Requirements for:

• Graduation
• All bachelor degrees
• All associate degrees
• General Education
• General Education - specific degrees
• Declaring a major
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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Each candidate for a degree must meet the general requirements for graduation and the specific requirements for the degree desired. In order to insure the early and proper selection of a field of concentration, every student seeking a baccalaureate degree is required to have filed a declaration of major by the time the student has completed 54 credit hours. Candidates for the associate degree must file the declaration of major at the completion of 24 credit hours. A student is free to change majors at any time by following the correct prescribed procedures. Declaration is made on a Declaration of Major/Degree/Catalog Year form which the student secures from the University Registrar's Office. After a conference to determine acceptability as a major the department chairperson or the dean assigns an advisor, both sign and date the form and forward it to Academic Advising (CLASS) Morgan Hall 122. Candidates for the Baccalaureate or Associate Degree must file an Application for Degree form in the Office of the University Registrar in September for the fall semester and in February for the spring and summer semester. The University confers degrees at the end of each semester and at the end of the Summer Session.

REQUIREMENTS COMMON TO ALL BACHELOR DEGREES  

1. A minimum of 124 semester hours of credit is required for graduation.
   
   
2. Six hours of English Composition are required, including three hours at the lower division and three hours at the upper division.
   
   
   1. To meet the English composition requirements, students must take English 101 during the Freshman year and English 300 during the Junior or Senior year. Freshmen whose names begin with A through K will enroll in English 101 during the Fall Semester and those whose last names begin with the letters L through Z in the Spring Semester. English 101, English/Honors 102, and English 300 will not count toward the completion of the Arts & Humanities General Education requirement. Students who do not satisfactorily pass the EN 300 placement exam must take EN 200 and receive a grade of C or better. EN 200 will not fulfill a General Education Humanities requirement.
      
      
   2. Candidates for the degree must earn at least a C (or equivalent) in both Freshman and Advanced Composition.
      
      
   3. Note: All students graduating from a four-year program must have taken one upper division writing course. The designated course to fill that requirement is English 300. English 300 satisfies three hours of the forty upper division hours required for a four-year degree. Students who have completed English 102 or a comparable course at another college or university will be able to use their English 102 credits toward Washburn's graduation requirements, even though their English 102 does not satisfy Washburn's upper division writing requirement, nor will it satisfy general education humanities requirements. d. Students who have completed EN 102 Honors and one of the seminars in the University Honors Program have satisfied Washburn's composition requirement. For the variety of other ways EN 102 Honors satisfies the Washburn writing requirement, particularly when AP credit or transfer credit is involved, students should visit with the Dean of University Honors.
      
      
3. Two hours of physical education PE 198 Lifetime Wellness are required. PE 198 Lifetime Wellness may be taken for grade or pass/fail.
   
   (The exception to this requirement are Washburn students who completed an associate degree under a catalog prior to 1995 (when the PE 198 Lifetime Wellness requirement was initiated) satisfied the previous PE requirement as part of their associates degree program, and are therefore granted a waiver of the PE 198 requirement. Transfer students who completed associates degrees prior to 1995, and who completed at least two hours of physical education as part of their associates degree program, are also granted waiver of the PE 198 requirement.)
   
   
4. Three hours of Mathematics are required. Students must complete MA 110 or MA 116 with a grade of C or better. This requirement will be waived if the student demonstrates appropriate competency as determined by the Mathematics and Statistics Department. For the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, students who have completed MA 140 or its equivalent with a grade of C or better are considered to have fulfilled the University general education requirement in Mathematics.
   
   
5. A specified number of hours in General Education is required (See General Education Groups and Subject Areas)
   
   
6. A cumulative grade average of at least C (2.0 grade point) is required.
   
   
7. Forty-five hours of Junior-Senior work are required (300-400 numbered courses).
   
   
8. At least 12 hours in the major must be in the upper division courses.
   
   
9. For the bachelor degrees, at least 30 hours must be earned in residence at Washburn, including 20 of the last 30, or 40 of the last 60 presented for the degree. At least 25 percent of the credit hours required for the major must be taken at Washburn.
   
   
10. At least 60 hours of the 124 hours required for the baccalaureate degree must be taken at a 4 year college or university.
    
    
11. No more than 12 hours of correspondence work may be offered toward any degree. This applies to correspondence courses only and not to extension courses. Courses failed by a student in residence may not be repeated by correspondence. Normally, courses offered on campus may not be taken by correspondence.
    
