Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

Curriculum Organization

Baccalaureate (or Bachelor’s) degree curricula are designed to help students demonstrate both general education learning outcomes and those of a major field of study.  Each degree curriculum is organized in two divisions: the lower division, comprising approximately the first two years of study and including classes numbered at the 1000 and 2000 level, and the upper division, in which the student pursues the major or area of special concentration selected.  During the first two years, students take prescribed courses in English, the arts, humanities, health and physical education, the social sciences and the natural sciences to complete the General Education component of the degree.  This broad spectrum of courses at the lower division level allows students to sample fields of interest and finalize decisions regarding majors before entering upper division coursework. When available, free electives allow students to explore content areas. Within upper division coursework, students complete the prescribed courses for major and minor fields.  Academic and faculty advisors will counsel and guide students to the most efficient way to reach general education and major requirements.

Dual Major

(Also referenced as double degree or double major.)

Students may earn a dual major (while currently enrolled) by completing all requirements for both majors.  A minimum of 124 hours must be completed for graduation with a minimum of 30 unduplicated semester credit hours for each major.  Total hours will vary depending upon the requirements for both majors. The student must choose which major will be considered the first major.  If duplicated courses are required for both majors, the advisor for the second major must make an appropriate substitution for the required course(s) needed in the second major as needed to reach the minimum of 30 unduplicated semester credit hours.  If the second major requires fewer than 30 hours, the advisor must specify courses which will make up the difference.  If the second major requires at least 30 unduplicated hours, no substitutions will be required.  The course substitutions must be communicated to the student and to the Office of the Registrar for an exception to be entered into the degree audit system.  Students may not choose General Studies or Vision Science as a dual major.  Students declaring a double major need not declare a minor.

English proficiency is required of all students graduating from NSU.  English proficiency consists of three components.  All three components must be successfully completed in order to demonstrate English proficiency.

Component 1. Student Placement

A. Students with high school deficiencies will be required to complete ENGL 0123 during the first semester of enrollment or successfully score at or above the qualifying score on the English placement exam.

B. All first-time entering students scoring less than 19 on the ACT-English sub-test and less than 3.25 high school GPA in English will be required to take the English placement exam.  Transfer students who have not completed ENGL 1113, English Composition I, will be required to take the English placement exam if their ACT-English sub-test is less than 19 and high school GPA in English is less than 3.25.

C. Students scoring above the qualifying score on the English placement exam will be allowed to enroll in ENGL 1113.

D. Students scoring below the qualifying score on the English placement exam must successfully complete ENGL 0123 with a grade of “C” or better prior to enrollment in ENGL 1113.

E. Students taking ENGL 0123 must take the English placement exam at the end of the course.  Students who do not pass the course with a grade of “C” or better must re-enroll in ENGL 0123 until they are successful in passing the course.

F. All students must complete Component 1 of English Proficiency (achieving a qualifying score on the English placement exam or passing ENGL 0123) within the first 24 hours.  Failure to meet this requirement may block registration with the exception of enrollment in ENGL 0123.

G. Students who are unsuccessful in passing ENGL 0123 are advised to undertake additional educational experiences to improve their skills in addition to continued enrollment in ENGL 0123 each semester until this requirement is satisfied.  These experiences may include but are not limited to:

a. attending tutorial sessions in a writing lab.

b. personal individualized study.

Component 2.  ENGL 1113 & 1213 completed with grades of “C” or better (OR demonstrated competency through prior learning credit.)

A. After completing ENGL 0123, all students must continue in the appropriate courses each succeeding semester until the English composition requirements are satisfied in full.

B. All students who have not completed ENGL 1113 English Composition I and ENGL 1213 English Composition II with a grade of “C” or better will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English composition by:

a. re-enrolling in ENGL 1113 and/or ENGL 1213 and passing with a “C” or better, or

b. passing the CLEP test for College Composition.

C. Students who take ENGL 1113 by CLEP will meet the requirements of Component 2 of English Proficiency by making a “C” or better in ENGL 1213. Students who successfully complete ENGL 1213 by CLEP will meet the requirements of Component 2 of English Proficiency.

