GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

In order to graduate, undergraduate students must successfully complete all of the following requirements:

• General education requirements
• Major
• Minor or concentration (for all Bachelor of Arts degrees and some Bachelor of Science degrees)
• Meet the minimal cumulative GPA requirements, major and applicable minor GPA requirements
• Meet required number of upper division credits overall and within major (if applicable)
• A minimum of 120 credits, except as otherwise specified.

Please check the appropriate section of the Academic Catalog for more information about each of the requirements listed above, as well as your Degree Audit/Program Evaluation, which can be accessed through Self Service

Individual academic departments may have specific policies and/or procedures in regards to progressing within one’s major.  Students must refer to their department’s Student Handbook for any progression policies they may require (i.e. a department may require a higher grade for passing a course than the university’s minimum requirement of “C” for major courses, etc).

GRADUATION DEGREE COMPONENTS | Undergraduate

Below are descriptions of most of the components needed to complete an undergraduate degree.  Please note there may be other requirements needed based upon a program.

• Lower division courses - Any course at the freshmen (100) level or sophomore (200) level at a university regardless of the title or content.  Not all colleges/universities use the same course number scale to define their freshman through senior level courses.  If you have transferred credits from a school, that uses a different definition of class level than WAU, the courses are converted to equate to the equivalent WAU class level.
• Upper division - Any course at junior (300) level and senior (400) level at a university regardless of the title or content.  Not all colleges/universities use the same course number scale to define their freshman through senior level courses.  If you have transferred credits from a school, that uses a different definition of class level than WAU, the courses are converted to equate to the equivalent WAU class level.
• 36 Upper Division requirement - Minimum number of upper division credits (300 or 400 level) needed to complete an undergraduate degree.  Must take 15 of the required 36 credits at WAU.
• Curriculum - Prescribed set of courses within an academic discipline
• General Education requirements - Courses that are geared to develop and practice basic skills (writing, speaking, analytical thinking and computer/information literacy) in the context of a wide variety of disciplines.  All students are required to complete the courses in this component beyond their specific major requirements.
• Major - An academic discipline/program to which an undergraduate student formally commits.
• Concentration - An academic discipline/program may have specified areas of focus that a student may/must choose with a minimum of 15 unduplicated credits.  Some programs require students to have a second major, a minor, or a concentration.
  For example: For the Business Administration major, students must select a concentration in Finance, Marketing, International Business or Entrepreneurship and Management.
  Note: A bachelor’s degree in General Studies requires two concentrations of a minimum of 48 credits, with not less than 21 hours in one concentration and at least 9 credits upper division.
• Cognate - Courses within an academic discipline/program different from the primary discipline of the major, but are considered essential to the major requirements for the program of study.
• Second major - The second academic discipline/program to which an undergraduate student formally commits.  If a student is completing two majors, there must be a minimum of 15 hours of unduplicated courses in each major with at least 9 credits upper division.  Some programs require students to have a second major, a minor, or a concentration.
• GPA (grade point average) requirements - There are specific GPA requirements that must be met to earn a degree: overall GPA (2.0 minimum), major (2.5 minimum, unless specified higher per program), minor (2.0 minimum), second major (2.5 minimum), pre-professional (minimum 3.0, but varies per program).
  Note: For the purpose of determining if a GPA requirement has been met it is expressed to the thousandth place (i.e. 3.324) and is not rounded.  For example: If a student has a 2.489 it will not be rounded to meet the 2.50 major GPA requirement.)
• Minor - A minor allows a student to take courses within another discipline outside of their major to obtain a generalist view.  There must be a minimum of nine hours in the minor that are not included in the major.  A minimum of 3 upper division credits, taken at WAU, is required.  If a student is completing two or more minors, there must be at least nine hours of unduplicated courses in each minor.  Some programs require students to have a second major, a minor, or a concentration.
• Pre-Professional - Students planning to enter certain professional careers (e.g. medicine, dentistry, physician associate, etc.) may meet specific entrance requirements of graduate and professional schools by taking designated courses.
• Minimum credits for degree - A minimum of 120 credits is required for a bachelor’s degree (30 credits must be taken at WAU).  For an associate’s degree a minimum of 60 credits is required (15 credits must be taken at WAU).  Depending on the program, specific degree requirements may add up to more than 120 credits.
  Note: The 120 minimum credit requirement is the combination of all the degree components required for each program (General Education, major requirements, cognates, etc.).  If a student has 120 credits but has not met specific program degree requirements that will not be sufficient to earn a bachelor’s degree at WAU.
• Electives within major/minor - Courses typically in a specific subject area, within your major requirements, that are open to choice.  This allows students the ability to choose which course(s) they want to take within a certain range of courses.  Some majors may require a student to take a certain number of credits from a selected group of courses, while others allow students to choose whatever courses they want within a certain subject area.
• Electives outside of major - Credits that are outside specific requirements for each of the degree components needed to meet the 120 minimum credit degree requirement. i.e. After adding up all of the specific credit requirements, for a degree, the amount needed to reach the 120 minimum degree completion requirement.  Some program specific requirements do not quite add up to 120 credits, while others may go beyond the minimum credit requirement (typically programs that have program specific accreditation).  If a student’s program specific requirements do not add up to 120 credits they will need to take elective credits to meet the 120 credit requirement.
• Prerequisites - Courses that need to be taken to show competency in basic skills needed in order to pass a more advanced course successfully.

