If you are a student that follows a different catalog year, see your department chair or the Office of Academic Records.

Graduation Requirements

Most of the pages that follow contain a variety of information regarding the academic requirements with respect to the completion of a degree program at Dickinson State University.  Every enrolled student will have access to personalized assistance (an appropriate academic advisor) and information (an official University catalog) related to their academic program thus ensuring that the student will be able to complete his or her degree within a reasonable length of time.

All students who graduate with a baccalaureate degree, associate degree, or awarded a certificate, must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.  Some programs require a minimum GPA that is higher than 2.00.

While the University guarantees that every student will have access to this type of valuable information and guidance, it is each individual student’s responsibility to carefully review the specific degree requirements of his/her academic program and the general graduation requirements of the University indicated in this document and to take advantage of that assistance and guidance on a frequent basis, and thus, ultimately, to be solely responsible for completing the requirements needed to fulfill their degree requirements.

General Graduation Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree
NOTE:  All candidates for graduation (Bachelor’s Degree only) must review Dickinson State University’s assessment requirements. (See page 32)
1.         The student must earn a minimum of 128 semester hours of credit including 32 semester hours from Dickinson State University.
2.         The student must complete the Dickinson State University 39 semester hours of General Education requirements for a baccalaureate degree.
3.         The student must earn a major of at least 32 semester hours of credit including 18 semester hours from Dickinson State University.
4.         The student must earn a minor if the student is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education, Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of Science degrees, unless the student completes a Composite Major. The minor must be a minimum of 21 semester hours, including 12 semester hours from Dickinson State University. Teaching minors must have a minimum of 24 semester hours including 12 hours from DSU.
            NOTE: Exceptions to this policy exist in some areas:EXCEPTION #1 - If the major consists of 56 or more credit hours, no minor is required. Teaching minors must have a minimum of 24 semester hours including 12 hours from DSU.
            EXCEPTION #2 - A minor is not required if the student graduates with a double major.
5.         All bachelor of Arts degree graduates must complete 16 semester hours in on foreign language.
6.         The student must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 as well as a GPA of 2.0 in the major field of study.
            (NOTE: Some programs, such as education and nursing, require a higher GPA.)
7.         The student must earn a minimum of 32 semester hours of upper level credit courses (300-400).
            (NOTE: Lower level courses (100-200) which have been taken at another college (two-year or four-year) and for which credit was granted to meet a 300-400 major or minor requirement will not count towards meeting this upper level degree requirement.)
8.         Once graduated with a baccalaureate degree, Dickinson State University will not permit any alteration to the course titles, grades, or GPA calculation of a student’s academic transcript for any reason, unless incorrect information was initially recorded as a result of misinformation received by the registrar from a Dickinson State University faculty member or administrator.
9.         Submitting a formal application for graduation at the Office of Academic Records is required in order to be eligible to receive a Dickinson State University diploma. Should a student complete the academic requirements of a degree program during one semester but not make formal application for graduation until a subsequent semester, the graduation date printed on the transcript will reflect the date on which the academic requirements were met. However, the date on the diploma will reflect Dickinson State University’s next official graduation date (fall or spring).
10.       It is highly recommended that 16 hours of a foreign language be taken by students considering graduate school.

General Graduation Requirements
Associate in Science Degree
1.         The student must earn a minimum of 64 semester hours of credit including 16 semester hours at Dickinson State University.
2.         The student must earn a minimum of five semester hours of credit in the major area of study at Dickinson State University.
3.         The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00, as well as a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major field of study.
4.         The student must complete 39 semester hours of General Education courses (same as General Education course requirements as required for a baccalaureate degree).

General Graduation Requirements
Associate in Applied Science Degree
1.         The student must earn a minimum of 64 semester hours of credit including 16 semester hours at Dickinson State University.
2.         The student must earn a minimum of five semester hours of credit in the major area of study at Dickinson State University.
3.         The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00, as well as a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major field of study.
4.         The student must complete 17 semester hours of general education courses as required by the specific program.

General Graduation Requirements
Associate in Arts Degree
1.         The student must earn a minimum of 64 semester hours of credit including 16 semester hours at Dickinson State University.
2.         The student must complete 39 semester hours of General Education courses (same General Education course requirements as required for a baccalaureate degree).
3.         The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.

General Graduation Requirements
Certificate Program
The student must complete all General Education classes and specific major classes that are required for the certificate program (number of credits may vary).
A minimum of 16 semester hours of credit are required for all certificate programs.  At least 50% of the required classes must be DSU classes.
The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.

Limits of Hours Acceptable Toward Graduation

Dickinson State University places limits on certain types of courses that may be used to fulfill graduation requirements for the Bachelor’s degree.
1.         Limit of 16 semester hours of Independent Study credits.
2.         Limit of 30 semester hours of pass/fail (S/U). NOTE: Any pass/fail credits earned as a result of taking classes where a letter grade was not an option WILL NOT count towards the 30 credit maximum.
3.         Limit of 30 semester hours of experiential learning credit.
4.         Limit of 10 semester hours of Armed Service credit.
5.         Limit of 15 semester hours of CLEP/AP credit.
6.         Limit of 12 semester hours of Attached credit.
7.         Limit of 6 semester hours of Service Learning credit.
8.         Limit of 20 semester hours of credit from institutions whose accreditation is nationally and/or regionally recognized, but is other than NCA accreditation.

(NOTE: All credit limitations that apply to the Bachelor’s degree shall apply to the Associate’s degree at one-half the credit hours.)

A STUDENT HAVING UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES MAY APPEAL THE ACADEMIC POLICIES OF DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY BY SUBMITTING A WRITTEN APPEAL TO THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.