DARS stands for Degree Audit Reporting System. DARS is a web-based program, which means that students are allowed to go on to CatsWeb and download a degree audit at any time. Students have immediate access to their degree and major requirements.

Degree programs have been prepared by faculty members and approved by the State Board for Educator Certification (for teacher certification programs) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. These programs were developed through careful study of the best courses to help you achieve your academic goals at the highest levels.

Occasionally, because of unforeseen circumstances, substitutions may be necessary. Some of the major reasons for approving substitutions are:

• the proposed substitution is justifiably similar to the required course

• the proposed substitution is necessary to meet your academic needs

• the proposed substitution is necessary to avoid an unnecessary delay in your planned graduation (This reason will be accepted only upon evidence that you have done your best to follow the recommended course sequence suggested by your Academic Advisor or as shown in the Undergraduate Catalog).

Approval to substitute a course must be obtained before you register for a possible substitute. To seek approval, complete a "Course Substitution Request Form" which may be downloaded or obtained in the Center for Student and Professional Services.

After reviewing your request, an advisor will make a decision and notify you in a timely manner. The decision of the advisor is final.

An advising hold is a procedure used by departments to ensure that you receive appropriate assistance before you register for courses. Advising holds are typically used when students are placed on academic probation.

If you attempt to register and encounter an advising hold, you will need to contact the Center for Student and Professional Services or the department that has issued the hold (Library for overdue books, UPD for unpaid parking tickets, etc.). In some cases, your hold can be discussed and removed by telephone. In other cases, however, the hold may require that you appear in person to discuss the reasons for your hold.

Courses taken at other colleges or universities typically include those in the "Core Curriculum" category. These are the "basics" that all students at Texas State must complete in addition to other degree/certification requirements. Examples include English, History, Political Science and Fine Arts. Students are advised to refer to the Transfer Equivalency Guide on the Texas State webpage for course equivalents at most Texas Community Colleges and Universities. Upon completion of courses at another institution, it is the student's responsibility to ensure that transcripts are sent to the Texas State Admissions Office so that we have record of your completion of those courses.

University policy requires no more that 66 hours of coursework from a community college may be applied toward your degree at Texas State.

While Texas State is continually working to indicate equivalent transfer credit for all courses taken at other institutions, you may still see "ELNA" or "ELADV" on your evaluated transcript. DO NOT misinterpret these symbols.

ELNA simply means that you have received elective credit for a lower division (Freshman or Sophomore) course taken elsewhere, and ELADV simply means that you have received elective credit for an upper division (Junior or Senior) course taken elsewhere. You do have an opportunity to seek consideration of these courses for use in your degree requirements, and the details of this procedure are found in the Undergraduate Catalog.

You should meet with an Academic Advisor in order to determine how these courses may be applied to your degree program. In general, if you want to have an ELNA or ELADV reconsidered for application to a Core Curriculum requirement, you will appeal to University College, and if you want to have an ELNA or ELADV reconsidered for application to your major or minor, you will appeal through the Center for Student and Professional Services.

In order to acquire the fundamental skills and cultural background that are the marks fn an educated person, all students at Texas State complete a program of General Education Core Curriculum courses which serves as the common foundation for all majors and accounts for about 35 percent of the approximately 130 semester credit hours required for a bachelor's degree. Students should refer to the appropriate degree outline worksheet for their major for specific core curriculum requirements.

Correspondence study provides an alternative method to earn undergraduate credit hours. Each courses provides a study guide, correlated with a textbook and detailed instructions for all assignments. All correspondence courses are developed, and are periodically updated, by Texas State faculty. The Office of Correspondence and Extension Studies has prepared a catalog, which discusses all program regulations and includes a listing of courses available through correspondence. Students must obtain approval from an Academic Advisor before enrolling in correspondence courses. A maximum of 18 hours of correspondence credit may be applied toward a bachelor's degree. For additional information, please visit the Office of Correspondence and Extension Studies webpage at http://www.studyanywhere.txstate.edu/correspondence_studies.

The Education "Core" consists of CI 3310, CI 3315/3325, and RDG 4320 (consult your Degree Audit Report for the specific courses required for your certification level). These are campus-based courses and must be taken in the same semester. Students must have successfully completed at least 60 hours before being enrolling in the Education "Core" and should have only four long semesters left for graduation. Some CI 3310 courses are designated for EC-4 and 4-8 students only. Individual sections of CI 3310 are available for Secondary and All-Level students. Please be careful when registering for your education courses. If you have questions, please contact an Academic Advisor in the College of Education.

A block is two or more courses with an integrated curriculum. Blocks are held in the field, at local elementary, middle and high schools. Applications are required for the high school block and should be submitted prior to the Advanced Registration period. Applications are available on the Department of Curriculum and Instruction website. Blocked courses are available in the Fall and Spring semesters only.

Texas law requires every person seeking educator certification to perform satisfactorily on comprehensive examinations. The purpose of these examinations is to ensure that each educator has the necessary content and professional knowledge necessary to perform in Texas public schools. The Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES) was developed for this purpose. Please refer to the Texas State ExCET/TExES webpage for additional information and requirements.

Students wishing to change major, minor or teaching specialization within the College of Education should stop by the Center for Student and Professional Services to submit an official Application for Change of Undergraduate Academic Program Code.

