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Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Although general studies are stressed during the first two years of study, students should plan to include certain elementary and intermediate courses in the desired major during the freshman and sophomore years in order to successfully complete the major.

A student who is undecided as to a major field of study may, during the freshman year, explore several fields of knowledge without loss of credit if he/she plans his/her choices with an academic advisor. It is best for a major to be chosen no later than the end of the sophomore year. The selection of a minor (for Bachelor of Arts degree candidates) and appropriate electives must be made in consultation with and approved by the assigned academic advisor.

Candidates are expected to be fully informed concerning degree requirements and are responsible for their fulfillment. Students shall have the option of meeting degree requirements as published in the bulletin at the time of initial registration or any bulletin published while in regular attendance. Those missing regular attendance for one full school year (except for Christian Service Volunteers) must meet the requirements of the current bulletin upon resuming attendance. Candidates for degree completion must submit an online Application for Degree three quarters prior to the expected degree completion date. Students who have submitted a formal Application for Degree and do not graduate will be allowed only one year after the last date of enrollment to complete all degree requirements under the bulletin specified on the approved Application for Degree; otherwise the current bulletin requirements must be met.

Undergraduate students who marched, or were approved to march in the June Commencement, but have not completed degree requirements will be charged a fee each quarter, except summer, for up to two years after the proposed graduation date or until all requirements are met and the degree is posted. See Financial Bulletin.

Degrees are conferred and diplomas issued as of commencement and on the last Friday of each month. All course work must be completed, transcripts received, comprehensives taken, and acceptable grades received before the degree will be awarded.

Commencement Exercises

Commencement exercises are held once a year in June. Students who have completed their requirements Summer, Autumn, Winter, or Spring quarter may participate in the following June commencement exercises.

By Thursday prior to the June graduation date, prospective summer degree candidates must have satisfied the following:

  1. Approved degree application on file in the Academic Records office showing a completion date for summer.
  2. Approved by Academic Records to participate in Commencement with deferred courses.
  3. Financial clearance for the completion of summer course work.
  4. Registered for all remaining WWU coursework.
  5. All transfer transcripts on file in the Academic Records office.
  6. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 for university work.
  7. No more than twelve (12) credits to complete after spring quarter, including summer courses and outstanding “I”s and “IP”s.
  8. Remaining credits must meet residency requirements.

Any exceptions to the above requirements must be approved by Academic Standards Committee.

Graduation in Absentia

Degree candidates are expected to participate in the yearly graduation ceremonies. A senior wishing not to participate should apply to the President's Office to graduate in absentia.

Residency Requirements

  1. A minimum of 25% of the credits in each major and minor must be Walla Walla University credits.
  2. A minimum of 9 upper-division credits in the major and 3 upper-division credits in the minor must be Walla Walla University credits.
  3. At least 40 of the last 45 credits before degree completion must be Walla Walla University credits.

General Requirements

  1. Credits required. Successful completion of a minimum of 192 quarter hours (200 quarter hours, Bachelor of Science in Engineering), including 60 quarter hours in courses numbered 300 or above, and a cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 or above in the major, minor, and overall.
  2. Major. The completion of a major field of departmental specialization (minimum of 45 quarter hours and a cumulative grade-point average of 2.00). A grade lower than C- will not apply toward a major except in engineering (see Engineering section of this bulletin). At least 21 quarter hours in the major must be numbered 300 or above. Unless otherwise specified all electives applied to the major must be courses offered by the major department. A course may fulfill requirements for more than one major unless otherwise stated. A course may satisfy a cognate requirement of a major while simultaneously being counted toward the credit requirement of another major, minor, or concentration.
  3. Double Majors. Students taking double majors must meet all the degree requirements for each major, including the general studies programs. Majors must be completed within the degrees under which they are described in this bulletin. (BA majors can serve as second majors only under a BA degree, BS majors can serve as second majors only under a BS degree; the BBA, BLS, BMus, BSE, and BSW degrees cannot have second majors.
  4. Minor. Bachelor of Arts degrees require the completion of a minor of at least 27 quarter hours and a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.00, or the completion of an Associate of Science degree, provided it is in an area distinct from the major. Three quarter hours must be courses numbered 300 or above. A grade lower than C- will not apply toward a minor. A course may satisfy content requirements for several majors or minors but credit will apply to only one. Unless otherwise specified all electives applied to the minor must be courses offered by the minor department. A cognate course may satisfy the cognate requirements of a major while simultaneously being counted toward the credit requirement of another major, minor, or concentration. A second major or degree will satisfy the minor requirement.
  5. General Studies Requirements. The completion of the general studies requirements as specified for the type of degree sought detailed in the General Studies section.
  6. Candidacy for Degree. Degree candidates must file a formal Application for Degree (Senior Outline), showing the proposed schedule of courses for the final year, no later than one week after the beginning of the first quarter of the final year. The appropriate form may be submitted online through myWWU. Students are not considered candidates for degrees or eligible for senior class membership until officially notified by the Registrar that their degree application has been approved.
  7. Senior Class. Candidates for degrees must be members of the senior class. The fee is fixed by the class and approved by the President of the University.
  8. Comprehensive Examinations. A comprehensive examination is required for each major before a degree may be conferred. For some majors, the Major Field Test (MFT) is used, and for others, the Graduate Record General and/or Subject Exam is used as the comprehensive. Elementary Education majors are required to pass the Washington Educator Skills Test-Endorsement for Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (WEST-E Elementary). There are also some departments/schools who provide a comprehensive exam and/or project. The bulletin details those requirements under the appropriate department.

    The General Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is available only by computer, usually at Sylvan Technology centers in metropolitan areas. Information regarding registration for the General GRE is available at the center.

    Students whose majors require the Subject GRE must pick up registration materials in the test center. These materials must be mailed at least nine weeks prior to the test date. Please note that there are only three times that the subject exams are administered and the dates are fixed by the test company and cannot be changed. Non-sabbath testing is of course available on campus but strict instructions must be followed.

  9. Transcripts and Out-of-Residence Work. Seniors must have all transfer transcripts on file in the Academic Records Office by the 10th day of Spring quarter to be eligible to participate in June commencement exercises.
  10. Second Baccalaureate Degree. Two baccalaureate degrees with majors from different disciplines may be conferred concurrently or sequentially if the candidate has met the requirements of both degrees and has spent a minimum of of 40 of their last 45 credits in residence. See requirements 2 and 3 regarding majors. Students earning a Post Baccalaureate degree are eligible to participate in commencement.
  11. Applied Music Credit Applicable Toward Baccalaureate Degree. Not more than 9 quarter hours in applied music (including 3 quarter hours of Ensemble) may be earned toward a baccalaureate degree without an equal number of quarter hours in music courses with prefixes MUCT, MUED or MUHL. Additional hours in applied music may include ensemble hours without restrictions.
  12. Post Baccalaureate Minor and Concentration Additions. Students who already hold a degree from Walla Walla University may build onto that degree by adding an additional concentration or minor. All coursework must meet the current bulletin requirements and policies. Minors and concentrations will be listed on the academic transcript; however, they will not be linked directly to the previous degree and a new diploma will not be issued. Students earning additional minors and concentrations are not eligible to participate in commencement.