Continuing Studies
The mission of UT’s Continuing Studies program is to extend the resources of the University to continuing adult learners in the Tampa Bay area who want to obtain, on a part-time basis, a quality education with a rich on-campus experience. Specially trained admissions counselors and student advisers in the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies work with continuing adult learners to help facilitate degree completion in the shortest possible time, and many of the most sought-after majors can be achieved by taking all or nearly all of the courses in the evening.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted as a part-time student and unless otherwise stated, an applicant must complete an admissions application (available at www.ut.edu/admissions) and fulfill the following requirements:
- Applicants must have graduated from high school or earned a GED. (Official high school transcripts and official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions are required. Students who have earned a GED must provide GED scores and a high school transcript up to the date of withdrawal. Neither SAT nor ACT scores are required for applicants who have been out of high school for at least two years.)
- Applicants with associate degrees need to provide only official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions verifying degree.
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for international students.
- Applicants must pay a nonrefundable application fee.
Contact admissions in the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies at (813) 258-7409 or scs@ut.edu for additional information or to schedule a counseling appointment.
Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies
University of Tampa, Box 102F
401 W Kennedy Blvd
Tampa, FL, 33606 USA
Transient (Visiting) Students
Students who regularly attend another institution and have never been denied admission to UT may register as visiting students for up to two consecutive semesters. A transient student must:
- Complete the undergraduate application for admission and select "transient (visiting) student."
- Pay the nonrefundable application fee.
- Provide a copy of transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable).
The University of Tampa gives priority registration to its students and reserves the right to deny admission or registration to transient students when demand for requested classes exceeds availability or when the University determines the visiting student is not adequately prepared for the requested class. Transient students may take up to 24 credit hours at the University. If a student wishes to continue at the University, she or he must apply as a transfer student to be admitted.
Non-Degree Seeking Students
The University welcomes students who are not in a UT degree program, or who have not been academically dismissed or denied acceptance, to enroll in undergraduate courses on a space-available basis for up to three semesters. Non-degree seeking students must file an application (available at www.ut.edu/admissions) with a nonrefundable application fee.
Students attending other colleges or universities should follow the procedures for transient students. High school students should submit letters of recommendation from principals or counselors listing the UT courses students are permitted to take. Non-degree seeking students are subject to the same academic policies as undergraduate degree seeking students and adhere to the deadline dates published in the University course schedule.
Non-degree seeking students pay the regular tuition rates and are not eligible for the special individual plan of study (IPS) tuition rate or a reduced audit fee.
Auditing Classes
A student may register as an auditing student by submitting an application form (available at www.ut.edu/admissions) and a nonrefundable application fee. An auditing student earns no college credit, and academic work is not graded. To audit classes, students are not required to submit records of previous academic work, but they must secure prior permission from the professor teaching the course. Auditors pay 50 percent of the credit-hour rate charged for undergraduate instruction. See the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog for more information.
Postbaccalaureate Degree Students
In addition to the application form (available at www.ut.edu/admissions) and a nonrefundable application fee, these students must submit transcripts from regionally accredited colleges or universities showing all baccalaureate degrees earned and the dates granted. Those seeking second baccalaureate degrees should refer to the Academic Programs chapter of this catalog.
Part-Time Degree Seeking Students
Part-time students who intend to complete a degree at UT are encouraged to complete an individual plan of study (IPS). The IPS provides certain benefits to the student and offers a guide for the adviser as the student progresses toward graduation. Students with an IPS may be qualified to receive a special tuition rate (see the Tuition and Fees section below).
Part-time degree seeking students are encouraged, but not required, to take at least 3 credit hours (but not more than 9) in at least one summer session (May Term included) per year. The student may interrupt the IPS for valid reasons, as determined by the associate dean of graduate and continuing studies, and remain qualified for the special tuition rate, but interruptions are limited and discouraged.
Part-time students who wish to change their status to full-time must apply by completing the regular undergraduate admissions application (available at spartanweb.ut.edu/utadmapp) and meeting all academic requirements for admission as a full-time student, including admissions deadlines. Please refer to appropriate sections of this catalog, including the Costs and Financial Information chapter.
Veterans
Veterans’ enrollments are certified by the Registrar’s Office to the Veterans Administration. Questions concerning veterans’ benefits should be directed to that office.
Registration Procedures
Part-time students whose assigned adviser is in the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies can register for classes in the following ways:
- In person by making an appointment with their assigned advisers.
- By faxing the required information to (813) 258-7451.
- By sending email to scs@ut.edu.
- Online by logging on to SpartanWeb.
Students with a current individual plan of study and the accompanying agreement will be able to expedite registration for their classes in the respective term of their IPS.
Part-time students must register on SpartanWeb after being cleared for registration by their adviser. New part-time students will be registered in classes by their assigned advisor.
Current students should consult regularly with their assigned adviser to confirm their course selections prior to registering. Registration information is published with class schedules each term. Staff is on hand in the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies to assist during registration; the office is open until 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 5 p.m. on Friday (except during the summer, when offices are closed on Friday).
