Academic Common Market

The purpose of the Academic Common Market (ACM) is to share specified academic degree programs between states located at southern public colleges and universities. This is accomplished through an exchange of students across borders at in-state rates.

The motivation for this cooperation continues to be:

1. eliminating unnecessary duplication among the states, in that it is impractical for any institution or single state to develop or maintain degree programs in every field of knowledge,
2. to support existing degree programs that have the capacity to serve additional students, and
3. to provide access and encourage movement across state lines for programs not available in a student’s home state.

ACM Overview

1. Be a resident of one of 15 participating SREB states.
2. Student learns of the ACM and contacts SREB or home state coordinator to determine eligible programs. Please note that Texas participates in the ACM only at the graduate level (master's, doctoral, and related degrees) for both in-state and out-of-state students.
3. Student applies for and is accepted to an ACM-approved program.
4. Student applies for certification of residency through their home state coordinator.
5. State coordinator certifies student and notifies institution.
6. Institution grants in-state status or waiver for out-of-state fees.

Texas Residents

For Texas residents looking to study out of state, the first step is to confirm that a comparable program at the same degree level is not already offered at a Texas public university. Visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website to search for degree programs in Texas.

If there are no programs at Texas public institutions that have at least 50% comparable required coursework, then the graduate student can find general information and apply for the ACM by following instructions on the Southern Regional Education Board's ACM website. For specific questions about Texas participation, send an email to ACMrequests@thecb.state.tx.us or call (512) 427-6214.

Residents of Other Participating States

Residents looking to study at Texas A&M should contact the ACM coordinator at the graduate student’s home institution or home state. The contact information for each participating state can be found on the SREB website.

Once the student is approved, the Texas State Coordinator will communicate with the Texas A&M ACM Coordinator who arranges with the appropriate institution officials.

A detailed list of approved Texas A&M programs, concentrations, and eligible states is available on the SREB website. A summary of the approved Texas A&M programs is given below.

ACM List of Approved Texas A&M University Programs

• Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology
• Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture
• Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology (Learning Sciences)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Nuclear Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy in Ocean Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography
• Master of Arts in Anthropology
• Master of Architecture in Architecture
• Mater of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering
• Master of Engineering in Ocean Engineering
• Master of Health Administration in Health Policy and Management
• Master of Land and Property Development in Land and Property Development
• Master of Marine Resources Management in Marine Resources Management
• Master of Real Estate in Land Economics and Real Estate
• Master of Science in Animal Breeding
• Master of Science in Architecture
• Master of Science in Maritime Archaeology and Conservation
• Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering
• Master of Science in Ocean Engineering
• Master of Science in Oceanography
• Master of Science in Psychological Sciences
• Master of Urban Planning in Urban and Regional Planning
• Master of Wildlife Science in Wildlife Science

Academic Common Market Electronic Campus Program

The ACM/EC Program (now SARA) enables graduate students to pursue eligible degree programs via distance or e-learning without leaving their home state, work, and other commitments.

ACM/ED Overview

Residents of 15 SREB states may participate in the SREB Academic Common Market Electronic Campus Program. States and students alike enjoy significant savings. States do not have to provide costly, specialized programs that are available to their residents through initiative, and students who enroll in other states’ programs do not have to pay the higher out-of-state tuition rates.

Academic Common Market Electronic Campus waivers of out-of-state tuition are available only if certain conditions are met:

• No public college or university in the student’s home state (state of residence) offers a degree program in his or her chosen field of study.
• The program is available in another SREB state that participates in the ACM/EC.
• The program is available through distance learning.
• The student meets admissions requirements of the college or university that offers the program.
• The student is certified as a resident of his or her home state.

The approval process is the same as stated above for ACM.

Review the programs available in the ACM Electronic Campus.

ACM/EC List of Approved Texas A&M University Programs

• Graduate Certificate in Advanced International Affairs
• Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security
• Graduate Certificate in Statistics
• Master of Engineering in Petroleum Engineering

English Language Proficiency Requirement

All international graduate students must meet minimum English language proficiency standards for admission, registration, and teaching at Texas A&M University.

