Rule 14 – Degree and Certificate Requirements

14. Degree and Certificate Requirements

14.1 Formal application for degrees and certificates must be completed and submitted online at https://howdy.tamu.edu no later than the Friday of the fifth week of the fall or spring semester in which the student expects to complete their requirements for graduation. Students who will complete their requirements in August must submit formal application for degrees and certificates before the fourth class day of the second summer term. Under unusual circumstances, an application for a degree or certificate may be accepted after the stated deadline; however, no application will be accepted after the last class day of the semester, as published in the academic calendar.

14.2 To be a candidate for a degree and/or certificate at the end of the semester, a student must be enrolled in or have completed all program requirements by the 60th class day of the fall or spring semester, or the 15th class day of the second summer term either in residence or at another college or university. Documentation of enrollment in any in-progress courses, that have not yet been transferred but are needed to fulfill program requirements, taken at another college or university must be provided to the Office of the Registrar, Degree Audit by the above deadlines. This documentation may only be submitted for coursework that is currently in-progress at another college or university. All completed transfer courses must be graded and posted to a candidate’s education record by the deadlines set in this student rule. Failure to submit appropriate transcripts or documentation will result in the student being removed from graduation candidacy.

14.2.1 When a student has completed all academic requirements for graduation, and fails to submit an application for degree or certificate within 30 days of completing these requirements, an application for the credential may be submitted by their academic Dean or designee. The student will be responsible for all related fees. An application submitted under these circumstances cannot be canceled without prior permission of the Dean or designee.

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 who wishes to pursue a double major must receive approval from the departments, programs, or college(s) offering both the primary and secondary major, normally no later than the time the student reaches senior standing.  The student must meet the grade point requirements of both the primary and secondary academic department or major at the time of application. A Double Major Request Form documenting that the student has been approved to pursue the second major and identifying remaining course work, must be sent immediately to the department, program, or college in which the first major is located. Some degree programs limit or do not permit pursuit of double majors. Students may not pursue more than two majors concurrently in a single degree program.

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 Students Pursuing Multiple Programs

14.4.1 Undergraduate Second Degree

14.4.1.1 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. Students may not pursue more than two degree programs concurrently.

14.4.1.2 A student currently enrolled at Texas A&M University who wishes to pursue a double degree must receive approval from the departments, programs, or college(s) offering both the primary and secondary degree, normally no later than the time the student reaches senior standing.  The student must meet the grade point requirements of both the primary and secondary academic department or degree program at the time of application. A Double Degree Request Form documenting that the student has been approved to pursue the second degree and identifying remaining course work, must be sent immediately to the department, program, or college in which the first major is located. Some degree programs limit or do not permit pursuit of double degrees. Students may not pursue more than two degrees concurrently.

14.4.1.3 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).

14.4.1.4 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.

14.4.1.5 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 or designee 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.

14.4.2 Certificates

14.4.2.1 Major-dependent Certificate Programs

• A prospective student is admitted to the program through the offering department.
• Admission to the program requires the student to be pursuing a specific degree/major at Texas A&M University.
• This type of certificate program typically serves as a track within a degree program.
• The certificate and degree are awarded simultaneously.
• When a student fails to apply for a major-dependent certificate at the time they
  submit their application to graduate from the associated major, the registrar will automatically enter an graduation application for the certificate if the student is meeting all certificate requirements. The student will be responsible for all related graduation application fees.

14.4.2.2 Degree-dependent Certificate Programs

• A prospective student is admitted to the program through the offering department.
• Admission to the program requires the student to be pursuing a specific degree/major at Texas A&M University.
• The certificate is awarded upon the completion of the requirements independent of a degree in the term in which the student submits an application for graduation.
• A student who does not complete a degree-dependent certificate before becoming inactive at the university is not eligible to be readmitted to these programs unless they pursue an additional degree.

14.4.2.3 Stand-alone Certificate Programs

• A prospective student who is currently enrolled at Texas A&M University in a degree program, stand-alone certificate, or as a non-degree (G6 or U5 classification) student is admitted to the program through the offering department.
• A prospective student not currently enrolled at Texas A&M University is admitted to the program through the Office of Admissions.
• A student may pursue the certificate program without being enrolled in a degree program.
• The certificate is awarded upon completion of requirements in the term in which the student submits an application for graduation. Students who only complete certificates and no other degrees do not participate in commencement ceremonies.

