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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

Graduation

Under the authority of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees, St. Cloud State University awards the Doctor of Education, the Specialist degree, the degrees of Master of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Music, Master of Engineering Management, Master of Social Work, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Elective Studies, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Elective Studies. A minimum total of 120 semester hours of credit is required for any four-year degree. A minimum total of 60 semester hours of credit is required for any two-year degree.

All baccalaureate candidates must have completed a minimum of 45 credits of coursework at the upper division (300-400) level.

Candidates for a Bachelor of Science degree in an education program must meet the following academic standards in order to qualify for graduation:

  1. General scholarship 2.50.
  2. Admission to teacher education.
  3. Successful completion of student teaching.

Candidates for non-teaching degrees must meet the following academic standards to qualify for graduation:

  1. General scholarship 2.00 or greater as determined by the department.
  2. Major field 2.00 or greater as determined by each department.
  3. Minor field 2.00.

Application for graduation forms are obtained in the Office of Records and Registration or can be accessed at www.stcloudstate.edu/registrar/students/graduation. Check the university academic calendar in this catalog for the application for graduation deadline for any specific semester.

Students should apply for graduation when they have accumulated approximately 80-90 credits, or near the end of the first semester of the junior year and have been officially accepted into a major program of study. This allows at least two semesters to correct any deficiencies which may be reported by the graduation audit.

Any student completing a major under two of the following degree designations, (B.A., B.A.S., B.S., B.F.A., or B.Mus.) may elect the degree designation of her/his choice. Majors or minors earned under the B.E.S. program may only be applied to a B.E.S. degree.

A student may receive two different degrees at the end of any given semester if the student has earned a minimum of 150 semester credits and has fulfilled all the requirements of both degrees.

Students returning for additional undergraduate work after completing an undergraduate degree at St. Cloud State University will be required to complete a minimum of 30 credits at St. Cloud State University to earn an additional (different) degree.

All 30 credits must be earned in residence unless the department requests that, for good reason, this requirement be waived. If less than 30 credits are earned, the major will be recorded but no new diploma will be issued or degree designated.

Students returning for additional undergraduate credit may not receive two diplomas for the same degree. The additional major will be listed on the permanent record. The permanent record (academic transcript) will list the student's major(s), minor(s), and area(s) of emphasis within the major or minor, if any.

Graduation with Honors

Students who complete an associate or baccalaureate degree program will be graduated with honors in accordance with the following:

Cum Laude—Awarded to graduates who have achieved a grade point average of at least 3.250 but less than 3.500.

Magna Cum Laude—Awarded to graduates who have achieved a grade point average of at least 3.500 but less than 3.750.

Summa Cum Laude—Awarded to graduates who have achieved a grade point average of at least 3.750.

Only course work completed at St. Cloud State University or through an approved off-campus program will be used to determine academic honors. To be eligible for consideration, graduates of associate degree programs must have been in residence for at least 1 semester and have completed a minimum of 30 credits at St. Cloud State University graded A-F; graduates of baccalaureate degree programs must have been in residence at least two semesters and have completed a minimum of 30 upper division (300-400) credits at St. Cloud State University graded A-F. Reminder: A minimum total of 45 credits of course work at the upper division (300-400) level is required for graduation from a baccalaureate degree program. No rounding up of grade point averages will be computed.