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PPM 4-1, Graduation Standards |
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Responsible Office: Academic Affairs |
1.0 PURPOSE
This policy outlines graduation requirements for an associate, bachelor, double bachelor, and post baccalaureate associate degree or certificate.
2.0 REFERENCES
2.1 Utah Code Ann § 53B-16-103
2.2 Utah Board of Higher Education Policy R401, Approval of New Programs, Program Changes, Discontinued Programs, and Program Reports
2.3 PPM 4-2, Catalog Requirements
3.0 POLICY
3.1 Undergraduate Degrees
3.1.1 General Requirements for all Undergraduate Degrees
3.1.1.1 A minimum institutional GPA of 2.0 must be attained; some majors and minors may require a higher GPA.
3.1.1.2 Grade minimum standards will be set by departments as part of degree requirements.
3.1.1.3 All financial obligations to the University must be cleared.
3.1.2 General Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees
3.1.2.1 The 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.
3.1.2.2 A minimum of 120 semester credit hours must be completed.
3.1.2.3 A minimum of 40 semester credit hours of upper-division work must be completed.
3.1.2.4 A minimum of 30 semester credit hours must be completed in residence at the University. Military credit, special examination, experiential credits, and credits awarded by department decision do not qualify for resident hours.
3.1.2.5 Students must complete the general education required and apply for completion status by an advisor (see PPM 4-2).
- 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.
- 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.
3.1.2.6 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.
3.1.3 General Requirements for Associate Degrees
3.1.3.1 The 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.
3.1.3.2 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.
3.1.3.3 A minimum of 20 semester credit hours must be completed in residence at the University. Military credit, special examination, experiential credits, and credits awarded by department decision do not qualify for resident hours.
3.1.3.4 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). Some departments may require completion of specific general education courses. A.A.S. degree candidates only are exempt from the American Institutions requirement.
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.
- 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.
3.1.4 Completed Degrees
3.1.4.1 Once a student has been awarded a baccalaureate degree, no factors related to that degree can be changed. The degree title and program cannot be changed. Courses cannot be repeated to improve the baccalaureate GPA but can be used to improve the institutional GPA. Majors or minors cannot be added.
3.1.4.2 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.
3.1.5 Requirements for Double Majors (two or more majors within one degree)
3.1.5.1 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)), at the discretion of the department.
3.1.5.2 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.
3.1.5.3 The requirements for 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 will then apply.
3.1.6 Requirements for Double Degrees (Two or more different degrees at the same level)
3.1.6.1 Students may pursue different baccalaureate degrees simultaneously by declaring a major in each academic department.
3.1.6.2 Students will be awarded one diploma per degree. Students must complete all requirements for each degree (see PPM 4-2, II, 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.
3.1.6.3 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 will then apply.
3.1.7 Requirements for a Second Baccalaureate Degree (Degree awarded after completion of first degree)
3.1.7.1 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. The second baccalaureate degree may not be in the same major.
3.1.7.2 Credit Hour Requirement. A minimum of 30 semester hours must be earned in residence at the University. These 30 credits represent academic work completed subsequent to the awarding of the first degree.
3.1.7.3 Requirements for the Second Degree. All of the requirements of the second declared major must be fulfilled
3.1.7.4 Minor Requirements. A minor may be required for a second baccalaureate degree as specified by the major department.
3.1.7.5 General Education Requirements. The general education requirements associated with the second baccalaureate degree shall be considered satisfied if: (1) the first baccalaureate degree was conferred by a regionally accredited or otherwise recognized college or university; and (2) includes successful completion of the American Institutions requirement, which consists of 3-6 credits of coursework with course learning outcomes that include a reasonable understanding of the history, principles, form of government, and economic system of the United States as required by Utah Code Ann. § 53B-16-103(1)(b).
3.1.8 Requirements for a Post-Baccalaureate Associate Degree or Certificate (new)
3.1.8.1 Students may earn a discipline-specific post-baccalaureate associate degree or certificate but not a post-baccalaureate Associate of General Studies or Certificate of General Studies. Students may not earn a discipline-specific post-baccalaureate associate degree or certificate in the same discipline as the baccalaureate degree.
3.1.8.2 Credit Hour Requirement. Students must complete a minimum of 15 new credits in residency for a post-baccalaureate Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science, and a minimum of 6 new credits in residency for a post-baccalaureate certificate.
