Joint or Dual Degree Programs

The Dual Degree Program Agreement (DDPA) is an 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.

Approval Process

Internal Review

1. To propose a DDPA, an individual faculty member must complete and submit the International Partnership Request form to the International Partnership Development (IPD).
2. IPD and the faculty member will collaborate to create the letter of intent, fact sheet, and course articulations (if applicable), then forward the paperwork to the school program/department head and/or school faculty.¹
3. Evidence of vote/approval by program and/or school faculty and endorsement/approval from the school dean.²
4. IPD routes the proposed paperwork to the International Education Development Committee (IEDC) after all program or school approvals are received.
5. IEDC will consider the request at its next scheduled meeting.
6. Upon approval from IEDC, the faculty member works with IPD and the partner institution on the agreement.
7. IPD will route the finalized partnership agreement, the DDPA, to IEDC.
8. IEDC will review and approve the finalized DDPA.
9. Upon review and approval, the IEDC certifies that the finalized partnership agreement (DDPA) conforms 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 UT Dallas Substantive Change Policy – UTDPP1094.
10. Upon IEDC authorization, IPD will route the approved DDPA to the Council for Undergraduate Education (CUE) or to Graduate Council.
11. CUE or Graduate Council approval
12. Committee on Educational Policy approval
13. Academic Council/Senate approval
14. IPD will route the finalized DDPA to the associate vice president for institutional success and decision support (serenity.king@utdallas.edu) who will obtain the final institutional signatory authorization from the provost.
15. The Office of Institutional Success and Decision Support (OISDS) prepares paperwork for SACSCOC for the President’s Office who signs and returns the paperwork to OISDS.
16. OISDS submits paperwork to SACSCOC.

NOTE: The DDPA dual academic program is not official until the University receives approval from SACSCOC, which typically takes six or more months.

External Review

1. SACSCOC approval per substantive change policy

Cotutelle Agreements allow UT Dallas students who pursue doctoral training at international universities to be exposed to different labs and to variety 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 and do not need prior approval from SACSCOC in accordance with its substantive change policy.

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.

Approval Process

Internal Review

1. To propose a Cotutelle Agreement, an individual faculty member must complete and submit the completed International Partnership Request form to the International Partnership Development (IPD).
2. IPD and the faculty member will collaborate to create the letter of intent, fact sheet, and course articulations (if applicable), then forward the paperwork to the school program/department and/or school faculty.¹
3. Evidence of vote/approval by program and/or school faculty and endorsement/approval from the school dean.²
4. IPD routes the proposed request to International Education Development Committee (IEDC) after all program or school approvals are received.
5. IEDC will consider the request at its next scheduled meeting.
6. Upon approval from IEDC, the faculty member works with IPD and the partner institution on the Cotutelle agreement.
7. IPD will route the finalized Cotutelle agreement to IEDC for review and approval.
8. Upon IEDC authorization, IPD will route the finalized Cotutelle Agreement to the associate vice president for institutional success and decision support (serenity.king@utdallas.edu) who will obtain the final institutional signatory authorization from the provost.

NOTE: 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 terms of the Cotutelle Agreement conform to established practices and that the agreement is appropriate for university signatures.