Graduation Requirements
Minimum Grade Point Average
In order to graduate, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 overall including a cumulative average of 2.00 in all work completed at HSU as well as in work in both the major and minor. Programs leading to Teacher Preparation require a 2.80 GPA. Some majors require a higher GPA. (Refer to departmental offerings for specific information.)
Minimum Credits Required
A minimum of 124 semester credits is required for a baccalaureate degree, but some degrees require more than 124 semester credits. (Refer to departmental offerings for specific information.)
Residence Work
A student transferring from a senior college or university who wishes to complete a degree from HSU must complete at least 25% of the credit hours required for the degree (excluding intercollegiate work) in residence from HSU. At least twelve upper level credits in the major field, and six upper level credits in the minor field must be taken from HSU when the major and/or minor fields are offered at HSU.
Upper Level Work
A minimum of 42 semester credits in courses at the junior and/or senior (3000-4000) level must be completed before a bachelor’s degree is granted. At least 18 semester credits in the major field of study and at least six semester credits in the minor field of study must be upper level work. Work transferred from a junior college will not count toward the upper level credits requirement.
Technological Competency
Each student must demonstrate technological proficiency (click here for more information) through coursework or testing identified by his or her major.
Degree Plan (Academic Evaluation)
Each student must confer with his/her advisor and decide on a major and minor (if applicable). This should be done no later than after the completion of 30 semester credits. The major advisor or Preparation Officer (if education student) will submit an Application for Declaring Degree to the Office of the Registrar.
The major and minor professors as well as the Preparation Officer in the School of Education (if applicable) and the student will receive a copy of the Academic Evaluation usually within a couple of weeks from the Office of the Registrar. All substitutions and waivers must be submitted by the advisors in the major and minor areas.
Chapel-Assembly Credit
The purpose of HSU chapel is to enlighten by faith the Hardin-Simmons community through worship, dialogue, and community service. HSU students are required to accumulate 80 (40 for Nursing Students) chapel credits in order to graduate. Students may earn chapel credits by attending chapel, alternative chapel events, and by performing community service.
Chapel credits from other institutions are non-transferable. For each hour of course work that transfers to Hardin-Simmons students will receive .65 chapel credits.
In special circumstances (employment and family obligations), the Chapel Advisory Committee may be petitioned for a waiver of the chapel requirement. Contact the Chaplain’s Office to find out how to start the petition process. Semester exemptions are not granted.For more information, contact the Office of the University Chaplain at 671-2190.
Participation in Graduation Exercises
All candidates for degrees are requested to participate in the commencement ceremony. Candidates must be enrolled in all courses required to complete the degree including chapel and Writing Proficiency. Chapel and Writing Proficiency must be completed by the deadlines of April 15th (May graduation) and November 15th (December graduation). Students with any graduation requirements not completed by these dates will be excluded from walking at their respective graduation ceremony.
Statute of Limitations
A student may graduate under the curriculum provisions of any single catalog in effect for any academic year for which the student was enrolled so long as the catalog selected is dated not more than five years prior to the student’s date of graduation unless those provisions have been changed in response to an external mandate by the state or by the relevant accrediting body.