14.1 Formal application for degrees must be completed at https://degreeapp.tamu.edu and submitted to the Office of the Registrar no later than the Friday of the second week of the fall or spring semester or the Friday of the first week of the summer term in which the student expects to complete his or her requirements for graduation. Under unusual circumstances, an application for a degree may be accepted after the stated deadline, but no application will be accepted after grade sheets on graduating students have been produced for the faculty.

14.1.1 If a student chooses to exercise the first year grade exclusion, that option must be exercised before the official deadline for application for the baccalaureate degree in the student’s final semester.

14.2 To be a candidate for a degree at the end of the semester or summer term, a student must be registered for or have completed all degree requirements by the 50th class day in the fall and spring semesters, the 15th class day for summer I and II and the 35th class day for the 10 week summer term of the academic calendar of Texas A&M University either in residence or at another college or university. Proof of registration must be provided to the Office of the Registrar, Degree Audit by the deadline. A student must be enrolled in his or her degree-granting college(s) and major(s) at the beginning of the student’s last semester or summer term at Texas A&M to be a candidate for a degree from that college.

14.3 Undergraduate Double Majors

14.3.1 Both majors must lead to the same baccalaureate degree, e.g., both must lead to BA or BS, rather than one leading to a BA and one to a BS. The degree for a double major is one degree; one diploma will be issued, with both majors indicated. A student must complete the requirements for both majors before the degree can be awarded.

14.3.2 A student currently enrolled at Texas A&M University must receive approval for the second major from the departments, programs, or college(s) offering both majors by the time of the official 95-hour degree audit, and must meet the grade point requirements of the academic department of the second major at the time of application. The form stating that the student has been approved to pursue the second major, must be sent immediately to the department, program, or college in which the first major is located. Some degree programs may limit or not permit pursuit of double majors.

14.3.3 A student pursuing a double major must complete all university and college requirements. If both majors are in the same college, the student must complete all department/curricular requirements for each major. If one major is in one college and the other is in another college, the student must meet all requirements for each major. A list of courses required for completion of the second major must be approved by the advisor for that curriculum.

14.4 Undergraduate Second Degree

14.4.1 A student pursuing a second degree will, upon completion of all requirements, receive two separate degrees, e.g., two BAs, two BSs, or a combination of either BA, BS, BBA, BLA, or BED degree.

14.4.2 A student currently enrolled at Texas A&M University must have the specific approval of the college offering the second bachelor's degree or certification. A Change of Curriculum form, stating that the student has been approved to pursue a second degree concurrently with the first degree, must be sent immediately to the department, program, or college in which the first degree is located.

14.4.3 A student currently enrolled at Texas A&M University must receive approval for a second bachelor's degree or certification from the college offering that degree or certification, normally no later than the time of the official 95-hour degree audit, and must meet the grade point requirements of the academic department or program of the second degree at the time of application. Some degree programs may limit or not accept students for a second degree.

14.4.4 A student with a recognized baccalaureate degree from an institution other than Texas A&M University who wishes to complete requirements for a second baccalaureate degree at Texas A&M University or who wishes to complete established Texas A&M University certification requirements generally granted as part of an undergraduate program can be admitted only as a Post-baccalaureate Undergraduate (U5).

14.4.5 A recipient of a Texas A&M University baccalaureate degree is not eligible for continued enrollment unless he or she has the specific approval of the college offering the second bachelor's degree or certification generally granted as part of the undergraduate program. If enrollment is interrupted, the student must apply as a candidate for a second bachelor's degree.

14.4.6 A student pursuing a second degree must complete all university, college, and department/curricular requirements for the second degree not covered in the first.

Courses may be used to satisfy the requirements for both degrees. However, the total semester hours required must be at least 30 semester hours in addition to the greater number of hours required for either degree. At least 12 hours of 300- and 400-level course work must be completed in each field of study.

All essential work required for a second degree must be defined in advance in writing by the dean of the college granting the second degree.

A student who has previously not been enrolled at Texas A&M University and who is seeking a second degree must have a minimum of 36 hours of 300- and 400-level courses, 12 of which must be in the major field of study, in residence at Texas A&M University. The student must also meet the Texas A&M University Citizenship requirements in history and political science.

14.5 A student is expected to complete the baccalaureate degree course and hour requirements as outlined in the catalog in effect at the time he or she declares a major, or changes majors, or those of any later catalog of the student's choice. Normally, a student will not be granted a degree based upon completion of the requirements set forth in a catalog more than seven years old. Declaration of a change of catalog must be submitted to the dean in writing, after the student has consulted with his or her academic advisor. It is incumbent on the student to verify that the change has been made. With the specific written approval of his or her dean, a student may vary his or her catalog course requirements. The baccalaureate degree requirements for a graduating student who first enrolled more than seven years prior to the time of graduation will be established by his or her dean. The catalog number assigned for a student declaring a major from General Studies will be the number in effect at the time of entry into General Studies, or any subsequent catalog of the student's choice that falls within the seven year limit..

The Undergraduate Catalog is published in the spring, and its provisions are applicable during the next long session, September through August. A student who registers for the first time in the university during a summer session is subject to the degree requirements set forth in the catalog effective for the fall semester immediately following his or her initial enrollment or any catalog issued in the following six years.

The diploma of the university, with the appropriate degree, will be granted to the student who has made formal application for the degree, has all grades on record in the registrar’s office by no later than 5 p.m. Friday, the first week of classes of the succeeding semester or summer term following commencement, and has satisfied the requirements outlined below:

14.6 A curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree shall contain a minimum of 120 credit hours including the required physical education courses.

