Effective Date: June 31, 2023
Issuing Authority: Provost
Policy Contact: Vice Provost, provost@mercer.edu, 478-301-2110
Purpose
The policy explains the requirements of an undergraduate degree from Mercer University and defines an undergraduate primary major, second major, minor, certificate, and concentration. Requirements for a second degree are explained. In the development of new programs and the revision of existing programs, these guidelines provide a framework for each classification.
Scope
This policy applies to undergraduate students at Mercer University.
Exclusions
None
Policy Statement
- General Information
Undergraduate students must complete at least one fourth of their minimum credit hour degree requirements at Mercer to be awarded a Mercer degree. Ordinarily, the last year of academic work must be done in residence. At least 12 hours of upper division work in a major, concentration, or specialization and 6 hours of upper division work in a minor, if elected, must be done in residence. Upper division coursework includes any coursework at the 300- or 400-level or higher if approved for undergraduate credit.
A bachelor’s degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours of academic courses numbered 100 and above. Many programs of study will require more than 120 credit hours. Refer to the specific major requirements for the credit hours needed to complete a particular program. Courses numbered below 100 do not count toward the fulfillment of the hours required for graduation. Hours earned in any school or college of the University may be used to satisfy the requirements of any undergraduate degree. Students must, however, fulfill all degree requirements of their particular degrees of choice. Using one course to satisfy two different requirements (general education, major, minor, second major) is often referred to as double counting. Students are allowed to double count courses at the 100- and 200-level. However, a student may not use any combination of more than two upper division courses to satisfy the requirements in different majors and/or minor programs.
A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher is required for graduation. Students must also have at least a 2.0 GPA in the minimum requirements for completion of any major, minor, certificate, concentration, and specialization. Individual schools require higher than 2.0 averages for admission to some programs and to meet graduation requirements in certain programs. Refer to specific requirements of the program of study in the University catalog.
Students cross-registering for courses outside their college/school of enrollment will continue to pay the tuition rate of their home college/school for those courses.
- Major
An undergraduate major is a degree-seeking student’s primary field of study, requiring a minimum of 27 credit hours, 15 of which must be upper division coursework. At least 12 credit hours of upper division coursework in a major must be completed in residence.
Some majors require at least one minor (see “Minor” below) or one additional major (see “Additional Major” below) to satisfy requirements for additional depth. Some majors require selection of at least one concentration within the major (see “Concentration” below).
Entrance to some majors may require the completion of a number of prerequisites, including courses, portfolios, auditions, or other forms of documentation that are not included in the total requirements for the major.
- Minor
An undergraduate minor is a degree-seeking student’s secondary field of study, typically optional, requiring a minimum of 15 credit hours, 6 of which must be upper division coursework completed in residence. The prescribed requirements of a minor cannot exceed 24 credit hours.
Entrance to some minors may require the completion of a number of prerequisites, including courses, portfolios, auditions, or other forms of documentation that are not included in the total requirements for the minor.
- Certificate
An undergraduate certificate is an optional field of study, typically requiring fewer credit hours than a minor and typically including an experiential component or career-oriented course selection. Certificates do not satisfy additional depth requirements for majors that require additional depth unless specifically defined to do so.
- Concentration
An undergraduate concentration is a defined plan of study within some majors that defines specialization in a specific content area. For majors with concentrations, some courses and elective options are required for all students, and students choose a concentration to identify their specialized content area.
- Required Coursework
Course requirements for undergraduate majors, minors, certificates, or concentrations are defined by the responsible academic department or school and printed in the University catalog as approved by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.
- Required Grade Point Average (GPA)
Completion of an undergraduate major, minor, or certificate requires a minimum 2.0 grade GPA among all courses selected to satisfy the minimum requirements. Individual programs or schools may require a higher minimum GPA but not lower than what is stated in this policy. Only successfully completed courses contributing to completion of the major, minor, or certificate are considered for this GPA.
- Prerequisite and Other Requirements
Entrance to some majors, minors, or other areas of study may require a number of prerequisite items, such as courses, portfolios, auditions, examinations, or other forms of documentation that are not included in the total requirements for that area of study.
Completion of some majors, minors, or other areas of study may require additional work as defined by the academic department or school.
- Additional Major
An additional major may also be pursued but is not required. Students may pursue a maximum of three majors. Pursuing additional majors decreases the number of elective courses required, which limits your options for choosing degree-required courses to meet your enrollment status each semester.
A student who wishes to complete a second major in a different school/college from that of the primary major must fulfill the specific course requirements for the second major plus additional requirements that may be arranged on an individual basis. The student should consult an academic advisor in the second major.
A second major is not the same as a second degree (see “Second Degree” below).
- Declaring or Changing a Major
The major should be declared as early as the end of the freshman year or as early the academic department or school allows and before completion of the junior year (before only two semesters remain for completion).
Any additional majors must be declared before entering the final semester when degree completion would be expected with only one major.
Approved declarations or changes of major and/or degree are processed between semesters before the student’s next actively enrolled semester.
- Second Degree
Students who wish to have two different bachelor’s degrees conferred simultaneously must complete the general education requirements of both programs, both the usual and special requirements of a major or specialization in each program, and at least 18 credit hours more than the minimum required to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Individuals who seek a second and different bachelor’s degree after graduation must complete the general education requirements appropriate to the degree being sought, meet the residence requirements of the major, concentration, or specialization, and spend a minimum of two semesters (at least one fourth of their minimum credit hour degree requirements) in residence at Mercer.
In cases where coursework from a previous degree is used to fulfill requirements for any second degree, the grade point averages for the two degrees will be combined.
- Appearance on the Academic Transcript
Undergraduate degrees, majors, minors, certificates, and concentrations appear on the academic transcript.
Additional Resources
Catalogs:
http://documents.mercer.edu/catalogs/MaconCatalog/