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Students within two semesters of graduation must submit an Application for Graduation, available in the Office of the Registrar. Deadlines for applying for graduation are published in the Academic Calendar.
Baccalaureate Degrees
A traditional degree program includes one major and one minor field; however, the Office of the Registrar will evaluate up to two minor fields, as long as the extra minor falls within the 120-hour graduation limitation. A comprehensive degree program consists of one major field and no minor field; however, under rare circumstances the Office of the Registrar will evaluate one minor field with a comprehensive degree program, if requested by the advisor in collaboration with the program coordinator or department chair. A student may elect to complete requirements for a double major in one degree or may elect to complete requirements for two majors in separate degrees.
In addition to the Core Curriculum and the requirements for the major and minor, students pursuing the bachelor of arts degree (except education) must satisfy the Foreign Language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts .
Minimum Credit Hours
The minimum number of credit hours for a baccalaureate degree includes 120 credit hours of courses numbered 100 and above. (This may include transfer credits that have been evaluated by Shepherd University as courses numbered 100 and above.) Of the necessary hours for graduation, 42 hours must consist of courses numbered 300 and above. (This may include transfer credits that have been evaluated by Shepherd University as courses numbered 300 and above.)
Minimum Grade Point Average
For each of the following areas, a grade point average of 2.0 or better (or a C average) is required: 1) all collegiate level coursework attempted (overall GPA), 2) all Shepherd University coursework attempted (institutional GPA), 3) all coursework presented to satisfy major field requirements, and 4) all coursework presented to satisfy minor field requirements. Higher minimums are established for some fields. Students should carefully consult major and minor field requirements.
Minimum Shepherd University Credit Hours Requirement
To earn a baccalaureate degree from Shepherd University, a student must complete at least 30 credit hours of coursework at Shepherd University. The last 12 credit hours of coursework for a baccalaureate degree must be completed at Shepherd University. Credit hours earned at the Community and Technical College of Shepherd prior to summer 2005 are considered Shepherd University credit hours. Non-teaching degree candidates must earn a minimum of 15 major field credit hours at Shepherd University.
Community or Junior College Credit Hour Transfer Policies
In compliance with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, no more than 72 credit hours from a regionally accredited community or junior college may be applied toward the 120 credit hours minimum for graduation from Shepherd University. Students who have completed more than 72 credit hours at a community or junior college may select the courses they wish to have evaluated as part of their credit hours counted toward graduation. All transfer credit hours will be calculated in the student’s overall grade point average.
Additional Requirements for Graduation
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- All financial obligations to Shepherd University must be paid in advance.
- In certain instances additional requirements may be stipulated in selected fields of study; degree candidates must consult with their academic advisors concerning such requirements.
- A student cannot select a minor field of study whose required courses duplicate the major field requirements by more than two courses (up to eight semester hours). Exceptions to this rule must be approved by the vice president for academic affairs.
- The student’s faculty advisor shall approve all elective course selections in the major, minor, and teaching field. Course substitutions must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor and the chair of the department for the required course.
- It is the student’s responsibility to check on all requirements and to make inquiry if there is doubt about meeting any of them. Required courses should be completed as soon as possible to prevent conflicts of prescribed subjects during the senior year.
- Students maintaining continuous enrollment at the university will have a seven-year period to complete requirements under the catalog in effect at the time of entrance. Students should be aware that external accrediting agencies, as well as other factors, may at times require changes to specific degree programs. Students who are readmitted to the university after an absence of more than two consecutive regular semesters (excluding summers) must follow the catalog in effect at the time of readmission. Students may elect to graduate under a later catalog than the one under which they entered or were readmitted. However, students are not permitted to apply requirements from two different catalogs, nor may they elect to graduate under a catalog in effect prior to their entrance or readmission.
Double Degrees
Shepherd University does not award multiples of the same degree to an individual, i.e., a student cannot be awarded two bachelor of arts or two bachelor of science degrees. Students may elect to pursue two distinct degrees (B.A. and B.S., for example) by submitting an approved Academic Change Form to the Office of the Registrar.
Prior to conferral of the bachelor’s degree: A Shepherd University student wishing to complete requirements for more than one distinct degree may apply to receive the additional distinct degree when the first is conferred, provided that all requirements for the additional degree have been satisfied.
After the conferral of the bachelor’s degree: A Shepherd University graduate may earn an additional distinct degree by completing all requirements for the additional degree. (Note: May require readmission. Students must meet the requirements stated in the catalog in effect at the time of their re-enrollment in the additional degree program.)
The additional degree will be added to the transcript with a comment on the date the requirements were completed.
Students possessing a baccalaureate degree from another regionally accredited institution who wish to attain an additional bachelor’s degree through Shepherd University must complete a minimum of 32 hours of additional coursework in residence at Shepherd, with at least 15 resident hours in the major. (Note: Hours needed to complete requirements for a degree may exceed the stated minimum.)
Except for graduates from the Regents Bachelor of Arts Program or similar programs, baccalaureate holders from Shepherd University or any other regionally accredited institution will not need to be re-evaluated for meeting the general studies curriculum (except where the additional program requires specific general studies coursework).
A course required in both degrees will be applied to both without the need for substitution.
Double Majors
Prior to conferral of the bachelor’s degree: A Shepherd University student who wishes to complete requirements for more than one major may submit an approved Academic Change Form to the Office of the Registrar.
After the conferral of the bachelor’s degree: A Shepherd University graduate may return for an extra major by completing all requirements for the additional major. (Note: May require readmission. Students must meet the major requirements stated in the catalog in effect at the time of their re-enrollment in the additional major.)
The additional major will be added to the transcript with a comment on the date the requirements were completed.
A course required in both majors will be applied to both without the need for substitution.
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