Overview

The goal of the TAMS experience is to develop the whole person – but the focus of the experience is in the academic program. Rigorous university courses, participation in seminal research projects and in scientific laboratories engaged in cutting edge research, opportunities to engage in artistic and musical pursuits, in reflective philosophical discourses, and in exercise to enhance physical and mental well-being are all part of this academic focus and the Academy experience. It is our purpose to extend knowledge and understanding for each student far beyond where they are when they arrive. The courses are not at all like high school courses – even AP and IB courses – since the faculty are teachers who are also engaged in internationally recognized research. They bring to the classroom a perspective and experience that enrich and make relevant what they teach. Academy students benefit uniquely from this knowledge and expertise. It is our sincere desire that students will find an environment in which they can increase knowledge, develop imagination, explore ideas and feelings, find life-long friends, and strengthen their desire to serve humankind.

Requirements for Graduation

The core courses required for graduation with the TAMS diploma are:

Biology 1711, 1730 (lab), 1722, 1740 (lab)
Chemistry 1410, 1430 (lab), 1420 , 1440 (lab)
Physics 1710, 1730 (lab), 2220, 2240(lab)
Mathematics 1710, 1720 (at least two semesters at this level or higher)
Note: Some students will be required to take 1650 prior to 1710.
English 1315, 1325, 2210, 2220
History 2610, 2620
Political Science 1040 or 1050
Seminar

All core courses must be taken at TAMS/UNT during the Fall and Spring semesters. All courses , including electives, must be taken in standard format – that is, none can be taken on-line or by correspondence.
The minimum cumulative GPA required for graduation is 3.0.

Requirements for the Honors Diploma

Requirements for Graduation with the HONORS DIPLOMA

• Cumulative GPA for the four semesters is at least 3.5
• Grades of A or B in every course, including elective courses
• No core classes have been dropped and no classes have been duplicated
• No more than 30 disciplinary points at any time during your tenure at TAMS

Note: Since grades for the fourth semester are not available at the time of graduation, only those students who are eligible based on the first three semesters will be allowed to wear the Honors Medal for the ceremony and be listed in the program as Honors Graduates. If the fourth semester grades make a student eligible for the Honors Diploma, the medal and the diploma will be mailed to the student mid to late summer.

Standard Sequence for Required Courses

Junior Year:

Fall Semester –

Biology 1711 (lecture), Biology 1730 (lab)
Chemistry 1410, Chemistry 1430 (lab)
English 1315
Math 1650 (or higher as determined by Math Dept.)
Seminar

Spring Semester –

Biology 1722 (lecture), Biology 1740 (lab)
Chemistry 1420 (lecture), Chemistry 1440 (lab)
English 1325
Math 1710 (or higher)
Seminar

Senior Year:

Fall Semester –

Physics 1710 (lecture), Physics 1730 (lab)
English 2210
History 2610
Math 1720 (or higher)
Seminar

Spring Semester –

Physics 2220 (lecture), Physics 2240 (lab)
English 2220
History 2620
Political Science 1040 or 1050
Seminar

Note: Academy students are required to enroll for at least 12 hours each semester.

Elective Courses

Beginning with the Spring Semester of the Junior year, students may enroll in electives with the following constraints:

(1) If the cumulative GPA is 3.5 – 4.0, then two courses in addition to those listed in the Standard Sequence may be chosen.
(2) If the cumulative GPA is 3.1 – 3.49, then one course in addition to those listed in the Standard Sequence may be chosen.
(3) If the cumulative GPA is 3.0 – 3.09 or the student is on academic probation, then only courses in the Standard Sequence may be taken.

For example, if eligible, a student could also take Political Science or History or any non-core course as electives in the Spring of the Junior year.

Textbooks

The Academy provides textbooks for all courses. These books must be returned to the bookroom at the end of the semester or if at any time the student withdraws from the Academy. Students are required to pay for lost, stolen, or damaged books and materials. Textbooks are distributed only during the first two weeks of class and it is the responsibility of the student to pick them up then; otherwise, the student will be required to buy their own books. TAMS does not provide textbooks for summer school enrollment.

Class Schedules and Registration

The TAMS Academic Office will register students for their first semester in approved courses. After the first semester, students will pre-register following guidelines found in the UNT Schedule of Classes. Registration in classes that begin after 7:00 p.m. or in classes (other than labs) that meet more than two hours at a time are not permitted. Each student’s schedule must show classes on each day of the week (Monday through Friday). Students must enroll in at least 12 hours each semester. In order to enroll for more than 18 hours, the student must have permission from the TAMS Academic Office. No student may enroll for more than 21 hours. A student’s parents are responsible for reimbursing the Academy for schedule change fees or late registration fees.

