How to Apply

In order to be considered for admission a student must send the following credentials to the Office of Admissions and Records. For timely and accurate processing, students should ensure that all official documents have been submitted prior to registration.  Students are encouraged to request electronic transmission of all transcripts; such transmission may shorten the processing time by two or three days.

Undergraduate

1. A completed application for undergraduate admission.

2. An official transcript from EACH college attended, sent directly from each institution to UH-Victoria.

3. TASP scores, reading, writing and mathematics, sent directly from National Evaluation Systems, Inc. to UH-Victoria; or, the scores must appear on an official transcript being sent from a college formerly attended.

NOTE: Students who have completed at least three semester hours of acceptable college credit prior to September 1, 1989 are exempt from taking the TASP. For other exemptions, refer to the TASP information in the Undergraduate Admission section of this catalog.

IMPORTANT: Teacher Certification students are not exempt from taking the TASP test. A passing score on each portion of the TASP test is required for admission to the teacher certification program. See the Teacher Certification section of this catalog or Office of Teacher Education Records for more information.

Postbaccalaureate

1. A completed application for postbaccalaureate admission.

2. An official transcript from each college attended, sent directly from the institution to UH-Victoria. 

Temporary Graduate Student

1. A completed application for temporary graduate student admission.

2. An official transcript from the college from which the most recent degree and/or course work was earned, sent directly from the institution to UH-Victoria.

Graduate

1. A completed application for graduate admission.

2. An official transcript from EACH college attended, sent directly from each institution to UH-Victoria.

3. Appropriate exam scores must be sent directly from the testing service to UH-Victoria.

NOTE: The only requirement for applicants holding a master’s degree from an accredited institution is an official transcript from the institution which awarded the degree, sent directly from that institution to UH-Victoria.

Official Transcripts

Deadlines

There are no specific deadlines for domestic applications for admission. However, applicants should submit credentials as early as possible to ensure adequate time for processing before registration.  International student applications for admission, including all supporting documentation, must be submitted at least eight weeks before the first class day to ensure time for processing.

Majors and Major Codes

School of Arts and Sciences:

*SBEC (State Board of Educator Certification) Program.

**See education section of UH-Victoria catalog for certification programs.

# American Humanics, Inc. Certification Program; with any major.

Undergraduate Admission

Application

Admission application forms and catalogs may be obtained by writing the Office of Admissions and Records, University of Houston-Victoria, 3007 N. Ben Wilson, Victoria, Texas 77901, emailing admissions@uhv.edu , telephoning 361-570-4110 or toll-free 1-877-970-4848, ext. 110, or going to the admissions seb page at www.uhv.edu/oar. Applications for admission should be submitted as early as possible to ensure time for processing before registration.

The completed application, with supporting documents, constitutes the basis upon which eligibility for admission is determined. All questions on the application must be answered fully. Admission is invalid if granted on the basis of incorrect information or omitted facts which, if known, would have caused the applicant to be ineligible.

A student must file a new application for a future semester if the student does not enroll for the semester indicated on the original application.

Transcripts

It is the applicant’s responsibility to have complete, official transcripts sent directly from each institution of higher education the applicant has attended to the Office of Admissions and Records of UH-Victoria. UHV considers transcripts official only when they bear both the signature of the registrar and the seal of the issuing school and are sent directly to the UHV Office of Admissions and Records from the registrar’s office of each school the applicant has attended.

If the applicant’s official transcript(s) have not arrived at the UHV Office of Admissions by the 12th class day of a fall or spring semester or the 4th class day of a summer term, UHV may administratively withdraw the applicant from all classes for that semester or summer term. Also, UHV may require the applicant to forfeit all tuition and fees. Records from one institution carried on a transcript from a second institution do not qualify as credentials for admission.

Transcripts from institutions outside the United States must be in English and must include an official English translation and evaluation of the transcripts by a recognized credential evaluation service. All comprehensive evaluations should include: (1) course title, (2) course credit, (3) course grade, (4) grade points per course with an overall grade point average (GPA), and (5) U.S. equivalent degree. International transcripts must include confirmation of the applicant’s degree/diploma by the international institution or by the credential evaluation service. UHV recommends that the applicant also supply UHV Admissions with a syllabus, catalog or similar bulletin which describes the courses sufficiently for proper evaluation.