GRADUATION DEGREE COMPONENTS | Graduate Program

Below are descriptions of a majority of the components needed to complete a graduate degree.  Please note there may be other requirements needed based upon a program.

• Prerequisites/bridge courses (vary with degree) - Courses that need to be taken to show competency in basic skills needed in order to pass a more advanced course successfully.
• Major - An academic discipline/program to which a graduate student formally commits.
• Curriculum - Prescribed set of courses within an academic discipline
• Electives within a program - Courses typically in a specific subject area, within your program requirements, that are open to choice.  This allows students the ability to choose which course(s) they want to take within a certain range of courses.  Some programs may require a student to take a certain number of credits from a selected group of courses, while others allow students to choose whatever courses they want within a certain subject area.
• GPA (grade point average) requirements - There are specific GPA requirements that must be met to earn a graduate degree: 3.0 overall GPA.
  Note: For the purpose of determining if a GPA requirement has been met it is expressed to the thousandth place (i.e. 3.324) and is not rounded.  For example: If a student has a 2.963 it will not be rounded to meet the 3.0 major GPA requirement.
• Minimum credits for degree - Minimum of 36 credits needed for degree completion (depending on the program more credits may be required to complete degree requirements)

SELECTION OF ACADEMIC CATALOG FOR GRADUATION

Students are normally expected to meet the requirements as published in the Academic Catalog (formerly called the Academic Bulletin) for the school year in which they originally matriculated.  However, a subsequent Catalog may be chosen during the student’s enrollment if the new requirements benefit the student’s overall academic program.  Students are expected to follow the requirements of a single Catalog in its entirety to qualify for graduation.  Students may be required to follow a current or newer Catalog under the following circumstances:

1. If students have broken residence by not attending WAU for three consecutive semesters (including the summer semester), they will be expected to follow the Academic Catalog in effect upon reregistration at WAU.  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 Academic Catalog 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 university 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 and Academic Integrity Committee or the student’s major department may require the student to follow the newer Academic Catalog.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY

The responsibility for meeting graduation requirements rests primarily upon the student.  Therefore, students should become acquainted with the requirements as set forth in their Catalog and consult carefully with their adviser to plan a sequence of courses each semester that fulfills these requirements.

To assist students in meeting the requirements, Degree Audits/Program Evaluations are available on Self Service at any time.

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 ENGL 101 , ENGL 102   and COMM 105  with a minimum grade of “C” or better will be allowed to take upper-division courses upon completion of 40 hours with a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 or 30 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 of the hours required for the major should be upper-division courses.  Three to six hours of upper-division courses 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” (2.0) or above is required for all courses in the major and minor fields, all courses in the field of specialty or concentration and on all cognate courses required for the major within the undergraduate programs.

