Northeastern State University

Academic Information

General Degree Regulations

1. Degrees are conferred at the close of fall and spring semesters. Candidates for degrees must file applications during the previous term in which they expect to complete requirements for the degree.
2. Students must request a final degree check once they have completed 85 credit hours. Forms are available in each college office.
3. The minimum number of semester hours required for a degree is one hundred twenty four, of which a maximum of 4 hours can be physical education activity courses. A minimum of 60 hours excluding physical education activity courses must be taken at a baccalaureate degree granting institution. At least forty of the required 124 must be of senior college level (3000 and 4000 level) excluding physical education activity courses.
4. A student must have twice as many grade points as semester hours of credit attained for a minimum graduation/retention GPA of 2.0 excluding any courses repeated or reprieved as detailed in the State Regents’ Grading Policy and excluding physical education activity courses. Students who enter with advanced standing or transfer credit must satisfy the additional requirements of earning twice as many grade points as semester hours (2.0 GPA) attained at this University (NSU). (For description of grade points, see Undergraduate Grade-Point Calculations.)
5. At least 15 of the final 30 hours applied toward the degree or at least 50 percent of the hours required by the institution in the major field must be satisfactorily completed at the awarding institution.
6. A student must spend in residence at this University a minimum of thirty weeks with the completion of at least thirty semester hours exclusive of correspondence work.
7. Fifty percent of the major requirements on a bachelor’s degree program must be upper division courses (3000 and 4000 level). Eighteen hours, or half of the major, whichever is greater, must be taken at NSU. At least one-half of the upper division requirements for a major must be taken in residence.
8. No more than one-fourth of the requirements for the bachelor’s degree may be completed by correspondence, extension, and/or extra-institutional credit.
9. All grades for correspondence, incompletes, and for transcripts of work completed at other schools must be in the office of Admissions and Records within one week following the close of the semester for the student’s name to remain on the Roster of Graduating Students.
10. Second Bachelor's Degree. A second undergraduate degree may be earned by completing all required courses and grade point requirements for the degree (major). All prior undergraduate course work will be considered, and applicable course credit will meet the requirements for the additional degree. A minimum of 30 additional semester hours in residence beyond the most recently completed bachelor’s degree (minimum 154 total hours) is required.
11. Students who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree from another college or university may earn a second bachelor’s degree by completing the required general education courses and required courses for the degree (major), including at least 30 additional semester hours in residence beyond the first bachelor’s degree.
12. The catalog in effect at the time of the student’s initial full-time enrollment in a State System college or university shall govern lower-division prerequisites and general education requirements, provided that the student has had continuous enrollment. The catalog in effect at the time the student completes a degree plan will govern the degree requirements for the major and minor, provided that the student has had continuous enrollment. Continuous enrollment will be defined as not being out of a State System college or university for more than two consecutive enrollment periods. Students who have been out three semesters must file a new degree plan and will be subject to any new degree requirements.