Undergraduate Requirements for Degree/Award

Policy

Baccalaureate Degree

To be eligible for graduation with a baccalaureate degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato, a student:

1. Must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours; some programs may require more than 120 credits. Developmental level course credits do not apply toward the completion of a baccalaureate degree.
2. Must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 including all course credits completed at Minnesota State Mankato and all course credits transferred and accepted from other post-secondary higher education institutions.
3. Must have all undergraduate degree requirements finalized (grades of I, IP, PE, or Z may not be present on the permanent record for the term in which the student intends to graduate.
4. Must complete at least 40 semester credit hours of upper-division (300-400) course work.
5. Must complete the Minnesota State Mankato General Education program or the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum.
6. Must complete the Minnesota State Mankato Diverse Cultures requirement.
7. Must complete the Minnesota State Mankato Writing-Intensive requirement.
8. Must not exceed 25% or more of total degree credits of Pass (P)/No Credit (NC) grades.
9. For all degree programs, completion of a major and a minor in the same subject matter/discipline (50% overlap in coursework (credits) is not permitted). The requirement for a minor is waived if a student is completing a double major. Some majors do require specific minors to be completed. A certificate (minimum 16 credits) may be used in place of a minor.
10. Completion of a double major in the same subject matter/discipline (50% overlap in coursework (credits) is not permitted).
11. Students must complete all degree requirements under a single undergraduate catalog. An exception may be made for the addition of new majors or minors to the university undergraduate catalog.
12. Must earn at least 30 credit hours from Minnesota State Mankato.
13. Minnesota State University, Mankato University will allow a maximum of 60 credits of prior learning to satisfy a student’s undergraduate degree requirements, of which no more than 32 credits may come from credit by examination. Refer to University Policy – “Credit for Prior Learning.”

Associate of Arts Degree

To be eligible for graduation with an Associate of Arts (AA) degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato, a student:

1. Must earn at least 60 credit hours. Developmental level course credits do not apply toward an associate’s degree.
2. Must complete the Minnesota State Mankato General Education program or the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum.
3. Must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 including all course credits completed at Minnesota State Mankato and all course credits transferred and accepted from other post-secondary higher education institutions.
4. Must have all undergraduate degree requirements finalized (grades of I, IP, PE, or Z may not be present on the permanent record for the term in which the student intends to graduate.
5. Must not exceed 15 credit hours of Pass (P)/No Credit (NC) grades.
6. Must earn at least 20 credit hours from Minnesota State Mankato.
7. Must graduate under the degree requirements identified in a catalog of no more than six academic years preceding the date of graduation.
8. Maximum allowable credit for prior learning will be recognized as a reasonable proportion of the credits required to complete the associate of arts degree program. Refer to University Policy – “Credit for Prior Learning

Undergraduate Certificate

An undergraduate certificate is awarded upon completion of a 9 to 30 credit academic program.  Developmental level course credits do not apply toward to the completion of an undergraduate certificate.  To be eligible for an undergraduate certificate award from Minnesota State University, Mankato, a student must earn at least one-third of the award credits from Minnesota State Mankato.

Graduation with Honors

To qualify for graduation with honors (Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Summa Cum Laude), a student:

1. Must meet all requirements for a baccalaureate or associate of arts degree.
2. Must have the appropriate minimum cumulative (including transfer credits) grade point average (GPA) to satisfy honor requirements.
   • Cum Laude: minimum cumulative GPA of 3.40
   • Magna Cum Laude: minimum cumulative GPA of 3.60
   • Summa Cum Laude: minimum cumulative GPA of 3.80

The official university transcript will carry the appropriate honors designation based on all work completed at the University.

For the purposes of University Commencement, recognition of graduation with honors for the commencement ceremony is based upon all work completed by March 15 of the academic year for the May commencement ceremony and by November 1 for the December commencement ceremony.

Applying for Graduation

Students should apply for graduation following procedures outlined by Registration and Academic Records on the University website.

Participation in a university commencement ceremony is a separate application process. Students should follow procedures outlined on the University website. Commencement is the ceremony which celebrates the completion of a degree. However, participation in a commencement ceremony does not imply that a student has officially completed all degree requirements.

Catalog Time Limit

Graduating under the requirements of an undergraduate catalog extends no longer than six academic years from the term of the student’s original enrollment.

Note: While specific requirements for a degree may expire or change, students never “lose” the college credits they have earned. A student may have to take additional course work or fulfill different requirements to obtain a degree under a new catalog.

Conferral of Degree Date

A student will be awarded the graduation date for the term in which degree requirements, including submission of supporting documents, have been met. Although course work may have been completed in a prior term, the degree will be awarded for the term in which all academic and administrative requirements have been fulfilled. 

Related Policy and Procedures:

• MnSCU 3.36.1

Procedure

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Rationale

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