Degree Requirements:

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Specific requirements for each degree will be found in the catalog descriptions under the appropriate colleges and departments.

All students who wish to earn a bachelor's degree must complete the following university-wide requirements:

  1. Complete all the General Education requirements.
  2. Earn a minimum grade point average of 2.0
    1. on all work attempted at LSUS
    2. on all work attempted at LSUS and elsewhere
    3. in a major subject or, for the General Studies student, an area of concentration
    4. in the courses of the major subject taken at LSUS or, for the General Studies student, an area of concentration.
      (Grades of P, NC, W, or I are not included in determining the grade point average)
  3. Complete the college and departmental requirements for degree.
  4. Earn a minimum of 128 hours of credit, exclusive of English 005 and Mathematics 007. Not more than 9 hours in mathematics courses numbered below 150 may be counted in the minimum. At least 60 of total hours must be from a four-year college or university.
  5. Earn in residence at LSUS a minimum of 25 percent of the term hours required in the student’s degree program, including 9 or more in the major or field of concentration, unless authorized in writing by the student’s dean.
  6. Complete a minimum of 30 of the last 40 term hours in residence at LSUS unless authorized in writing by the student’s dean.
  7. Complete the following procedural requirements for graduation:
    It is the expectation of the LSUS faculty, as well as the general public, that every student who participates in the commencement exercise has fulfilled all requirements for the degree and is the rightful recipient of the degree that is to be bestowed.

    To the extent reasonably possible, LSUS will ensure that those, and only those, who have completed all requirements for the degree will participate in commencement exercises. No person shall be allowed to participate in a commencement exercise except those who have been authorized by the dean of the candidate’s college and/or the Provost and Vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and verified by the Registrar.
    1. During the term immediately prior to the term in which the degree is to be awarded, a degree candidate's academic record must be evaluated for compliance with degree requirements by the dean of the candidate's college. The candidate must initiate the checkout procedure, obtain a checkout form signed by the dean, present it to the Admissions and Records Office, and then make application for a degree.
    2. The diploma fee must be paid before the application is processed. A candidate who has previously paid a diploma fee but failed to graduate at the time expected must pay an additional diploma fee.
    3. At least three days prior to graduation, the candidate must clear any financial indebtedness to the University.
    4. The candidate is encouraged to participate in commencement ceremonies. Persons wanting to graduate in absentia should notify the Admissions and Records Office in writing prior to graduation.
    5. Under exceptional circumstances, a candidate may request permission to participate in a commencement exercise held in the term immediately preceding the one in which the student will complete all degree requirements. Such a request must be made in writing to the dean of the candidate’s college four weeks prior to the end of classes in the term. Should the candidate make a compelling case, the dean may recommend approval to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs who will inform all parties of his/her decision.

No degree, whether honorary or earned, is conferred except by vote of the Board of Supervisors upon the recommendation of the University or the faculty of the recommending college.

Degrees are granted at the end of each regular term and at the end of the summer term.

1Students enrolled in colleges other than the College of Business Administration may take a maximum of 25 percent of their coursework for credit in the College of Business Administration. Up to nine hours of lower division courses in economics are exempt from this rule.

2Unless specifically authorized by the student’s dean, a student who has earned one-half of the credits required for a degree at a two-year college may not use in fulfillment of degree requirements additional credits earned in a two-year college not in the LSU System. (See also “Admission by Transfer.”)



General Education Requirements

While the student who earns a baccalaureate degree at LSUS will have specialized in a major field and pursued personal interests in elective studies, the pursuit of a degree would have been incomplete without a foundation in the common knowledge that unites us in our humanity.

The subject distribution requirements below provide that foundation and are integral to every degree program at LSUS.

They encourage the student to


General Education Course Requirements

The following minimum subject requirements totaling 45 term credit hours (SCH) must be satisfied by any student awarded a baccalaureate degree. Courses to satisfy these requirements are also designated. No course numbered lower than those listed may be used to satisfy the requirements. Exceptions or equivalencies to courses listed require permission from the appropriate deans. Exceptions to requirements are in the purview of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs only.

I.      English Composition (6 hours) including credit for English 105 and English 115.

II.    Oral Communications (3 hours): Communications 135.

III.   Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 hours): Three courses, each from a different discipline. Choose from the following disciplines: Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology

Approved courses: Anthropology 205 or 210; Economics 201, 202; Geography 105, 106, 251, 252, 257; Political Science 101, 151, 256; Psychology 152, 206; Sociology 105, 142, 250, 255, 256

IV.   Mathematics (6 hours): Six term hours of mathematics at a level no lower than college level.

Approved courses: Math 121 or any mathematics courses numbered higher than 121. Substitution of Math 121 with a mathematics course numbered higher than 121 is permissible for students with a suitable ACT score or previous high school college mathematics courses.

V.    Science (9 hours): Six hours of a two‑term sequence from the biological sciences or physical sciences. The remaining three hours must be selected from the other area.

Biological Sciences:
Biology: (one course) 101; (two‑course sequence) 101‑105, 101‑106, 101‑107, 101‑108

Physical Sciences
Astronomy: (one course) 105; (two-course sequence) 105‑106
Chemistry: (one course) 110 or 106; (two‑course sequence) 110‑112, 106‑121, 106‑110, 121‑112
Physical Science: (one course) 105 or 106; (two‑course sequence) 105‑106

Note: Any science course numbered higher than those listed may substitute if the student meets the sequencing requirements and has approval of the Dean of the College of Sciences.