English Language Proficiency Requirement for Admission

Eligibility for admission to Texas A&M University requires international graduate applicants to meet minimum English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards. This is attainable by

• achieving a minimum required score on an acceptable standardized examination, or
• holding citizenship with certain English-speaking countries, or
• completion of a bachelor's degree or higher at an accredited academic institution within the United States.

Test Scores Accepted for Admission

The following global standardized tests are acceptable to meet the ELP Requirement for Admission:

• a TOEFL-iBT overall score of at least 80 (550 paper-based) or
• a TOEFL-Essentials overall score of least 8.5 ;
• an IELTS overall score of at least a 6.0;
• a GRE Verbal score of at least 146 (400 on the old scale); or
• a GMAT Verbal score of at least 22.

Please note that some academic units may establish ELP standards that exceed the University minimum scores for admission to their programs. Please contact the program’s administrative academic unit for information.

To meet the ELP Requirement during the application and admission process, test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to be considered official and included with an application. Tests should be taken at least eight weeks prior to the appropriate application deadline to ensure timely receipt and processing of results. TOEFL-iBT, TOEFL Essentials, and IELTS examinations administered more than two years before submission of an application are not eligible for use in meeting ELP Requirements.

Citizenship with Certain English-Speaking Countries

International graduate applicants who are citizens of certain English-speaking countries meet the ELP Requirement for Admission and will not be required to submit test scores (unless otherwise required by the graduate program). For the full list of accepted countries, please see the Office of Admissions website.

Please note that citizens of Canada are required to demonstrate residency in any province except Quebec through the Alternative Verification/Certification process following completion of admission. Residents of Quebec are required to submit official test scores or hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited academic institution within the United States.

Bachelor’s Degrees or Higher from Academic Institutions within the United States

International graduate applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited academic institution located within the United States meet the ELP Requirement for Admission and will not be required to submit test scores (unless otherwise required by the graduate program).

Please see the Graduate and Professional School website for more information regarding ELP Requirements for Admission.

English Language Proficiency Verification for Registration

Eligibility for registration at Texas A&M University requires that international graduate students must attain ELP Verification.

Verification Attained during Admission

This may be obtained automatically during the admission process through

• submission of a minimum required scores on an acceptable standardized examination with a student’s application, or
• citizenship with certain English-speaking countries (except citizens of Canada).

Please note that if the student met the ELP Requirement for Admission through test scores submitted with an application, an official copy of the score report must be submitted by the testing service to the Office of Admissions following acceptance.

Alternative Verification

Colleges/schools, departments, and interdisciplinary degree programs may also request Alternative Verification from the Graduate and Professional School on behalf of international graduate students following completion of the admission process. Alternative Verification can be attained by an international graduate student who

• has completed a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited academic institution located within the United States; or
• hold Canadian citizenship.

Please note that following acceptance to the university, official transcripts must be submitted to the Office of Admissions denoting the degree conferral date.

International graduate students who met the ELP Requirement for Admission through official test scores or citizenship with an English-speaking country other than Canada do not require Alternative Verification and will automatically receive ELP Verification.

Citizens of Canada are required to demonstrate residency in any province except Quebec through the Alternative Verification/Certification process. Residents of Quebec are required to submit official test scores or hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited academic institution within the United States.

Alternative Verification Requests must be submitted by the admitting academic unit on the student’s behalf. The Graduate and Professional School will determine whether to grant Alternative Verification on a case-by-case basis.

Please see the Graduate and Professional School website for more information regarding the ELP Verification Requirements for Registration.

English Language Proficiency Certification for Teaching

For eligibility to hold a graduate assistantship with instructional or curricular support responsibilities at Texas A&M University – such as Graduate Assistant-Teaching (GAT) or Lecturing – the State of Texas Education Code (Section 51-917) and university guidelines require international graduate students to meet minimum English Language Proficiency standards beyond those required for admission and registration.

