Published by

The University of Tulsa

800 South Tucker Drive
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-9700
918-631-2000

www.utulsa.edu

Brad Carson, President

Welcome to The University of Tulsa Online Graduate Bulletin. 

This interactive tool is a guide to curricula, course descriptions, costs, University policies, and other information for prospective and current students, faculty, and staff at The University of Tulsa.

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Mission of the University

We are a student-centered research university that cultivates interconnected learning experiences to explore complex ideas and create new knowledge in a spirit of free inquiry. Guided by our commitment to diversity, equity, and service, we prepare individuals to make meaningful contributions to our campus, our community, and our world.

Institutional Learning Outcomes

• ILO 1: Demonstrate literacy through informed inquiry and application of knowledge in the sciences, humanities, and arts.
• ILO 2: Think critically by analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information.
• ILO 3: Write and present clearly, practicing the skills of effective communication across the curriculum.
• ILO 4: Recognize ethical dilemmas and determine how best to respond to them.
• ILO 5: Apply knowledge and talents to identify and address real world problems in the local or global community. 

Notice

The University of Tulsa Graduate Bulletin is published annually as a guide to curricula, course descriptions, costs, University policies, and other information. In keeping with established procedures, the University may change programs of study, academic requirements, faculty, curricula, course descriptions, costs, policies, the academic calendar, or other information without prior notice. The University reserves the right to correct factual errors whenever they are discovered. It is the student’s responsibility to stay abreast of current regulations, curricula, and the status of the specific program being pursued. Students are responsible for adherence to all University policies, regulations, and program requirements, including student conduct codes that apply to academic and extra-curricular activities. All University Bulletins are available on The University of Tulsa website.

Undergraduate programs are offered by all colleges and are described in the current Undergraduate Bulletin. Graduate programs in law are offered by the College of Law and are described in the current Law Bulletin.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The University of Tulsa is firmly committed to providing equal opportunity for all our community members, irrespective of a person’s background. In all its programs and activities, the University condemns and prohibits in the strongest terms the adverse treatment of any member of the TU community motivated by a bias against, or hatred toward, individuals or groups based on their characteristics such as age, ancestry, color, creed, disability or handicap, gender identity, genetic information, marital or family status, national origin, political belief, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other legally-protected status (hereinafter “protected status”).

Seeking to foster an environment where free expression and speech flourish, the University finds discrimination only in acts where a person is treated adversely based on their protected status. Such an act occurs when it has a substantial, unreasonable and materially negative impact on a person’s interaction with University programs, activities, opportunities or benefits. Minor or trivial actions or conduct, even those considered generally offensive and controversial, do not constitute adverse treatment. The University is committed to the idea that this type of discomfort and exchange is critical to the educational experience. It is this participation in a strong and vibrant marketplace of ideas that makes TU a thought leader in our city, state, nation, and global society.

The University’s full non-discrimination and harassment policy can be found at utulsa.edu/non-discrimination-policy. Questions regarding implementation of this policy may be addressed to the University’s Equal Opportunity Officer, Kathleen Smith, at 918-631-2321 or kathleen-smith@utulsa.edu. Requests for accommodation of disabilities may be addressed to the University’s ADA Compliance Officer, Dr. Tawny Rigsby, at 918-631-2334 or tawny-rigsby@utulsa.edu. To ensure availability of an interpreter, five to seven days’ notice is needed; 48 hours is recommended for all other accommodations. 

Graduate Education at The University of Tulsa

Graduate education at The University of Tulsa is based upon the principles that no objective lies deeper in a university’s tradition than the nurture of scholarship, and that graduate education represents the highest reaches of university endeavor.

The Board of Trustees authorized graduate study leading to the master’s degree in 1933. The first master’s degree was granted in 1935. The Board of Trustees approved a curriculum leading to the Doctor of Education degree in 1951, which has since been discontinued. The first Doctor of Philosophy program was authorized by the Board of Trustees in 1963; Ph.D. curricula in several areas were inaugurated and given preliminary accreditation by North Central Association in 1966, with full accreditation in 1972. Additional subject specialties have been available since that time towards a Ph.D.  Currently The University of Tulsa has 9 actively matriculating Ph.D. programs. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) program was authorized by the Board of Trustees in 2016, with 4 specialty tracks available as of Fall 2020. 

The Graduate School supervises all graduate work offered by the University except that of the College of Law (College of Law information is published in a separate bulletin). The Graduate School sets standards for admission to graduate standing and recommends to the Board of Trustees for degrees those students who have completed work required for graduation.

The general policies and regulations of the Graduate School are set and enforced by the Graduate Council and the Dean of the Graduate School, subject to approval by the University administration. The Dean is chair of the Council, which consists of graduate faculty members elected from each college, the deans of the colleges offering graduate work, and the president of the Graduate Student Association. 

Functions of the Graduate Council include:

• Development of policies for the Graduate School and the recommendation of these policies to the administration.
• Establishment of regulations for the administration of policies.
• Examination and approval, or rejection, of new programs and curricula proposed for the Graduate School.
• Development of criteria for membership in the graduate faculty.
• General concern for the Graduate School’s welfare and the quality of work offered.
• Recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School concerning the disposition of cases filed by a student or faculty involving charges of academic misconduct involving graduate students, or perceived academic impropriety arising from an action taken by faculty. (See The Committee for Petitions of the Graduate Council for details.)
• Hearing of graduate student petitions that request departure from established Graduate School policies and a resultant recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School. (See The Committee for Petitions of the Graduate Council for details.)