Transfer Student Evaluation

Students from other institutions of higher education will be admitted if they comply with the admission requirements. Their former studies will be subject to content review and equivalence. The grades obtained will be considered according to the scale accepted by UDLA.

Candidates for Licenciatura, Maestría or Doctorado programs must personally obtain the Equivalence document from the Ministry of Public Education of Mexico (SEP). Candidates for the Bachelor´s, Master´s or Doctorate program must present a photocopy of their official transcript to the corresponding Academic Coordination and ask for a revalidation of studies.

The University itself reserves the right to honor totally or partially the equivalence verdict issued by the Ministry of Public Education of Mexico (SEP). Likewise, in order to have those courses accredited, student must pay the equivalence to one credit per course revalidated within a delay not exceeding 90 natural days starting from the first enrollment date.

Equivalence formalities must be carried out during the candidate´s first term at the institution. If this is not the case, the student will loose his/her rights to present them and shall have to take 100% of the credits at the University. Only up to 45% of coursework will be accepted for equivalence in the corresponding program.

Consultation of Catalogs

In order to have access to the previous catalogues, former students and the general public must send an email to the Register office, requesting the information.

Current students must request the username and password from the Register Office to access the information on the content of the courses on the website.

The content of the information on the page is reviewed periodically during the Summer period (June-July) by the Academic and Administrative Directors, who in case of proposing modifications or updates, must submit it to the consideration of the University Council for approval. 

Non-Mexican and Transient Students

National and foreign candidates with studies abroad, presenting at the time of registration the corresponding documentation in a language different from Spanish, must have it translated to  this language, and legalized by a competent authority of the country where it was issued, as well as by the Mexican consulate or the accredited representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the corresponding country. For those countries which are members of the Haya agreement, validation on documents is acceptable with a certification stamp.

In addition, non-Mexican students will submit two copies of their immigration documents issued by the Mexican Government showing proof of their legal stay in the country.

 

Readmission

Students who, for personal or academic reasons, interrupt their studies for one year or more may be readmitted to the University if they comply with the following requirements:

• Apply for readmission in writing to the corresponding Academic Coordinator
• Hold a minimum grade point average of 7.0 (undergraduate) or 8.0 (graduate)
• Have passed at least 50% of the credits previously taken at the University
• Have no outstanding debts with the University
• Agree to be readmitted by the program curriculum in force at the time of readmission
• Have all documents required in their file at the Office of the Registrar
• Readmission application will be submitted to the corresponding Divisional Technical Council who will evaluate all academic and administrative aspects. The Council´s verdict will not be open to appeal.
• Those students having received a "definite dismissal" verdict will not be readmitted.

 

Academic Degrees

The University confers the following academic degrees:

Undergraduate

• Licenciatura
• Bachelor

Graduate

• Especialidad
• Maestría
• Master
• Doctorado
• Doctorate

Licenciatura, Especialidad, Maestría and Doctorado

Licenciatura degree programs offer specialized undergraduate training, officially recognized by the Ministry of Public Education (SEP).

The Especialidad is a graduate program, the Maestría and the Doctorado are advanced graduate level studies; all are officially recognized by the Ministry of Public Education (SEP).

Students graduating from programs officially recognized are issued a diploma, and they must also complete the requirements to obtain their title and professional license.

Bachelor´s Degree, Master´s Degree and Doctorate

Bachelor-degree, Master-degree and Doctorate programs, traditionally offered by the University are not officially recognized in Mexico but they are included in the accreditation of the University by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in the United States.

These programs are particularly appropriate for persons with studies outside Mexico, and who have encountered obstacles in pursuing their education in Mexico.

Bachelor´s, Master´s and Doctorate degree students are only awarded a University diploma.

 

Academic Programs

The University offers the following undergraduate and graduate programs:

Undergraduate

Licenciatura en Administración de Empresas	LAE
Licenciatura en Comunicación	LC
Licenciatura en Comunicación Humana (Educación Especial)	LCH
Licenciatura en Derecho	LD
Licenciatura en Psicología	LP
Licenciatura en Relaciones Internacionales	LRI
Licenciatura en Informática y Tecnologías de Información	LITI
Bachelor of Business Administration	BBA
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media	BAMM
Bachelor of Science in Human Communication Disorders	BSHCD
Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies	BALS
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology	BAP
Bachelor of Arts in International Studies	BAIS
Bachelor of Science in Information Tecnologies	BSIT

