Independent Study General Information
Information for College Students
College Credit Courses
Independent Study courses for college credit are developed and taught by faculty members of all campuses of the University of Tennessee; course content and instructors are approved by the appropriate academic department. The content and study requirements closely parallel those of the same courses taught in the classroom and are fully acceptable toward degree requirements within the limits set by the university.
Students are responsible for making sure that the courses fit their degree requirements and that they have appropriate approval. Courses numbered 100 and 200 in this website are Lower Division. Courses numbered 300 and 400 are Upper Division. Graduate credit courses are not available by correspondence from the University of Tennessee, but are available through Distance Education.
Advising
Students taking correspondence courses as part of a degree program should consult their advisor about the selection of courses. Inquiries about the content of a particular correspondence course may be referred to the Department of Distance Education and Independent Study. Submission of assignments without such approval may invalidate your credit. In sequential courses where one course is a prerequisite to another, you must pass the first course before you begin work on the second. If you are enrolling for the first time, it is wise to limit yourself to one or two courses until you have found your optimum work rate. Then, you may enroll in additional courses.
Certification for Teachers
Correspondence courses may, in some circumstances, be used to gain or maintain a teacher license or certificate. Tennessee residents should write to the Director of Teacher Education at the university they are attending or the Tennessee Department of Education for information concerning license requirements and renewal. If you live outside Tennessee, write to the appropriate state department of education.
Degree Programs in Independent Study
The University of Tennessee does not offer an "external degree" program through correspondence. However, correspondence courses may be applied toward graduation at the University of Tennessee. In addition, the college credit courses listed in this catalog may be used toward an external degree at another institution.
Correspondence Credit for UT Students
Students admitted to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, or the University of Tennessee at Martin campuses may take up to one-fourth of their total undergraduate credit work by correspondence. Credit for undergraduate courses by correspondence in the major subjects shall be limited to one-fourth of the total credit hours required. Correspondence courses are accepted by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center at Memphis only with prior permission.
Prior to enrolling for any college-credit course, all students to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who are pursuing an undergraduate degree, must obtain the written approval of their college dean or authorized representative. Please see our Independent Study Authorization Form (PDF).
In an effort to meet degree requirements, a student will be allowed to utilize any university-level correspondence course, which has the same number as a course offered on the University of Tennessee campus at which the student is enrolled. A comparable course, which is offered through the Department of Distance Education and Independent Study from another of the University of Tennessee campuses, may also apply. Choices are to be in accordance with the limits stated in the previous paragraph. For complete policies on correspondence courses at UT, see the Undergraduate Catalog (PDF) at page 42.
Graduation Regulations
Seniors (except senior transfer students) admitted to degree programs on the Knoxville campus may take up to six of their last 30 credit hours from the University of Tennessee (Knoxville campus) correspondence courses. Seniors at the Martin campus may take up to six of the last 30 credit hours by correspondence. Seniors at the Chattanooga campus may not take correspondence courses within the last 30 hours of degree credit unless advance approval has been granted by the Petitions Committee.
Credit at Other Colleges and Universities
Colleges and universities set regulations governing acceptance of independent study for credit. If you are planning to transfer the University of Tennessee credit, be sure to check with the other institution before you enroll.
Grade Records & Transcripts
Your instructor may use letter grades, numerical grades, or S (satisfactory) and U (unsatisfactory) to indicate the quality of work on assignments. You must make a passing grade on the final examination before receiving credit for the course. Independent Study grades will be reported as follows:
No grade report - Those who request (in writing) a course cancellation and refund within 60 days of enrolling.
W (Withdrawal) - Those who request (in writing) official Withdrawal during months 3-8 of the enrollment.
I (Incomplete) - Assigned to all students who do not officially withdraw but who do not complete all course requirements by the end of the ninth month. The "I" will become an "F" at the end of 30 days unless the student satisfactorily completes all requirements during an official 90-day extension.
A-F or S/NC - Assigned to students who complete all requirements for a course within nine months (or twelve months if they purchase an extension). The S/NC option is available on the same basis as it is on the University of Tennessee campuses. S is given for C or better work on traditional grading scale and NC is given for less than C work. Neither grade is counted in a student’s grade point average, but like all other grades, neither is entered on the permanent record.
