In fulfilling graduation requirements, two sets of requirements must be met: university-wide requirements, which include the general education and college- or department-level requirements, which include requirements for completing majors and minors. College- and department-level requirements for majors and minors are listed in the college sections of this bulletin under the appropriate college listing, and in curriculum guides available in Registration and Records and academic departments. University graduation requirements are as follows:

1. Academic major: Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled. Earn a minimum total of 122 credits in approved coursework. Requirements for some academic majors exceed this minimum.
2. General education requirements: Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified.
3. Scholastic standing: A minimum institutional grade-point average of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU for which grades have been assigned is required for graduation. When a course is taken and repeated at NDSU, only the last grade and credits earned will be used in computing the cumulative grade-point average; however, all attempts appear on the transcript. Some academic programs require more specific grade-point requirements.
4. Upper-level credit requirements: At least 37 of the credits presented for graduation must be in courses taken at the 300 and 400 level.
5. Residence requirements: Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU while attending courses offered on campus, in Tri-College, or via distance education. The last 30 credits must be earned in residence.
6. Transfer Students: A transfer student must earn a minimum of 60 semester credits from a four-year institution. Of these, at least 36 must be NDSU resident credits as defined above. Within these 36 resident credits, minimum requirements include 15 semester credits in courses numbered 300 or above (37 upper-level credits must still be earned in total) and 15 semester credits in the major field of study.
7. Financial obligations: Satisfy all financial obligations owed to the university.
8. Application for degree: All candidates for a baccalaureate or Pharmacy Doctorate degree must indicate their intent to graduate when registering for their last semester. The application forms are available in the Office of Registration and Records, or online at www.ndsu.edu/bisonconnection. Failure to apply by the published graduation application deadline of the planned semester of graduation may delay the awarding of the degree until the following semester. If a student fails to complete the required courses by the intended graduation term, the student must reapply for graduation in a following term.
   
   

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Degree Audits

An official Degree Audit Request from the Office of Registration and Records is sent to students according to current number of credits earned. Students can expect to receive the Audit Request once they have completed a minimum of 75 total credits.

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Graduation with Honor

Graduation with honor applies only to the baccalaureate and Pharm. D. degrees. Graduate courses are not included in the computation. Candidates who entered NDSU as freshmen and who have earned a minimum institutional grade-point average of 3.50 will graduate with honor. Candidates with transfer credits must meet the minimum institutional grade-point average of 3.50
for all credits earned at NDSU, as well as a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 for all credits earned including those from transfer work. All grades and all attempts of repeated courses are included in grade-point average calculations for graduating with honor. Students who meet these academic criteria will graduate according to one of the following honor levels:

• Cum Laude -- equal to or greater than 3.50 and less than 3.70
• Magna Cum Laude -- equal to or greater than 3.70 and less than 3.90
• Summa Cum Laude -- equal to or greater than 3.90
  
  

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Degree Posting

Earned degrees are posted to academic records approximately three weeks following the close of the semester in which degree requirements were successfully completed, provided students declared their intent to graduate in that same term with the Office of Registration and Records.

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Diplomas

Diplomas are mailed approximately six weeks following the close of the academic term in which graduation requirements have been completed. Neither diplomas nor official transcripts will be released for students who have outstanding debts owed to the university. Students are responsible for submitting any name and address corrections for diploma processing. A diploma replacement service is provided by the Office of Registration and Records for those who have lost or damaged their diploma. The cost is $25.

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