    
12. To count toward a major, minor, or required correlated area, work must be of C grade or better.
    
    
13. While there is no specific limit to the total number of semester hours that may be taken on a non-graded basis such as pass/fail, credit by examination, advanced placement, and/or military service, a minimum of 84 hours presented for graduation must be on a graded basis.
    
    
14. A/Pass/Fail option cannot be taken in major department, or correlated area unless written permission is obtained from the head of the major department for that course and filed with the Registrar's office.
    
    
15. A student may be awarded a degree after completing the requirements for that degree in effect when he/she first enrolled or, if he/she chooses, in effect in any subsequent year except that no degree shall be awarded based upon requirements not in effect within six years of the date of graduation.
    
    
16. A double major may be completed within the 124 hour total by meeting all the requirements of the two majors.
    
    
17. Any candidate for a second baccalaureate degree must meet the specific requirements for both degrees and present a minimum of 154 hours of credit. No more than 40 hours of this total can be ungraded.
    
    
18. For general elective credits for a baccalaureate degree, no more than a combined total of ten hours of credit in physical activity courses (beyond the two-hour graduation requirement) and music ensemble courses will count.
    

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REQUIREMENTS COMMON TO ALL ASSOCIATE DEGREES

1. A minimum of 62 hours is required.
   
   
2. Three hours of English Composition (English 101 or its equivalent) are required (see 2.a. & 2.b. under Requirements Common to All Bachelor's Degrees).
   
   
3. Two hours PE 198 are required.
   
   
4. Three hours of MA 110 or MA 116 with a grade of C or better. This requirement will be waived if the student demonstrates appropriate competency as determined by the Mathematics and Statistics Department. Any mathematics courses taken to satisfy this requirement may also be used to meet the distribution requirements for Math and Natural Sciences.
   
   
5. Six hours in each of the distribution groups of General Education (see General Education Groups and Subject Areas) with courses selected from at least two disciplines in each group. The individual student should check with the major department; in many cases, correlated areas required by the major department will fill some of the general education requirements.
   
   
6. A cumulative grade average of at least C (2.0 grade point) is required.
   
   
7. To count toward a major, minor, or required correlated areas, work must be of C grade or better.
   
   
8. Twenty-four credit hours must be completed at Washburn University; of these, 12 of the last 24 must be Washburn University credits.
   
   
9. Forty-two hours must be graded. (Cooperative programs with Kaw Area Technical School are exempt).
   
   
10. No more than 12 hours of correspondence study may be offered toward a degree. Courses failed by a student in residence may not be repeated by correspondence. Normally, courses offered on campus may not be taken by correspondence.
    
    
11. A/Pass/Fail option cannot be taken in the major department or correlated area unless written permission is obtained from the head of the major department for that course and filed with the Registrar's Office.
    
    
12. A student may be awarded a degree after completing the requirements for that degree in effect when he/she first enrolled or, if he/she chooses, in effect in any subsequent year except that no degree shall be awarded based upon requirements not in effect within six years of the date of graduation.

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GENERAL EDUCATION STATEMENT

The following statement on general education was passed by the general faculty. The primary function of a liberal education is to teach those students who have the capacity and the desire to learn how to learn. Washburn University believes that a good education is the shared responsibility of the primary and secondary schools and the university. The foundation for a liberal education must be developed in the pre-college years. The university must strengthen and build on this foundation. The goals of a liberal education can be divided into two areas -intellectual skills and areas of knowledge.

A graduate with a baccalaureate or associate degree should have acquired the following skills:

The ability to:

1. read intelligently,
   
   
2. write effectively,
   
   
3. listen sensitively,
   
   
4. speak clearly,
   
   
5. think creatively,
   
   
6. reason mathematically and understand numerical data,
   
   
7. process information both in terms of synthesis and analysis,
   
   
8. interpret and assess human values, and
   
   
9. solve problems using the methods of analysis considering evidence, relevance and validity.

Since knowledge consists of more than random and unrelated facts, the university encourages broad comprehension. The areas of knowledge needed by a graduate are listed below:

1. The world of human ideas, aspirations, values and institutions -- an understanding of how ideas have been developed and expressed in history, the arts, literature, philosophy, religion and the social sciences. This includes investigation into how human beings have existed at other times and in cultures other than our own.
   
