Bison Connection

To receive a baccalaureate degree from NDSU, students must complete all of the requirements listed in this section as well as those specified for the particular degree by a college within the university. Consult the appropriate section of this bulletin for sample curricula or contact the academic department for further information on degree requirements. Degree candidates must satisfactorily complete one of the degree curricula offered at NDSU. Because curricula are subject to change annually, students are responsible for determining curricular expectations according to the following guidelines:

1. Changes in intended degrees and from the time of admission, as well as second majors and minors, must be declared to become official by providing notice to the Office of Registration and Records, 110 Ceres Hall. It is important to note that curricular requirements are subject to change annually, and students are expected to follow the curriculum in place at the time the program of study was officially declared with the university.
   
   
2. Students may follow any published curricula from the semester/year of entrance at NDSU or from the year of admission to a limited enrollment program, whichever applies, to the year of graduation provided enrollment at NDSU has not been discontinued for more than one year.
   
   
3. Students who change their majors, minors, or type of degree are subject to meeting the Academic Information and Regulations 2323 requirements in effect during the academic year in which the new  curriculum was declared. Students may follow any published curricula from the year the new curriculum was declared to the year of graduation provided enrollment at NDSU has not been discontinued for more than one year.
   
   
4. Students who advance in limited-enrollment programs will have their academic program/plan status changed accordingly by the appropriate academic department.
   
   
5. Any student who discontinues enrollment at NDSU for more than one year is subject to meeting the curricular requirements in effect at the time of re-entry.

Each program of study presented by a candidate for the baccalaureate degree is audited for meeting the degree requirements by the Office of Registration and Records. Degree candidates are certified by the Office of Registration and Records according to total credits earned, institutional grade-point average, and other university-wide requirements.

A degree is the title that the university confers on a graduate who has completed university requirements for that degree. NDSU confers the following degrees at the undergraduate level:

• Bachelor of Accountancy (B.Acc.)
• Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
• Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.)
• Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)
• Bachelor of University Studies (B.U.S.)

A second baccalaureate degree may be earned at NDSU with all of the following provisions:

1. All curriculum requirements are satisfactorily completed.
   
   
2. A 30-credit minimum is earned in residence beyond all of the credits and degree requirements for the first baccalaureate degree. All requirements for both degrees must be met, including the separate residency requirements at NDSU for each (36 for the first; 30 for the second). Any repeated courses do not count toward the 30 credits.
   
   
3. Each degree must be different, with one exception. More than one Bachelor of Science degree may be earned in different specified fields in engineering.

Majors and minors are integral parts of baccalaureate degree curricula, particularly of those curricula that are largely elective.

Major:  A major is a planned grouping of related courses that totals a minimum of 24 credits. Specific curriculum requirements for majors may be acquired from the appropriate departmental office or from Registration and Records, 110 Ceres.

Minor:  A minor is a similar grouping of courses that totals a minimum of 16 credits. A minimum of eight credits must be earned in residence at NDSU. Students must have their minor(s) verified. Verification forms are available in the Office of Registration and Records, 110 Ceres, and most academic departmental offices. Completed forms must be signed by the department chair and submitted to 110 Ceres by or before the time of degree application. Because students are responsible for following the requirements in place at the time a minor is officially declared with the university, they are encouraged to declare their intended minors early.

Double Major:  A double major may be earned by completing the requirements of two majors offered under the same baccalaureate degree. At least 15 unique credits must exist between the two majors. Double majors lead to a single degree. When requirements for both majors are met concurrently, both  majors are displayed on the diploma.

A second major, or minor, may be completed and recorded on the student’s academic record after the degree for the first major has been awarded. When majors under different degrees are involved, the requirements for a second degree apply.

A certificate program is a specialized course of study requiring at least 16 credit hours at the undergraduate level or eight credit hours at the graduate level. Certificates may be earned while in pursuit of a degree or as stand-alone programs of study. Prospective students who are interested in  certificate programs, but who are not seeking a degree, must be accepted to the university. Contact the Office of Admission or the Graduate School for further information. Curricular requirements and verification forms are available in academic departments offering certificates. Completed forms must be signed by the appropriate department chair (and the Graduate School, if applicable) and submitted to 110 Ceres in order for the certificate to be posted to a student’s academic record and official documentation issued.

Academic policies and requirements are designed to ensure that programs at NDSU are consistently of high quality. All university requirements prescribed by the University Senate must be met. Students may request substitutions or waivers for college or departmental requirements when extenuating circumstances prevail. Students should initiate such requests with the Office of Registration and Records. Reasons for the request along with supporting evidence must be provided. In cases where deviation from the requirements might affect a student’s eligibility to enroll in a particular course, the student should begin the process early during the previous term to ensure timely processing.

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The information provided on this page originated from the NDSU course catalog bulletin and is subject to Reservation of Rights and Disclaimer statements.