International graduate students who wish to hold teaching assistantships must meet the ELP Certification Requirement before employment. Eligibility for teaching may be attained

• during the admission process through submission of a minimum required score on an acceptable English language examination; or
• through the Alternative Certification process with
  • a bachelor’s degree with all coursework completed at an accredited academic institution within the United States, or
  • citizenship with certain English-speaking countries (except Canadian citizens from Quebec).

Please note international graduate students who met the ELP Requirement through official test scores will automatically receive ELP Certification during the admission process.

International graduate students who wish to hold teaching positions, but have not achieved the requisite standardized test scores prior to enrollment at the university, can attain ELP Certification by passing the oral skills assessment of the English Language Proficiency Exam (ELPE) offered by Texas A&M’s Testing Services.

Test Scores and Eligibility Levels for Teaching

Satisfaction of the ELP Requirement in relation to a teaching position is rated on the following 3 levels.

Eligibility Levels for International Students to Serve in Teaching Positions	Global Standardized Tests			Locally Administered Exam (on Texas A&M Campus)
Level	TOEFL Essentials Speaking Section	TOEFL-iBT Speaking Section	IELTS/IELTS One-Skill Retake Speaking Section	ELPE Oral Exam
1. Eligible	≥ 11	26-30	≥ 8.0	≥ 80
2. Conditionally Eligible	9-10	23-25	7.0-7.5	≥ 75
3. Ineligible	≤ 8	< 23	< 7.0	< 75

Students who achieve a Level 1 certifying score are Eligible for teaching assignments without any restrictions.

Students with a Level 2 rating are Conditionally Eligible or teaching assignments They may teach for one semester only and must simultaneously enroll in Texas A&M University’s Center for Teaching Excellence English Language Proficiency (CTE-ELP) Program. The student must achieve a Level 1 certifying score on the ELPE or the speaking section of a global standardized test (TOEFL-Essentials, TOEFL-iBT, or IELTS) by the end of the semester of Conditional Eligibility. Students who do not successfully complete a new language examination, following expiration of Conditional Eligibility, will become Ineligible until a Level 1 certifying score is achieved.

Students at Level 3 (Verified only) are Ineligible for teaching assignments. Ineligible students who wish to be considered for future employment should participate in spoken language training (such as that offered through the university’s CTE-ELP Program or other independent English language instruction providers) to assist them in meeting English Language Proficiency Requirements. They will remain Ineligible until they achieve a Level 1 certifying score on the ELPE oral skills assessment or the speaking section on an accepted global standardized test.

Please see the Graduate and Professional School website for more information regarding eligibility.

Alternative Certification

Colleges/schools, departments, and interdisciplinary degree programs may request Alternative Certification from the Graduate and Professional School following completion of admission. Alternative Certification is required for all international graduate students who met the ELP Requirements for Admission and Registration through

• a bachelor’s degree with all coursework completed at an accredited academic institution within the United States, or
• citizenship with certain English-speaking countries (except Canadian citizens from Quebec).

Please note international graduate students who are not from certain English-speaking countries and hold a bachelor’s – but did not complete all coursework at an accredited academic institution located within the United States – or a Master's degree from an accredited academic institution located within the United States, are not eligible for Alternative Certification and must submit minimum test scores. Canadian citizens from Quebec may receive Alternative Certification with a bachelor’s degree with all coursework completed at an accredited academic institution within the United States, or must submit minimum test scores.

Alternative Certification Requests must be submitted by the admitting academic unit on the student’s behalf. The Graduate and Professional School will determine whether to grant Alternative Certification on a case-by-case basis.

Please see the Graduate and Professional School website for more information regarding ELP Certification Requirements.

English Language Proficiency Examination

The English Language Proficiency Examination (ELPE) – administered by Texas A&M University’s Testing Services – evaluates English skill in oral communication. The examination is designed to assess the test-taker’s ability to both listen to and speak the English language. The assessment is conducted by a panel of two or three trained individuals who receive pre-session training to ensure common standards.

