A graduate student will be dismissed from the program if they receive a No Credit grade in a clinical course in more than one grading period. A grading period is defined as either Fall, Spring or Summer.

Program Of Study

Filing the Program of Study

Each DNP degree seeking student must complete and file a Program of Study (form GS #101) during the second semester of enrollment in graduate coursework. All information requested must be provided before the POS will be accepted and approved by the Graduate School. The Program of Study form can be found at http://www.utc.edu/Administration/GraduateSchool/CurrentStudentForms.php.

All core courses in the degree program must be listed on the Program of Study. Elective courses may be listed on the Program of Study at that time if known but this is not required. Elective courses will be listed on the Application for Admission to Candidacy (see below) when the student applies for graduation or prior to applying for graduation. Students must list on the Program of Study form (where courses are listed) whether a comprehensive exam is required or not, i.e., comprehensive exam required or comprehensive exam not required.

A list of all courses, grades and electives must be included on the Program of Study Form that is routed to the DNP Coordinator. The Program of Study Form must be reviewed by the School of Nursing Graduate Program Coordinator and then approved by the doctoral advisor, DNP Coordinator, the Director of the School of Nursing and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Time Limit

All doctoral students shall complete all degree requirements for the DNP within a ten-year limit. All doctoral course work and the successful defense of the translational project must be completed within ten years.

DNP Qualifying Examination

The DNP /defense of proposal in order to progress in the program. If the student is not successful and the proposal is not approved, the student may repeat the DNP Qualifying Examination/project proposal defense once. If the student fails to receive an approval for the project proposal subsequent to the second attempt, the student may be dismissed from the DNP program.

Admission To Candidacy

A student will be admitted to candidacy under the following conditions:

• successful defense of the DNP Translational Project Proposal (i.e. DNP Qualifying Examination)
• satisfactory progress on the graduate coursework attempted in the Program of Study and a cumulative 3.0 GPA or better
• professional and ethical fitness is deemed satisfactory

Upon completion of the above‐noted conditions, the Admission to Candidacy form should be sent to the Office of the Graduate School.

Translational Project

The translational project in the DNP program demonstrates synthesis of the student’s work, lays the foundation for future scholarship and relates to a specialized area in advance practice. The final translational project must benefit a group, population or community rather than an individual patient. The translational project proposal must be reviewed and approved by committee members. The culminating project reflects scholarly work that translates evidence into improved practice or health outcomes that affect aggregates. Each doctoral student will disseminate his or her final translational project in a public presentation that is approved by the student’s translational project committee. The student will further disseminate the final translational project in a publishable manuscript under the guidance of the student’s committee