Joint or Dual Degree Programs

Collaborative academic agreements are subject to the SACSCOC Agreements Involving Joint and Dual Academic Awards policy, and some may require prior approval as detailed in the approval matrix for substantive change procedures. If the arrangement involves international agreements, please also refer to the UT Dallas International Center's protocols.

These academic agreements foster international collaboration between faculty, scholars, and students at UT Dallas and international institutions.

Note: the joint or dual degree programs refer to a UT Dallas degree and a degree with another external institution. UT Dallas schools / programs may develop internal double majors or double degrees as outlined in Develop Internal Double Majors / Double Degrees with a different review/approval process.

For assistance in completing or submitting any of these forms, please contact Serenity Rose King, Associate Provost for Policy and Program Coordination (Mail Station AD42, 972.883.6749).

• Dual Degree Program Agreements (DDPA) – Agreements between UT Dallas and International Institutions

  The Dual Degree Program Agreement (DDPA) is official academic agreement between UT Dallas and an international institution to establish an academic structure and apply shared coursework for a particular group of students to earn dual degrees at the undergraduate or the master's level.

  The DDPA outlines in detail the academic program the particular group of students will follow and the terms of the partnership. The DDPA requires the transfer of credits from a home institution's existing degree program to a host institution's existing degree program. When students meet graduation requirements, each institution grants a separate diploma bearing only its name, seal, and signature. Therefore, students will receive dual diplomas for their degrees, one from UT Dallas and another one from the international institution.

  To propose a DDPA, an individual faculty member must complete either the DDPA - Under: the template for an undergraduate degree program or the DDPA - Master: the template for the master's level. The proposed DDPA template should be forwarded to the school program head or school faculty head for program or school faculty approval. Once all program approvals are received, the School Dean then sends an endorsement (the Letter of Intent) and the proposed DDPA to the International Partnership Development (IPD). Then the IPD will forward the proposed DDPA to the International Education Development Committee (IEDC) who will consider the request at its next scheduled meeting.

  Upon review and approval, the IEDC certifies that the proposed DDPA terms conform to the University's established policies and practices, including the University's Policy on Procedures for Completing a Graduate Degree – UTDPP1052 (for the master's level program) and the Substantive Change Policy - UTDPP1094.

  The IEDC will then route the approved DDPA to the Council for Undergraduate Education or to Graduate Council as appropriate to begin UT Dallas' internal governance approval process prior to the external review and approval process. Upon the Academic Senate approval, the IPD will consult the faculty / school who initiated the DDPA proposal to obtain the necessary signatures from the School and the international institution. The faculty / school will return the partially signed DDPA to the IPD who will route it to the Provost's Office to obtain the Provost's signature as the final signatory. The Associate Provost for Policy and Program Coordination will submit the completed DDPA paperwork to SACSCOC. The dual academic program is not official until the University receives approval from SACSCOC, which typically takes six or more months.

  Approval Process

  Internal Review

  1. Complete either the DDPA - Under: the template for an undergraduate degree program or the DDPA - Master: the template for the master's level.
  2. Submit the proposed DDPA to the school program and/or school faculty head.¹
  3. Evidence of vote/approval by program and/or school faculty²
  4. Submit the proposed DDPA and endorsement (Letter of Intent) from School Dean to the International Partnership Development (IPD).
  5. IPD routes the proposed DDPA to the International Education Development Committee (IEDC).
  6. IEDC will review and approve the requested DDPA, then route the approved DDPA to Council for Undergraduate Education (CUE) or to Graduate Council.
  7. CUE or Graduate Council approval
  8. Committee on Educational Policy approval
  9. Academic Council/Senate approval
  10. IPD consults the faculty / school who initiated the proposed DDPA to obtain the signatures from the School and the international institution.
  11. The faculty / school returns the partially signed DDPA to IPD.
  12. IPD will route the partially signed DDPA to the Associate Provost for Policy and Program Coordination (serenity.king@utdallas.edu) who will obtain the Provost's signature as the final signatory for UT Dallas.
  13. Provost's Office prepares a formal letter for SACSCOC and submits it along with the completed DDPA to the President's Office.
  14. President reviews and signs the formal letter then returns paperwork to Provost's Office.
  15. Provost's Office submits paperwork to SACSCOC.

