Undergraduate Degree and Graduation Requirements

Policy Purpose

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The purpose of this policy is to define requirements for earning an undergraduate degree and graduating from East Tennessee State University (ETSU).

• Policy Statement

  1. Undergraduate Degree Requirements
     • Grades
       • Minimum overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0
       • Minimum GPA of 2.0 in each of the following at ETSU:
         • All courses
         • Major
         • Minor (if applicable)
       • Other published grade requirements for the degree program
     • Credits
       • All baccalaureate degrees require 120 credits unless approved by the ETSU Board of Trustees
       • At least:
         • 50 of the credits required for the degree must be earned at four-year colleges or universities
         • 25% of the total credits required for the degree must be earned through instruction offered by ETSU
         • Six credits in the major must be earned at ETSU
         • One foreign language course with a number of 2020 or higher with a grade of at least C- for the Bachelor of Arts degree.  Prerequisites could include courses numbered 1010, 1020, and/or 2010 to prepare for success in 2020.
       • Credits earned in remedial or developmental courses do not fulfill ETSU’s baccalaureate degree requirements.
     • General Education Requirements
       • Complete (41-42) semester hours in the following subject areas

     First Column	Second Column	Third Column	Fourth Column
     	Credits	Areas
     	6	Written Composition
     	3	Oral Communication
     	3	Literature
     	3	Fine Arts
     	3	Humanities Electives
     	6	Social and Behavioral Sciences
     	6	History*
     	8	Natural Sciences
     	3-4	Mathematics

     *Six (6) credits of American history or three (3) credits of American history and three (3) credits of Tennessee history. This will also meet a high school unit deficiency in history.

     Students who have completed an associate degree designed for transfer at a regionally accredited college or university have satisfied ETSU’s general education requirements.

     Transfer students from Tennessee Board of Regents community colleges without associate degrees who completed blocks of general education requirements at those schools have satisfied the corresponding blocks in ETSU’s general education core.

     • Other Requirements
     • Double Major
       • Meet the total requirements of each major
       • Minor not required
     • Double Degree
       • Meet the total requirements for each degree
       • Minor not required
     • Second Degree
       • Meet the requirements for the second degree program of study developed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the appropriate academic department or college
       • Minimum of 30 credits post-baccalaureate through instruction at ETSU
       • Minor not required
  2. Graduation Requirements
     • Graduation application form
     • Any required exit and major field exams
     • Successful completion of CSCI 1100 or equivalent (not applicable to second degrees)
     • Documentation of any course substitution or waiver if applicable
• Authority

   SACSCOC’s Principles of Accreditation: 9.2 (Program Length) and 9.4 (Institutional Credits for an Undergraduate Degree). TCA 49-7-110
• Definitions

  General Education

   
  A liberal education that includes 41 - 42 semester hours of courses from across the university that address the General Education goals of critical and creative thinking, effective communication, lifelong learning, conflict resolution, problem solving, and understanding and appreciating cultural diversity.

   
  Minor

   
  A secondary area of study outside of the major program of study with a structured curriculum composed of at least 18 credits; 9 credits must be at the 3000-level or above. 

   
  Double Major

   
  The simultaneous completion of two or more majors leading to the same degree designation (e.g. completion of a B.S. degree with majors in History and Political Science).

   
  Double Degree

   
  The simultaneous completion of two or more majors leading to different degree designations (e.g., B.A., B.S., B.B.A.).

   
  Second Degree

   
  The student has already earned a baccalaureate degree from ETSU or another college or university and is working to earn a second baccalaureate degree.

   

• Policy History

   Effective Date:   March 24, 2017

• Procedures

  There is no procedure associated with this policy.

• Procedure History

  Effective Date:   March 24, 2017

• Related Form(s)

  None

• Scope and Applicability