Tuition and Fees
Students qualify for the continuing studies tuition rate as long as they meet the following criteria:
- Remains academically qualified to be enrolled at the University, including at least a 2.0 GPA in all courses taken at UT.
- Has an IPS and accompanying agreement in effect, which includes at least 3 credit hours (but no more than 9 credit hours) per semester, and annually updates the IPS with the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies.
- Maintains continuous enrollment* at UT.
- Is seeking a Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) degree or a degree in one of the following majors:
Accounting
Advertising/Public Relations
Allied Health
Communication
Criminology
English
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Financial Services Operations and Systems
Government and World Affairs
Graphic Design
History
International Business
Management
Management Information Systems
Marketing
New Media Production
Psychology
Public Health
Sociology
Sport Management
Writing
*Continuous enrollment means registration in classes in each subsequent semester until graduation. Summer class registration is not required, but it is encouraged.
The tuition rate for qualifying part-time students can be found by referring to the section Costs and Financial Information. Part-time students who do not qualify for this rate will be charged at the 1 credit hour rate times the number of credit hours enrolled. Continuing studies students pay one-half the rate per audit hour. Part-time students are assessed a student services fee of $40 per semester. The University accepts a variety of payment methods and plans.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Many companies support employees’ efforts with tuition assistance plans. The University requires only half of each semester’s tuition prior to the final payment day of each term if the student furnishes a signed statement verifying employment and stating the terms of the company’s reimbursement plan. Part-time students who qualify may be eligible for state and federal financial aid. (See the Financial Aid section of this catalog.)
Current and retired members of the U.S. Armed Forces (including National Guard and Reserves) may be eligible for tuition benefits. Information is available from any military education officer.
A limited number of scholarships are available to part-time students. Criteria for the awards are high academic performance/potential and financial need. Students who wish to be considered for these scholarships should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
How to Get Started
- Complete your online application at www.ut.edu/admissions. If you have questions, need assistance, or wish to schedule an appointment call (813) 253-6211 or toll free (888) MINARET 646-2738.
- Request official transcripts from all previously attended colleges/universities and your high school (if you do not have an associate degree) to be mailed to the University at the address below.
Correspondence can be sent to:
Admissions
Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies
University of Tampa, Box 102F
Tampa, FL 33606-1490.
Programs and Degree Requirements
Part-time students have a wide array of programs from which to choose. Students should visit www.ut.edu/continuingstudies for a complete list of programs available to part-time continuing adult learners. Part-time degree seeking students complete the same degree requirements for their major as regular full-time students, and these requirements can be found in the respective section of this catalog. In addition to the requirements of the student’s selected major area of study, all students are required to complete a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum. For all degrees except the Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree, the general curriculum requirements can be found described in the Baccalaureate Experience section of the UT Academic Experience chapter in this catalog. The general curriculum requirements for the Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree are found below.
Evening Classes
Part-time students requiring evening classes will find that many of the available programs can be completed almost entirely by taking classes offered in the evening. While some of the programs are offered only or predominantly during the day, select programs are offered in such a way as to accommodate the student that desires evening classes. Students should consult with the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies to determine the degrees/majors that can largely be completed in the evening, if this is a requirement of the student’s schedule. Evening classes qualify for the qualifying continuing studies tuition rate if the student meets all requirements as specified in the Tuition and Fees section above.
Transfer Credit
Part-time students often have earned credits at another institution and wish to have them applied toward their degree requirements at UT. For policies and procedures regarding the transfer of credits, please see the Transfer Credit Evaluation section of the Academic Policies and Procedures chapter in this catalog.
Advising
Continuing adult learners are assigned a professional staff adviser in the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies (OGCS) to assist in all aspects of their academic time at the University. A student’s assigned adviser provides valuable assistance in developing a plan of study, working through enrollment problems, helping orient the student to campus resources, dealing with work-home-school conflicts, connecting with faculty members for special help or mentoring and more. Additionally, the adviser can help the student apply for prior learning credits. A student may elect to also have a faculty adviser assigned; if this is the case, the student's OGCS adviser can assist. The name and contact information of each student’s assigned adviser is noted on the student’s biography page on SpartanWeb.
Individual Plan of Study Agreement
The individual plan of study (IPS) is an agreement in which the student agrees to follow an individually planned course of study leading to a degree from The University of Tampa. The student’s IPS is monitored by the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies to help ensure that the student is progressing as planned toward degree completion. At least annually the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies will request a consultation with the student to ensure that the IPS is current, that it continues to meet with the student’s approval and that it is achievable. The student must continue to demonstrate commitment to the IPS and request modifications when necessary and appropriate. The IPS can provide part-time students with better accessibility to needed classes, reduce the student’s burden to seek out and register for critical classes in a timely manner, provide a clear path to graduation and allow the student to take advantage of the special Continuing Studies tuition rate. A sample IPS and the accompanying agreement can be obtained by making an appointment with an admissions counselor by calling (813) 253-6249 or by emailing scs@ut.edu.