We require a comprehensive evaluation for admissions purposes (if your transcript is not in English and your studies have not been in English) so that we can understand the nature of your course equivalencies and degree.  We also require the evaluation for advisement/graduation purposes, to establish what courses UHV can accept toward your degree plan, and to assist us in evaluating your transfer credit.  If you desire academic credit or waivers for prerequisites at UHV, the evaluation is invaluable to you.

The applicant must submit a transcript of any college work attempted previously at another institution whether or not the applicant earned any credit.

Transcripts become the property of UH-Victoria and cannot be returned. They will remain on file in the UHV Office of Admissions and Records for two years or until the applicant enrolls at UHV, whichever occurs first.

English Proficiency

All students attending the University of Houston-Victoria must be proficient in the use of English.  Students, regardless of immigration status, whose educational instruction has not been in the English language and/or whose first or native language is not English, must demonstrate English proficiency in one of the following ways:

TOEFL: A valid, official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam score of a minimum of 500 on the paper-based test or 173 on the computer-based test is required.  Photocopies are NOT acceptable.  Scores must be less than 2 years old.  You will need to request an official score report to be sent directly to the University of Houston-Victoria.  Our school code is 6917.

Under certain conditions, applicants who are required to submit TOEFL scores may be tested again.

Exceptions to the requirements are:

1. Institutional TOEFL:  The TOEFL exam is administered on selected dates every year at locations around the world.  In addition to these international TOEFL exams, individual institutions such as the University of Houston are also authorized to administer the TOEFL exam.  This TOEFL is referred to as an institutional or Satellite TOEFL.  It is essentially the same in content as the international TOEFL exam but may only be recognized by the institutions that administer them.  UHV will recognize institutional TOEFL exams taken at one of the University of Houston campuses or other campuses approved by the Academic Council.  Interested applicants should contact the UHV Office of Admissions and Records for information.

2. Have completed 9 semester hours of lower division English in an accredited U.S. college or university, 3 of which must be in composition and 3 in literature; or

3. Have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher in an accredited U.S. college or university; or

4. Have completed the equivalent of at least three years of full-time study at a recognized secondary school, college or university whose primary language of instruction is English; or

5. Are recommended for academic study by an English Language Institute recognized by the University of Houston-Victoria, after completing the highest level of Intensive English Study. 
   

Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP)

Requirement

TASP (Texas Academic Skills Program) legislation (See the Texas State Education Code [TEC 51.306]) requires that “an institution, (for example, UHV) which by law may not offer lower-division courses, may not enroll a student unless the student has passed a test for TASP purposes or otherwise fulfilled all TASP requirements.”

The TASP test is offered several times annually at designated locations, as specified in the TASP information bulletin, available in the UHV Office of Admissions and Records. It is the responsibility of the students to have TASP scores sent directly to UHV from the National Evaluation Systems, Inc. or the scores for each section of the test must appear on an official transcript being sent from a college/university you have previously attended. There is no limit to the number of times that you may take any or all sections of the TASP test. You do not have to pass all sections at the same time to satisfy the law; however, you must  satisfy all sections prior to unconditional admission to UHV.

The Quick TASP, which is also an official TASP test, will be administered prior to the beginning of each semester. For more information and to register for the exam, students should contact the Academic Center Coordinator at (361) 570-4288.  A $10 non-refundable administration fee (check or money order made payable to UHV) is due at the time of registration.  On the Quick TASP test date, students will need to bring two forms of identification (including one with photo verification) and a $29 check or money order made payable to National Evaluation Systems (NES).

Whether you choose to take the TASP test at a location identified in the TASP bulletin or take the QUICK TASP at UHV, you must complete the test before you register in any UHV course work for credit. Scores are usually available for retrieval within seven days after test administration. If you take the test immediately before you begin classes at UHV, you must delay your registration until your scores arrive at the Office of Admissions and Records.

If a concurrently enrolled student fails any section of the TASP Test, that student may take college courses related to the section(s) of the TASP Test on campuses where such courses are offered.  Students who have completed between 30 and 54 semester hours may be admitted conditionally if they have taken but not successfully completed all three sections of the TASP test.  They must have satisfied the TASP requirements by the time they complete 54 semester hours and before they enroll solely at UHV.

Exemptions

Students who meet or exceed performance standards on the TAAS Test, ACT, or SAT are exempt from the TASP Test. Exemptions are in effect for five years from the date ACT or SAT are taken or three years from the date the TAAS Test is taken. Scores for ACT or SAT must meet standards from a single administration. TAAS Test scores must meet standards on the first attempt. If a student takes the TASP Test while in high school, the test scores are valid for five years from the date the student met the minimum passing standard on each test section. If the scores are still valid at the time the student first enrolls in a Texas public college or university, the scores will remain active from that point on. If the student does not enroll in college within five years, he or she will need to retest.

