• Application for Graduation
• Additional Information
• Degree Requirements
• Degree Program Form Worksheet (PDF)
• Filing Procedures
• General Education Requirements
• Graduation Approval

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Degree Requirements

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During the first semester of the junior year, all students seeking a baccalaureate degree must file an approved degree program containing at least 128 semester hours of college-level coursework. The degree program serves as an agreement between the University and the student regarding the course requirements for the degree and is valid for five years from the date approved by the college dean.

Major(s) and Minor(s)

Students must arrange their degree program by choosing one of the following options:

Option I (minimum of 54 hours, 48 of which are unduplicated)
A. Major
B. Minor

Option II (minimum of 48 hours)
A. Major

Option III (minimum of 54 hours)
A. First Major
B. Second Major

Option IV (minimum of 54 hours)
A. Major
B. First Minor
C. Second Minor

Option IV (minimum of 36 hours)
Completion of at least 36 hours in an area of Emphasis within the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree, with no more than 24 semester hours in a single academic discipline.

General Education Requirements:

Undergraduate students are required to complete a minimum of 44 hours of General Education Requirements. The academic advisor and/or major department head should be consulted regarding any general education requirements that may be unique to the students' major or minor. The student may also consult the Office of the College Dean or an academic advisor in the University Advising Center regarding general education requirements.

Electives

Courses which do not fulfill specific requirements for the major, minor, general education, teacher education or honors program should be listed in the electives section of the form. Elective courses earned in excess of the required 128 hours (minimum) do not need to be included on the degree program.

University Degree Requirements

When preparing the degree program, students should review their programs to assure that the following requirements have been met:

• Includes 54 hours (minimum) in major and minor combination, 48 unduplicated.
• Includes 42 upper-division hours (300-499).
• Includes 25% of the minimum number of semester hours required in the student's degree program earned in residence (at Western), with at least 16 hours completed in residence after the semester in which 90 cumulative hours have been earned.
• Includes one-third of hours in major and in minor earned in residence (at Western).
• Includes one-half of hours in major and in minor at the upper-division level (300-499).
• Includes minimum of 128 unduplicated semester hours earned in courses numbered 100 or above (except Math 100).
• A minimum gpa of 2.0 must be obtained in each of the following areas prior to graduation:
• overall cumulative (all college level courses attempted; remedial coursework excluded)
• overall in Western coursework (college level courses attempted at Western; remedial coursework excluded)
• overall in major courses and in minor courses (as specified on degree program)
• overall in Western coursework in major and in minor (as specified on degree program)

Filing Procedures

1. Consult with your advisor and plan a degree program using the green degree program worksheet.
2. Use correct major/minor reference numbers and course abbreviations. Refer to the catalog or schedule bulletin for proper information. Do not list remedial coursework on the form.
3. Indicate each transfer course by a check in the Tr column. Use course numbers from the transfer institution. If a transfer course is equivalent to a WKU course in the major or minor, indicate the WKU equivalent course in parentheses. Transfer students should attach a copy of the transfer evaluation.
4. Designate any credit earned by proficiency testing (i.e. ACT, AP, CLEP, etc).
5. Fill out the official degree program form by typing or printing firmly using ball point pen; obtain advisor's approval.
6. Certify your understanding of degree requirements and your intention to pursue the degree program by signing the form in the lower left hand corner.
7. Take the completed degree program form to the heads of the departments in which you are pursuing a major(s) or minor(s) to obtain appropriate signatures. Students should be aware that this step of the approval process checks primarily for courses required by the areas of specialization and does not check for grade point average requirements. You are responsible for carrying the degree program form to each point of approval.
8. Students seeking teacher certification must obtain approval of the program from the head of Teacher Education.
9. Students completing the honors program must obtain approval from the honors director.
10. Return all copies of the form to the Office of the Dean of the college in which you are majoring. Your dean's office will review your entire degree program and forward the approved form to the Office of the Registrar. Inquire at your dean's office as to when you may return to pick up a copy for your files.
11. All changes made after the degree program has been approved must be filed on a Degree Program Change Form which can be obtained from your college dean's office.

Graduation Approval

The student should file an Application for Graduation at least two semesters before the expected date of graduation (usually as soon as 90 hours have been earned and the student achieves senior status). The application may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar; a $35 fee is required.

For students who have applied for graduation and have paid the graduation fee, the Office of the Registrar will audit the student's academic transcript against the officially approved Undergraduate Degree Program. Students will be notified in writing of any potential problems regarding progress toward their degree.

All forms must be completed, all incompletes must be removed, all transfer credit received and all correspondence courses finished by the end of the term in which the degree is to be awarded. Failure to comply could result in postponement of the graduation date. The student must, in all cases, be primarily responsible for meeting the requirements for graduation.

Additional Information

1. A baccalaureate degree candidate with a double major will receive one degree; the degree will be associated with the first major as specified on the degree program.
2. To be eligible to graduate with honors distinction (cumulative overall and cumulative Western grade point averages of 3.4 or higher), baccalaureate candidates must have earned a minimum of 64 semester hours at Western.
3. The information on this page is provided as a guide to preparing the undergraduate degree program. Detailed academic requirements and regulations are stated in the undergraduate catalog.