The unit of credit at the University of Tennessee is the semester hour on all campuses. The letter following each course number indicates the campus from which the course originates:
K = Knoxville
C = Chattanooga
M = Martin
Credits earned from college courses are recorded on a transcript in the Records Office on the University of Tennessee campus where the course originates. You may secure official copies of your transcript by writing to the appropriate Records Office in Chattanooga, Knoxville, or Martin. Credit earned at one of the University of Tennessee campuses may be transferred to another University of Tennessee campus, subject to the same rules that apply to transferring credit from classroom courses. It is your responsibility to request the transfer after you have completed the course. The transfer is not automatic and is subject to requirements regarding the University of Tennessee campus residency. When transferring credit from one campus to another, be sure to consult with your adviser or your Records Office to determine which courses to take to meet your needs.
In college credit courses, a grade report is mailed to the student and to the Records Office on the appropriate University of Tennessee campus (Chattanooga, Knoxville, or Martin). You must request an official transcript from those offices. The addresses are:
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Records Office
128 Hooper Hall
Chattanooga, TN 37403
(423) 425-4416
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Records Office
209 Student Services Building
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996
(865) 974-2101
The University of Tennessee at Martin
Records Office
103 Administration Building
Martin, TN 38238
1-800-829-8861
Financial Aid
Pell Grants and Other Federal Aid Programs
The Department of Distance Education and Independent Study is not authorized to award Pell Grants, Perkins Loans, or other forms of student aid from the U.S. Government.
DANTES (military personnel)
All members of the United States Armed Forces may pursue college and university independent study courses through the use of the DANTES Independent Study Catalog. Eligibility to enroll in a school’s course is determined by your degree-granting school. All Service members, whether Active Duty or Reserve component personnel, will use the DANTES Enrollment Form for Service Members (DANTES 1562/31) regardless of the method of payment they choose, either tuition assistance, VA benefits, or individually paid (no subsidy claimed).
DANTES maintains distance learning enrollment data for all the Military Services. Education personnel may request this form from DANTES using Stock number 2309 on the DANTES Material Request Form. Send two copies of the enrollment form directly to the institution offering the desired course. Include a VA form 22-1990a if VA reimbursement is to be claimed. Do not send copies of the DANTES 1562/31 or VA forms to DANTES. To avoid delays in the enrollment process, the DANTES 1562/31 must be filled out completely, signed by the applicant and the education officer/education services specialist/guidance counselor, or, if there is no service education center or Navy College Office at the student’s location, the student’s commander should sign.
Include a money order, cashier’s check, certified check, credit card or personal check for the exact enrollment costs as quoted for the specific course requested. Students should be aware the textbooks and shipping are paid for separately. If possible, students should always verify course availability before enrolling. Students are responsible for purchasing the textbooks separately.
Veterans Administration (VA) Benefits
All university level courses listed for credit in this catalog are approved for eligible persons or veterans under provisions of the G.I. Bill. The following summary of important points is provided for your information, based on information from the VA Regional Office. Neither this department nor the University assumes any responsibility for errors in interpretation or for changes in regulations.
- It is your responsibility to determine your eligibility.
- If the VA determines that you are eligible for benefits, you may receive reimbursement of the registration fee under the following conditions:
- Enrollment: To receive VA Educational benefits, you must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program and all of the classes you take must apply toward that degree. You may repeat only classes in which you have not made a passing grade.
- Enrollment Certification: An enrollment form must be completed for each course to maintain benefits. Failure to do so will result in termination of benefits. All withdrawals a nd reduction in hours must be reported promptly to the Veterans Affairs Office.
- You must obtain a letter from your home school stating that the independent study course will be accepted toward your degree program there. This letter must be submitted with your enrollment certification.
- You cannot be certified for any course more than once. Enroll only if you intend to work on the course at a steady pace. Your failure to complete homework and exams on a timely basis will be reported to the Veterans Administration, and you may be required to pay back any funds received.
Contact This Department
Department of Distance Education & Independent Study
Conference Center Building
600 Henley Street, Suite 208
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: (865) 974-5134
Toll Free: 1-800-670-8657
TDD: (865) 974-5078
Fax: (865) 974-4684
Email: disteducation@tennessee.edu