Exemption standards are as follows:

ACT:     composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on both the Eng-lish and math test;     or

SAT:     (recentered scale for tests taken April 1995 and thereafter) combined verbal and math score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on both the verbal and math test; or

SAT:     (tests taken prior to April 1995) combined verbal and math score of 970, with a minimum of 420 on the verbal test and 470 on the math test; or

TAAS:  minimum scale score of 1770 on the writing test, along with a Texas Learning Index (TLI) of 86 on the math test and 89 on the reading test.

Students who have completed at least three semester hours of acceptable college credit prior to Fall 1989 are exempt from the TASP test.

Students who have earned the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution are TASP exempt.

Non-degree seeking students who will be 55 years of age or older on the first day of a term or semester and non-degree seeking students who are enrolled in a private or out-of-state institution may be exempt from the TASP test. This exemption is available for only those students who continue to be non-degree seeking.

Blind and deaf students who have three or more college level semester hours prior to September 1, 1995 will not be required to take the TASP test.

For further information, you may contact the TASP office at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by phone at 512-427-6330 or through the website at http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/TASP/ .

Requirements for Admission

To be eligible for unconditional admission to UH-Victoria a student must have earned a minimum of 54 semester hours in nonremedial college level course work from an institution accredited by one of the six recognized regional accrediting associations.  The six associations are Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Western Association of Schools and Colleges.  In addition, the student must have earned  at least a 2.0 (A=4.0) grade point average, must have passed all parts (reading, writing and mathematics) of the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP), and must have official transcripts on file from all previously attended colleges no later than the 12th class day of a fall or spring semester or no later than the 4th class day of a summer term. 

Also, a student who has completed 54 semester hours of nonremedial college level course work and is enrolled in a current long semester at another university may be accepted for admission on a conditional basis if a 2.0 (A=4.0) average over all college work prior to the current semester is indicated on the transcript(s). This conditional admission status will be changed to regular admission status after receipt of an official supplemental transcript showing that a minimum 2.0 average has been maintained over all hours attempted.

A student who has successfully completed a minimum of 30 semester hours of course work at an accredited college or university may enroll at UH-
Victoria if the student meets regular admission requirements and is concurrently enrolled in another college or university. Proof of concurrent enrollment at another institution will be required each semester until the student has completed 54 semester hours.

In computing grade point averages, only the semester hours and grade earned on the last enrollment in a repeated course will be used for computation of the required grade point average for admission.

A student will not be considered for admission if ineligible to return immediately to any former institution(s) or if suspended three times, regardless of institution.

A student disapproved for admission may appeal. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Office of Admissions and Records.

The university reserves the right to admit any applicant on probation.

Academic Fresh Start

An undergraduate applicant for admission who is a Texas resident may seek to enter UH-Victoria pursuant to the “academic fresh start’’ statute, Texas Education Code 51.929. If an applicant elects to seek admission under this statute, the institution will not consider academic course credits or grades earned by the applicant 10 or more years prior to the starting date of the semester in which the applicant seeks to enroll. An applicant who elects to apply under this statute may not receive any course credit for courses taken 10 or more years prior to enrollment.

An applicant must inform the Office of Admissions and Records in writing if the student wishes to apply under the “fresh start’’ statute. Forms are available in the Office of Admissions and Records.

 International Student Admission

Deadline for Application:    A student who is not a citizen of the United States and has entered this country by F-1 visa or other non-immigrant visa status is considered to be an international student.  International student applications, including all supporting documentation, must be submitted at least 8 weeks before the first class day to ensure time for processing.

All other requirements and deadlines as described in the brochure, “Information for International Students,” and the catalog must be satisfied.

All correspondence relating to admission of UH-Victoria applicants should be mailed to: Office of Admissions and Records, University of Houston-Victoria, 3007 N. Ben Wilson, Victoria, Texas 77901, U.S.A., or emailed to admissions@vic.uhv.edu.

 Postbaccalaureate Admission

To be eligible for admission under the postbaccalaureate classification, a student must have at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution but not be enrolled in a graduate program. The application for admission to postbaccalaureate studies should be filed as early as possible to ensure time for processing before registration. An official transcript showing the completion of the student’s most recent degree must be sent directly from the institution conferring that degree to UH-Victoria. All students must provide proof of English proficiency prior to approval for admission.  A postbaccalaureate student seeking another undergraduate degree or teacher certification is required to submit transcripts from all former institutions.