Those pursing a nursing major are required to have a “B-” or above in all nursing (NURS) courses.

Note: Receiving a grade of “C” for all major courses will not be sufficient to meet the 2.50 major minimum GPA requirement for an undergraduate degree.

* Some nontraditional majors may require a minimum of 120 hours.
Professional majors may require more than 128 hours.
** Semester hours as specified under the major or minor.
*** 3 credits must be Upper Division and taken at WAU.

See Majors/Minors in Related Areas  in Academic Information section for more information regarding unduplicated courses and credit hour requirements between programs

RESIDENCY 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 that awards the degree. These minimums are:

Credit earned by examination (CLEP, AP, challenge tests, experiential learning, etc.) cannot be used to meet residency requirements.

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

The minimum residence requirement 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 WAU and at another college or university is not permitted except as approved by the Petitions Committee.  If a course is scheduled to be offered at Washington Adventist University, permission will not be granted to take that course at another college or university or by correspondence.

Credits earned without permission at another college or university while simultaneously enrolled at WAU may not be recorded or applied toward graduation requirements.

To earn a baccalaureate degree, a student entering with transfer credit must take at least nine hours of upper-division work at WAU in the major and at least three hours of upper-division work in the minor.

An associate degree with a General Studies major requires a concentration of at least 24 semester hours, of which at least six hours must be taken in residence at Washington Adventist University.  The concentration requires at least a 2.5 GPA, with no grade below a “C.”

A student who re-enrolls after an absence of 12 months must reapply and meet the requirements of the current Academic Catalog.  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.

Also, students who do not re-enroll at WAU within seven academic years since their last enrollment 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 Latin honors, the GPAs designated below must be earned by the beginning of the final term in which the degree is expected.  (For example, if a student is going to be a spring graduate, their Latin honors will be determined by the GPA they have earned at the end of their Fall semester or whatever was the last semester/term they had been enrolled in before the spring semester).

Latin honors are determined by both of the following GPAs meeting the criteria.  If only one of the following GPAs do not meet the criteria, a student will not have earned Latin honor status:

• All credits attempted at WAU
• All cumulative course work (overall GPA)

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

Latin honors are only given to those in an undergraduate program and not eligible to those pursing a master’s degree.  Latin honor cords will only be given to those participating in the commencement ceremony and not to those graduating in absentia.

Note: For the purpose of determining a GPA qualification it is expressed to the thousandth place (i.e. 3.324) and is not rounded to determine Latin honor eligibility.  For example, if an individual has a 3.489 it will not be rounded to 3.5 to meet the cum laude requirement.

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, in addition to meeting all other requirements for graduation, students must have attained a grade-point average of 3.9 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 commencement weekend program.

COMMENCEMENT VERSUS GRADUATION

WAU recognizes that there are important differences between participating in commencement and actually graduating from the university.

WAU holds one commencement ceremony a year, traditionally in April/May.  Although we confer degrees in July and December as well, this is the official time when degrees are conferred during a ceremony.

COMMENCEMENT: Commencement refers to the ceremony, officiated by the provost and president of the university.  It is an opportunity whereby potential graduates (graduates and participants in the ceremony) are acknowledged for their academic achievements in the presence of their family, friends, and fellow colleagues.

It is also a time for the university, president, deans, program directors/chairs, faculty, and staff to pay special tribute to students for the outstanding efforts they have shown while trying to earn their degree.

GRADUATE: Refers to the official title a graduation candidate is given whereby a student has completed all academic requirements (according to their specified Academic Catalog).  Those considered a “graduate” have their conferral date recorded on their transcript and they are issued a diploma.  In order to receive a diploma, all financial obligations to the university must be met (must have a zero balance and done exit interview).

Note: Conferral dates are defined as the date by which a degree is officially awarded.  Diplomas are issued after the degree conferral date, to students who have graduated and are financially cleared.

