Admission to the University

Requirements for Admission

Students may be considered for admission to the University of Tennessee Southern at the beginning of any academic term; however, prospective students are encouraged to apply as early as possible after completion of the junior year of high school. Residence hall deposits should be made as early as possible to secure a room for residential students. The University will also consider students who have successfully completed high school equivalency exams such as the GED.

For admission to the University of Tennessee Southern, students should submit the following requirements:

Official copies of ACT or SAT scores

Official copies of high school transcripts

TOEFL scores if applicable (international applicants)

Proof of immunization 

Typically the University requires at least a 2.25 grade point average and an ACT that reflects the state average. Students who do not meet these requirements for admission should contact an admissions counselor to determine if they may be offered admission to the University by the Provost if special circumstances exist. These students may be required to take a reduced class load during their first semester of attendance, take placement tests, and take appropriate coursework to overcome any apparent deficiencies.

Records and Documents Submitted for Admission Processing

All documents submitted to the University in support of an application for admission become the permanent possession of the University and cannot be returned to the applicant under any circumstances. Students are, therefore, urged to make copies of important documentation and maintain their own files.

Campus Change Policy

Students who wish to transfer from one University of Tennessee (UT) campus to another campus within the UT System are known as “campus-change” students. UT campuses welcome and seek to accommodate campus-change students as they go through the transfer process.

Campus-change students who apply for transfer within the UT System will have completed general education requirements for the UT campus to which they are transferring, provided that the student:

1. has previously earned an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree from a TBR institution, or
2. has been certified by the institution from which they are transferring as having completed all the general education requirements of that institution.

If a campus-change student transfers from one UT campus to another within the UT System before completing general education requirements, then the student will receive credit for having completed general education blocks or categories that correspond to those at the campus to which they are transferring. Campus-change students who meet these specifications will not be required to take any additional coursework to meet general education requirements at the campus to which they are transferring; however, specific general education courses may be required to satisfy the requirements of the major or degree program. As such, transcripts of campus-change students will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Transfer Students

Students who have studied at another college or university may apply for transfer admission to the University of Tennessee Southern.

A transfer student must:

• be in good standing with the last college or university attended;
• have a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0; and
• submit an official transcript of all previous college work from each institution attended (a high school transcript may also be required).

A student who has college credits earned while still in high school (dual enrollment) and has not attended college after high school graduation is considered as a new freshman regardless of the number of hours earned through dual enrollment. Students who complete all the courses listed for a particular Tennessee Board of Regents Tennessee Transfer Pathway and who hold an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from a Tennessee Community College or from a senior institution within the state that meets the Transfer Pathway requirements will be admitted with junior standing and will have satisfied the General Education core requirements for the baccalaureate degree, except for courses specifically required for the student’s major. Students who have not followed an approved Transfer Pathway and who hold an A.A. or A.S. degree, or students holding an applied degree (e.g., A.A.S.) must have their transcripts evaluated on an individual basis; recognized courses will be credited toward graduation.

Students with A.A. or A.S. degrees from OTHER STATES that are designed to transfer to a senior institution must have their transcripts evaluated. Certain academic programs may have special core requirements that the transfer student may be required to complete. The University of Tennessee Southern does NOT transfer grades of “D” or lower except when a student has graduated with an Associate (A.A. or A.S) or Bachelor’s degree. Students may be asked to provide syllabi, course descriptions, and work samples as required.

Application Procedures for Admission and Re-admission

An official Application for Admission form must be completed in full. Forms may be completed online by visiting www.utsouthern.edu and clicking the Apply button or in person, on campus at Colonial Hall.

Official high school transcripts must be received by the University. Transfer students must submit transcripts of all college course work and may be asked to submit high school transcripts.

The American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) must be taken and test battery scores must be sent to the University (ACT College Code 3986; SAT College Code 1449).

Resident students, upon provisional acceptance, must complete a housing application and pay the one time housing application fee.