Successful completion of the ELPE provides Level 1 Certification as required by the State of Texas and Texas A&M University before a graduate student is Eligible to serve in any graduate assistantship with instructional or curricular support responsibilities. More information regarding the English Language Proficiency Requirements may be found on the Graduate and Professional School website.

Visit the Testing Services website for more information on available exam dates and directions regarding registration for the English Language Proficiency Exam.

Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property includes patentable or unpatentable inventions, discoveries, works of authorship, software, plant varieties, trademarks, mask works, and trade secrets. The ownership, management, and commercialization of such Intellectual Property is set forth in System Policy 17.01– Intellectual Property Management and Commercialization. This policy is based on three fundamental principles: enhancing academic freedom, protecting all interested parties, and providing a clear pathway for pursuing technology commercialization.

The Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) recognizes and affirms the traditional academic freedom of its faculty, staff, and students to publish pedagogical, scholarly, or artistic works. In keeping with this philosophy, the System does not claim copyright to pedagogical, scholarly, or artistic works, regardless of their form of expression, except in certain circumstances. See System Regulation 17.01.01 – Ownership of Intellectual Property and Tangible Research Property for more details. Such works include, but are not limited to, copyrightable works of students created in the course of their education, such as dissertations, theses, papers, and journal articles. Furthermore, the System does not claim ownership in popular nonfiction, novels, poems, musical compositions, or other works of artistic imagination that do not constitute significant use of resources and/or are not considered works for hire.  Authors of copyrightable works not owned by the System, its members, or another party such as a research sponsor, own the copyright in their works and are free to publish them, register the copyright, and receive any revenues that may result.

As to other types of Intellectual Property, the determination of ownership of such Intellectual Property would generally include the following factors:

1. was the Intellectual Property conceived or developed as a result of activities related to an individual’s employment (graduate students who receive a stipend from a member or accept a graduate assistant position at a member are generally considered employees) responsibilities and/or with support from university-administered funds, facilities, or personnel;
2. was the intellectual property conceived or developed in the course of, or resulting from, research supported by a grant or contract with the Federal Government, state government, a nonprofit, or for-profit nongovernmental entity; or
3. was there significant use of System’s and/or a member’s resources to create or develop the Intellectual Property.

For more information, see System Regulation 17.01.01, Section 2.2.

Any Intellectual Property that is owned by the System will be disclosed to Texas A&M Innovation. Texas A&M Innovation will review the disclosure and make a determination if it will file for protection and commercialize such Intellectual Property. See System Regulation 17.01.02 – Evaluation and Protection of Intellectual Property. The System will share in any income received that is associated with the licensing of that Intellectual Property with the individual(s) that created or authored such Intellectual Property. For more information on the distribution of such income, please see System Regulation 17.01.04 – Distribution of Royalties, License Fees and Sale Proceeds from Licensing.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities

Since 1950, Texas A&M University and its branch campuses have been active members of Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), a leader in advancing national priorities in science, health, education and security. Through this partnership, Texas A&M faculty, students and researchers gain access to ORAU’s network of more than 150 major colleges and universities, specialized teams of experts and unique laboratory capabilities, which creates opportunities for collaboration, funding and groundbreaking research.

ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), offering Texas A&M students and researchers pathways to prestigious internships, fellowships and research initiatives that align with the nation’s most pressing scientific and technological challenges. ORISE plays a key role in STEM workforce development, scientific and technical reviews and health-related studies.  Through ORAU’s university consortium, Texas A&M faculty and students collaborate with national experts on transformative scientific initiatives, reinforcing the university’s leadership in research and innovation. ORAU connects Texas A&M researchers with government and private sector partners, fostering interdisciplinary projects that address critical issues in energy, environmental sustainability, healthcare and national security. As a champion of STEM education, ORAU provides Texas A&M students with invaluable resources to prepare for careers in science, engineering and technology. Research grants, professional development programs and mentorship opportunities further strengthen Texas A&M’s role in shaping the next generation of scientific leaders.

