The University has established the minimum requirements that must be met to earn an undergraduate degree.  Specific requirements of academic majors are available from the academic department and from the respective Dean.

1. Graduation Requirement

   The requirements for graduation are:
   

   1. All degrees require a minimum AND maximum of 120 semester hours (BOG 1990-06-A)*
   2. At least 40 percent (48 hours) must be in general education.
   3. At least 40 percent (48 hours) must consist of upper level coursework.
   4. A minimum cumulative quality point average of 2.0 (unless otherwise stated by a specific department).
   5. A minimum quality point average of 2.0 in the major field (unless otherwise stated by a specific department).
   6. Successful completion of the Liberal Studies Program requirements.
   7. Successful completion of major program requirements.

   8. *For complete text of the Board of Governor's policies 1990-06-A and 1985-01, please go to the following web site:  http://www.sshechan.edu/BOGindex.htm

       

      * The link to view and print the university's graduation requirements for each major are are http://www.sru.edu/pages/10121.asp

2. Graduation Honors
   

   Effective with the May 2000 graduating class, regardless of the date of matriculation, to earn graduation honors, the following cumulative quality point average ** must be attained:
   

   Summa Cum Laude	3.800-4.000
   Magna Cum Laude	3.600-3.799
   Cum Laude	3.500-3.599

   • A minimum of 61 credits must be earned at Slippery Rock University.
   • These credits may include:  all credit course work; all credits earned through SRU's credit by exam program, including the NLN Mobility Profile II, administered by the Department of Nursing; SRU credit earned with a "P" grade; and credits earned as a visiting student at another SSHE institution.
   • Credits earned by any other form of credit by exam (AP, CLEP, PEP, DSST, and NLN---other than the Mobility Profile II), credits earned at other universities (transfer and transient) and non-SRU course work taken abroad will not count toward the 61 credit minimum.
   • No restrictions will apply to students who repeat grades of D, F, or W and who still meet the criteria for Honors at Graduation.

   **  The QPA used to recognize Honors at graduation in the commencement program is computed at the end of the semester preceding the actual term of graduation.  However, the student's transcript will indicate the honors that the student has attained after all course work has been completed.  Only undergraduates who are working on their first baccalaureate degree will qualify to receive Latin Honors.  Post baccalaureate students are not eligible for Latin Honors.

3. Residency Requirement
   

   To qualify for graduation, a student must complete the last 36 hours of credit for the Bachelor's Degree at Slippery Rock University.  Students must complete at least 24 hours of upper division courses at SRU and students must complete at least 12 hours in their major at SRU.  This does not include credits earned by exam that the student has attained.  Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the appropriate Dean's Office or the Office of Academic Records and Summer School.

4. Procedural Requirements for Obtaining a Degree
   

   Students must make formal application to the Office of Academic Records and Summer School by the end of the third week of the semester/term in which they expect to graduate.  A diploma fee is payable at that time.

5. Teaching Certification
   

   Eligible students should apply for a certificate and pay the certification fee at the time they apply for graduation.  Students who expect to teach in Pennsylvania must take a physical examination and have a chest x-ray or a tuberculin skin test during their senior year.  Arrangements for these must be made with the University Health Services at the beginning of the last semester of the senior year.  Completed teacher certification application must be returned to the Office of the Dean of the College of Education

   F. Modern Language Requirements

Students in Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree programs will demonstrate competency (103 course level)  in a modern language, as a graduation requirement.Some Bachelor of Science (BS) degree programs have this requirement. These credits may not be counted toward the Liberal Studies Program (see section on Liberal Studies). These credits do count in the 120 semester hours minimum required for the degree. Students completing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree who have completed the language competency (103 course level) can use any additional credits in the same language or another language in the Liberal Studies Program.  

Students not pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree but who successfully complete modern language courses may use their credits toward requirements in the Enrichment area of Cultural Diversity/Global Perspective area (Liberal Studies Program).  Freshmen with a high school background in a modern language are urged to take the placement test in language prior to registration for language courses. The Modern Language Department administers the exam.

G. Writing Across the Curriculum

Intensive writing courses are designated in the Master Class Schedule of course offerings with the symbol (#). Questions regarding this requirement should be addressed to the Office of the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences.

 All students who graduate from SRU must successfully complete two intensive writing courses in addition to satisfying the freshman composition requirement.