Class Attendance and Conduct

Class attendance and participation is required. Students must be alert, attentive, energetic, and eager to learn. Students who exhibit disruptive behavior or show disrespect to a teacher in the classroom are subject to severe disciplinary sanctions. The Academy does not authorize absences from class. Students must report all absences to the Academic Office within 36 hours of the absence by completing a form in the Academic Office. A student will be assessed 5 disciplinary points for each class absence, unless the absence can be justified. Faculty will also be reporting absences to the Academic Office. A student will be assessed 15 disciplinary points for failure to report an absence that is reported by a faculty member.

Dropping or Retaking a Class

A student who drops a core course may be dismissed from the Academy. Students may drop non-core classes only with permission of the Director of Academic Programs. Students who drop any class must pay the Academy for all registration fees and costs of course materials. Students whose transcripts show dropped or repeated courses are at risk of being denied admission to prestigious universities or of being less competitive for academic scholarships. Students who voluntarily withdraw from the Academy before the end of the semester may be required to reimburse the Academy for all registration fees.

Recommendations for Academic Success

Because university courses are so much more intense, move at a very fast pace, and assume immediate recall of prior knowledge, it is imperative that students adopt a much more rigorous study pattern than was required in high school. Grades for most courses are assigned based on only three or four exams, and most courses require a comprehensive final examination. Classes generally meet either two or three times per week. Homework is assigned but not necessarily collected and graded. In order to be successful, it is imperative that Academy students:

• ATTEND ALL CLASSES
• Do all assigned work and study ahead
• Prepare homework the same day that it is assigned
• Study each subject at least four days each week regardless of how many times the class meets per week (study each subject 30-90 minutes each day – studying is like taking medication in that you spread it out and don’t do it all at once!)
• Form study groups and participate actively in the study sessions
• Make use of the professor’s office hours or other tutorial services provided for additional help – don’t hesitate to ask for help and don’t wait until the last minute
• Make frustrations and needs known to the Academic Counselor or to the Director of Academic Programs
• Begin to prepare for exams a week in advance
• Rewrite class notes and outline text material
• Be disciplined and responsible for your own learning
• Enjoy learning
• Get plenty of rest, physical exercise, and good food!
• Continue to study during breaks between semesters and during the summer

Research

A unique feature of the TAMS experience is the opportunity to work in a research lab or on a research project either with a professor here on campus, at a medical facility such as M.D. Anderson or Presbyterian Hospitals, at the Johnson Space Center (NASA) in Houston, MIT, Caltech, a medical school such as UT Medical Branch in Galveston or UT-Southwestern, etc. Students are required to write a five page technical report about their work in these research projects, and occasionally are able to publish their work in a research journal. Students learn not only about what they would like to pursue as a career but also what they may wish not to pursue. Depending on budget constraints, the TAMS Academic Office can provide some scholarship support for students who choose to pursue summer research projects. The research experience provides an excellent source of information for the preparation of papers and essays that are part of the scholarship and university application process.

Fall Convocation

The Fall Convocation officially begins the new academic year and is a required assembly of all Academy students. Recognition is given to senior students who are National Merit Semi-Finalists, National Achievement Semi-Finalists, National Hispanic Recognition Semi-Finalists, and Commended National Scholars. Winners of various other awards are also announced, including the University President’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA) and the Dean’s Honor Roll (3.5 – 3.99 GPA). In addition, qualified senior students are inducted into the National Honor Society. Parents, relatives, faculty, staff, and friends are encouraged to attend this weekend event.

National Honor Society

Seniors are inducted into the National Honor Society only once a year at the Academy Convocation in September. Qualifications for induction and for continuing membership in NHS are:

• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• No more than 30 disciplinary points at any time during your tenure at TAMS
• Attendance at the Fall Convocation
• Dedication to scholarship, leadership, service, honesty, integrity, and truthfulness
• Payment of required dues (non-refundable) by the date given in the letter of invitation

Commencement

Seniors will participate in graduation ceremonies on Friday evening of Final Exam Week. Unfortunately, because of the size of the University Auditorium, each graduate must be limited to about seven or eight guests. Parents will be notified in early Spring about the number of guests that can be accommodated. The Academy hosts a reception after the graduation ceremonies in the Union Building for students and their guests. Questions about the commencement ceremony should be directed to the TAMS Dean’s Office (Phone: 940-565-3606).

