Graduation Requirements

• You must complete all degree requirements (the Liberal Arts Curriculum, major(s), minor(s), teacher licensure) as designated in the catalog of the academic year in which your primary major is declared.
  • NOTE: A change from one major to another (or a change of one concentration to another within the same major) means you will be subject to the most current catalog when you make that change.
• Each catalog is in effect for six years at a time.
• At the expiration of a catalog’s six-year time limit, you may select any subsequent catalog up to and including the current one, provided you are or were in attendance at the university during that academic year.
• You may change at any time to any subsequent catalog year as long as you attended UNC during that academic year.
• This change requires a submission of a Academic Program Change Form. Please contact your advisor to initiate the change request.
• If your catalog has expired, you must also request submission of a major/minor change form to update your catalog.
• If your program does not exist in the desired subsequent catalog, you must instead declare a new program, also using the major/minor change form. Please contact your advisor to initiate the change request.
• If your major or minor has changed names in the subsequent catalog, you must obtain signature approval from the academic department of the new major or minor.

Degree Conferral Policy

Academic records will be locked upon degree conferral. Under no circumstances will changes be made to the academic record after degree conferral.

When all degree requirements have been completed, a degree must be awarded and completed in the term that it is brought to the attention of the Office of the Registrar. Students cannot request a delay in awarding a degree once all degree requirements have been satisfied.

Graduation with honors is determined on the basis of a student’s cumulative UNC grade point average at time of degree completion: 3.90-4.00 for Summa Cum Laude, 3.80-3.89 for Magna Cum Laude, and 3.70-3.79 for Cum Laude. This GPA must be based off of at least 56 semester hours of UNC credit.

Each student’s record will be reviewed at the start of their semester of graduation; students with qualifying cumulative grade point averages and the minimum 56 semester hours of UNC credit (including coursework enrolled in during the final semester) will be recognized at the commencement ceremony.

Students who meet the qualifications upon completion of their degree (including grades earned during the final semester) will have their Latin honors designated on their diploma and official transcript.

Students graduating with Latin honors are invited to wear a blue and gold cord during commencement for recognition. Their cords will be available at Commencement prior to graduation. Please remember that final Latin Honor designations are pending receipt of final grades and calculation of your final cumulative GPA.

In order to qualify for Latin honors and have them recognized at graduation, you must have 56 semester hours of UNC credit (including your final semester) and achieve the necessary cumulative grade point average (see below). Upon successful completion of all graduation requirements, the honors designation will also be indicated on your transcript.

• Summa Cum Laude
  • 3.90 – 4.00
• Magna Cum Laude
  • 3.80 – 3.89
• Cum Laude
  • 3.70 – 3.79

Course Substitution
Any program course requirement, as approved through the curriculum process and listed in the catalog that is replaced/substituted by another course. All course substitutions must ensure the maintenance of academic program integrity and should be in the same area as the required course or in a closely related field. Course substitution decisions are made only by the department in which your major or minor is declared. Additionally, course substitutions have direct academic impact on other UNC courses. Academic impact must be considered when a request for course substitution is made.

Course Waiver
Any program course requirement, as approved through the curriculum process and listed in the catalog, that is deemed unnecessary to be completed by an individual student due to the student’s non-course experiences and/or demonstrated existing knowledge. All course waivers must ensure the maintenance of academic program integrity. Course waiver decisions are made only by the department in which your major or minor is declared. Academic impact must be considered when a request for course waiver is made.

A maximum of 30 semester credit hours in correspondence and/or continuing education courses will be accepted toward graduation.

All correspondence courses and/or transfer work must be completed, received, graded, and recorded by the end of the semester of graduation.

A major is a collection of courses in your declared area of primary academic study which, when accompanied by appropriate supporting courses, leads to a degree. Majors are recorded on your permanent record. The requirements for a major are specified in the catalog of the academic year in which you declared your major.

Certain courses are required for each major, but electives may be selected from a range of alternatives prescribed by the program. It’s not uncommon for students starting out to be unsure of which major they’re interested in, so you may enter as “Exploring.” You’ll be advised by SOAR so you’ll be ready to declare a major by the time you’ve completed 30 credit hours toward graduation, including transfer credit.

Changing your major or concentration area
Undergraduate students may transfer from one major to another by contacting the department advisor of the specific major, minor, licensure, or endorsement. Students will need to determine with the advisor if they meet the requirements of the new program. Please note: A change of concentration area constitutes a change of major. If you’re changing majors, you must meet with an academic advisor in the newly declared major to obtain a PIN.

A concentration area includes specified courses that provide a particular focus within a major. concentrations areas for majors are recorded on the student’s academic record.

Minors
An academic minor involves less extensive concentration in a discipline but still imposes specific requirements. An undergraduate minor is a specific set of courses in a subject area or academic discipline. A minor does not alone lead to an academic degree, but may be required by some majors. A minor differs from a concentration area in that a minor is not a focus within the student’s major.

The requirements for a minor are specified in the catalog of the academic year in which the student declares a first major.

Completing a major/minor
To complete your major at UNC, you’ll need to earn a minimum of nine upper-division UNC credits (300-400) or UNC-approved study abroad credits (300-400) in your major.

To complete a minor, you’ll need to earn a minimum of six upper-division UNC credits (300-400) or UNC-approved study abroad credits in that minor.

A maximum of 12 credit hours of coursework can be shared between a major and a minor. Exceptions to this policy may be found in the requirements for individual programs as described in the UNC catalog.

You must meet all requirements and pass all the courses required by the school/college or program of your major/minor. These requirements vary and are specifically stated in the section of this catalog that summarizes each academic program offerings.

We strongly encourage you to work closely with your assigned faculty advisor in selecting Liberal Arts Curriculum courses, major and minor offerings, and elective courses from other disciplines. If you have more than one major or minor you are encouraged to see advisors in each area of study prior to course registration. If you’re an “Exploring” or selected “”Seeking”” majors, you’ll be advised by Soar.

Official transcripts from all colleges and universities containing transfer credit must be received by the Office of the Registrar before the semester of graduation. Here are instructions about submitting transfer credit to UNC.

Course credit earned within 10 years before your bachelor’s degree is to be granted may be applicable toward your UNC degree at the discretion of the academic department for the course subject matter.

AP course credit earned 10 years before your bachelor’s degree is to be granted may be applicable toward your UNC degree at the discretion of the academic department for the course subject matter.

Here is more information about AP, IB, SAT/ACT, CLEP, Military and Teacher Cadet credit.

You must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in UNC courses, either online or in person. In addition, 20 of the last 30 credit hours of a degree program must be earned in UNC courses. Exceptions to this residency policy may be found in the requirements for individual programs as described in the UNC Catalog.

For more information on Concurrent Degrees and Double Degrees, please visit the UNC Catalogs. Double Degrees and Financial Aid.

Only coursework that is required for a degree will count towards your enrollment status for Financial Aid. Additionally, if you have completed the degree requirements for a single degree, even if you have not applied for graduation, you are no longer eligible for Title IV aid for that program. The fact that you might be getting a dual degree and have not completed the requirements for the second degree does not change this.

You may, in the last semester of study for one degree, register for graduate courses that exceed the requirements for that degree, provided that your application for admission to the next higher degree program is accepted before the start of the final semester. If you have been admitted to the program for the next higher degree at UNC, you must complete “A Petition to Count Work on the Next Higher Degree” that may be obtained from the Graduate School, (970) 351-2831.