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Graduation Requirements

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Introduction

The requirements for graduation are outlined briefly below. Please check the appropriate section of the bulletin for specific requirements relating to various academic areas.

Total credits required for graduation are composed of the following units: the general education program, a major, a minor (for all BA degrees and some BS degrees), and general electives.

Selection of Bulletin for Graduation

Students are normally expected to meet the requirements as published in the bulletin for the school year they originally entered Columbia Union College. However, a subsequent bulletin may be chosen during the student's enrollment at CUC if the new requirements benefit the student's overall academic program. Students are expected to follow the requirements of a single bulletin in its entirety to qualify for graduation. The student may be required to follow a current or newer bulletin under the following circumstances:

1. If students have broken residence by not attending CUC for three consecutive semesters (including the summer semester), they will be expected to follow the bulletin in effect upon re-registration at CUC.
   Students planning to serve as student missionaries are required to consult their department chair before they leave the campus.
2. Students who change their major field of study will be expected to follow the requirements of the bulletin in effect when they make the change.
3. If a department revises the curriculum in order to meet new accreditation agency guidelines, a continuing student may be required to follow the new requirements. In such cases the college will make every effort to help the student complete the graduation requirements within the shortest time period.
4. If the student's academic progress is not satisfactory over a four-year period, the Academic Appeals committee or the student's department may require the student to follow the newer bulletin.

Student Responsibility

The responsibility for meeting graduation requirements rests primarily upon the student. Therefore, students should become acquainted with the requirements as set forth and consult carefully with their advisor to plan a sequence of courses each semester that fulfills these requirements. To assist students in meeting the requirements, graduation checklists are provided by the Records office at appropriate times, or may be requested as needed.

Upper Division Eligibility and Requirements

Courses numbered 300 and above are upper division courses designed for the junior and senior years. A student who has satisfactorily completed freshman courses will be allowed to take upper division courses upon completion of 40 hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or 24 hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75.

A minimum of 36 upper division hours is required for graduation. Unless otherwise specified, approximately one-half the hours required for the major should be upper division courses. From three to six hours of upper division are required for the minor.

If credit is earned in courses that are considered advanced or intermediate, the elementary course in the sequence may not be taken subsequently for credit.

Credit and Grade Point Average Requirements

The grade point averages required for graduation are computed by dividing the total number of points earned by the hours attempted. Total credits and grade point average (GPA) requirements are summarized below. A grade of C or above is required on all courses in the major field, in the field of specialty, and on all cognate courses required for the major.

Residence Requirement

Transfer credit is accepted when earned from approved institutions. However, a state-mandated minimum of courses must be taken in residence at the institution which awards the degree. These minimums are:

For a baccalaureate degree—30 semester hours (15 upper division)
For an associate degree—15 semester hours

Credit earned by examination (CLEP, AP, challenge tests, portfolio, etc.,) can not be used to meet residency requirements.

It is further expected that the last 30 hours(15 for associate degrees) will be taken in residence. Exceptions may be made upon appeal to the Academic Appeals Committee.

The minimum residence requirements for a second degree is also 30 semester hours. If the second degree is an AA degree, the minimum residence requirement is 15 semester hours. This requirement may be waived if the student completes the second degree within a year of completing the first degree.

Simultaneous registration at CUC and at another college is not permitted except as approved by the Academic Appeals Committee. If a course is scheduled to be offered at Columbia Union College, permission will not be granted to take that course at another college or by correspondence. Credits earned without permission at another college while simultaneously enrolled at CUC may not be recorded or applied toward graduation requirements.

To earn a baccalaureate degree, a student entering with transfer credit must take at CUC at least 9 hours of upper division work in the major and at least 3 hours of upper division work in the minor. To earn an associate degree, the student must take at least 9 hours from the field of specialization.

A student who re-enrolls after an absence of 12 months must meet the requirements of the current bulletin. Exceptions may be made for a year of study abroad when arrangements are made in advance, for student missionary work and for absence necessitated by service in the armed forces. Students who do not re-enroll at CUC within seven academic years since their last enrollment will be required to complete at least 30 semester hours in residence, without breaking residence, prior to graduation and also may be required by the department to repeat or validate by examination some courses to update the knowledge or skills in the areas specified by the department.

Credits earned by examination and audited courses may not be used to meet residence requirements.

Graduation With Honors

To qualify for honors, the GPA’s designated must be earned in the following three areas by the beginning of the final term in which the degree is expected:

1. On all credits attempted in the major field.
2. On all credits attempted at all colleges whether or not the course(s) are accepted at CUC.
3. On all credits attempted at CUC.

Students who graduate with cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude will have that status indicated on their transcripts and diplomas and noted in the graduation program.

Departmental Distinction

Students not eligible to graduate cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude may be eligible to graduate with Departmental Distinction. To qualify for Departmental Distinction, in addition to meeting all other requirements for graduation, students must have attained a grade point average of 3.90 in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major(s).

Students who graduate with Departmental Distinction will have that status indicated on their transcripts and diplomas and noted in the graduation program.

Graduation Ceremony

Formal application for graduation must be submitted by the deadline printed in the Calendar of Events for the semester the degree is expected. All eligible candidates are members of the senior class and are required to pay class dues levied by the class.

Commencement exercises are held at the end of the second semester and at the end of the summer term. However, diplomas are issued at the end of any term during which degree requirements are completed. Degree candidates must participate in the commencement exercises unless granted permission to graduate in absentia.

All GPA requirements must be met at least one semester prior to the expected date of graduation. Prospective graduates who are seeking experiential learning credit must submit their portfolios for evaluation at least eight weeks prior to the expected date of graduation. Final official transcripts of all correspondence work, transfer credits, examination scores, and final grades for courses in progress from previous semesters must be filed in the records office by November 16 for December graduates, April 12 for April graduates, and July 11 for July graduates.

In addition to academic requirements, graduating students must have their accounts paid in full before they will be permitted to graduate (march, have name in program, receive diploma). Failure to pay account in full will result in student's graduation being delayed to the succeeding term. Students must pay balance plus estimated charges for the remainder of the term two weeks before graduation. Please contact the Student Accounts office for this information.