Graduation Standards

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

I. Undergraduate Degrees

A. General Requirements for All Undergraduate Degrees
B. General Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees
C. General Requirements for Associate Degrees
D. Completed Degrees
E.  Requirements for Double Majors

F.  Requirements for Double Degrees

G. Requirements for Second Baccalaureate Degree

II. General Requirements for Master's Degrees

III. General Requirements for Institutional Certificates

IV. Second Baccalaureate Degree

IV, V. Honors at Graduation

V.I  Awarding of Multiple Degrees

VI  I. Graduation Sign Off

VII I. Waiver of Requirements

VIII  IX Conflict Resolution

 

I. Undergraduate Degrees

A. General Requirements for All Undergraduate Degrees

1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all work completed at Weber State University must be attained; some majors and minors may require a higher GPA.

2. No more than 20 semester credit hours of "D" grades may be applied toward graduation. Colleges or departments may reject any or all "D" grade work in major or minor course requirements.

3. All financial obligations to the university must be cleared.
 

B. General Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees

1. Weber State University offers the following baccalaureate degrees: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.),  Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME) and Bachelor of Integrated Studies (B.I.S.). Not all baccalaureate degree types are offered in all majors.

2. A minimum of 120 semester credit hours must be completed.

3. A minimum of 40 semester credit hours of upper-division work must be completed. 

4. A minimum of 30 semester credit hours must be completed in residence at Weber State University. Military credit, special examination, experiential credits and credits awarded by department decision do not qualify for resident hours.

5. Students must complete the general education required and apply for completion status by an advisor (see PPM 4-2, I-Catalog Requirements). 

a.  When a student completes the general education requirements and applies for and is approved for completion status, this portion of the degree requirement will be considered fulfilled regardless of future changes to general education, program of study changes, or expiration of the catalog under which they completed the general education requirement.

b.  The completion of the general education requirements will be noted in the student's electronic record but will not appear on an official transcript, except as part of a completed degree.

6.  Major programs that require a minor will consist of not fewer than 30 credits and not more than 48 credits in the major field.  Major programs that do not require a minor shall consist of not more than 63 credits in the major field.  A minor is a program of study generally selected to complement and strengthen a student's major and/or enrich the student's overall educational program.  A minor consists of not fewer than 15 credits.  Courses that are used to satisfy the general education requirements can be used as part of the minimum number of hours needed for the minor requirements, unless prohibited by a particular college or department.  (CGE PPM Section 2, Degree Requirements)

C. General Requirements for Associate Degrees

1. Weber State University offers the following associate degrees: Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), and Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.). Not all associate degree types are offered in all colleges or departments.

2. A minimum of 60 semester credit hours must be completed for the A.A. and A.S. degrees; a minimum of 63 semester credit hours must be completed for the A.A.S. degree.

3. A minimum of 20 semester credit hours must be completed in residence at Weber State University. Military credit, special examination, experiential credits and credits awarded by department decision do not qualify for resident hours.

4. Students must complete the general education and core requirements for the catalog active at the time they declare their program of study (see PPM 4-2, Catalog Requirements). Some departments may require completion of specific general education courses. AAS degree candidates only are exempt from the American Institutions requirement.

a.  When students complete the general education requirements, this portion of the degree requirement will be considered fulfilled regardless of future changes to general education, changes to the program of study, or expiration of the catalog under which they completed the general education requirement.

b.  The completion of the general education requirements will be noted in the student's electronic record but will not appear on an official transcript, except as part of a completed degree.

Students wishing to take advantage of this policy to satisfy general education requirements must meet with the academic department within which their program of study (major) resides.  It is the responsibility of the academic department to:  1) determine the process for reviewing general education; 2) verify the completeness of general education requirements; and 3) notify the Graduation Office that the general education requirements have been met.  

D. Completed Degrees

1. Once a student has been awarded a baccalaureate degree, no factors related to that degree can be changed. Courses cannot be repeated to improve the GPA. Majors or minors cannot be added.

2. Once a student has been awarded an associate's degree, the degree title and program cannot be changed. If a student advances to earn a baccalaureate degree, grades earned toward the associate's degree will be used in calculating the GPA for the baccalaureate degree. Courses taken for the associate's degree can be repeated to improve the baccalaureate GPA, but academic renewal cannot be applied to courses taken as part of the associate's degree.

E.    Requirements for Double Majors (Two or more majors within one degree)

1.  Students may pursue two different baccalaureate majors simultaneously by declaring a major in each academic department.  A student may be allowed to pursue a double major within a single academic department (e.g., Foreign Languages (French and Spanish), Performing Arts) at the discretion of the department. One diploma listing both majors will be awarded per degree.

