Degree Requirements

Requirements for the Associate Degree

Students must fulfill the following requirements in order to be eligible for graduation with an associate degree:

Complete course requirements in the major field of study, including the General Studies core.
Complete 30 credit hours of residency at Wilmington University. Residency credit may include 15 credit hours of challenge by exam and/or prior learning assessment.
Achieve an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.
Achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in the major field of study.
Demonstrate competence in verbal and written communications and computational skills.
Complete a minimum of 60 total credit hours required for degree completion.

Requirements for the Baccalaureate Degree

Students must fulfill the following requirements to be eligible for graduation with a baccalaureate degree:

Complete course requirements in the major field of study, including the General Studies core.
Complete 45 credit hours of residency at Wilmington University. Residency credit may include 15 credit hours of challenge by exam and/or prior learning assessment.
Achieve an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.
Achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in the major field of study.
Complete at least 45 credit hours of upper division (300-400 level) course work.
Demonstrate competence in verbal and written communications and computational skills.
Complete a minimum of 120 total credit hours required for degree completion.

Degree Candidacy (graduate students only)

Candidacy review occurs at the following times:

End of the fourth graduate course or at the completion of 12 credit hours for all master’s degree programs.
End of the thirteenth course or at the completion of 39 credit hours for all doctoral programs.

Graduate students are considered in good academic standing if their grade point average is 3.0 or above at the time of candidacy review. If all criteria are met, candidacy will be granted. Students not in good academic standing at the time of candidacy review may be placed on probation or dismissed from the University.

Individual programs may have additional candidacy requirements. Please refer to the student handbook of the specific program.

Graduation

Students must satisfy degree and course requirements as outlined in the catalog in effect at the time of initial enrollment at the University as a degree candidate. Once students interrupt their program for one year or more, it will be necessary to satisfy the degree requirements as outlined in the University catalog or published curriculum in effect during the time following the student’s readmission as a degree candidate.

Students planning to graduate in January must complete their academic program requirements by the end of the fall semester; program requirements must be completed by the end of the spring semester for those wishing to graduate in May. Students file the Registration for Graduation form with the Office of the Registrar on or before the date established in the academic calendar. Payment of the graduation fee required of all degree candidates is due upon submission of the Registration for Graduation form. Students who register to graduate beyond the date announced in the academic calendar are required to pay a late fee in addition to the graduation fee.

In 1987 the Faculty Senate adopted a list of expected graduating competencies for undergraduate students. Undergraduate and graduate competencies were adopted in November 1994. Both sets of competencies were reviewed, revised, and adopted by the Faculty Senate in 2007.

Undergraduate Dual Degree Policy

A minimum of 30 upper level credit hours, in addition to the requirements for a bachelor’s degree, must be completed in order to obtain a second degree. All second degree upper level credits must be earned at Wilmington University.

Graduate Dual Degree Policy

A minimum of 15 additional credit hours above the total credit hour requirement for a primary master’s degree (usually 36 credit hours) must be completed in order to earn a second master’s degree, and all course requirements of the second degree must be met. The 15 additional credit hours required to earn a second master’s degree must be earned at Wilmington University (See Program Coordinator for specific course requirements.), but the completion of the two degrees does not have to occur simultaneously. As long as a student earns the minimum additional credits and the specific program requirements are met, the second degree may be completed at a later time.