In addition to the information below, see the earlier College section entitled Advising System.

All freshmen, general studies and undeclared students are required to secure an adviser's approval to register for classes. In addition, undergraduate majors in art, chemistry, physics and theatre, and graduate students in chemistry, English, geosciences, sociology and theatre must secure adviser's approval to register.

Any student on academic or special contract probation, requesting an overload, or requesting the credit/no credit option, must secure an adviser's approval before completing registration.

Students must have the signature of the instructor or faculty adviser on a special consent form before they are allowed to register in any art courses beyond the 100-level, Arts and Sciences 350 (Honors Tutorial), Special Topics, Directed Field Experience, Directed Readings, Individual Research or any other courses specified by a department.

All students in the College are also subject to any special signatures required by other academic units at UMKC.

If a course is repeated at one of the four UM campuses, the hours and grade points of both the original and repeated courses are used in computing the grade-point average. Only the earned hours from the last repeated enrollment will apply toward degree requirements or total hours required for graduation. A maximum of 30 acceptable semester hours (2.0 GPA or better) of study in professional schools may be applied toward the bachelor's degree. Acceptable professional schools for this purpose are law, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, nursing and medicine. This credit is elective credit and does not satisfy any specific degree requirement. Writing Intensive courses, designated with a WI or PW following the course number, are intended to help students learn to express themselves formally and coherently in discursive prose. Writing in this connection is to be regarded not as a corpus of art or information to which students should be exposed, but as a crucial skill, the teaching of which is among the primary missions of the College. It is assumed that extended and intensive writing can be equated with contemplation and concentration on the subject matter; students learn by writing in any field.

Each Writing Intensive course includes several writing assignments and these assignments form an integral part of students' efforts to progress in the course. A review and revision cycle is used with systematic feedback. The students' writing might address philosophical concerns, methods, or specific topics, but their work is always based on exposure to published expository writing. While the exercises may take different forms, they may include:

1. Prewriting; e.g., outlines, journals, free-writing exercises and organizational notes.
2. Submission of preliminary drafts for oral and written responses by the instructor (peer response also might be incorporated).
3. Revision of content, organization, mechanics and style.

Students will prepare a number of different assignments of varying lengths and intent. An extended essay or term paper is expected in all Writing Intensive classes. Examinations may incorporate essay questions. A minimum of 120 hours is required for graduation. Of those hours, 36 must be at the 300-400 level. A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 is required as well as a 2.0 in the major. (Some majors have additional GPA requirements. Students should consult the appropriate section of this catalog for their major.)

The general minimum residence requirement for the undergraduate degree is the final 30 consecutive semester hours of coursework. In the case of students using 30 hours in a UMKC professional school to complete their undergraduate degree, the residence requirement becomes the final consecutive 30 hours of the College's coursework prior to entrance into the professional school.

The WEPT is a prerequisite for all Writing Intensive courses and should be taken after a student has completed English 225 and 45 credit hours. The WEPT is also a graduation requirement for all students. Those who fail the WEPT twice must take English 299; this course, which does not count towards the degree, will satisfy the WEPT requirement for students who earn a C- or better in the course.

The WEPT is given twice each fall and spring semester and once in the summer; the dates of the test appear regularly on the Academic Calendar in the Schedule of Classes. Students should visit the WEPT website for the most up-to-date information about taking the exam. To register for the WEPT, students should log on at http://www.umkc.edu/WEPT.

For information about WEPT tutoring and WEPT workshops; please contact the Writing Center at 235-1146. For more information about all other concerns, please contact Dr. Lindsey Martin-Bowen at bowenlm@umkc.edu.


After completion of 90 credit hours, students should file an "Application for Graduation" form in the Arts and Sciences Academic Advising Office, Scofield 9. After the application is filed, a review of the student's transcript is prepared, and the student is contacted through UMKC student e-mail to come to the Advising Office for an audit of the general education requirements. During this degree audit process, the following are checked:

• The student's transcript is compared to the general education requirements. All remaining general education requirements are outlined and discussed.
• The student's information is reviewed to insure all majors and minors, as appropriate, have been declared.
• The student's total hours, junior/senior level hours, residence requirements, the minimum major and minor hours, and grade-point average are reviewed.

After the general education portion of the degree audit is complete, the student is given a major degree audit form and a copy of his/her transcript to take to the major adviser for completion. When the major portion of the degree audit has been completed, the student is responsible for returning it to the Arts and Sciences Advising Office. This process is repeated for any additional majors and/or minors.

There are several other important components of the graduation process that the student is solely responsible for completing:

• All students are required to take the MAPP, administered by the Assessment Office.
• Students with majors must also check with their department to see if a Major Field Exam is required.
• Students should have their degree audit updated every semester to make sure they are still making progress towards graduating during the semester for which they have applied.
• Students are responsible for making sure their address and telephone numbers are correct in the student information system. This should be checked each semester.
• Students must check their UMKC e-mail account regularly for important and relevant graduation and other information.
• Any incomplete grade on a student's transcript must be completed and recorded in the Registrar's Office by the end of the semester in which he/she is graduating.
• Any missing transcripts must be received by the Office of Admissions by the end of the semester in which a student is graduating.

Reapplying for Graduation

If a student does not graduate in the semester for which he/she has applied, he/she must reapply for graduation in the Arts and Sciences Advising Office. The College cannot extend a student's application to the next semester without written notification from the student. Exceptions to academic regulations must be approved by the Academic Standards Committee of the College of Arts and Sciences. To seek exceptions, students must file a "Petition for Exception" form in the Arts and Sciences Advising Office, 9 Scofield Hall.