Graduation Requirements

Residence Requirements

Of the last 40 credits applied to meet graduation requirements, 32 must be taken in residence at Idaho State University. Resident credit is allowed for work taken at ISU Adult Education Centers. At least 16 upper division credits directly applicable to the major area of study and/or the degree sought, exclusive of electives, must be taken while in residence on the ISU campus. Certain pre-professional curricula allow completion of the fourth year in a professional school. In these cases the last 32 credits of work taken before transfer to the professional school must be in residence on the ISU campus.

Credit Requirements

At least 128 credits are required for graduation with a bachelor's degree. At least 36 of the credits counted toward graduation must be in upper division courses carrying 300 or 400 numbers. Sixteen of these credits must be earned in courses in the department of the student's major concentration.

Of the credits transferred from a junior college no more than half the number required for graduation in a given four-year curriculum or the first four years of a longer program may be applied to meet the requirements of the curriculum. (70 credits will be allowed for Idaho Junior College transfer students.) Transferred courses with grades of D may be used to meet course requirements for graduation unless the department in which the student is majoring requires that the courses be retaken. The department may refuse the application toward graduation of any transfer course in which the student has received a D grade.

Graduation requirements may be met by no more than the number of credits in certain groups as listed below.

48 credits by examination
32 credits in experiential learning
16 credits of correspondence courses (see Alternative Credit Opportunities for specific Information)
32 credits in business or courses commonly available in a school of business, unless the student is earning a Bachelor of Business Administration.
8 credits in organized music (Music majors may count 8 credits of organized music as free electives in addition to 50 credits)
8 credits in non-sectarian courses in religious education
8 credits in physical education activity courses
8 credits in speech and drama activity
4 credits in autotutorial foreign language courses.

It is further stipulated that not more than a total of 12 credits from the last five of the above may be counted.

Candidates for bachelors' degrees may elect to fulfill degree requirements as outlined in any one catalog in effect during their dates of registration for university credit at ISU with the following exceptions:

1. Students not enrolled in the university for five years or more must meet degree requirements as outlined in the catalog in effect at the date of their re-enrollment or any subsequent catalog in effect during their dates of registration for university credit.

2. If a major program is discontinued by the university and the State Board of Education, students enrolled will be assisted in transferring to an equivalent program in the state. If there is no similar program within the state, currently enrolled students will be permitted to complete the program in accordance with existing graduation requirements.

Degrees, diplomas, or certificates may not be granted unless all requirements are fulfilled. A degree, diploma, or certificate which is awarded in error, or upon fraudulent claims, will be withdrawn immediately and the student record corrected accordingly.

Grade Requirements

An accumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher is required for graduation. Certain allowances in the calculation of the average may be possible when a curriculum is changing or courses are repeated.

In addition, a grade point average of at least 2.0 is required for all courses taken at ISU and those required by the department in which the major or minor is sought.

Individual departments may require a higher grade point average.

Honors Designation at Graduation

Students who secure minimum grade point averages of 3.33 and also are in the top 10% of their respective college's graduating class are designated as graduating with honors. Those in the top 5% graduate with high honors. Honors designations must be approved by the student's major department and dean.

Application for Graduation

Students planning to graduate should apply for graduation one semester before all requirements are completed. To obtain applications for graduation and to pay the $20 graduation/diploma fee, contact the Office of Registration and Records. The application should be completed by the student and left with the graduation clerk in the registrar's office.

Deadlines

Applications for students planning to graduate in December or May will not be accepted after the first two weeks of the semester. For Students planning to graduate during summer session, applications will not be accepted after the last day of spring semester.

All transfer work, including correspondence, must be received in the Office of Registration and Records no later than four weeks after graduation.

All incomplete (I) or in-progress (IP) grades received in ISU courses must be cleared and the change of grade forms received in the Office of Registration and Records no later than two weeks after graduation. Students who apply on time will be notified by the registrar's office of any course or credit deficiencies. The graduation application must be approved by the student's major department chairperson and the college dean before the diploma will be granted.

Names of the candidates will appear on the graduation lists and diplomas as they appear on the student's transcript.