Graduate

Especialidad en Administración Avanzada	EAA
Especialidad en Desarrollo Cognoscitivo	EDC
Especialidad en Comercio Exterior	ECE
Maestría en Educación	ME
Maestría en Psicología Clínica	MPC
Maestría en Administración	MA
Maestría en Negocios y Comercio Internacional	MNCI
Master of Arts in Education	MAE
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology	MAP
Master of Business Administration	MBA
Master of Business and International Trade	MBIT
Doctorado en Psicología	DPS
Doctorate in Psychology	DPSY

 

Courses

English Courses

To determine a New Student´s English  level, he/she will be required to take the  Oxford Online Placement Test. According to the score obtained, the new student will be placed in the corresponding level to succesfully complete all required courses as specified in their program curriculum.

Graduate students who upon admission to the University are unable to demonstrate English proficiency are offered the necessary courses.

Directed Courses

For undergraduate and graduate levels in exceptional cases due to causes attributed to the institution, the University will offer directed courses to a maximum number of nine students as follows:

• When the student is taking the two last terms of his/her program
• When it is not possible to offer a course on a regular basis or this course is delivered at the same day and hour of another course that is also essential to the student

The course will have all the requirements of a regular course and include a minimum of ten sessions.

 Special Courses

When due to causes attributed to an undergraduate or graduate student, who require them to maintain regular academic progress, some courses not offered by the University, may be exceptionally authorized as Special Course.

These courses demand a normal class attendance and will have all requirements of a regular course.

Graduate Prerequisite Courses

In some graduate programs, students who do not meet the University´s graduate admission requirements will have to take the prerequisite courses indicated by their Academic Coordinator.

 

Evaluation System

Mid-term and Final Exams

Undergraduate students performance is evaluated according to procedures established in the corresponding syllabus of the courses registered.

Evaluation is carried out by means of mid-term and final exams in every period. Faculty members, Academic Coordinator and the Direction of Planning and Evaluation participate in the elaboration, administration and analysis of these exams.

Students obtain in most of the courses 70% of the final grade as a result of these mid-term and final exams.

The graduate students evaluation includes the following aspects:

• Evaluation of their performance in the Modules, Courses and/or Seminars he/she takes.
• Evaluation of his/her extracurricular activities carried out during the independent work  hours.
• Evaluation of the development of his/her Research Program.

Tutorial Committees and Tutors

The tutorial Committee must gather on at least three occasions during the 14-week term in academic sessions with the students.

Extraordinary Exams

Undergraduate students failing a course (excluding S/D marks and courses with high practice contents) may take an Extraordinary Exam to credit it. Students may take no more than two extraordinary exams per term and in no case may both exams be for the same course.

The Registrar´s Office will publish the extraordinary exam notice during every term.

To ask for a Extraordinary Exam, students must comply with the following requisites:

• Obtain the authorization of his/her Academic Coordinator
• Have covered all due payments and have no debts of any kind with the University
• Register during the dates indicated in the notice
• Cover the corresponding fee

General National Exams

As part of the student´s performance evaluation, Licenciatura students must present, after they have completed course work, a General National Exams (EGEL) administered by the National Evaluation Center for Higher Education (CENEVAL).

International TOEFL

As part of the student´s performance evaluation, Licenciatura students must present, after they have completed course work, the International TOEFL.

 

Grading Scale

Students have up to three opportunities to accredit a single required course. Grades for all course attempts including failed courses, appear in the student´s official academic transcript and are taken into account in calculating their overall grade point average.

Only students who have attended 85% of the classes in a given course are entitled to a grade in said course. If attendance percentage is not met, the course must be repeated.

Student will recive an S/D mark (not authorized to be graded) if the minimum attendance to a class has not been met. This mark does not imply a grade but it is considered as a non-credited  course in the student´s academic record.

Students will not be able, under no circunstance, to receive S/D marks for a second or more occasions in the same course. In this event, students will automatically receive a 5.0 mark counting as a non-acredited course.

It is the responsibility of students to seek information about their grades timely. Mistakes and non-acceptance of a given grade must be reported in writing to the Academic Coordinator during a period not exceeding five working days beginning the date grades are published; the Academic Coordinator must discuss the merits of the correction with the professor who signed the record; the professor must notify the Academic Coordinator in writing, either acknowledging the mistake or ratifying the grade; the Academic Coordinator must forward the professor´s notification to the Registar's Office within five clendar days of having received the student's request. 

Final grades of courses are expressed in the following scale including one decimal point.

