Division of University Studies

Division of University Studies
Dr. Peter R. Jones, Senior Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies
Dr. Shannon J. O'Brien, Associate Director, Advising Services
1810 Liacouras Walk, Suite 101
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6029
215-204-2500
www.temple.edu/arc
dus@temple.edu

Introductory Information

Recognizing that not all students can or should declare an academic major upon entering college, University Studies is the academic home for students who have not yet decided on a major, students in the pre-health information management track and students in transition between majors.

Goals and Objectives

University Studies, formed in 1998, serves any Temple student who has not chosen a collegiate home or declared a major or who needs assistance while changing from one college to another. University Studies is not a degree-granting college. Rather it is an academic unit that exists to help students explore academic options and to gain admission to a degree-granting school or college at Temple. Students can remain in University Studies until completion of 60 credits, or approximately their first two years at the university.

Admissions

Transfer students with more than 60 credits cannot be admitted to Temple as an undeclared student in the Division of University Studies. Students admitted to Temple as a University Studies student can remain in the division until they select a school/college major or upon completion of 60 credits. Pre-health information management students may remain in the division until acceptance to the College of Health Professions or declaration of an alternative academic program of study.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Division of University Studies Sophomore Scholarship - The DUS Sophomore Scholarship is awarded each fall to a current or former University Studies student who will be entering the sophomore year with a declared major. Students should be rising sophomores with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and a minimum of 30 completed credits. For more information and for an application, go to www.temple.edu/arc.

Special Programs

The Deciding Student Wing is a living/learning community for students who want to live in an environment promoting academic and career exploration. Undeclared students in University Studies are eligible to reside on the Deciding Student Wing, a floor with suite-style housing. Benefits include a resident peer advisor, freshman seminar, workshops and social events.

Honor Societies, Awards for Achievement

Academic Distinctions

Eligibility for the University Studies' Distinguished Honors list is determined by the semester grade point average (GPA) corresponding to cut-off points that will yield the top 16% of GPAs based on the five previous fall and spring semesters for each school or college. Students must have 12 graded credits (A to F grades) in order to be eligible for dean's list for the fall or the spring semesters. 

Students who begin in the fall as part-time (i.e., registered for fewer than 12 credits) and continue as part-time in the spring will be eligible for dean's list in the spring if they accumulate at least 12 graded credits (A to F grades) over the fall and spring semesters and meet the GPA criteria listed on the chart for the school or college. If a student is enrolled part-time in the fall but full-time in the spring, eligibility for dean's list will be based on spring semester grades.

The cut-offs for 2011-12 are calculated and published in the summer at the below web site:

http://www.temple.edu/bulletin/Academic_policies/policies_part2/policies_part2.shtm#dean

Special Facilities

The Academic Resource Center houses a computer lab where students can access major and career oriented online resources as well as Self-Service Banner.