XI. Graduation and Degrees

  1. In order to earn a baccalaureate degree, students must successfully complete at least 120 semester credit hours, and more in most programs. The particular requirements in each college or school are listed under each program in this Bulletin. Major programs require a minimum of 24 upper-division credit hours, and minor programs require a minimum of 12 upper-division credits hours.
  2. A minimum of 30 semester credit hours in residence at the University of Portland is required for a degree. Normally, these 30 semester credit hours must be those which immediately precede the completion of degree requirements. It is expected that students will complete all of the upper-division courses in their major or minor at the University of Portland. However, the deans or their designees of the schools or colleges may accept up to 25 percent of the upper-division major or minor course requirements in transfer from other accredited institutions. For those students completing more than one major or minor at the University of Portland, the deans or their designees of the schools or college may apply upper division courses required of a student's major to satisfy up to 25 percent of the requirements of a second major or minor. The same rule applies to sharing upper-division courses between minors.
  3. Students seeking a second baccalaureate degree from the University concurrent with the first degree are required to complete a minimum of 30 additional semester hours at the University and fulfill the common course requirements of the college or school in which the second degree is sought.
  4. In addition to satisfying the above requirements, students must have a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.0 in courses taken at the University of Portland, and a 2.0 average in their major field.
  5. The undergraduate and graduate degrees listed elsewhere in this Bulletin are granted by the University through the College of Arts and Sciences and the various schools. (For graduate degree requirements, refer to the Graduate School section of this Bulletin.
  6. Eligible candidates for graduation should file an application for degree with the registrar one semester prior to the semester in which they expect to graduate but no later than the date specified in the academic calendar.
  7. Although a number of administrative and faculty advisors are ready to help students in planning and checking the progress of their degree program, the final responsibility for completing all requirements for a degree rests with the student. If a student has not satisfied all of the requirements, the degree for that student will be withheld pending adequate fulfillment.
  8. Once awarded, the diploma will list the student's name, degree, and any applicable Latin honors. University of Portland diplomas do not list the student's major.
  9. The University confers degrees only at the conclusion of each fall, spring, and summer semester. All final grades and official transcripts for applicable transfer work must be received by the deadline stated in the academic calendar for a degree to be conferred. According to University policy and federal reporting requirements, degrees must be conferred and finalized once a student has fulfilled all requirements. After the degree is conferred, the academic record is considered complete and final. No further changes will be made, unless there is a documented clerical error.
  10. A course may not be repeated after a degree is conferred. Additional transfer work will not be accepted, and additional course work may not be taken and applied after a degree is conferred. No additional majors, minors, or concentrations may be added to a degree after it has been conferred. To enroll in further undergraduate coursework after the initial degree has been conferred, students may seek readmission to the University as either non-degree seeking students or second bachelor’s degree seekers.
  11. Students who are admitted to the University to pursue a second bachelor's degree after completing a first degree at the University or another accredited institution must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours at the University and must fulfill the requirements for any prerequisites as well as the common course requirements of the college or school in which the second degree is sought. If the first degree is from another accredited institution, some courses from the UP Core may also be required.