Academic Progress and Graduation

University Policy

To obtain a bachelor’s degree, most students must have completed a minimum of 128 credits and 32 courses. As a guide for completing the four-year undergraduate program, students should keep in mind that sophomore status usually is attained by satisfactorily completing 32 credits of coursework; junior status, 64 credits; senior status, 96 credits. The number may vary depending on the college of enrollment.

The individual schools and colleges of the University have specific academic requirements and standards for determining satisfactory completion of a program of study (e.g., grades, concentrations, divisional studies).

To graduate, students must apply to their school or college by the deadline stipulated by the school or college.

College of Communication Policy

It is the responsibility of all students in the College of Communication to be aware of the graduation and academic requirements. Copies are available at COM Student Services. Graduation requirements are detailed further in curriculum planning guides available at each COM department. Students are responsible for knowing the graduation requirements for their programs and their own status regarding fulfillment of these requirements.

An Application for Graduation must be filed one year before the expected date of graduation. The form is available at the Student Services office in COM Room 123.

In reckoning requirements for the degree, the unit is the semester course. A total of 32 courses and 128 semester credit hours (excluding physical education) are required for the degree. No more than 16 credits completed with the grade of D may be accepted for the degree. Students who have met the major course requirements are still required to complete 128 credits. Degrees must be completed within seven years after a student first matriculates. Credits received seven or more years before a student’s expected date of graduation are not transferable. An Application for Graduation must be filed one year before the expected date of graduation. The form is available at the Student Services office in COM Room 123.