University of Tennessee Graduate Programs: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of Tennessee (UT), Knoxville, stands as the state’s largest and most comprehensive institution, proudly holding the distinction of being a Carnegie One Research Extensive Institution. As the land-grant institution of the State of Tennessee, UT Knoxville offers a diverse array of graduate programs designed to cultivate a community of scholars engaged in creative work and advanced study. These programs cater to individuals seeking master’s and doctoral degrees, professional certification, continuing education, or postdoctoral research opportunities.

Breadth of Graduate Offerings

UT Knoxville provides a wide range of graduate programs, encompassing 54 doctoral degrees, 79 master’s degrees, 5 educational specialist degrees, two professional programs, and 29 graduate certificate programs. These programs are designed to meet the needs of students engaged full-time in intensive study and the pursuit of advanced degrees. The university particularly emphasizes serving the needs of students engaged full-time in intensive study and pursuit of a degree. A graduate degree or certificate is awarded upon completion of a specified program of study in a major field. Degree titles are posted on transcripts and diplomas, while the titles of majors and certificates are only posted on transcripts. The Graduate School Catalog provides further details about each degree and certificate program.

Governance and Standards

The Graduate Council, composed of elected faculty representatives from each college, the Space Institute, and the Graduate Student Association, plays a crucial role in maintaining the academic standards of graduate programs. Its responsibilities include setting standards for admission, retention, and graduation, as well as overseeing curricular matters, the development of interdisciplinary programs, and the approval of new graduate programs. The council also approves individuals to direct doctoral dissertation research and manages financial support for graduate students, addressing all other matters of educational policy pertaining to graduate programs. The Graduate School develops procedures to implement policies formulated by the council. Much of the day-to-day administration of graduate study is conducted by department heads or faculty advisors and committees responsible for particular programs. The graduate student body is composed of those persons admitted to graduate study upon recommendation of the academic unit, and who are currently enrolled in graduate programs.

A Historical Perspective

Graduate education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has a rich history, dating back to 1821. The first master’s degree was awarded in 1827. While PhD degrees were awarded in 1886 and 1887, formal doctoral programs were not established until 1929 for biological sciences at Memphis and 1943 for chemistry on the Knoxville campus.

Admission Requirements

General Requirements

To be considered for admission to a graduate program at UT Knoxville, applicants must meet certain minimum requirements. The Graduate Council mandates a minimum grade point average of 2.7 out of a possible 4.0, or a 3.0 during the senior year of undergraduate study. Applicants with previous graduate work must have a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent on all graduate work. Many programs require a higher average. Applicants with work experience or who are entering graduate study after a number of years away from an educational institution, usually five years, will be given consideration with greater flexibility relative to GPA. An applicant whose GPA falls between 2.5 and 2.7 may be admitted on probation, upon recommendation of an academic unit. The probationary status will be removed after completion of 9 or more hours of graduate credit with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Failure to maintain a 3.0 while in this status will result in dismissal. The stated criteria are the minimums.

Application Process

Anyone with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or foreign equivalent who wishes to take courses for graduate credit, whether or not the person desires to become a candidate for a degree, must submit a formal application for admission to graduate study or apply for transient status. No action is taken until a file is complete. The UT code is 1843. All documents submitted become the property of the university and will not be returned. Admission to a degree program requires that a person meet the minimum admission requirements and any additional program requirements (see Admission Requirements). In addition to meeting the minimum requirements, applicants at the doctoral level must have demonstrated a potential for superior academic performance. An applicant may not be admitted simultaneously to more than one degree program. Two or more applications cannot be considered concurrently. Minimum requirements (see Admission Requirements) must be met for admission to non-degree status. A major must be declared if the intent is to seek an advanced degree. If no degree is desired, a major need not be declared. Students anticipating long-term enrollment as non-degree students are advised to apply as undergraduate students in non-degree status. A maximum of 15 graduate hours may be taken in graduate non-degree status. If admitted into a degree program, no more than 15 graduate hours may be applied toward a graduate degree, if approved by the student’s committee. Every graduate student must meet with an academic advisor at least once each semester to discuss his/her program. For non-degree students with a declared major, the advisor must be from the appropriate academic unit. If no advisor has been assigned, the department head or designee is the advisor. Admission to non-degree status does not constitute admission to a degree program.

Specific Admission Types

Admission to a graduate certificate program requires that a person meet the minimum admission requirements and any additional program requirements (see Admission Requirements). Admission to a graduate certificate program does not constitute admission to a degree program. A student who is enrolled in good standing in a graduate degree program at another institution and who wishes to take courses for transfer to that institution may be admitted after submitting a completed Graduate Application for Admission, the $35 application fee, and a Transient Student Certification form 10 days prior to registration. Only one semester, or a maximum of 12 hours, of course work can be taken in transient status. Persons who hold an earned doctoral degree and desire to take graduate courses may be admitted in the postdoctoral status. Admission in the postdoctoral status does not constitute admission to a degree program.

