General Graduation Requirements

Application for Graduation

Students pursuing a MASTERS degree may not submit an Application for Graduation until they have a minimum of 16 graduate semester hours of academic credit. Students pursuing a BACHELORS degree may not submit an Application for Graduation until they have a minimum of 80 semester hours of academic credit, students pursuing an ASSOCIATE degree may not submit an Application for Graduation until they have a minimum of 32 semester hours of academic credit, students pursuing a one-year CERTIFICATE or CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION program should submit their application during their first semester at DSU. Above totals INCLUDE in-progress credits.

Students should check their cumulative credit total via their unofficial transcript in Campus Connection. If the credit values indicated above have not been met when we receive the application, it will be returned to the student with instructions to re-submit the application after the required minimum credit hours have been earned.

Dickinson State University holds commencement exercises twice a year, at the end of the fall and spring terms. Students who have satisfied graduation requirements during the prior fall semester may participate in fall or the upcoming spring commencement. Spring graduates or students who need 12 or fewer credits to complete their degree during summer session, are eligible to participate in spring commencement exercises. 

Bachelor’s Degree

NOTE: Candidates for graduation must review Dickinson State University’s assessment requirements.

1. The student must earn a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit including 30 semester hours from Dickinson State University.
2. The student must complete the Dickinson State University 39-43 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 or Bachelor of Arts degree unless the major requires 56 or more credits. The minor must be a minimum of 21 semester hours, including 12 semester hours from Dickinson State University. A student cannot minor within their major field. A minor is not required if the student graduates with a double major. 
5. Bachelor of Arts graduates complete a minimum of eight credit hours of foreign language study. The eight credit hours can be in one language or in multiple languages.
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 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 a minimum of 80 semester hours of academic credit (Includes in progress 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. Examples of these activities include exit exams, portfolio presentations, research projects, or recitals.

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 15 semester hours of Elective Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) Grading. NOTE: S/U credits earned as a result of taking classes where a letter grade was not an option WILL NOT count towards the 15 credit maximum.
2. Limit of 30 semester hours of Competency Based Credit-Earning Options.
3. Limit of 10 semester hours of Armed Service free elective credit.
4. Limit of 12 semester hours of Service Learning credit.
5. Limit of 12 semester hours of internship
6. Limit of eight 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.)

Associate in Science Degree

1. The student must earn a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit including 15 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.
4. The student must complete 39-43 semester hours of general education courses (same as general education course requirements as required for a baccalaureate degree).
5. Submitting a formal application for graduation 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 a minimum of 32 semester hours of academic credit (Includes in progress credit).
6. 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.
7. Participation in assessment activities as outlined by the student's major program(s) is required for graduation. Examples of these activities include exit exams, portfolio presentations, research projects, or recitals.

Associate in Applied Science Degree

1. The student must earn a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit including 15 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.
4. The student must complete 15 semester hours of general education courses as required by the specific program
5. Submitting a formal application for graduation 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 a minimum of 32 semester hours of academic credit (Includes in progress credit).
6. 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.
7. Participation in assessment activities as outlined by the student's major program(s) is required for graduation. Examples of these activities include exit exams, portfolio presentations, research projects, or recitals.

Associate in Arts Degree

1. The student must earn a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit including 15 semester hours at Dickinson State University.
2. The student must complete 39-43 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.
4. Submitting a formal application for graduation 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 a minimum of 32 semester hours of academic credit (Includes in progress credit).
5. 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.
6. Participation in assessment activities as outlined by the student's major program(s) is required for graduation. Examples of these activities include exit exams, portfolio presentations, research projects, or recitals.

Certificate Program

1. The student must complete specific general education classes and major classes that are required for the certificate program (number of credits may vary).
2. A minimum of nine 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.
4. Submitting a formal application for graduation is required in order to be eligible to receive a Dickinson State University certificate. Students should submit their application for graduation during their first term of enrollment at DSU. 
5. Should a student complete the academic requirements of a certificate 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.

