Graduation Requirements

During the fall semester of his/her junior year, each student must complete a degree flow sheet which certifies the courses which the student has completed and the courses s/he must complete to fulfill all degree requirements. The degree flow sheet may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office. 

The degree flow sheet must be signed by the student and the Registrar. All changes in the official degree program approved on the degree flow sheet must be agreed upon by the student and approved by the Registrar.  

All candidates for degrees will be expected to meet the following requirements: 

1. Completion of an approved degree program. An application form obtained from the Registrar’s Office must be approved during or before the fall semester of the junior year. The form is signed by the student and approved by the Vice President of Academic Affairs. A grade point average of 2.0 is required for all courses attempted. No more than 18 semester hours may be completed with a grade of D on a degree program. A grade point average of 2.0 is required in the area of concentration, the major, the minor, and in supportive courses, or in courses comprising majors or minors. No grade less than a C will be accepted in the area of concentration. Students who have not corrected all irregularities in their degree programs by the beginning of their final term will not be permitted to become candidates during that term.

2. Completion of at least 33 semester hours at the College out of the last 64 semester hours required for the degree. A minimum of 50% of hours completed toward the area of concentration or toward a major and a minimum of 6 hours toward the minor must be completed in residence (YBC). A maximum of 18 semester hours of correspondence work or work transferred from another senior institution may be applied toward graduation during the senior year.

3. Maintenance of acceptable standards of ethical conduct. The College reserves the right to withhold or deny the award of a degree to any student who, although having completed the academic requirements, has consistently violated the College Code of Conduct as delineated in Section 7.0 of the Student Handbook.

4. Completion of all special examinations required for degree. All students are required to satisfy the English Proficiency Examination requirements. This is given at fall orientation before beginning the student’s junior year. (See page 35.)

5. Demonstration of the required level of computer proficiency.

6. Fulfillment of all financial obligations to the college.

7. Approval of the faculty and Academic Dean. Formal action is taken on all candidates for baccalaureate degree.

8. Participation in annual commencement ceremonies. All students completing graduation requirements, including those who finish at the end of the fall semester or summer semester, are expected to participate in spring commencement exercises of that academic year. A student unavoidably prevented from participation must submit to the Academic Dean, prior to commencement, a letter requesting that his or her degree be conferred in absentia. The reason for the request should be outlined in the letter.

9. A student who lacks not more than 3 semester hours and who has completed all the rest of the graduation requirements may participate in graduation ceremonies.  The student is expected to take the final three hours within the subsequent school year.

GRADUATION UNDER A PARTICULAR CATALOG
A student may choose to graduate under the regulations of the catalog in force at the time of his/her initial registration or that of any subsequent catalog. There is a seven year time limit for completing a degree under a particular catalog. If the degree requirements are not fulfilled within seven years, the student must graduate under the degree requirements of the current catalog.