PARTICIPANT: Refers to those who are participating in the Commencement ceremony.  All participants have been given permission from both the Office of the Registrar and Student Accounts/SGPS office to participate.  Each office will alert an individual separately regarding their participation status.  If one office gives permission, but the other doesn’t, an individual will not be allowed to participate in the Commencement ceremony.

If someone has been given permission to participate it is not validation that they are a spring graduate.  Completion of academic requirements is verified after final grades for the spring semester have been submitted.  If a student has completed their academic requirements they will be given the title of “graduate.”  The Office of the Registrar will notify students of their official status.

However, if a student did not pass a spring course, received an Incomplete or Deferred grade, etc., this can preclude them from being a spring graduate and they will need to apply for a future conferral date (July, December or a future April/May) by the deadline stipulated in the academic calendar.

Anyone who participated, but ended up having their degree conferred during a later term, will not be allowed to participate again for the same degree and major in which they previously participated.

For questions regarding financial clearance see RELEASE OF DIPLOMA  and PARTICIPATION IN COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY   in the FINANCIAL POLICIES  section. 

Note: It is important to note that someone’s eligibility status is subject to change if the conditions on which they were approved to participate change during the semester.

Reasons for a change in eligibility status can be, but are not limited to, the following: dropping a course after being approved to participate, outstanding grades have not been submitted by the deadline stipulated, required courses that have yet to receive a grade are not passed, or a student receives a disciplinary action from the university.

Graduation Regalia and Fees

All those who wish to participate in the commencement ceremony will be responsible for securing their own academic regalia and for any costs affiliated with traveling to the ceremony location.

In addition, all participants and graduates will be charged non-refundable graduation fees and class dues, as determined by the senior class officers.  Everyone must also be cleared financially by the deadlines stipulated, in order to be allowed to take part in commencement.

Cords/sashes

Latin honor and departmental distinction cords are issued by the Office of the Registrar to those who are eligible for these honors.  Any other cords/sashes for an honor society/class officer/athlete, etc., are not distributed by the Office of the Registrar.

Students with questions on how to obtain any cord/sash they may be eligible to receive should consult with the appropriate department (department chair or office that oversees honor societies/athletes or student life).

Note: Many honor society cords are not issued by the university when someone is inducted.  In these cases graduates must purchase applicable cords/sashes at their own expense.

GRADUATION APPLICATION

Formal application for graduation must be submitted by the deadline printed in the Academic Calendar for the semester the degree is expected.  (Please note there is an $150 non-refundable fee charged each time an application is submitted).

All eligible candidates are members of the senior class and are required to pay class dues levied by the class.

Commencement exercises are held only at the end of the second semester.  However, diplomas are issued at the end of any term during which degree requirements are completed.

Students are not considered actual graduates of WAU unless all of their graduation requirements have been completed before the diploma issue date, for the term in which they applied to graduate.

If during the validation of degree requirements process it is determined that an individual has not completed all of their academic requirements to earn a degree, they will be instructed to submit another graduation application for a future term.  The application must be submitted by the deadline stipulated in the ACADEMIC CALENDAR  (or if given a later deadline by the Registrar), for the term in which they intend to complete their requirements.

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 before the expected date of graduation.

Prospective SGPS 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 Office of the Registrar by the ACADEMIC CALENDAR  deadline.

In addition to successful completion of all academic requirements, graduating students must fulfill certain financial obligations.

The student’s account must be paid in full before he or she will be permitted to participate in any of the commencement weekend programs.  Students must pay balance plus estimated charges for the remainder of the term by the designated deadline stipulated in the Financial Policies section of the Academic Catalog.

For information on the financial clearance portion of graduation see RELEASE OF DIPLOMA  and PARTICIPATION IN COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY   in FINANCIAL POLICIES   

Please contact the Office of Student Accounts for financial information.

INFORMATION | Student Accounts Office, Room 351, Wilkinson Hall

301-891-4210 | studentaccount@wau.edu