Graduation Requirements: Notice to Students

Transcript Posting of Official Graduation Dates

The official graduation date posted on transcripts will reflect the term and date when the Office of Academic Records certifies that all graduation requirements have been met. In the case of incomplete courses that are needed for graduation, and completed after the term of enrollment, the courses are posted for the term of enrollment and the graduation date is posted for the graduation date (Fall, Spring, Summer) closest to the actual completion of all degree requirements and certification by the Director of Academic Records.

Students who graduate with a baccalaureate degree, associate degree, or awarded a certificate, must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. Some programs require a minimum GPA that is higher than 2.00.

While the University provides students access to information and guidance, it is each individual student’s responsibility to carefully review the specific degree requirements of his/her academic program and the general graduation requirements of the University indicated in this document and to take advantage of that assistance and guidance on a frequent basis, and thus, ultimately, to be responsible for completing the requirements needed to fulfill their degree requirements.

General Graduation Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree

NOTE: Candidates for graduation (Bachelor’s Degree only) must review Dickinson State University’s assessment requirements.

1. The student must earn a minimum of 128 semester hours of credit including 32 semester hours from Dickinson State University.
2. The student must complete the Dickinson State University 39 semester hours of General Education requirements for a baccalaureate degree.
3. The student must earn a major of at least 32 semester hours of credit including 18 semester hours from Dickinson State University.
4. The student must earn a minor if the student is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education, Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of Science degrees, unless the student completes a Composite Major. The minor must be minimum of 21 semester hours, including 12 semester hours from Dickinson State University. Teaching minors must have a minimum of 24 semester hours including 12 hours from Dickinson State University.

   NOTE: A student cannot minor within their major field.

   NOTE: Exceptions to this policy exist in some areas:

   EXCEPTION #1 – If the major consists of 56 or more credit hours, no minor is required.

   EXCEPTION #2 – A minor is not required if the student graduates with a double major. 

5. Bachelor of Arts graduates complete a minimum of 8 credit hours of foreign language study. The eight credit hours can be in one language or in multiple languages. ASL credits may also be used to meet this requirement. However, all Bachelor of Arts degrees granted through the Department of Language and Literature (English and Writing) require 16 hours of foreign language. The BA in Spanish is an exception to this requirement.
6. The student must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 as well as a GPA of 2.0 in the major field of study.

   NOTE: Some programs, such as education and nursing, accounting, and business administration require a higher GPA.

7. The student must earn a minimum of 32 semester hours of upper level credit courses (300-400).

   NOTE: Lower level courses (100-200) which have been taken at another college (two-year or four-year) and for which credit was granted to meet a 300-400 major or minor requirement will not count towards meeting this upper level degree requirement.

8. Submitting a formal application for graduation at the Office of Academic Records is required in order to be eligible to receive a Dickinson State University diploma. Students may only submit an application for graduation once they have earned (grades are posted) a minimum of 90 semester hours of academic credit.
9. Should a student complete the academic requirements of a degree program during one semester but not make formal application for graduation until a subsequent semester, the graduation date printed on the transcript will reflect  the date on which the academic requirements were met.
10. Participation in assessment activities as outlined by the student's major program(s) is required for graduation.
11. Degrees will not be posted until graduation requirements are met.

Associate in Science Degree

1. The student must earn a minimum of 64 semester hours of credit including 16 semester hours at Dickinson State University.
2. The student must earn a minimum of five semester hours of credit in the major area of study at Dickinson State University.
3. The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00, as well as a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major field of study.
4. The student must complete 39 semester hours of General Education courses (same as General Education course requirements as required for a baccalaureate degree).

Associate in Applied Science Degree

1. The student must earn a minimum of 64 semester hours of credit including 16 semester hours at Dickinson State University.
2. The student must earn a minimum of five semester hours of credit in the major area of study at Dickinson State University.
3. The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00, as well as a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major field of study.
4. The student must complete 17 semester hours of general education courses as required by the specific program.

Associate in Arts Degree

1. The student must earn a minimum of 64 semester hours of credit including 16 semester hours at Dickinson State University.
2. The student must complete 39 semester hours of General Education courses (same General Education course requirements as required for a baccalaureate degree).
3. The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.

Certificate Program

1. The student must complete all General Education classes and specific major classes that are required for the certificate program (number of credits may vary).
2. A minimum of 16 semester hours of credit are required for all certificate programs. At least 50% of the required classes must be Dickinson State University classes.
3. The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.

Certificate of Completion

Dickinson State University offers the following Certificate of Completion Programs in which 15 semester hours of credit and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 are required.

• Accounting Technician
• Physical Science

Limits of Hours Acceptable Toward Graduation

Dickinson State University places limits on certain types of courses that may be used to fulfill graduation requirements for the Bachelor’s degree.

1. Limit of 30 semester hours of pass/fail (S/U). NOTE: Any pass/fail credits earned as a result of taking classes where a letter grade was not an option WILL NOT count towards the 30 credit maximum.
2. Limit of 30 semester hours of  Prior Learning Assessment credit.
3. Limit of 10 semester hours of Armed Service free elective credit.
4. Limit of 15 semester hours of CLEP/AP credit.
5. Limit of 6 semester hours of Service Learning credit.
6. Limit of 12 semester hours of internship
7. Limit of 16 hours of special topics/readings
8. Limit of 8 credits of peer tutoring

(NOTE: All credit limitations that apply to the Bachelor’s degree shall apply to the Associate’s degree at one-half the credit hours.)