Bachelor Degree Requirements For Graduation

To receive a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, students must do the following: 

1. Declare a major offered at Cottey College. Contact the Office of Academic Records for more information.
2. Complete the degree requirements that are published in the catalog for either the academic year of the student’s first regular enrollment at Cottey College, the academic year in which the student declares a major, or in effect the last year in residence at Cottey College.
   1. This catalog’s requirements for the baccalaureate degree include the following:
      1. Earn 120 semester hours of course credit, with a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in the hours presented for graduation.
         1. No more than 8 hours of credit in physical activity/dance activity courses may be counted toward the minimum 120 credit hours required for graduation.
         2. Thirty hours of the last 40 hours earned toward graduation must be taken at Cottey, excluding Study Abroad.
         3. The student must be in residence at Cottey (excluding Study Abroad) during at least two semesters of the third and fourth year, combined.
      2. Complete an approved academic major as certified by the department and receive at least a C- in the senior capstone course (or program equivalent) in the major. Programs may set a higher standard at their discretion.
      3. Complete General Education Core Requirements.
   2. The degree will be conferred upon completion of all requirements.
3. Meet all financial obligations.
4. Submit an “Intent to Graduate” form to the Office of Academic Records no later than the last day of classes one year prior to the anticipated graduation date.
5. Students may earn multiple majors by completing all general and specific requirements for multiple baccalaureate majors, after which a single diploma is awarded. There may be no more than twelve (12) credit hours of shared courses between the requirements of the majors. Students may choose two majors within two different degree types (e.g., a major in a Bachelor of Arts program and a major in a Bachelor of Science program). Students with multiple majors must declare a primary major. The degree type (B.A. or B.S.) of the primary major is the degree shown on the diploma. All majors may be listed on the diploma. Multiple majors do not constitute a dual or second degree. Multiple majors may require additional semesters to complete.
6. Dual Degree. Students may earn dual degrees by completing the general and specific requirements that pertain to two degree programs (e.g., English and Business) and completing a minimum of 150 semester hours. The student must complete a minimum of 18 hours unique to each major (e.g., 18 hours of major requirements for B.S. in Biology that are different from 18 hours of major requirements for B.A. in Organizational Leadership). The student will receive a diploma for each degree. A dual-degree program may require additional semesters to complete.
7. Sequential Degree. Students who have earned a previous bachelor’s degree, either from Cottey College or another regionally accredited postsecondary institution, may apply to pursue a sequential degree in a different area of study. On admission, credits awarded toward the previous degree will be evaluated by the Office of Academic Records for acceptance toward the sequential degree and the new major. All students admitted for a sequential degree are required to complete all remaining requirements for the major, complete a minimum of 30 credit hours over and above the first bachelor’s degree, complete at least 24 of the 30 credit hours taken at Cottey at the 300-level or above, and earn a 2.0 or better cumulative grade point average.
8. NOTE: A student who is absent from Cottey College for one year or more and returns to finish their degree may elect to meet the degree requirements in effect the year of return to the College.