D. All students should complete the English requirements at the earliest opportunity.  It is advisable for students to complete component 2 in the first 60 credit hours.

E. Writing ability of students will be assessed as part of the Mid-Level General Education assessment.

Component 3. Writing Intensive Experience in the Major

A. All students are required to complete a writing intensive experience in their major.

B. At a minimum, all students will experience at least one upper division course that has extensive writing assignments.

Note: English proficiency is a graduation requirement.  (Approved February 1992, Amended September 15, 1992, Amended February 17, 1994, Revised February 8, 1995 due to CEPC changes, Revised July 8, 1999, Revised March 23, 2004

Computer proficiency is a graduation requirement for all students.  Students should complete the requirement in the first 30 hours of coursework.  Transfer students are expected to have completed this requirement by the time they transfer to NSU.  Transfer students who have completed an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree at an Oklahoma community college or a community college in which NSU has an articulation agreement are considered to have met this requirement along with their general education curriculum.  Transfer students who have not completed an AA or AS degree and have not completed the computer proficiency requirement before entering NSU will be required to enroll in the appropriate Computer Proficiency course during the first semester of enrollment at NSU. 

Students must demonstrate computer proficiency, which includes the competent use of a variety of software and networking applications, through one of the following options:

1. Successfully completing a high school computer science course that meets the State Regents’ high school curricular requirements; OR

2. Satisfying NSU’s computer proficiency assessment; OR

3. Successfully completing CS/IS 1003 Computers in Modern Society or EDUC 4823 Emerging Technologies (for education majors only).

1. Degrees are conferred at the close of fall, spring and summer semesters.  Candidates for degrees must file an application for bachelor’s degrees.  Students must apply for graduation no later than the following dates:  August 1 for Fall, January 1 for Spring, and March 1 for Summer. Students should run a degree audit each semester and meet with their academic advisor to plan their schedule.
2. The minimum number of semester hours required for a degree is one hundred twenty-four, of which a maximum of 4 hours can be physical education activity courses.  A minimum of 60 hours, excluding physical education activity courses, must be taken at a baccalaureate degree granting institution.  At least forty of the required 124 must be upper division level (3000 and 4000 level) excluding physical education activity courses.
3. Students must earn a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 to attain a degree, excluding any courses repeated or reprieved as detailed in the State Regents’ Grading Policy and excluding physical education activity courses.  Students who enter with advanced standing or transfer credit must satisfy the additional requirement of earning a 2.0 GPA at this University (NSU).
4. At least 18 hours or fifty percent of the major, whichever is greater, must be satisfactorily completed at NSU.
5. A student must spend in residence at this University a minimum of thirty weeks with the completion of at least thirty semester hours exclusive of correspondence work and/or prior learning credit.
6. At least fifty percent of the major requirements on a bachelor’s degree program must be upper division courses (3000 and 4000 level).
7. No more than one-fourth of the requirements for the bachelor’s degree may be completed by correspondence, extension, and/or prior learning credit.
8. All grades for correspondence, incompletes, and for transcripts of work completed at other schools MUST be in the Office of the Registrar within two weeks following the close of the semester for the student’s name to remain on the Roster of Graduating Students.
9. SECOND BACHELOR’S DEGREE.  A second undergraduate degree may be earned by completing all required courses and grade point requirements for the degree (major).  All prior undergraduate coursework will be considered, and applicable course credit will meet the requirements for the additional degree.  A minimum of 30 additional semester hours in residence beyond the date of the most recently completed bachelor’s degree (minimum 154 total hours) is required.
10. State Regents’ policy guarantees that students transferring to an Oklahoma public four-year university with an associate in arts or associate in science degree (two-year degrees) from another Oklahoma public college will have satisfactorily completed all freshmen and sophomore general education requirements at the four-year university.  Some majors may require other specific general education courses as program prerequisites or program requirements.  If a student transfers to a university before completing an associate of arts or associate of science degree, the student must meet the general education requirements of the four-year university.
11. The catalog in effect at the time of the student’s initial full-time enrollment in an Oklahoma State System college or university shall govern lower-division prerequisites and general education requirements, provided that the student has had continuous enrollment.  The catalog in effect at the time the student officially declares a major will govern the degree requirements for the major and minor, provided that the student has had continuous enrollment.  Continuous enrollment will be defined as not being out of an Oklahoma State System college or university for more than two consecutive enrollment periods.  Students who have been out three semesters will be subject to any new degree requirements.  New minors are available for declaration regardless of the catalog term of the major.
12. Once a major has been inactivated, a student has three years to complete the degree.  A student may not declare an inactive major.  For further information, See Discontinued Programs section under Academic Information  .

Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree Program

The Accelerated Baccalaureate/Master’s degree pathway (ADP) allows high performing Northeastern State University undergraduate students an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the baccalaureate and master’s degrees at an accelerated pace. Undergraduate students accepted for the ADP may apply up to 12 graduate (5000 level) credit hours towards the completion of both the baccalaureate and master’s degree requirements. 

Visit the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree Program  link for a current listing of ADP programs along with information concerning ADP eligibility, conditions, and limitations of participation.

Students who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university may earn a second bachelor’s degree at NSU by completing all requirements for the degree (major), including at least 30 additional semester hours in residence beyond the date of the most recently completed bachelor’s degree.

Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution are considered to have met the English, American history, political science, and computer proficiency requirements.  The general education requirements for the second bachelor’s degree will be considered completed. However, if a course or courses from the general education requirements are prerequisites to courses required for the major of the second degree or are program prerequisites, these courses must be completed.

A major used for the first bachelor’s degree cannot be used as a major for the second bachelor’s degree.  A second bachelor’s degree with a major in General Studies is not available.

Degree Deadlines

Each student who expects to complete degree requirements must file an application for bachelor’s degree by March 1 for summer graduation, August 1 for fall graduation, and January 1 for spring graduation.  If requirements are not met, students must reapply for the appropriate semester.

In order for the degree to be posted in the semester for which the student applied, all documentation must be received in the Office of the Registrar within two weeks of the close of the semester.  If documentation is not received within the timeframe, the student will have to reapply for the next graduation conferral term.  Documentation may include:  official transcripts (mailed directly from the school) of coursework completed at other schools, capstone experiences, courses with incomplete grades changed to permanent grades, grade changes and/or course substitutions. 

Students must meet all degree requirements for graduation as outlined in the Bachelor’s Degree Requirements sections of this catalog.  Degrees are recorded on the student’s transcript. Diplomas will be mailed approximately twelve weeks after the conferral date.

Commencement

Degrees are conferred at the end of fall, spring and summer semesters.  Students completing degree requirements at the end of a summer term may participate in the spring commencement. Tahlequah campus graduation ceremonies are held during the fall and spring of each year and are open to all NSU students. The Broken Arrow campus graduation ceremony is held only during the spring. Broken Arrow students completing in the fall may attend the ceremony at the Tahlequah campus in December or may attend the Broken Arrow ceremony the following May.

Graduation with Honors

NSU recognizes bachelor’s degree candidates who demonstrate superior academic performance as evidenced by their grade point average (GPA).  To be eligible for such recognition, a candidate must have a minimum 3.40 NSU GPA and meet the grade point average outlined below for graduation with honors in all NSU courses completed and in all transfer coursework.

Commencement - Students whose GPA meets an honors designation the semester previous to the final semester will be recognized in the commencement program. 

Transcript and Diploma - Final determination of honors will be based upon all coursework completed for the degree and will be posted on the student’s transcript and diploma after successful completion of all degree requirements.

The honors designation and requisite overall grade point averages (not rounded) shall be:

Summa Cum Laude - 3.8 - 4.0
Magna Cum Laude - 3.6 - 3.79
Cum Laude - 3.4 - 3.59

Timelines and Procedures