Although unofficial documents may be accepted for course registration purposes, official transcripts showing the last semester of course work and degree earned must be received in the registrar’s office by the 12th day of classes during the fall and spring semesters and by the 4th day of classes during the summer terms.  All students must provide proof of English proficiency prior to approval for admission.

Postbaccalaureate students may not register for graduate courses unless admitted as temporary graduate students. Postbaccalaureate students intending to take any graduate courses should request “temporary graduate student” admission on their application.

A student must file a new application for a future semester or request an update of the application to a future semester if the student does not enroll for the semester indicated on the original application.

Temporary Graduate Admission

To be eligible for admission under the temporary graduate classification, a student must have at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution but not be enrolled in a graduate program.  An official transcript showing the completion of the student’s most recent degree must be sent directly from the institution conferring that degree to UH-Victoria.

Holders of F1 student visas are not eligible for Temporary Graduate Admission.  All students must provide proof of English proficiency prior to approval for admission.  Although unofficial documents may be accepted for course registration purposes, official transcripts showing the last semester of course work and degree earned must be received in the registrar’s office by the 12th day of classes during the fall and spring semesters and by the 4th day of classes during the summer terms.

Temporary graduate students may take a maximum of 12 credit hours of graduate work. If a temporary graduate student is later admitted to a graduate program, applicable graduate courses taken, up to a maximum of 12 credit hours successfully completed within the previous 10 years or the period specified by the degree program, will be included on the student’s degree plan as approved by the school.

Temporary graduate students seeking admission to a graduate program may obtain application forms from the Office of Admissions and Records.  A student must file a new application for a future semester if the student does not enroll for the semester indicated on the original application.

Graduate Admission

General Graduate Studies Requirements

The applicant for a graduate program must have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher in an institution accredited by one of the six recognized regional accrediting associations.  The six associations are Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges.  Foreign institutions which may not be formally accredited by United States accrediting agencies must be recognized as institutions maintaining high academic standards.

A student transferring from another graduate school must have at least a 3.0 (A=4.0) grade point average on all graduate work attempted.

Application

Admission application forms and catalogs may be obtained by writing the Office of Admissions and Records, University of Houston-Victoria, 3007 N. Ben Wilson, Victoria, Texas 77901, emailing admissions@vic.uh.edu or telephoning 361-570-4110 or toll-free 1-877-970-4848, ext. 110, or downloading and printing an application from www.uhv.edu/oar.  The application for admission and supporting credentials should be on file as early as possible to ensure time for processing before registration.

A student must file a new application for a future semester if the student does not enroll for the semester indicated on the original application.

Transcripts

One official transcript of all undergraduate and graduate work must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions and Records of UH-Victoria from each institution attended. The single exception is that applicants holding a master’s degree from an accredited institution are required to submit only the official transcript from the institution which granted the master’s degree.

Although unofficial documents may be accepted for course registration purposes, official transcripts showing the last semester of course work and degree earned must be received in the registrar’s office by the 12th day of classes during the fall and spring semesters and by the 4th day of classes during the summer terms. In no case can a student’s application for graduate studies be considered until all transcripts and scores are received.

Processing of transcripts of students currently enrolled can begin if not more than one semester of course work is outstanding. The applicant who submits an incomplete transcript must submit a complete official transcript showing the latest semester of course work attempted and the degree earned not later than the 12th class day of a fall or spring semester or the 4th class day of a summer term.

Test Scores

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test is required of all applicants applying for graduate admission. Applicants to the M.Ed. Counseling Program may substitute the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) and applicants to Business Administration may substitute the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

Applicants holding a master’s degree or higher from an accredited institution are not required to submit test scores.  The verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE General Test are the only sections used for determining graduate admission.

Test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to the Office of Admissions and Records of UH-Victoria. Scores no longer being reported will not be accepted and the student must retake the exam. Information concerning the GRE, GMAT and MAT tests may be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Records or from the testing companies. For GRE call (609) 771-7670, access website at www.gre.org or write Graduate Record Examinations, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000. For GMAT, Call (609) 771-7330, access website at www.gmat.org or write Graduate Management Admission Test, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6103, Princeton, NJ 08541-6103. For MAT, call 1-800-622-3231 or write The Psychological Corporation, 555 Academic Court, San Antonio, TX 78204-2956.