ESCALE	UNDERGRADUATE	GRADUATE
10.0
9.0
8.0		Minimum passing grade
7.0	Minimum passing grade
6.0
5.0

All grades and S/D marks shall appear on the student´s offcial transcript.

 

Reenrollment

Reenrollment is the process by which students reaffirm their relationship with the University and are accepted by the latter, based on their academic performance, discipline and integration in the community. Reenrollment is carried out on demand of the student during the deadlines and periods indicated in the academic calendar and according to the guidelines established by the Registrar´s Office.

Students are responsible to verify all schedules registered in their reenrollment document. Reenrollment becomes official after completion of all required formalities and payment of the correspondig tuition and fees. If students do not pay the corresponding tuition and fees, all registration of courses will be cancelled.

No access to classes will be allowed to those students that are not officially registered and have not paid the corresponding tuition and fees.

 

Repeated Courses

When a student repeat a course for having obtained a failing grade or note S/D, must pay, in addition to the credits of the course, an extraordinary fee, which is a credit to those who retake it for the first time. When repeat the course for the second time, in addition to the credits of the course, the extraordinary fee will be to pay three additional credits.

 

Academic Course Load

Academic loads for every period are established in the program curriculum. The corresponding Academic Coordinator must approve additional course loads. A load of six or more courses is considered a full-time undergraduate load; and two or three courses, a full-time graduate load.

 

Academic Record

A student´s academic record at the University is considered to integrate the official transcript. It contains all information regarding students progress including, for every term, courses taken or attempted, grades, S/D marks, academic standing, average and degree granted.

Failing grades are considered to obtain the grade point average. S/D marks and failing grades will appear permanently on the student´s academic record. Only failing grades and S/D marks will be considered to establish the student´s academic standing.

 

Academic Standing

Undergraduate

• Regular academic standing pertains to students who have successfully completed and credited all courses taken, and to students who have failed up to four different courses.
• Conditional standing pertains to students who have failed the same course twice or up to five different courses, or is taking again one or more courses where he/she obtained a S/D mark.
• Definite dismissal is reserved for students who have failed the same course three times or six different courses in their program or have accumulated six S/D marks, or failed one course upon exceptional readmission.

Graduate

• Regular standing pertains to students who have successfully completed and credited all courses taken or to students who have failed up to one course.
• Conditional standing pertains to students who have failed the same course twice or up to two different courses or obtained two S/D marks.
• Definite dismissal is reserved for students who have failed three different courses or the same course three times or have accumulated three S/D marks.

 

Length of Study Programs

Students must complete their study plan within the established time frame for this purpose. This time frame may be extended up to 50%. The length of the program begins the day the student first registers at the University.

Those students who don´t finish their studies in the established time frame will not be readmitted in the program they first registered in. They will only be allowed to reincorporate to the standing program after an equivalence of courses is completed.

If the University modifies the program and former plans must be closed, the institution will honor student´s continuity in the program he/she had first been admitted to long as the student doesn´t fail or skip any course. Otherwise, the student must incorporate into the latest program.

 

Change of Degree Level and/or Program

Students interested in changing from a Licenciatura to a Bachelor´s degree program or from a Maestría to a Master´s degree program must:

• Request permission from the Divisional Technical Council
• Have all documents complete
• Request equivalence of courses completed
• Pay the correspondig fee
• Hand in a resignation letter to obtain the title and the professional license

Students enrolled in Bachelor´s degree programs may not transfer to Licenciatura programs, nor may Master´s degree students transfer to Maestría programs.

Students interested in changing from a degree program to another must:

• Request permission from the Divisional Technical Council
• Have all documentals complete
• Not have been definitively dismissed from the University
• Accept being incorporated into the standing program the date the change is made
• Request equivalence of courses completed
• Pay the corresponding fees

A student may switch from one degree level or degree program to another only once and the change shall be both irrevocable and irreversible.

 

Appeals and Petitions

All students experiencing an academic problem may, after examining all institutional resources, appeal to the University Justice Commission. The student must present in writing a formal petition and deliver it to the President´s Office with a copy to the Provost´s Office.

 

Sanctions

Any offense, misconduct or breach of any provision set down in the University´s regulations shall be grounds for sanction on the part of the authorities, according to the procedures and instances referred to in the Student Regulations.