2.  One diploma (B.S. or B.A.) listing both majors will be awarded.  The student must choose to fulfill the general requirements for either a bachelor of science or bachelor of arts degree, and the requirements for both majors must be satisfied accordingly.

2. 3.  If either or both of the two declared majors require a minor program of study, that requirement is waived, unless the number of additional hours required for the second major is less than 15 semester credit hours.  If a student later decides to complete only one of the two major programs, any minor requirements are reinstated.

3. 4.  The requirements for  both  each major must be completed when the student files for graduation.

If a student decides to graduate with a single major and to continue work towards the second major at a later time, the policy and regulations concerning a Second Baccalaureate Degree (PPM 4.1.IV) III.G will then apply.

F.  Requirements for Double Degrees (Two or more different degrees at the same level)

1. Students may pursue different baccalaureate degrees simultaneously by declaring a major in each academic department. 

2. Students will be awarded one diploma per degree.  Students must complete all requirements for each degree (ref PPM 4-2. B and C). Classes required by both degrees need only be successfully completed once. Students must fulfill the foreign language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts.

3. The requirements for both degrees must be completed when the student files for graduation.  If a student decides to graduate with a single degree and to continue work towards a second degree at a later time, the policy and regulations concerning a Second Baccalaureate Degree (PPM 4.1.III.G) will then apply.

G. Requirements for a Second Baccalaureate Degree (Degree awarded after completion of first degree)

1.  The first baccalaureate degree must have been previously conferred by an accredited or otherwise recognized college or university.  The first and second baccalaureate degree may not be awarded during the same semester or term.

2. Residency Requirement: A minimum of 30 semester hours must be earned in residence at Weber State University.  These 30 credits represent academic work beyond the requirements for the first degree. 

For students whose first baccalaureate degree is also from Weber State University, credits earned in conjunction with but beyond the minimum credits required for the first degree may be applied toward the second baccalaureate degree.  However, a minimum of 12 semester hours must be earned at WSU after the first baccalaureate degree is conferred.

3.  Major Requirements for the Second Degree

All of the requirements of the second declared major must be fulfilled.    by a combination of previous course work and the required additional 30 semester hours.  (Editorial change made by ASSA after the Senate meeting.)

 

4. Minor Requirements

A minor may be required for a second baccalaureate degree as specified by the major department.

 

5.  Additional Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree:

            a. Foreign Language Requirement: If the first degree is not a Bachelor of Arts degree and the second baccalaureate degree is to be a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, or Bachelor of Arts in Music, the current WSU foreign language requirement must be met by some combination of courses taken as part of the first baccalaureate degree and/or courses taken in conjunction with the second degree.

            b. Scientific Inquiry (SI) Requirement: Note: effective 2011-2012 catalog year, SI is no longer a degree requirement.  Students with active catalog years prior to 2011-12 are still required to complete the SI requirement for the B.S. degree.  If the first degree is not a Bachelor of Science degree and the second baccalaureate degree is to be a Bachelor of Science,  the current WSU scientific inquiry requirement must be met by some combination of courses taken as a part of the first baccalaureate degree and/or courses taken in conjunction with the second degree.  The courses used to satisfy this requirement must be over and above the general education requirement for science.

            c. Diversity (DV) Requirement: All candidates for a baccalaureate degree must satisfy this requirement.  Course work taken as part of the first degree that is comparable to the current list of approved diversity courses may be used to satisfy this requirement. 

 

6. General Education Requirements

The general education requirements associated with the second baccalaureate degree shall be considered satisfied if the first baccalaureate degree was conferred by an accredited or otherwise recognized college or university.

II. General Requirements for Master's Degrees

A. A minimum of 30 semester credit hours must be completed.

B. A minimum GPA of 3.0 on graduate work completed at Weber State University must be maintained.

C. Some master's degree programs may impose higher minimum standards.

III. General Requirements for Institutional Certificates

A. A minimum of 10 semester credit hours must be completed in residence at Weber State University. Military credit, special examination, experiential credits and credits awarded by department decision do not qualify for residential hours.

B. Requirements for institutional certificates are described in the department listings in the university catalog.
 

IV. Second Baccalaureate Degree

A.  The first baccalaureate degree must have been previously conferred by an accredited or otherwise recognized college or university.  The first and second baccalaureate degree may not be awarded during the same semester or term.

B.   Residency Requirement:
A minimum of 30 semester hours must be earned in residence at Weber State University.  These 30 credits represent academic work beyond the requirements for the first degree and therefore must be in courses that were not applied towards the requirements for the first degree.

