Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

Matriculated students are required to meet the graduation requirements of the most recently published Catalog at the time the chosen degree program is begun. These requirements will be in effect for a period of 7 academic years beginning with the term of initial enrollment in the chosen degree program, whether or not enrollment is continuous.

Students who do not complete all degree requirements within the 7 academic year time frame must meet current requirements as described in the current Catalog when continuing or in the most recently published Catalog at the time the Re-enrollment form is submitted to the Registrar’s Office. Students have the choice of meeting the core curriculum requirements of the current Catalog or according to their original Catalog.

Students who change their major(s) must meet all requirements for the new major(s) as described in the most recently published Catalog at the time the Curriculum Change Request Form or the Re-enrollment form is submitted to the Registrar’s Office. Students in this situation have the choice of meeting the core curriculum requirements according to the Catalog in effect at the time of the major change or according to their original Catalog.

University of Northwestern reserves the right to change the curriculum if mandated by an outside agency such as the State Board of Teaching.

The cumulative grade point average must be at least 2.00 for all course work completed at University of Northwestern.

For a Bachelor’s degree or an Associate degree, a minimum of 30 credits must be earned at Northwestern. For a Certificate in Bible, a minimum of 15 credits must be earned at Northwestern.

A minimum of 50 percent of major and minor course work must be completed at Northwestern. An exception is allowed for majors or minors requiring off-campus study transfer coursework; transfer credits earned at the required off-campus program/institution will not count toward the maximum 50 percent allowable transfer credits in the major/minor.

Credits taken at other institutions considered to be upper level at University of Northwestern will be included in the 40 credit upper level requirement for graduation.

Courses in a major may not be counted as electives in a minor.
The only courses jointly applicable to a major and a minor are those specifically required in both the major and the minor. The Bible component of the curriculum is considered a major.
Students who are pursuing a Bachelor’s degree and taking graduate-level courses of a concentration that is also offered as a graduate certificate will be awarded the concentration (or electives if not pursuing specific majors).
A maximum of 50% of graduate degree credits, which includes graduate certificates, may be earned as an undergraduate student to comply with Higher Learning Commission policy.

Students may choose which commencement ceremony they will participate in with the following restrictions: Individuals are eligible for participation in the December commencement exercises if all of their graduation requirements will be completed by the last day of fall semester. Students may participate in the May commencement ceremony if they have completed all graduation requirements by the last day of the spring semester, or if they have a reasonable plan for completing any remaining requirements by no later than the beginning of the fall semester following commencement. Participation in commencement does not ensure the candidate has satisfied graduation requirements.

The Registrar is authorized to make decisions on a student-by-student basis in consultation with appropriate faculty members and administrators.
In order for degrees or certificates to be awarded, students must have successfully completed all degree or certificate requirements and have submitted an application for graduation.
Information on a related topic of Graduation Fees may be found in Confluence under the Registrar section.