Former students who are not currently enrolled and who have not been enrolled at the University of Tennessee Southern for at least a semester or a term must complete a re-admission application. Students applying for re-admission must be cleared from any judicial, academic, and financial “holds” before being accepted as a re-admitted student. Re-admission is NOT guaranteed.

Veteran/military students must have military transcripts submitted (www.jst.doded.mil/smart/signIn.do, www.au.af.mil/au/barnes/ccaf/transcripts.asp).

Transient Admission

A person currently enrolled in good standing at another college or university may enroll for credit by applying for admission and by presenting to the Registrar a statement from the first institution giving permission to take course work at the University of Tennessee Southern. This person will be classified as a transient student.

Non-Degree Seeking Classification

Individuals who do not wish to pursue a degree may apply as non-degree seeking students. Non-degree status is usually used for applicants who are practicing professionals in the field and who wish to take one or more courses for professional development. Non-degree students may be permitted upon receipt of the following application information:

• An application for admission,

• Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended,

• Written permission from the coordinator/director of the program offering the course.

All other courses will be blocked to non-degree-seeking applicants except for the course(s) that have been approved.

Non-degree seeking students who later apply for and are accepted into a degree program may apply a maximum of twelve hours taken as non-degree students toward their degree.

Pre-College Students

Students who wish to begin college work during the summer after their sophomore year of high school may be admitted for regular college credit under the following conditions:

• have an overall academic average of 3.00 (B) or above in high school;

• choose courses for the summer session in consultation with their high school counselor, principal, and the Provost of the University;

• submit a letter from a high school counselor addressing the student’s ability to do college work; and

• understand that college classes supplement rather than duplicate their total high school program.

Early Honors Admission

Highly qualified, mature high school students who have earned at least 12 units of high school credit (college preparatory work is strongly recommended) with a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.00 grading system may apply for early honors admission. Applicants must have taken the ACT or SAT and have unqualified recommendations from their high school officials. Applicants for the early honors admission program must schedule a conference with the Provost, Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, and Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment & Athletic Recruitment before any final disposition can be made concerning acceptance as a first-year or special early honor student.

Students in this program should begin their studies during the summer session, so that both they and the University have an opportunity to evaluate their maturity and degree of preparedness before the beginning of the fall semester.

International Students

International students who show evidence of ability to communicate in English and to benefit from the University of Tennessee Southern’s educational program will be considered for admission. All international students whose first language is not English must undergo placement testing prior to registration, and based upon performance, may be required to take classes in English as a Second Language (ESL) and/or to participate in UTS’s Intensive English Program (IEP). The TOEFL, required for all whose first language is not English, should suffice and will be used for placement, unless in the rare circumstance when the University may need and ask for more data. TOEFL scores of 70 with sub-scores of 17 or 18 are minimum for placement in college-level courses. The Director of Academic Advising will assist all international students. For admission, the University requires an official transcript of the last four years of academic work, TOEFL scores, and a statement of financial responsibility. Inquiries concerning U.S. college studies may be directed to the United States Embassies and Consulates. If students have completed international college work, transcripts must be evaluated by WES or another accredited agency. Consult the Registrar for additional information.

Veterans’ Affairs

The University of Tennessee Southern is approved by the Tennessee State Approving Agency for the training of veterans and their eligible dependents. The veteran seeking admission to the University should notify the Director of Financial Aid concerning eligibility under the various chapters of the G.I. Bill. All applicants for benefits are subject to Veterans’ Administration approval.

Veterans’ Benefits are also available to all qualifying students at the University of Tennessee Southern. Please request a Certificate of Eligibility from www.benefits.va.gov and submit to the Financial Aid office. Veteran benefit recipients will not be penalized for any delayed disbursement from the VA. There will be no late fee applied or access denied to any classes or facilities on campus due to delayed VA benefit payments. A VA benefit recipient, whether a veteran or a dependent of a veteran, must complete a Request to Certify VA Benefits form at the beginning of each semester in order for the benefits to be requested.