For students whose first baccalaureate degree is also from Weber State University, credits earned in conjunction with but beyond the minimum credits required for the first degree may be applied toward the second baccalaureate degree.  However, a minimum of 12 semester hours must be earned at WSU after the first baccalaureate degree is conferred.

C.   Major Requirements for the Second Degree
All of the requirements of the second declared major must be fulfilled by a combination of previous course work and the required additional 30 semester hours.

D.   Minor Requirements
A minor may be required for a second baccalaureate degree as specified by the major department.

E.   Additional Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees:

1.  Foreign Language Requirement:  If the first degree is not a Bachelor of Arts degree and the second baccalaureate degree is to be a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, or Bachelor of Arts in Music, the current WSU foreign language requirement must be met by some combination of courses taken as part of the first baccalaureate degree and/or courses taken in conjunction with the second degree.

2.  Scientific Inquiry (SI) Requirement:  If the first degree is not a Bachelor of Science degree and the second baccalaureate degree is to be a Bachelor of Science, the current WSU scientific inquiry requirement must be met by some combination of courses taken as part of the first baccalaureate degree and/or courses taken in conjunction with the second degree.  The courses used to satisfy this requirement must be over and above the general education requirements for science.

3.  Diversity (DV) Requirement:  All candidates for a baccalaureate degree must satisfy this requirement.  Course work taken as part of the first degree that is comparable to the current list of approved diversity courses may be used to satisfy this requirement.

F.   General Education Requirements
The general education requirements associated with the second baccalaureate degree shall be considered satisfied if the first baccalaureate degree was conferred by an accredited or otherwise recognized college or university.

IV. Honors at Graduation

A. Candidates for graduation may receive honors in relation to their academic achievement. Honors are based on the cumulative GPA for course work completed at Weber State University and will have the appropriate designation indicated on transcripts and diplomas.

B. GPA criteria for honors in a baccalaureate degree program are Summa Cum Laude, 3.9 or higher; Magna Cum Laude, 3.8 or higher; Cum Laude, 3.6 or higher.

C. GPA criteria for honors in an A.A., A.S. or A.A.S. program are : High Honors, 3.85 or higher; Honors, 3.6 or higher.

D. The Honors Program awards University Honors and Departmental Honors. To attain University Honors, a student must complete a minimum of 27 semester credit hours in University Honors classes, including the Honors Core Requirement, with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Requirements for Departmental Honors vary according to department and are described in the university catalog.

 

V  I . Awarding of Multiple Degrees

A. Students may receive two degrees (an A.S./A.A./A.A.S. in a specific academic area and a baccalaureate degree; an A.S./A.A. in a specific academic area and an A.A.S.; or a general associate [A.S./A.A.] and an associate's degree [A.S./A.A./A.A.S.] in a specific academic area) in the same academic year with the following exceptions:

1. Students who complete requirements for a general associate's degree and a bachelor's degree in the same academic year will be awarded the baccalaureate degree only.

2. Students who first earn an A.A. or A.S. degree in a specific academic area will not be awarded a general A.S. or A.A. degree.

B. Students must apply for, and are subject to a separate graduation fee for, each degree requested.  

VI   I  . Graduation Sign Off

A.  Departments/colleges will assume total advising responsibility for students who have declared majors or have been admitted into a program having admission criteria (PPM 6.5).  The culmination of advising will be verification that all graduation requirements are complete.  This approval will include verification that all major, minor, general education, University and/or second baccalaureate degree requirements have been fulfilled.

1.  The major department is responsible to sign off Bachelor of Integrated Studies (BIS), and major requirements.

2.  The minor department (where applicable) is responsible to sign off minor requirements.

3.  The Student Success Center is responsible to sign off Associate of Arts and Associate of Science in General Studies requirements.

B.  Each academic dean will designate a responsible person(s) (e.g. associate dean, assistant dean, college-wide advisor, or other designee) to supervise advising of University and General Education requirements, and graduation verification within the college.  The responsible person(s) will work closely with the Graduation Office to enforce University policy, coordinate the efforts of programs and departments within the college, and submit final verification of graduation requirements to the Graduation Office by the appropriate deadline.

 

VII I  . Waiver of Requirements

A petition for waiver of any graduation requirement must be requested from the Graduation Office. The Graduation Office will inform the student of the appropriate procedures to be followed based on the type of waiver requested.

VIII  IX.  Conflict Resolution

The University recognizes that students' core beliefs may make it difficult for some students to fulfill requirements of some courses or majors.  In these cases the University will make reasonable efforts to help students reach their academic goals.  This may not, however, always be possible.  The University assumes no obligation to ensure that every student is able to complete every major.