VI.   Humanities and Fine Arts (12 hours) Three term hours to be at the sophomore level or above.

  1. Three term hours of English or American Literature:

    English 205, 210, 215, 220
  2. Three term hours to be selected from these areas: English, Foreign Language (above the introductory level), Philosophy, Religion, Humanities

    Approved courses: English ‑ any 200 or 300 level English course; Foreign Language ‑ any course numbered 200 or above; Philosophy 105, 206, 250; Religious Studies

  1. Three term hours to be selected from one of these areas: Dance, Drama, Fine Arts, Music

    Approved courses: Health and Physical Education 112, 125, 141; Communications 260, 261; Fine Arts 100, 140, 240, 241; Music 120

  2. Three term hours of History: History 105, 106, 107, 145, 146

VII. Computer Literacy:     Determined by each college.

 

General Education Assessment

To ensure that LSUS graduates have acquired the previously stated list of competencies, LSUS will assess two of the six competencies each year. The entire general education program will be assessed in a three year cycle using a variety of assessment methods.

Degree Completion

Major Field Mastery
Each student receiving the bachelor's degree from LSUS must satisfactorily demonstrate mastery of a major field as defined by the faculty in that field. For many degrees, the student must take a major field achievement test.

Requirements for a Second Bachelor's Degree
In order to qualify for a second bachelor's degree, regardless of whether the first was granted by LSUS or by some other college or university, the candidate must earn at least 33 term hours beyond those counted in fulfilling previous degree requirements. These additional hours may not have been earned prior to the date of certification of the last degree. The candidate must also fulfill all department and college requirements for the second degree.

Catalog Use
The University catalog prescribes the requirements for each degree. The catalog is published annually and becomes effective at the opening of the summer term. (See also “University Regulations.”) A student must meet all the requirements for a degree outlined in an issue of the catalog in effect during the student's continuous residence at the University. A student whose study has been interrupted for 12 consecutive months may not elect a catalog earlier than the one in force at the time of re-entry. A student changing from one curriculum to another may not elect to follow a catalog in force earlier than the date on which the change is made. A student may not elect a catalog more than 10 years old unless the appropriate dean gives permission.

Student Responsibilities
Close adherence to the curriculum will assure that students complete all general degree and major requirements within the normal four‑year period. The student should know all the requirements of the degree program and should consult with the faculty adviser when necessary. Each student is held responsible for knowing degree requirements, for enrolling in courses that fit into the degree program, for taking courses in the proper sequence to ensure the orderly progression of work, and for knowing University regulations regarding the standard of work required to continue in the University, as well as the regulations on scholastic probation.

Requirements for Multiple Majors
A student who wishes to increase career options by demonstrating broader education than is normally suggested by a single major may earn a degree with two majors. The two majors may be in the same or different colleges as long as

  1. all general baccalaureate degree requirements are fulfilled;
  2. all requirements for each separate major are fulfilled;
  3. the dean of the college in which the degree will be granted approves; and
  4. the dean of the other college approves.

All requirements for multiple majors must be completed before both degrees are conferred at one commencement. If a student completes requirements for only one major and graduates with that degree, he/she will be required to go into a second degree program to complete requirements for the second degree. Second baccalaureate degree programs require a minimum of 33 additional term hours of course work.

The student's transcript will show each major completed. For a list of majors at the University, see “Academic Programs.”

Degree with Honors
The baccalaureate degree is awarded with honors to students who earn a minimum of 60 term hours of credit at LSUS and who maintain a high grade point average. To be eligible for honors, students must have a grade point average, including course grades eliminated through the Repeat/Delete option and the Bankruptcy Policy, that falls within the ranges shown below, both for courses taken at LSUS and for all courses:

Honor

Grade Point Average

summa cum laude

3.90 to 4.00

magna cum laude

3.70 to 3.89

cum laude

3.50 to 3.69

Students may graduate with honors as many times as they meet the requirements.


Regents' Certificate of Excellence

In the spring of 1986 the Louisiana State Board of Regents authorized the awarding of a Certificate of Excellence to those graduating students who have successfully completed more than the minimum general education courses and who have completed all requirements for the degree with a grade point average of 3.0. The student who wants to earn this certificate should take the following additional courses in general education:

Sciences (2 additional hours of laboratory)
  Two‑term science sequence should be met by taking courses required for majors including laboratory courses.
   
Humanities (6 additional hours)
  Six credit hours of a foreign language above the introductory level must be a part of the total 15 hours of humanities.

Students enrolled in colleges other than the College of Business Administration may take a maximum of 25 percent of their coursework for credit in the College of Business Administration. Up to nine hours of lower division courses in economics are exempt from this rule.

Unless specifically authorized by the student’s dean, a student who has earned one-half of the credits required for a degree at a two-year college may not use in fulfillment of degree requirements additional credits earned in a two-year college not in the LSU System. (See also “Admission by Transfer.”)

 


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Last Revised April 3, 2006
April 4, 2006