Undergraduate Degree and Graduation Information

Baccalaureate Degree and Graduation Requirements

NDSU offers a number of baccalaureate degree types; the two most common bachelor's degrees awarded at NDSU are the Bachelor Science (B.S.) and the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). To receive a baccalaureate (bachelor's) degree, student candidates must satisfactorily complete two sets of requirements. Students are responsible for understanding these requirements and should consult the official curriculum guide for all programs declared. Students should also plan to collaborate with an academic advisor to help guide them in this process.

A) University-Wide Degree Requirements

  1. Minimum Total Credits: Students must present a minimum of 120 semester credits before a degree can be posted to record. Requirements for some academic programs may exceed this degree credit minimum.
  2. University General Education Requirements: Students must satisfactorily complete the university’s general education program requirements as outlined by the university in the general education section of the Bulletin from the year of admission or readmission to the university.
  3. Minimum Scholastic Standing: Students presented for graduation must meet a minimum cumulative institutional grade-point average (GPA) of 2.00. This GPA is based on coursework taken at NDSU. Coursework transferred to NDSU is not included in this GPA calculation. Some academic programs may require a higher minimum GPA, which must be clearly outlined on the official curriculum when higher than the university minimum of 2.00 is required.
  4. Resident Credit Requirement: Resident credits are earned from undergraduate courses that a student has registered and paid for at NDSU. Students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 30 credits from courses offered at NDSU or via Tri-College registration as an NDSU student.
  5. Upper Level Credit Requirements: Students must present a minimum of 36 credits in courses taken at the 300-400 level for degree completion. These credits may or may not be earned at NDSU.
  6. Transfer Credits: Students presenting transfer credit must meet the NDSU residence credits as defined in #4 and the minimum upper level credit defined in #5. Of the 30 credits earned in residence, a minimum of 15 semester credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 semester credits must be in the student’s curricula for their declared major.
  7. Satisfy All Financial Obligations: Students must satisfy all financial obligations owed to the university. Diplomas and official transcripts will not be released to students who have outstanding debts owed to the university.
  8. Application for degree: Candidates eligible for a baccalaureate degree or a Doctor of Pharmacy degree must complete the Application for Graduation found in Academic Records in Campus Connection. When eligible, students will apply for graduation from the Graduation menu within the published semester deadline. This is a hard deadline and failure to apply by the published deadline of the planned semester could delay the awarding of the degree until the following semester. Failure to satisfy all degree requirements can also delay the awarding of a degree requiring a student to have to reapply in a future semester.

B) Major Requirements for Declared Major and Minors

  1. Major Requirements: In addition to the university-wide degree requirements listed above, students must complete the requirements for all declared majors and minors outlined on the official curriculum. One major will serve as the primary major; this major will determine what college will confer the degree and what, if any, college or department level requirements also apply. Refer to the curriculum guide for specific details.
    1. Declaring a major: Students must officially declare their degree and major intent. This is done:
      1. at the time of admission to the University on the application form submitted to the Office of Admission; or
      2. at the time of readmission to the University on the Undergraduate Reactivation/Petition for Readmission form submitted to the Office of Registration and Records; or
      3. by submitting a Major Change Request form to the Office of Registration and Records.
    2. Completing declared major: Student follow the curricula that is published in the catalog at the time they officially declare their degree and major intent described in 1.a.i-iii. Students follow the published curricula until graduation provided their enrollment at NDSU has not been discontinued for more than one calendar year (B.1.e) or a new major is declared (B.1.a.iii.).
    3. Declaring additional majors/minors: Students who wish to pursue additional majors/minors/multiple degrees/certificates must officially declare these programs to the Office of Registration and Records (B.1.a.iii).
    4. Pre-requirements majors and selective admission majors: Students enrolled in majors with pre-requirements or selective admission enrollment will have their program degree status changed from the pre-program to full-degree status based on information provided to the Office of Registration and Records by the respective academic department.
    5. Discontinue enrollment: Students who discontinue enrollment at NDSU for more than one calendar year are subject to meeting the curricular requirements published in the catalog during the term of readmission.
    6. Degree audit: Each program of study presented by a candidate for the baccalaureate degree is formally audited for meeting degree requirements by the Office of Registration and Records. Students can also view their degree progress by reviewing the academic requirements report available in Campus Connection.