The institutional code number for UHV is 6917 for the GMAT and R6917 for the GRE.

Requirements for Graduate Admission

Your admission to a graduate program depends on

1.        A grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher on at least the last 60 semester credit hours you have attempted at the college level and a minimum score of 800 on the General Test (verbal and quantitative sections only) of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and an equivalent score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), if substituted as specified by your degree program; or

2.        An admissions index of at least 1400.

UHV computes your admissions index by combining your GPA on at least your last 60 semester credit hours of college work with your GRE or other test score.  To obtain your admissions index, use the following formula:  (GPA x 200) + the sum of the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE.  (UHV considers a score of 50 on the MAT or 400 on the GMAT to be equivalent to an 800 on the GRE.)

If you do not meet 1) the minimum GPA and test score or 2) the 1400 admissions index, you do not meet the minimum admission requirements.  The dean of the school of your major may make an exception as long as your admissions index is at least 1300.  You should base your appeal on your academic record, related experience and notable achievements that attest to your ability to complete a graduate degree.  The academic school will respond to you in writing, approving or denying your appeal and stating any conditions that apply to you. 

The above requirements are minimal.  Specific graduate programs may have higher, additional or alternative requirements.

An applicant who has earned a baccalaureate degree after electing to enroll under the “academic fresh start” will have only the courses and grades earned after that enrollment date used in computing the grade point average.

No more than 12 credit hours of graduate-level courses completed prior to admission will count toward fulfillment of graduate program requirements.

Applicants who hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution need provide an official transcript from only that institution to be eligible for admission.

If you are a postbaccalaureate student who wishes only to take certain graduate courses, you should request “temporary graduate student’ admission on your application.  As a temporary graduate student, you may take up to 12 credit hours of graduate course work.  If you are later admitted to a graduate program, applicable graduate courses you have taken, up to a maximum of 12 credit hours successfully completed within the previous 10 years or the period specified by the degree program, will be included on your degree plan as approved by the school.

(Note that all grades in courses applicable to the degree count when a student gains admission to a graduate program.)

International students must also meet the requirements for international admission as outlined in this catalog.

English Proficiency Requirement

All graduate students are expected to be proficient in the use of English.. Further information concerning English proficiency requirements may be found in the general Admissions section of this catalog.  If an applicant for graduate admission demonstrates that he or she satisfies any of the 4 criteria stated for TOEFL exemption, no other evidence or examination is required for admission purposes.

Readmission of Former Students

A former student of UH-Victoria is not required to file a new application for admission.

A former student must submit transcripts from all colleges attended since the last enrollment at UH-Victoria. If the student has earned less than a 2.0 (A=4.0) average over all work completed since attending UH-Victoria, or left the last institution on probation, the student may be readmitted to the university on probation. A student who is not eligible to return immediately to any former institution(s) will not be considered for readmission.

Transfer of Undergraduate Credits

Transfer students should refer to the following regulations concerning transfer of credits to UH-Victoria. A student in doubt about courses which can be transferred to this university may consult the Office of Admissions and Records. Information as to how specific courses may be applied toward a degree should be obtained from the school of student’s proposed degree.

General Regulations

1.        The college from which credit is to be transferred must be accredited by  one of the six recognized regional accrediting associations.  The six associations are Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

2.   Courses transfer to UH-Victoria on the same level and with the corresponding number of hours as earned at another institution. Grades are never lowered in transfer.

3.  When a course has been repeated for credit, the last grade and credit hours will determine the acceptance for the course.

4.    A student who has completed the core curriculum at another Texas public institution will have satisfied the core curriculum requirements for UHV.

5.   Students who have not completed the core at another Texas public institution are subject to the following guideline.  Courses taken at other colleges that do not correspond to courses listed in the Common Course Numbering System section in this catalog or to courses offered by this university may transfer as elective credit and may apply to specific degree requirements with appropriate academic approval.

6.    The following courses are not accepted by the university in transfer.

           A.  Vocational courses except those required for university degree programs.

          B. Orientation, remedial English, remedial reading courses; high school level mathematics or intermediate algebra courses; bookkeeping courses.

           C. General Education Development Tests on high school or college level.

7.    Courses in technology will be considered for transfer credit on an individual basis, depending on the student’s major and the type of course to be transferred.

8.     Credit may be granted for courses taken at military service training schools when such training is considered to be at the baccalaureate level or higher and consistent with the student’s educational objective. Transfer credit will be based on recommendations made in