Dropping a class is an official action whereby students inform the University that they will cease attending a class in which they are enrolled. Before dropping a class, it is strongly advised that students meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss options and ramifications of dropping a class. Students should also refer to the official Academic Calendar to determine drop deadlines. A "W" grade will be assigned automatically if a student officially drops one or more classes on or before the deadline posed on the Academic Calendar.  To drop a course from your schedule, use the "Registration and Schedule Changes" link on the Student Services menu of CatsWeb.

Academic probation is an emphatic warning that the quality of your work has not met Texas State University's  minimum academic standards and that the quality must improve during the probationary semester in order for you to continue at Texas State. You will be placed on academic probation at the end of the fall or spring semester in which the Texas State GPA is less than 2.00. You will be removed from academic probation at the end of any long term or summer term if the Texas State GPA is 2.00 or higher.

If you are seeking a teacher certification, you must have a Texas State GPA of at least 2.50. You must maintain a Texas State GPA of at least 2.50 to be admitted to student teaching and to be approved for graduation.

First Academic Suspension

A first academic suspension will be for the first long semester following placement on academic suspension. Appeals for reinstatement, based on extenuating circumstances, may be made prior to the Monday of registration week to the college dean or his designee who will render a decision on the matter. Students with majors in the College of Education should contact the Center for Student and Professional Services to inquire about the suspension appeals procedure. If the dean or the dean's designee denies reinstatement, you may then appeal to the Suspension Appeals Committee of the University.

Unless other special conditions are imposed by the dean's designee or the Suspension Appeals Committee, you will be re-admitted on academic probation, and you must raise your Texas State GPA at the end of the first probationary semester or be placed once again on academic suspension. If you do raise your Texas State at the end of the first probationary semester, but it remains below 2.00, you may continue your studies for a second probationary semester. You must raise your Texas State GPA to at least 2.00 by the end of the second probationary semester, or you will be placed on second academic suspension.

If you are placed on first academic suspension following a spring semester, you will be automatically reinstated for the following fall semester provided that you (1) attend both summer terms at Texas State or the Mini-Term and at least one summer term, (2) pass nine semester hours, and (3) earn a 2.00 GPA on all work attempted in both terms. If your Texas State GPA is at least a 2.00 at the end of the second summer term, you will be removed from probation.

Readmission Following a First Academic Suspension

When you re-enter Texas State following an academic suspension, you do so on probation (see the paragraph above on probation). If your Texas State GPA is not raised at the end of the first probationary semester, or is less than 2.00 at the end of the second probationary semester, you will be placed on second academic suspension.

Second Academic Suspension

If you fail to meet the minimum academic standards defined above, you will be placed on academic suspension for a second time, for a period of two calendar years. If you believe that extremely extenuating circumstances pertain to your case, you may appeal prior to the Monday of registration week.  Please contact the College of Education Center for Student and Professional Services at (512) 245-3050 to inquire about the suspension appeals procedure. If reinstatement is denied, you may then appeal to the Suspension Appeals Committee. If the appeal is approved, you may return to Texas State on academic probation, subject to special conditions imposed by the dean's designee or the Suspension Appeals Committee. In addition to any special conditions imposed by the dean's designee or the Suspension Appeals Committee, you must meet the conditions under "Academic Probation" explained above.

Grades are determined by the teacher of record of the course. If you receive a grade that you believe to be incorrect, your first obligation is to meet with your professor to discuss the grade. If an error was made in computing the grade, the professor will submit a request to change the grade. If no error was made but you still are not satisfied, you may appeal to the chair of the department in which the course was taught [Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction for CI, ECE, RDG, SPED, and ED courses; Dept. of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation for AT, H ED, PE, PFW, and REC courses; and Dept. of Educational Administration and Psychological Services for COUN, EDA, and EDP courses.]. In those instances when the department chair is not able to resolve the grade assignment to your satisfaction, you may appeal to the Dean of the College of Education. In this case, you must begin this final appeal process by presenting a letter signed by you which outlines your concern and the related facts of the case.

Under Texas Law, Senate Bill 1907, qualified students can receive $1000 tuition rebate upon graduation from Texas State. This new tuition rebate program is designed to provide a financial incentive for students to complete their baccalaureate studies with as few extraneous courses as possible. To earn the rebate, it is particularly important to follow the advice and counsel of the Academic Advisors. If you answer YES to any of the following questions, you are NOT eligible:

• Have you repeated, withdrawn, or failed more than 3 hours of coursework?
• Did you first enroll in a public institution of higher education in the state of Texas before Fall 1997?
• Have you ever earned a baccalaureate degree prior to the degree you are currently seeking?
• Have you ever paid out-of-state tuition?

If you answered NO to ALL of the above, please fill out the tuition rebate form and turn it in to the College of Education Center for Student and Professional Services in ED 2143.

Yes, unless you are a post-baccalaureate student already employed by a Texas public school district on Emergency Permit or you have been a certified educational aide in a Texas public school and participate in the Educational Aide Exemption Program. Please contact Financial Aid for additional information on the Educational Aid Exemption Program.

Yes. Please check the College of Education website for additional information.

The Office of Career Services offers a wide variety of services to Texas State students. Career Planning, DISCOVER, Career Counseling, Job Search Preparation and Placement Services are available to all Texas State students.

Yes. All students must apply for graduation. Students apply on-line through the CatsWeb Student Services website. We will audit your academic record to ensure that you have successfully completed all degree requirements. Correspondence from the Center for Student and Professional Services will provide additional information regarding commencement ceremonies. There is no graduation fee.