XI. Graduation and Degrees

1. In order to earn a baccalaureate degree, students must successfully complete at least 120 semester credit hours, and more in most programs. The particular requirements in each college or school are listed under each program in this Bulletin. A minimum of 30 semester hours in residence at the University of Portland is required for a degree. Normally, these 30 semester hours must be those which immediately precede the completion of degree requirements. It is expected that students will complete all of the upper-division courses in their major at the University of Portland. However, the deans of the schools or colleges may accept up to 25 percent of the upper-division major course requirements in transfer from other accredited institutions. For those students completing more than one major or minor at the University of Portland, the deans or their representatives of the schools or college may apply upper division courses required of a student's major to satisfy up to 25 percent of the requirements of a second major or minor. The same rule applies to sharing upper division courses between minors. Students seeking a second baccalaureate degree from the University concurrent with the first degree are required to complete a minimum of 30 additional semester hours at the University and fulfill the common course requirements of the college or school in which the second degree is sought.  Students who are admitted to the University to pursue a second baccalaureate degree after completing a first degree at the University or another accredited institution must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours at the University and must fulfill the requirements for any prerequisites as well as the common course requirements of the college or school in which the second degree is sought.  If the first degree is from another accredited institution, some courses from the University Core Curriculum may also be required.
2. In addition to satisfying the above requirements, students must have a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.0 in courses taken at the University of Portland, and a 2.0 average in their major field.
3. The undergraduate and graduate degrees listed elsewhere in this Bulletin are granted by the University through the College of Arts and Sciences and the various schools. (For master’s degree requirements, refer to the Graduate School chapter of this Bulletin.
4. Eligible candidates for graduation should file an application for degree with the registrar the semester prior to the semester in which they expect to graduate but no later than the date specified in the academic calendar.
5. Although a number of administrative and faculty advisors are ready to help students in planning and checking the progress of their degree program, the final responsibility for completing all requirements for a degree rests with the student. If a student has not satisfied all of the requirements, the degree for that student will be withheld pending adequate fulfillment.