Graduation Requirements

Requirements for Baccalaureate and Associate Degrees

A candidate for the baccalaureate or the associate degree must:

• ​File an application for graduation online with the Office of the University Registrar; If the candidate plans to complete degree requirements at the end of the fall semester, submit an application by or before July 1; If the plan is to complete degree requirements at the end of the spring semester, submit an application by or before December 1; Submit an application by or before April 1 for Summer Commencement
• Earn a minimum of 120 credits for a baccalaureate degree, 60 credits for an associate degree (some programs of study may require more credits) with a minimum 2.00 grade point average as computed by the Office of the University Registrar for work attempted at the University consistent with the Repeating Courses policy; Some of the colleges may have by action of their faculties, adopted a higher grade-point average for graduation with a degree from that college; The grade point average achieved at the time of completion of requirements for a degree will include repeated and reassessed courses which will be used to calculate graduation honors
• Meet all degree requirements including grade-point averages that are in force at the time a transfer is made to a degree-granting college; If the student should transfer to another major, then the requirements should be those in effect at the time of the transfer; For a student enrolled in an associate degree program, the requirements shall be those in effect upon entrance into the program
• For purposed of meeting foreign language requirements, all foreign language and "American Sign Language" courses can fulfill the foreign language requirement for those programs that have a non-specific foreign language requirement; For those majors or programs that specify specific language requirements, the applicable specific language requirement must be met to satisfy graduation requirements for that major or program
• Be approved for graduation by appropriate college faculty, Faculty Senate and Board of Trustees
• Complete the requirements for a degree in not more than five calendar years from the date of transfer, as defined below; In the event the student fails to complete the degree requirements within five calendar years from the date of transfer, the University reserves the right to make changes in the number of credits and/or courses required for a degree
• The date of transfer for a student in a baccalaureate program will be the date that the student is accepted by the degree-granting college; For a student enrolled in an associate degree program, the date of transfer refers to the date of entrance into the program 
• Earn the last 30 credits in the baccalaureate degree total or 15 credits in the associate degree total in residence at The University of Akron unless excused in writing by the dean of the college in which the student is enrolled 
• Earn a minimum of 30 credits in the baccalaureate degree total or 15 credits in the associate degree total in residence at The University of Akron 
• If a student who has transferred from another institution wishes to present for the student's major fewer than 14 credits earned at The University of Akron, written permission of both the dean and the head of the department concerned is required 
• Discharge all other obligations at the University

Requirements for Additional Baccalaureate and Associate Degrees

• Meet all of the requirements given above - Requirements for Baccalaureate and Associate Degrees
• Earn a minimum of 30 credits which have not counted toward a baccalaureate degree, for an additional baccalaureate degree, or 15 credits which have not counted toward an associate degree, for an additional associate degree; These credits shall be earned in residence at The University of Akron

Requirements for Minor Areas of Study

The University of Akron has approved minor fields of study that may be placed on a student’s record when all requirements have been completed.

The following rules apply to all minors:

• The student must complete at least 18 credits. (Note: some minors may require additional credits).
• At least six of the 18 credits must be at the 300/400 level, except where the department does not offer 300/400 level courses.
• A minimum grade-point average of 2.0 in each minor is required.
• A minor may be designated at any time during the student’s career up to and including the time the degree clearance is processed.
• A minor will be placed on the student’s record only at the time the student receives a baccalaureate degree and only if an application was processed.
• Courses to be applied toward the granting of a minor may not be taken credit/non-credit. A maximum of 6 bypassed credits may be used, but all other credits must be earned.
• The student must earn at least nine credits at The University of Akron in courses approved by the faculty granting the minor. Written permission of the dean and the head of the department which grants the minor is required for an exception.
• Courses required for a minor may carry prerequisites, which must be honored before the student may enroll.

Requirements for Certificate Programs

• At least two-thirds of the credits that apply towards the certificate program must be completed at The University of Akron. Exceptions may be granted by permission of the director of the certificate program.

Change of Requirements

To better accomplish its objectives and serve our students, the University reserves the right to alter, amend or revoke any rule or regulation. The policy of the University is to give advance notice of such change, whenever feasible.

Unless the change in a rule or regulation specifies otherwise, it shall become effective immediately with respect to the student who subsequently enters the University, whatever the date of matriculation.

Without limiting the generality of its power to alter, amend or revoke rules and regulations, the University reserves the right to make changes in degree requirements of the student enrolled prior to the change by:

• Altering the number of credits and/or courses required in a major field of study
• Deleting courses
• Amending courses by increasing or decreasing the credits of specific courses, or by varying the content of specific courses
• Offering substitute courses in the same or cognate fields

The Dean of the college, in consultation with the Department or Division Head of the student's major field of study, may grant waivers in writing if a change in rules affects degree requirements of a student enrolled before the change was effective. The action of the Dean of the college in granting or refusing a waiver shall be reviewed by the Senior Vice President and Provost and Chief Operating Officer on his motion, at the request of the Dean of the college of the student affected, or at the request of the student.

Credit and grade-point requirements for graduation as adopted by the college faculties are listed in this bulletin.

When deemed necessary and only in rare and unique circumstances that do not undermine the overall integrity of the various graduation requirements, the Senior Vice President and Provost and Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the President, may waive specific requirements contained in this rule and report such waivers to the Board of Trustees for its information.

Graduation with Honors

Honors announced at the commencement ceremony are based on the grade point average as of one week prior to commencement. The number of credit hours for the commencement ceremony includes the total number of credit hours completed at The University of Akron plus the number of credit hours in progress at The University of Akron. Official honors are determined after all final grades have been reported on the academic record. The official honors designation will be posted to the diploma and academic transcript.

• The grade point average will be rounded to the nearest hundredth for the purposes of determining graduation with honors.
• Where deemed necessary, the Senior Vice President and Provost and Chief Operating Officer may waive these requirements for rare and unique circumstances and report such waivers to the Board of Trustees for its information.

Baccalaureate Degree

For a student who is being awarded a baccalaureate degree and who has completed 60 or more credits at The University of Akron, the degree:

• A student who holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, including The University of Akron, and who earns a subsequent baccalaureate degree at The University of Akron per the academic policy requirements for second degrees, is eligible to graduate with honors.

Associate and Baccalaureate Degrees

For a student who is being awarded an associate degree and who has completed 30 or more credits at The University of Akron and for a student who is being awarded a baccalaureate degree who has completed between 30 - 59.9 credits at The University of Akron, the degree:

• A student who holds an associate degree from an accredited institution, including The University of Akron, and who earns a subsequent associate degree at The University of Akron per the academic policy requirements for second degrees, is eligible to graduate with honors.