14.4.3 Certificate programs will appear on each student’s record as a separate curriculum record, regardless of whether if the certificate is considered stand-alone, degree-dependent, or major-dependent.

14.4.4 There is not a limit on the number of certificate programs a student can pursue, provided they meet all admission standards for the program. However, students may pursue no more than five concurrent curriculum records.

14.4.5 A student currently enrolled at Texas A&M University who wishes to pursue a certificate must receive approval from the department(s), programs, or college(s) offering both the primary program and the certificate.

14.4.6 Active students must have a certificate declared and on their education record no later than the census date for the program to be conferred in the current term.

14.4.7 Stand-alone and degree-dependent certificates will be awarded upon completion of all requirements and after the student has a submitted an application for graduation at the end of each month or at the end of a term.

• Fall Semester Conferral Dates: September 30, October 31, November 30, main conferral date in December.
• Spring Semester Conferral Dates: January 31, February 28 or 29, March 31, April 30, main conferral date in May.
• Summer Term Conferral Dates: June 30, July 31, main conferral date in August.

14.4.8 All requirements outlined in the applicable catalog for a certificate program must be completed in order for a certificate to be awarded.

14.5 A student is expected to complete the baccalaureate degree or certificate programs course and hour requirements as outlined in the applicable catalog and student rules. A student transferring to Texas A&M from another institution may request to move to a Texas A&M University applicable catalog in effect at the same time the student first enrolled at the institution from which the student transferred. Students may choose to move to a later catalog. Normally, a student will not be granted a degree or certificate based upon completion of the requirements set forth in a catalog more than seven years old. Declaration of a change of applicable catalog must be submitted to the Dean or designee, in writing, after the student has consulted with their academic advisor. It is incumbent on the student to verify that the change has been made. With the specific written approval of their dean, or designee, a student may vary their applicable catalog course requirements. The baccalaureate degree or certificate requirements for a graduating student who first enrolled more than seven years prior to the time of graduation will be established by their dean, or designee.

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

The diploma of the university, with the appropriate degree or certificate, 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 Minimum Program Hours

14.6.1 A curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree shall contain a minimum of 120 credit hours.

14.6.2 A curriculum leading to a certificate shall contain a minimum of 12 credit hours and a strong academic justification.

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 average.

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 or certificate may be waived for the purposes of graduation only by the student’s Dean or designee.

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 average 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 average (GPA) calculation and the number of semester credit hours applied to a degree plan.

14.9 When a student repeats a C, D, F, or U in a course for the major, the higher grade of the attempts will be used to calculate the GPA in the major for degree audit requirements only.

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 Advisory Council.

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 degree seeking 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 to the student’s academic record. 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.

14.16.6 When a student repeats a C, D, F, or U in a course for the minor, the higher grade of the attempts will be used to calculate the GPA in the minor.

14.17 A degree or certificate will not be awarded until full resolution of cases for which the student has been charged or is being investigated for one or more violations of a University or Student rule that could result in suspension or expulsion. This includes:

14.17.1 The full resolution of any pending case, including all related appeals

14.17.2 The completion of any term of suspension; this includes any requirements affiliated with the term of suspension

14.18 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.

14.19 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.

14.19.1 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.

14.19.2 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.

14.20 Petitions requesting exemption from or substitution for courses outlined in the requirements stated in the university catalog shall be submitted in writing to the Dean or designee of the student’s college through the departmental advisor on forms available in the offices of the Dean or designees and department heads.

14.21 Residence Requirement. A minimum of 25% of coursework applying to a degree or certificate must be completed in residence at Texas A&M University.

14.22 Upper-level Residence Requirement. 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 Texas A&M University off-campus study programs approved by the student’s college may apply upper division credits earned in the programs toward the upper-level residence requirement up to a maximum of 18 semester hours, including hours transferred from another institution as part of one of these programs. These Texas A&M University off-campus study programs may involve domestic or international institutions and may be taught by Texas A&M University 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 Education Abroad 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 or designee’s office of their college for approval procedures.

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