With a shared commitment to advancing knowledge and solving real-world challenges, Texas A&M and ORAU continue to drive innovation and excellence. ORAU’s mission—to integrate academia, government and industry for the benefit of the nation—aligns with Texas A&M’s dedication to research, education and service. Together, they contribute to national priorities while equipping students and faculty with the tools and connections needed to excel in an evolving scientific landscape.

For more information. visit www.orau.org, or contact Texas A&M's Office of the Vice President for Research, vpr@tamu.edu.

Requirements for Graduate Teaching Assistants

The Teaching Assistant Training and Evaluation Program (TATEP) is intended to improve undergraduate teaching, enhance the classroom experiences of Graduate Teaching Assistants (TA), and respond to the need for more systematic preparation and evaluation of TAs. For international TAs, it will supplement programs already in place to evaluate and promote English language competency.

Current Components of TATEP

• University-Level TA Training – New TAs’ attendance at the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) Teaching Assistant Institute (TAI) is mandatory. TAs whose first teaching assignment is for the new academic year and TAs who have not previously completed TA training are required to attend the TAI. The TAI is offered the week prior to each Fall and Spring semester with make-up dates offered on a Saturday each fall and spring semester. By the twelfth class day in the Fall and Spring semesters, departments will enter information about all TAs employed by their department in the TATEP Compliance System. Departmental and college-level users of the TATEP system will be able to view certificates of students who completed all elements of the TAI one week after the final institute date. Departments wishing to offer training through their department-level TA training program equivalent to the TAI may apply for a “Request for Teaching Assistant Institute Waiver.” Approval for waivers is granted by the CTE for a three-year period. Departments must reapply for a waiver every three years. Departments are required to submit a syllabus outlining the departmental training program for new TAs, as well as copies of training materials for new TAs. Departments with a waiver should still enter information about their TAs into the TATEP system by the twelfth class day each Fall and Spring semester.  
• Discipline Specific TA Training – Discipline-specific training for new TAs will be provided at the college/school or department level. The nature of this training, while varying widely across different disciplines, will complement university-level training and will address the unique and specific needs of graduate students serving as TAs within their disciplines. Discipline-specific training will expose new TAs to the specific patterns of behavior, systematic methods, classroom management, and/or instructional practices associated with successful teaching within their disciplines.
• TA Evaluation – Each academic department employing TAs shall develop an appropriate set of procedures and evaluation instruments to employ in monitoring the performance and providing feedback to TAs each semester. Departments will share their evaluation and feedback process in their departmental reports each year.
• TATEP Reporting – Each department will submit a compliance report using the Departmental Compliance Report Template by the due date each Summer through the TATEP System. This report summarizes the overall data for TAs completing the TAI and describes the supports and evaluation procedures used. College/school reports summarize the departmental compliance data and outline steps to support departments in reaching full compliance.

Visit the Teaching Assistant Training and Evaluation Program website for more information on the training of TAs, including training dates and requirements. 

Responsible Conduct of Research

Texas A&M University is committed to supporting responsible and ethical conduct of research and scholarship among its faculty, staff, and students. As such, the university follows federal, state, and university guidelines regarding Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). A campus-wide environment pertaining to responsible conduct of research requires researchers to have the knowledge, skills, and tools that enable them to be responsible for their research conduct.

The requirements outlined in University SAP 15.99.99.M0.04 apply to any graduate student, postdoctoral researcher, or undergraduate student participating in research. The specific requirements will depend on the type of student and the type of funding supporting the research. 