  External Review

  1. SACSCOC approval per substantive change policy
• New Cotutelle Agreements (International Joint or Dual Doctoral Program for Doctoral Students)

  Cotutelle Agreements allow UT Dallas students who pursue doctoral training at international universities to be exposed to different labs and to diversity in their training, as well as the opportunity for international study. Hence, the Graduate Council, the Committee on Educational Policy, the Academic Senate, and the University Administration approve UT Dallas' participation in Cotutelle Agreements. For this reason, the Cotutelle Agreements do not need to undergo UT Dallas' internal governance process for approval; however, these agreements must be approved by SACSCOC before the UT Dallas doctoral students can begin their studies at the specified international institutions.

  Cotutelle Agreements are official dual degree program agreements between UT Dallas and a specific international university for the doctoral student. These agreements allow the doctoral student to be jointly supervised by a UT Dallas faculty member and a faculty member at a specified international university. The Cotutelle Agreement outlines in detail the academic program the doctoral student will follow and the terms of the partnership.

  To propose a Cotutelle Agreement, an individual faculty member must complete a Cotutelle Agreement template and submit the template to his or her program head or school faculty head for program / school faculty approval. Once all program approvals are received, the School Dean then sends an endorsement (the Letter of Intent) to the International Partnership Development (IPD). Then the IPD will forward the proposed Cotutelle Agreement to the International Education Development Committee (IEDC), which will consider the request at its next scheduled meeting.

  Upon approval by the IEDC, the Cotutelle Agreement is routed to obtain signatures from the School and the international institution. The faculty member or designated contact will return the partially signed agreement to the IPD who will route it to the Provost's Office to obtain the Provost's signature as the final signatory. Then the Cotutelle Agreement can be submitted for SACSCOC review and approval. The dual degree program is not official until the University receives approval from SACSCOC, which typically takes six or more months.

  The program head and the School Dean certify with their approval that the Cotutelle Agreement is in compliance with all university policies and procedures, including the Policy on Procedures for Completing a Graduate Degree – UTDPP1052 and the University Policies Related to Graduate Assistants, Student Teaching Assistants, Teaching Associates, and Student Research Assistants – UTDPP1075. The IEDC certifies that the template and terms of the Cotutelle Agreement conform to established practices and that the agreement is appropriate for university signatures and SACSCOC per the University's Substantive Change Policy – UTDPP1094.

  Approval Process

  Internal Review

  1. Submit the completed Cotutelle Agreement templateto school program and/or school faculty head.^[1]
  2. Evidence of vote/approval by program and/or school faculty.^[2]
  3. Endorsement (Letter of Intent) from school dean to the International Partnership Development (IPD) who will route the proposed request to IEDC.
  4. IEDC will review and upon approval, return to the IPD.
  5. IPD will route the approved request to the faculty member to obtain the signatures from the School and the international institution.
  6. The faculty member or designated contact will return the partially signed agreement to IPD.
  7. IPD will send the partially signed agreement to the Associate Provost for Policy and Program Coordination (serenity.king@utdallas.edu) who will obtain the Provost's signature as the final signatory for UT Dallas.
  8. Provost's Office prepares a formal letter for SACSCOC and submits it along with the completed DDPA to the President's Office.
  9. President reviews and signs the formal letter then returns paperwork to Provost's Office.
  10. Provost's Office submits paperwork to SACSCOC.

  External Review

  1. SACSCOC approval per substantive change policy

1. Note: This is not sequential because the School (program head and dean) and the IEDC committee reviews and approves the agreement at once.
2. Pursuant to school's bylaws.