How to Earn a Baccalaureate Degree
To earn a UAF degree, you must satisfy three sets of requirements: general university requirements, degree requirements, and program (major) requirements. General university requirements and degree requirements are described in this section of the catalog; major requirements are found in the Baccalaureate Degree Programs section; for baccalaureate degree requirements in brief, see chart.
If your degree program is delivered collaboratively within the UA system (e.g., microcomputer support specialist, early childhood education, human services and rural human services), then the credits you earn from each UA institution will be counted toward fulfillment of the degree requirements and fulfillment of the minimum institutional residency requirements. Institutional residency requirements are the minimum number of credits you must earn from the campus where you earn a degree.
General University Requirements
For a UAF bachelor’s degree, you must earn at least 120 semester credits, including transfer credits. Of these, 39 credits must be upper division (300-level or above).
At least 30 semester credits applicable to any baccalaureate degree must be earned at UAF. Transfer students need to earn at least 24 upper-division semester credits at UAF, at least 12 semester credits in your major and at least three semester credits in your minor. You must earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all work as well as in your major and minor fields. In addition, you must earn a minimum C grade in courses required for your major.
Unless otherwise specified by the appropriate academic unit, a course may be used more than once toward fulfilling degree, certificate, major and minor requirements. Credit hours for such courses count only once toward total credits required for the degree or certificate. Certifying that you have met all major and minor requirements is the responsibility of your department faculty, who notify the registrar’s office.
If you want to use correspondence study credits from a school other than UAF to satisfy degree requirements, you must have the approval of those courses by the dean of the school or college from which you will graduate; otherwise, you take the risk of not having the courses accepted.
Since ENGL 211X and 213X are writing courses, either will satisfy the second half of the requirement in written communication for the bachelor’s degree. But you can’t enroll in ENGL 211X or 213X without first fulfilling the ENGL 111X requirement. (See Local Advanced Placement Credit—English.)
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Minimum number of credits required |
120 credits |
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Credits that must be earned at UAF (residence credit) |
30 credits |
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Upper division credit (courses with numbers between 300 and 499) |
39 credits total (some degrees require more); 24 of the 39 must be earned at UAF |
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Additional credit that must be earned at UAF by transfer students |
12 credits in the major; 3 credits in the minor |
| Grade point average required | 2.0 cumulative and in major and minor |
| Minimum grades required for major | No grade lower than C in courses required for major |
| Catalog year that can be used to meet requirements | May use any catalog in effect when enrolled as a degree-seeking student, regardless of major; seven-year limit on catalog year |
| Second degree requirements | 24 credits beyond the first bachelor’s degree and all requirements for the second degree must be met |
If you’re a UAF graduate wanting to earn a second bachelor’s degree, you must complete at least 24 hours of credit beyond the first bachelor’s degree. You must meet all general university requirements, degree requirements and major requirements for both degrees.
If you hold a bachelor’s degree from another college or university, you must be accepted for admission as a transfer student. You have to meet all general university requirements (including residency requirements), degree requirements and major requirements. However, if you graduated from a regionally accredited college or university, you will be considered to have completed the equivalent of the UAF baccalaureate core.
If you want to earn more than one UAF bachelor’s degree, you must complete all general requirements as well as all major and minor requirements (if any) for all degrees. You’ll need to earn at least 24 semester credit hours beyond the total required for the first degree before any additional degrees can be awarded. For two degrees you complete at the same time, you may follow requirements from two different catalogs.
Residence credit is UAF credit that you earn in formal classroom instruction, correspondence study, distance-delivered courses, individual study or research through any unit of UAF. Transfer credit, advanced placement credit, credit for prior learning, military service credit and credit granted through nationally prepared examinations are not considered residence credit, nor are credit by examination credits earned through locally prepared tests.
Degree Requirements and Time Limits
You may complete degree requirements in effect in any one of the academic years in which you are enrolled as a degree student. Degree requirements in effect within seven academic years for a baccalaureate degree may be used. You’re considered enrolled in your degree program when you complete the appropriate degree-seeking student registration procedure. If you do not enroll for a semester or more, or if you enroll through the non-degree student registration process, you aren’t considered enrolled as a degree student during that time.
- Responsibility
You are responsible for meeting all requirements for graduation. - Application for Graduation
You need to formally apply for graduation. An application for graduation and non-refundable fee must be filed with the Office of the Registrar during the semester you plan to graduate. If you file your application by the published deadline, the graduation application fee is $20. If you miss that deadline, you still may submit a late application for graduation and $30 fee up to six weeks before the last class day of the semester or summer term. Applications for graduation filed after the late deadline are processed for graduation the following semester. Students who apply for graduation and who do not complete degree requirements by the end of the semester must reapply for graduation and pay the fee again. - Diplomas and Commencement
UAF issues diplomas to graduates three times yearly: in September following the summer sessions, in January at the close of fall semester, and in May at the end of spring semester. Students who complete degree requirements for UA Board of Regents-approved academic programs during the academic year are invited to participate in the annual commencement ceremony at the end of spring semester. Names of students receiving degrees/certificates appear in the commencement program and are released to the media unless a written request not to do so has been received by the graduation department. Students who do not want their names to be released may so indicate on the application for graduation form. Graduates are responsible for ordering caps and gowns through the UAF bookstore in early spring. - Graduation with Honors
In order to graduate with honors, you must earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher in all college work attempted at UAF (including all repeated credits and omitted credits due to fresh start. For transfer students, you must complete 48 semester hours of credit at UAF for a baccalaureate degree or 24 semester hours of credit at UAF for an associate degree. Your cumulative grade point average in all college work attempted at all other institutions attended (including repeated credits and any not accepted by transfer) combined with the UAF cumulative grade point average must not be less than 3.5. If that overall cumulative grade point average is 3.5 or higher, you will be graduated cum laude; 3.8 or higher, magna cum laude; 4.0, summa cum laude, provided you meet the requirements stated above.
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Types of Baccalaureate Degrees
- Bachelor of Arts
The B.A. degree emphasizes written and oral communication skills, creative thinking, critical analyses of texts, understanding cultures, and a working knowledge of social, political and historical contexts. The degree is typically pursued by students whose major areas of study are directed toward humanities, arts and social sciences disciplines. - Bachelor of Arts and Sciences
The B.A.S. degree encompasses the contexts of social sciences, mathematics, science, as well as culture and diversity. Students who want a foundation in these areas as well as a broad spectrum of knowledge pursue this degree. - Bachelor of Business Administration
The B.B.A. degree is the undergraduate equivalent of an M.B.A. Students explore a wide spectrum of business-related issues to develop advanced business, management and administration skills required in organizational settings at senior levels, and to accelerate high-level career development in the workplace. - Bachelor of Fine Arts
The B.F.A. degree has a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare talented students for professional careers in the arts. - Bachelor of Music
The B.M. degree encourages acquisition and display of talent in music, with special emphasis on aesthetic performance and understanding. - Bachelor of Science
The B.S. degree emphasizes oral and written communication skills and analytical skills for examining and solving problems. The degree is typically pursued by students whose major areas of study are directed toward natural sciences, mathematics, statistics, engineering, computer science and some social science fields. - Bachelor of Technology
The B.T. interdisciplinary degree is designed for students with technical or vocational backgrounds who want to enhance their experiences with more advanced academic pursuits.