Certificate of Completion

1. Certificates of completion require eight or less semester hours.
2. 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.
4. Submitting a formal application for graduation is required in order to be eligible to receive a Dickinson State University certificate of completion. Students should submit their application for graduation during their first term of enrollment at DSU. 
5. Should a student complete the academic requirements of a certificate of completion 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.

Double Degree

To earn two four-year degrees (example: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Education), the student must complete all requirements with the exception of General Education for both degrees plus an additional 30 semester hours above the minimum for one degree (120 credit hours) to equal 150 semester hours. This policy is not applicable to the Bachelor of University Studies Degree regardless of the number of hours earned.

International students who wish to earn a second baccalaureate degree must provide official verification of the first baccalaureate degree and earn a minimum of 150 semester hours, of which 30 semester hours must be earned through Dickinson State University. All general education requirements, major requirements and degree requirements must be met according to the Dickinson State University catalog.

A student who has completed all of the academic requirements for two degrees but has not met the 150 credit minimum requirement may not avoid the 150 credit requirement by postponing the application for the second degree until a future semester.

A student who graduates with two (different) Dickinson State University degrees in a single term must have completed all of the major program requirements (with the exception of General Education) for both degrees; and the student must have earned a total of at least 150 academic credits. Students will be permitted to graduate with more than two degrees (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science) in any one semester.

A student who is awarded a Dickinson State University Bachelor of University Studies degree in one term and subsequently applies for a second Dickinson State University baccalaureate degree (B.A., B.A.S, B.B.A., B.S., B.S.E.D, B.S.N.) must have accumulated a minimum of 150 academic credits. (Exception: if the second degree is a Bachelor of Science in Education degree and the reason for not receiving the Bachelor of Science in Education as the student’s initial degree was due to PRAXIS or PORTFOLIO issues, then 150 minimum credits will be waived.)

To earn two associate degrees, the student must meet all requirements for both degrees plus an additional 11 semester hours of credit above the minimum for one degree. A student may earn a Bachelor’s degree and an Associate’s degree if the requirements for the Associate’s degree have been completed a minimum of one term prior to the completion of the Bachelor’s degree.

Double Majors

Students may graduate with two majors within a single degree (example: Bachelor of Arts in English and History) provided that the requirements are met for both majors and the baccalaureate degree. A minimum of 120 semester hours are required.

Composite Major

In order for a major to be listed as a Composite Major, its major curriculum must require the completion of a minimum of 56 semester hours of credit.

Catalog Years of Limitations

1. A student is under the governance of the academic catalog in effect upon matriculation to Dickinson State University.  A student may choose to move to the governance of the current catalog if the student has not had an academic "break" in their studies of two consecutive years or more.      
2. A student who has an academic “break” (has not completed a course at Dickinson State University) of two consecutive years or more, excluding summer sessions, must change to the University catalog which is in effect at the time the student resumed their studies.
3. A student may not complete a degree from an academic catalog that was put into effect more than six calendar years prior to their graduation date.
4. Students who elect to graduate with an Associate Degree (A.A.S., A.A., A.S.) and want to re-enroll at Dickinson State University to complete a baccalaureate degree may remain under the governance of their initial degree catalog so long as enrollment is continuous between the two degree programs.
5. If a new catalog is published since a student’s initial enrollment, a student may choose to graduate under the governance of the new catalog, or remain under the governance of initial enrollment catalog so long as continuous enrollment is maintained with no academic “break.”
6. Students who graduate with one degree (or double degrees) and then return to Dickinson State University for another degree must follow the specific program requirements printed in the most recently published catalog when they return for their additional degrees.

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 their 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.

Transcripted Academic Data “Frozen” at the Time of Degree Completion

Once graduated with a baccalaureate degree, Dickinson State University will not permit alteration to the course titles, grades, or GPA calculation of a student’s academic transcript for any reason, unless incorrect information was initially recorded as a result of misinformation received by the Director of Academic Records from a Dickinson State University faculty member or administrator.