 

Graduation

Basic Requirements

Basic graduation requirements for every level are as follows:

Undergraduate

Licenciatura

• Successfully complete all course work of the program curriculum
• Present successfully the General Exit Exam for Licenciatura (EGEL) and the International TOEFL
• Comply with social service requirements
• Present the Professional Exam in any of the following graduation modalities:

• • Automatic graduation: According to academic performance and the specific guidelines of every academic area
  • Thesis
  • Graduate studies
  • Report on professional experience
  • Report on Social Service

Bachelor´s Degree

Successfully complete all course work of the program curriculum

Graduate

Especialidad

• Have all documents complete
• Successfully complete all course work of the program curriculum
• Letter of recomendation of the Tutorial Committee
• Pass a final oral exam

Maestría, Masters, Doctorado and Doctorate Degree

• Have all documents complete
• Successfully complete all course work of the program curriculum
• Credit prerequisites, if applicable
• Pass a final oral exam based on a thesis

Degree Conferral

Upon completition of the requirements mentioned in previous paragraphs, students must fill out a graduation application at the Office of the Registrar, have it approved by the Academic Coordinator and pay the corresponding fee.

Students are awarded the corresponding degree diploma at the Annual Graduation Ceremony.

 

Awards for Academic Excellence

Students who have attained academic excellence are honored as follows:

Honor List

Students who have attained during the academic term the highest grade point average of each program delivered by the University, are mentioned in the Honor List.

Academic Excellence

Awarded during the Annual Graduation Ceremony to those students who obtained the highest grade point average of each program.

Honorable Mention

This award  is granted to students who:

• Have not failed or  non-credited any course in their degree program
• Hold the minimum overall grade point average established by their corresponding academic area
• Have been recommended by the Receptional Oral Exam Judging Committee and confirmed by the Divisional Technical Council

Summa Cum Laude Medal and Diploma

This award is granted during the Annual Graduation Ceremony to students who hold the highest overall grade point average and have been ratified by the University Council.

 

Intellectual Property Rights

The purpose of this policy is to confer the greatest possible benefit to the Universidad de las Américas A.C. and their community (professors, students and staff) involved in the creation of inventions, innovation or developments, as well as to sponsors or third parties. 

All inventions, innovations or developments resulting from activities developed in undergraduate and graduate programs at the Universidad de las Americas, A.C., generated by their professors, students and staff, will be owned by the institution, taken into account the relation that have with the above mentioned. Consequently, the University will own the copyright.

The University of the Americas, A.C. legally protect those inventions, innovations or developments generated by their professors, students and staff.

The economic benefits obtained by the inventions, innovations or developments generated by their professors, students and staff will be used:

• At first to cover the cost of protecting intellectual property.
• Secondly, the economic surplus will be distributed as follows:
  • A third for inventors
  • A third to the academic area
  • A third to the campus

 

Course hours policy

The University uses a Semester Calendar of 16 effective class weeks for its undergraduate programs, and a Four-Month Calendar of 14 weeks for its graduate programs.
For undergraduates, most of the subjects have a total of 48 hours per semester, so they should preferably be taught in two sessions of 1.5 hours per week.
For postgraduate most of the subjects have a total of 28 hours per semester, so they will be taught in one session per week of 2 hours

 

Naming and Numbering Policy and subjects

The University for each one of the subjects of the study plan, assigns an identification key, composed of two letters and three digits. The letters correspond to the name of the academic department and the three digits to the location of the subject according to the following table:

• AD and AA Administration
• CO Communication
• CH Human Communication
• DE Law
• EG General Education
• EN English
• IT Computing and Information Technologies
• PS Psychology
• PC Clinical Psychology
• PI Organizational Psychology
• RI International Relations
• CI International Trade

 

• 100 – 199 Basic courses
• 200 – 399 Intermediate Courses
• 400 - 499 Terminal courses
• 500 – 699 Graduate courses

 

Equivalence or Revalidation of Studies.

The University accepts the studies carried out by applicants in other higher education institutions and they will be subject to review for equivalence or revalidation based on their content and the qualification obtained in accordance with the University scale, as established in the Student Regulations. in Article 13. “Applicants for a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate must process the corresponding Official Revalidation or Equivalency of Studies at the Ministry of Public Education. Applicants for a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate Degree must submit an official transcript from the institution of origin, and request the revalidation of studies from the Academic Coordination of the program of their interest at the University. The University reserves the right to fully or partially recognize the equivalency opinion issued by the Ministry of Public Education. Likewise, for the purpose of recognizing the subjects, the student must pay the equivalent of one credit, for each subject revalidated within a period not exceeding 90 calendar days from their first registration.”