Requirements for Graduate Students

Education and training in the ethical and responsible conduct of research are integral elements of research for all graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and undergraduate students who engage in research in any field or who pursue advanced degrees at university facilities. The requirements for graduate students depend on whether the graduate student is participating in research funded internally, by research gift(s), or externally sponsored research. Internally funded research is not funded via an agreement with a sponsor, but is instead funded through internal sources that may or may not be restricted to research. Graduate students enrolled in a course, such as 685 (Directed Studies), 691 (Research), etc., that includes research as an integral element are also subject to these RCR requirements (e.g., any student conducting research as part of a course, honors thesis, master’s thesis, or doctoral dissertation).

Graduate students participating in research through a course or funded internally or by research gift(s) must complete the CITI RCR training within sixty (60) days from their commencement of the research activity.

Graduate students participating in externally funded research must complete the CITI RCR training and an additional four hours of face-to-face Core training. The CITI training must be completed within sixty (60) days following initiation of such support and the Core training must be completed within the first six months of the student’s involvement in externally funded research.

Additional Information

Additional information, including the specifics on how to complete the training, may be found on the VPR RCR website. Questions related specifically to graduate students, please contact rcr.grad@tamu.edu.

University Statement for Individuals with Disabilities

Texas A&M University (TAMU) is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified students, faculty, staff and visitors and to maintaining an accessible campus community, including making its web sites accessible and usable.  Texas A&M University does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s disability and complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as amended.  

Students are protected from discrimination regarding access to and participation in Texas A&M’s programs and activities. Texas A&M provides academic adjustments and auxiliary aides to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities, as defined under the law, who are otherwise qualified to meet the institution’s academic requirements.  

Students with disabilities who would like to request accommodations may contact the following resources based on their campus location: 

• Texas A&M University, College of Nursing, College of Dentistry, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy-College Station, Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine, School of Public Health, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, EnMed Program, Bush School in Washington DC, Mays Business School – CityCentre, TAMU Engineering Academies, TAMU Higher Education Center at McAllen, and Texas A&M University at Galveston should contact Disability Resources at (979) 845-1637 or disability@tamu.edu. 
• Texas A&M University School of Law should contact the Office of Student Affairs at (817) 212-4111 or law-disability@law.tamu.edu to request accommodations. 
• Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy in Kingsville should contact the Disability Resource Center at Texas A&M University - Kingsville at (361) 593-3024 or drc.center@tamuk.edu to request accommodations.
• Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Canyon should contact the Office of Student Accessibility at West Texas A&M University – Canyon at (806) 651-2335 or osa@wtamu.edu. 
• Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) should contact the campus psychologist, Dr. Steve Wilson +974-4423-0047 or stephen.wilson@qatar.tamu.edu. 

Students with a disability who believe they have experienced discrimination may contact Jennifer Smith, Associate Vice President and Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, at YMCA Building Ste 108, 365 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843, civilrights@tamu.edu, or at (979) 458-8407. Students can also contact Julie Kuder, the Texas A&M ADA Coordinator, at (979) 845-8116 or ADA.Coordinator@tamu.edu. The office address is YMCA Building Ste 108, 365 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843. Allegations of discrimination will be immediately forwarded to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX for review, investigation, or resolution.

For more information about disability accommodations, see TAMU Student Rule 46, Disability Accommodations in Academic Programs or TAMUG Student Rule 46, Disability Accommodations in Academic Programs. 

University Statement on Harassment and Discrimination

Texas A&M University is committed to providing a safe and non-discriminatory learning, living, and working environments for all members of the University community. The University provides equal opportunity to all employees, students, applicants for employment or admission, and the public regardless of race, color, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions), religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, and veteran status. Texas A&M University will promptly and equitably investigate and resolve all complaints of discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment and sex-based misconduct), and related retaliation in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, University rules and standard administrative procedures.

The University’s response to allegations of discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation will be 1) prompt and equitable, 2) intended to stop and prevent the recurrence of any harassment, and 3) intended to remedy discriminatory effects, as appropriate. A substantiated allegation of such conduct will result in disciplinary action, up to and including separation from the University. The University's student sanctioning guidance for substantiated allegations of discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment, sexual violence and related retaliation, can be found here: Title IX Cumulative Sanctioning Matrix.