PSAT and SAT I

All juniors are required to take the PSAT exam during their first semester at the Academy. This is the exam used to identify National Merit Semi-Finalists, essentially all of whom become National Merit Finalists which qualifies them for prestigious scholarships. A PSAT preparation course is available for a fee. Information will be provided to parents about this course at summer orientation.

Although students took the SAT I prior to enrolling in the Academy, it is recommended that this exam be taken again during the Spring of the junior year or the Fall of the senior year. Registration materials are available on-line (www.collegeboard.com) or in the Academic Office. Students should be careful to choose a date when the exam is offered in Denton, unless a travel weekend is used to take the exam at home. Students should register early to take the SAT since testing sites fill quickly.

fee waiver guidelines

After Graduation

State legislators ask for various sets of data as a means to justify continuing to fund the Academy. One question always asked is where are your graduates and what are they doing. We can usually report that about 80% of our graduates are pursuing degrees and careers in mathematics or the sciences. Hence it is essential that TAMS graduates stay in touch with us after graduation and keep us posted about what they are doing. The Academic Office maintains an Alumni Data Base for this purpose, and so that our alumni can stay in touch with each other.

Disability Accommodations

The University of North Texas is an equal opportunity institution and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. Students with disabilities are required to register with the University Office of Disability Accommodations in order to make use of their services. For further information, contact the Office of Disability Accommodation in the University Union.

Summer School

Some Academy students choose to take courses in summer school, either here at UNT or elsewhere. None of the core courses required for graduation can be taken during summer school, on the web, by correspondence or during a mini-semester. It is recommended that courses in fine arts, physical education, languages, or computer science be selected since these may be required for admission by some universities.

Grade Reports and GPA Computation

The Academic Office will mail mid-semester grade reports to each student’s home address. The University will mail each student’s course grades for the semester to the home address. The student’s GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of semester credit hours (sch) attempted. The grade of A is worth 4 grade points for each credit hour, B is worth 3 grade points for each credit hour, C is worth 2 grade points for each credit hour, D is worth 1 grade point for each credit hour, and F is worth 0 grade points. An example for GPA computation is given below:

GPA = (total number of grade points) (total number of sch) = (53) (15) = 3.533

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to maintain the highest level of honesty and integrity in academic pursuits. Departments have specific policies concerning academic dishonesty, which are described in course syllabi. Any violation of such policies, or any other form of academic dishonesty, will be reported to the Academy. According to UNT Rules and Regulations, acts of dishonesty include, but are not limited to, cheating or plagiarism as described below:

• The term “cheating” includes but is not limited to: (1) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; (2) dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; or (3) the acquisition, without permission of tests or other academic material belonging to a faculty or staff member of the university.
• The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.

Students with a documented case of academic dishonesty are dismissed from the Academy.

Academic Probation

Students are placed on academic probation in the following circumstances:

• The semester GPA at the end of the Fall semester of the Junior year is below 3.0 but not less than 2.7 (any student whose first semester GPA is less than 2.7 will be dismissed).
• A grade of D is assigned in any course (students who receive an F in any course may be dismissed from the Academy).

Note: If a junior is placed on academic probation at the end of the Fall semester, then the cumulative GPA at the end of the Spring semester must be at least 3.0 in order to return for the second year.

While on academic probation, the student:

• Must meet with an academic counselor once each week;
• Must work with assigned tutors;
• May not hold any leadership office in UNT or TAMS organizations;
• Loses certain privileges as determined by the Director of Academic Programs.

Dismissal or Withdrawal from TAMS

Students are dismissed from the Academy for the following academic reasons:

• The semester GPA is lower than 3.0 for any semester other than then Fall semester of the Junior year
• A junior student who is placed on Academic Probation at the end of each of the first two semesters
• A junior student placed on academic probation at the end of the Fall semester whose cumulative GPA at the end of the Spring semester is lower than 3.0
• Documented cases of academic dishonesty
• Disruptive or disrespectful classroom behavior that is not corrected immediately
• A student who drops any core course may be dismissed
• A student who receives a grade of F in any course may be dismissed

Students who withdraw from the Academy for any reason may not enroll as a student at UNT until their class graduates from TAMS. Students who are dismissed or who withdraw from the Academy are not eligible for the TAMS Diploma.