14.7 The undergraduate student must complete all undergraduate course work attempted at Texas A&M University with at least a 2.00 grade point ratio.

14.8 The total number of grade points earned at this institution in courses must be at least twice the number of hours that the student carried in courses at this institution. Grades of F, WF and U shall be included.

14.8.1 The number of credit hours associated with grades of S in courses taken on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis are not included in this computation.

14.8.2 The number of credit hours associated with grades of U in courses taken on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis are included in this computation.

14.8.3 For undergraduate students only, grades in courses not applying to the degree may be waived for the purposes of graduation only by the student’s dean.

14.8.4 The waiver of grades in courses as indicated in section 14.8.3 will not affect the student’s official grade point ratio or entitlement to graduation with honors.

14.8.5 The provisions of section 14.8.3 will not affect a student’s probationary status prior to graduation.

14.8.6 Grade(s) excluded under the First Year Grade Exclusion Policy may affect the grade point ratio (GPR) calculation and the number of semester credit hours applied to a degree plan. Please refer to section 10.10.1.

14.9 The undergraduate student must complete all undergraduate course work attempted in a student’s major field at Texas A&M University with at least a 2.00 grade point ratio.  A list of courses included in the “major field” is available in the department office.

14.10 Grades made in courses elected in excess of a student’s degree requirements shall be counted, but if failed, such courses need not be repeated.

14.11 Students must satisfy all requirements of the University Core Curriculum as specified under their catalog.

14.12 The student must be formally recommended for graduation by the Faculty Senate.

14.13 Graduate students are referred to the appropriate section of the Graduate Catalog regarding degree requirements.

14.14 The student must have settled all financial obligations to the university.

14.15 Graduate and undergraduate students who plan to attend a commencement ceremony must do so the semester they apply for graduation and complete their degree requirements.

14.16 Undergraduate Minors:

A minor is a concentration of courses that focus on a single area or an interdisciplinary perspective developed by the department or program that offers the minor. The department or program offering the minor is responsible for setting enrollment limits and deciding which courses are used to meet the minor. Coursework consists of 15-18 hours with a minimum of 6 in residence at the 300-400 level.

14.16.1 If a minor is offered by a department or academic unit, then the minor is considered to be available to all students as resources permit. The academic advisor in the major-granting department will add the minor for the student on SIMS. In some cases, approval by the advisor of the minor-granting department is required before the minor is added by the advisor in the student’s major.

14.16.2 Substitutions in a minor can be initiated by either the major- or minor-granting department, but must be approved by both departments.

14.16.3 Students must declare a minor no later than the date on which they apply for graduation.

14.16.4 A maximum of two minors can be completed by students.

14.16.5 A minor is displayed on the transcript after graduation but is not displayed on the diploma.

14.17 Posthumous Bachelor’s Degrees. If a candidate for a bachelor’s degree, at the time of death, is enrolled in courses that would complete the degree requirements, the appropriate degree may be awarded posthumously on the recommendation of the student’s academic department, on the approval of the student’s college, by the Faculty Senate and by the president of the university. Exceptional cases will be referred to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate for review and recommendation to the president.

14.18 Posthumous Graduate Degrees. Any request for a posthumous degree must be initiated by the chair of the student’s advisory committee and may be awarded on the recommendation of the student’s academic department, on the approval of the student’s college, by the Faculty Senate and by the president of the university. For all degrees, the student’s advisory committee must certify that it believes that all requirements for the degree would have been completed by the anticipated graduation date under normal circumstances.

14.18.1 For degrees requiring a research product (dissertation, record of study, thesis or research paper) the research proposal, at the time of the student’s death, must have been signed by each committee member and a significant portion of the dissertation, record of study, thesis or research paper must have been reviewed by the committee and found to be acceptable. Ph.D. students must have been admitted to candidacy.

14.18.2 For degrees not requiring a research product, the student must have been, at the time of death, enrolled in courses that would have completed the degree requirements. Exceptional cases will be referred to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate for review and recommendation to the president.

14.19 Petitions requesting exemption from or substitution for courses outlined in undergraduate student degree plans shall be submitted in writing to the dean of the student’s college through the departmental advisor on forms available in the offices of the deans and department heads.

14.20 A minimum of 36 hours of 300-and/or 400-level course work must be successfully completed in residence at Texas A&M University to obtain a baccalaureate degree.  In all cases, a minimum of 12 of these 36 semester hours must be in the major.

A student participating in TAMU off-campus study programs approved by the student’s college may apply upper division credits earned in the programs toward the residence requirement up to a maximum of 18 semester hours, including hours transferred from another institution as part of one of these programs.  These TAMU off-campus study programs may involve domestic or international institutions and may be taught by TAMU faculty or faculty from other institutions.  Students choosing to participate in such programs and wishing to apply credits earned from the programs toward the residence requirement must receive college approval prior to the student’s participation in the off-campus study program.  Student participating in international programs must contact the Study Abroad Programs Office for details on how to obtain approval for courses taken outside the United States.  Students participating in domestic off-campus programs must contact the Dean’s office of their college for approval procedures.

14.21 As an exception to 14.5, a student may qualify for the bachelor of science degree in zoology from Texas A&M by completing the three-year pre-medical/pre-dental curriculum and at least one full year of acceptable work at an accredited American medical or dental school.

14.22 Graduate students are referred to the residence statements in the Graduate Catalog that are appropriate to their degree objective.