3.1.8.3 General Education Requirements. The general education requirements associated with the post-baccalaureate associate degree or certificate shall be considered satisfied if: (1) the baccalaureate degree was conferred by a regionally accredited or otherwise recognized college or university; and (2) includes successful completion of the American Institutions requirement, which consists of 3-6 credits of coursework with course learning outcomes that include a reasonable understanding of the history, principles, form of government, and economic system of the United States as required by Utah Code Ann. § 53B-16-103(1)(b).
3.2 General Requirements for Master's Degrees
3.2.1 A minimum of 30 semester credit hours must be completed.
3.2.2 A minimum GPA of 3.0 on graduate work completed at the University must be maintained.
3.2.3 Some master's degree programs may impose higher minimum standards.
3.3 General Requirements for Institutional Certificates
Course work for institutional certificates is designed for career and technical education purposes, or for professional development in a specific academic discipline. The types of institutional certificates are:
Undergraduate Certificates
- Certificate of Proficiency
- Certificate of Completion
Graduate Certificates
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Post Master’s Certificate
3.3.1 A minimum of 10 semester credit hours must be completed in residence at the University. Military credit, special examination, experiential credits, and credits awarded by department decision do not qualify for residential hours.
3.3.2 Requirements for institutional certificates are further described in the University Curriculum Policy & Procedures Manual 2-2, and the Utah Board of Higher Education Policy R401.
3.3.3 Students enrolled in institutional certificate programs are awarded diplomas indicating they have completed the requirements of the institutional certificate program.
3.3.4 Students enrolled in institutional certificate programs may need to meet additional credit hour requirements in order to qualify for financial aid and should check with the Financial Aid Office.
3.3.5 At the discretion of an academic department, credits earned as part of an institutional certificate may be applied to a degree program offered by the academic department.
3.4 Honors at Graduation
3.4.1 Candidates for graduation may receive honors in relation to their academic achievement. Honors are based on the cumulative GPA for course work completed at the University and will have the appropriate designation indicated on transcripts and diplomas.
3.4.2 GPA criteria for honors in a baccalaureate degree program are Summa Cum Laude, 3.9 or higher; Magna Cum Laude, 3.8 or higher; and Cum Laude, 3.6 or higher.
3.4.3 GPA criteria for honors in an A.A., A.S. or A.A.S. programs are : High Honors, 3.85 or higher; and Honors, 3.6 or higher.
3.4.4 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.
3.5 Awarding of Multiple Degrees
3.5.1 Students may receive multiple degrees in the same academic year. However, students who first earn their degree in a specific academic area, with the exception of the AAS degrees and certificates, will not be awarded a general A.S. or A.A. degree in a subsequent term.
3.5.2 Students must apply for each degree requested.
3.6 Graduation Sign Off
3.6.1 Departments/colleges will assume total advising responsibility for students who have declared majors or have been admitted into a program having admission criteria. 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.
3.6.1.1 The major department is responsible to sign off Bachelor of Integrated Studies (BIS), and major requirements.
3.6.1.2 The minor department (where applicable) is responsible to sign off minor requirements.
3.6.1.3 The Student Success Center is responsible to sign off Associate of Arts and Associate of Science in General Studies requirements.
3.6.2 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.
3.7 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.
3.8 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.
3.9 Graduation Requirement Completion Deadline
3.9.1 At the end of the term, the review of graduation candidates will begin two days after grades are due according to the academic calendar.
3.9.2 Graduation candidates with outstanding issues that prevent graduation will have 45 calendar days after the review of graduation candidates begins to resolve the issues. Issues that may prevent graduation may include, but are not limited to:
- Incomplete (I) Grades,
- Missing Grades,
- Grade Changes,
- Awarding Credit by Examination or Experiential Credit,
- Departmental Exceptions,
- Credit Transferred and Articulated,
- Holds, and
- Program of Study Declaration.
3.9.3 Failure to resolve outstanding issues by the end of the 45 calendar days will cause the candidate's graduation to be declined for that semester. The candidate's application for graduation will then be deactivated, or deferred to a subsequent semester. In the event that the 45th calendar day falls on a day when the University is closed for business (holiday, weekend, campus closure), the candidate will have until the end of business on the next business day to resolve outstanding issues.
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Revision History |
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Creation Date: 6-11-96 |
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Amended: 2-19-20; 4-27-23 |