International Students

For admission to a graduate program, an international student must have an equivalent 4-year bachelor’s degree with at least a B average on all previous course work and a B+ on all previous graduate work. institution, the minimum is the same as that for domestic students (see Admission Requirements). Other grading systems are evaluated, upon receipt of transcripts, in accordance with standard recommendations. International students may apply for admission any semester, but normally enter the fall semester. A $35 non-refundable processing fee. Payment should be made in United States dollars by a cashier’s check, money order, or personal check payable to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. If payment is by personal check, it must be drawn on a United States bank to be honored in United States currency. Checks drawn on overseas banks are not accepted. Confirmation of degree(s). Certification of English proficiency. Documented evidence of financial resources sufficient to support the student, as stated on the financial statement form supplied to the applicant. Departmental application. Reference letters or rating forms. Admission must be granted, and financial documentation and degree confirmation must be received prior to issuance of an I-20 or DS-2019 form needed to obtain a visa. Any person whose native language is not English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum score of 213 on the computer-based test, 550 on the paper test, or 80 on the Internet-based test typically with a score of 20 on each of the sections of the test (reading, listening, writing, and speaking) is required for admission consideration. Some programs require higher scores. The score must be no more than two years old from the requested date of entry. All students whose native language is not English must take an English proficiency examination after arrival at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. An administrative management fee will be charged to sponsoring agencies of international students whose programs require special administrative or management services beyond those normally provided.

Additional Considerations

Faculty members of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, or the Institute of Agriculture at the rank of assistant professor or above and members of the administrative staff at the university and the Institute of Agriculture will not normally be admitted to a PhD degree program at UT Knoxville. Exceptions may be granted on an individual basis upon petition to the Dean of the Graduate School. Petitioners must present their request in writing, providing adequate assurance that the residence requirement will be met and that there will be no conflict of academic or administrative interest. A student who has not registered for graduate courses at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for three consecutive terms (including summer) must apply for readmission. A readmission application should be submitted to the Office of Graduate and International Admissions at least two weeks prior to the desired reentry date. A student who has attended another institution since enrollment at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, must submit one official transcript showing all course work and any degrees earned at that institution. The student will be notified when action has been taken by the department/program and the Office of Graduate and International Admissions. A student who is permitted to enroll and is subsequently denied readmission will receive credit for courses completed successfully. A student who wishes to change a major program of study must complete a Request for Change of Graduate Program form, which can be obtained online or from the Office of Graduate and International Admissions. The form requires the signature of the head of the department in which admission was previously granted. The student must be in good standing for a revision to be processed. Acceptance into a new degree program is contingent upon review and recommendation by that department. If the student is not accepted into the program requested, he/she remains in the former program.

Academic Regulations

Graduate Credit

To earn graduate credit, a student must be admitted by the Dean of the Graduate School and enrolled in an appropriate status as a graduate student. The registration must reflect the desire for graduate credit, and the course must have been approved by the Graduate Council. Course work taken in any other status is unacceptable for graduate credit and cannot be changed retroactively to graduate credit. Courses numbered at the 500 level, as well as those 400-level courses approved for graduate credit, must be taught by faculty members who (1) meet the criteria of an assistant professor or above as defined in the Faculty Handbook and (2) have been designated by the department head as being appropriate. Consistent with the accreditation requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) that graduate curricula must be substantially different from undergraduate curricula, classes at the 400 level in which both graduate and undergraduate students are enrolled must be structured so as to reflect this distinction. That is, course requirements for graduate credit will be more rigorous and will exceed expectations for undergraduates. Graduate and undergraduate completion of the same course will not be considered equivalent. Courses at the 600 level are taught by faculty who have been approved by the college or by departments, where the college has given them that responsibility.

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Special Enrollment Circumstances

Subject to approval by the Dean of the Graduate School, a senior at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who needs fewer than 30 semester hours to complete requirements for a bachelor’s degree and has at least a B average (3.0) may enroll in graduate courses for graduate credit, provided the combined total of undergraduate and graduate course work does not exceed 15 credit hours per semester. Only students working toward a first bachelor’s degree are eligible. Students who have met all requirements for graduation are not eligible. Approval must be obtained each semester at the Graduate School. A maximum of 9 hours of graduate credit at the 400 and 500 level can be obtained in this status. Approval must be obtained each semester at registration through the Graduate School. Subject to approval by the Dean of the Graduate School and the College of Law, a law student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, may enroll in graduate courses for graduate credit. Courses taken for graduate credit may not be used toward both the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree and a graduate degree. A graduate student may take up to 6 hours of law courses and apply them toward a graduate degree, upon approval of the College of Law and the student’s major professor. The graduate student must register for law courses during the registration period at the College of Law and request a Satisfactory/No Credit only grade. If the student earns a 2.0 or better, an S will be recorded on the transcript. Below 2.0, a No Credit will be recorded, and the course cannot be used toward meeting degree requirements. Different rules apply to students enrolled in the Dual JD-MBA and JD-MPA programs. Grades must be earned according to the grading system of the respective colleges, e.g. numerical grades for law courses, letter grades for graduate courses.

Graduate Certificates

A graduate certificate may be earned by successful completion of a series of specific courses. A candidate for a graduate certificate program must be a fully admitted graduate student who has satisfactorily completed (minimum 3.0 grade point average) the minimum requirements for a certificate as described in the Graduate Catalog. The minimum requirements for the certificate programs are listed under the academic department offering the certificate. A candidate must be a graduate student in good standing and comply with all other applicable policies. Graduate certificate programs require a minimum of 12 semester credit hours taken at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. To receive the certificate, students must submit a Completion of Certificate Program Form endorsed by the academic department to the Graduate School. Only those certificate programs that are officially approved by the Graduate Council will be posted on student transcripts.

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