Students who have questions or believe they have experienced discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment/sex-based misconduct, and/or related retaliation are encouraged to contact Jennifer Smith, Associate Vice President and Title IX Coordinator, at YMCA Building Ste 108, 365 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843, civilrights@tamu.edu, or at (979) 458-8167. The Office of Civil Rights & Title IX website can be found at titleix.tamu.edu.

To report incidents, request accommodations, or inquire about discrimination based on disability, you may contact Julie Kuder, ADA Coordinator, at (979) 845-8116 or ADA.Coordinator@tamu.edu. The office address is YMCA Building Ste 108, 365 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843, or see the ADA website at https://orec.tamu.edu/ada/. Reported allegations of discrimination will be immediately forwarded to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX for review, investigation, or resolution.

University Statement on Pregnancy and Related Conditions

Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including pregnancy and parental status in educational programs and activities. This includes harassment and discrimination against a student based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions. 

The university is required to provide reasonable accommodations due to pregnancy and related conditions, including excused absences or alternative participation options when accommodations are medically necessary. Students seeking accommodations should contact Julie Kuder, Pregnancy Accommodations Coordinator, at YMCA Building Ste 108, 365 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843 or (979) 845-8116 or email address TIX.Pregnancy@tamu.edu, or Jennifer Smith, Associate Vice President and Title IX Coordinator, at the YMCA Building Ste 108, 365 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843. Her telephone number is: (979) 458-8167 and email address is civilrights@tamu.edu. For more information, go to https://titleix.tamu.edu/.

Students who have questions or believe they have experienced discrimination and/or harassment based on pregnancy, pregnancy related conditions, or parenting status are encouraged to contact Jennifer Smith, Associate Vice President and Title IX Coordinator, at the YMCA Building Ste 108, 365 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843. Her telephone number is: (979) 458-8167 and email address is civilrights@tamu.edu. The Office of Civil Rights & Title IX website can be found at titleix.tamu.edu.

Degree Requirements: Thesis, Dissertation, and Record of Study

An acceptable thesis, dissertation, or record of study is required for all thesis option master’s or doctoral degrees.

A master’s thesis must reflect a comprehensive understanding of the pertinent literature and express in clear language the problem(s) for study, method, significance, and results of the student’s original research.

A doctoral dissertation, which must be a candidate's original work, demonstrates the ability to perform independent research. Whereas acceptance of the dissertation is based primarily on its scholarly merit, it must also exhibit creditable literary workmanship.

A record of study explains and supports the activities undertaken in a major research project and supports its conclusions with adequate investigations, empirical data, and a comprehensive bibliography. Procedures used in the student’s research will be described in sufficient detail for educators in other locations to apply or extend the procedures. All records of study should be characterized by accuracy of observation and measurements, thoroughness of analysis and synthesis, and accuracy and completeness of presentation.

Formatting must be acceptable to the Graduate and Professional School as outlined in the Guidelines for Theses, Dissertations, and Records of Study. After successful defense (or exemption, if applicable) and approval of the student’s advisory committee and the head of the student’s major department (or chair of intercollegiate faculty, if appropriate), the student must submit the manuscript in electronic format as a single PDF file to https://etd.tamu.edu/.

Deadline dates for submitting the manuscript are announced each semester or Summer term in the Graduate and Professional School Dates and Deadlines Calendar (see Time Limit statement). These dates also can be accessed via the Graduate and Professional School website.

Each student who submits a manuscript for review is assessed a one-time thesis/dissertation processing fee through Student Business Services for the thesis/dissertation services provided. After commencement, theses and dissertations are digitally stored and made available through the Texas A&M Libraries.

A manuscript that is deemed unacceptable by the Graduate and Professional School because of excessive corrections will be returned to the student’s department head (or chair of the intercollegiate faculty, if applicable). The manuscript must be resubmitted as a new document, and the entire review process must begin again. All original submittal deadlines must be met during the resubmittal process to graduate.