   
2. The world of nature -- an understanding of the scientific method and the physical world, knowing something about the earth, the nature of human beings as a biological species, and comprehending the implications of science and technology in our society.

A liberal education cannot be obtained by a student through enrollment in a few specially designed courses. The required skills and areas of knowledge must be presented, explained, discussed and used throughout the whole university curriculum. This statement is a guide not only for the students to determine their expectations of a college education, but also for each professor to help determine the extent that his or her course is meeting the goals of general education.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

(Students who have completed baccalaureate degrees at accredited institutions of higher education are considered to have satisfied general education requirements, and are therefore not required to meet Washburn's specific general education requirements. This includes all aspects of the general education degree requirements, such as EN 300, PE 198, the math requirement and the general education distributions. Transfer students should also see "Transfer" section for additional information.)

Students who have earned Washburn credit prior to the fall semester of 1997 will fall under the general education requirements in effect when they first enrolled or those of any subsequent year provided that the student graduates within 6 years of that year. To fulfill general education requirements a student must complete the following:

1. Six hours of English Composition (EN 101 & EN 300).
   
   
2. Two hours of Physical Education (PE 198).
   
   (The exception to this requirement is Washburn students who completed an associates degree under a catalog prior to 1995 (when the PE 198 Lifetime Wellness requirement was initiated) satisfied the previous PE requirement as part of their associates degree program, and are therefore granted a waiver of the PE 198 requirement. Transfer students who completed associates degrees prior to 1995, and who completed at least two hours of physical education as part of their associates degree program, are also granted waiver of the PE 198 requirement.)
   
   
3. Three hours of Mathematics (MA 110 or MA 116).
   
   
4. Nine, twelve or fifteen hours (depending on Bachelor's degree) in each of the three general education groups: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics, to total 27 or 42 hours depending on degree (see Specific Degree Requirements below).
   
   
5. Six hours for Associate degree in each of the general education groups: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics with courses selected from at least two disciplines in each group.
   
   
6. Candidates for degrees other than the BBA degree are limited to a maximum of 21 hours of Accounting (AC) and Business (BU) courses within the 124 minimum required for graduation. Courses in the student's major discipline do not fulfill general education requirements.
   

GENERAL EDUCATION GROUPS, SUBJECT AREAS AND APPROVED GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES

ARTS AND HUMANITIES

1. English (Exc. EN 100, 101, 102, 200, and 300)
   EN 110, EN 131, EN 133, EN 135, EN 138, EN 145, EN 177, EN 178, EN 190, EN 192, EN 205, EN 208, EN 210, EN 214, EN 332
   
   
2. Honors
   HN 201
   
   
3. Philosophy
   PH 100, PH 102, PH 104, PH 110, PH 115, PH 201, PH 202, PH 207, PH 214, PH 220, PH 315
   
   
4. Religion
   RG 101, RG 102, RG 105, RG 106, RG 207
   
   
5. Music
   MU 100, MU 101, MU 103, MU 104, MU 105, MU 106/AN 120
   
   
6. Art
   AR 101, AR 102, AR 103, AR 105, AR 114, AR 120, AR 140, AR 141, AR 301, AR 306, AR 307, AR 309, AR 310, AR 314
   
   
7. Mass Media
   MM 100, MM 200
   
   
8. Modern Language (FL 102, FR 102, GE 102, SP 102 may not be counted toward fulfillment of the general education requirement for the B.A. degree.)
   FR 102, FR 211, FR 212, GE 102, GE 211, GE 212, SP 102, SP 211, SP 212
   
   
9. Communication
   CN 101, CN 150, CN 241, CN 341
   
   
10. Theatre
    TH 101, TH 102, TH 103, TH 206, TH 207, TH 306
    
    
11. Interdisciplinary Studies
    IS 170*
    
    * This course may be used in any one of the three general education areas.

NATURAL SCIENCES, MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS

1. Biology
   BI 100, BI 101, BI 102, BI 150, BI 202, BI 203, BI 210
   
   
2. Chemistry
   CH 101, CH 102, CH 103, CH 121, CH 151, CH 152
   
   
3. Physics
   PS 101, PS 120, PS 126
   
   
4. Astronomy
   AS 101, AS 102, AS 103
   
   
5. Geology
   GL 101, GL 103
   
   
6. Mathematics (Exc: MA 110 or MA 116, if taken for University requirements for baccalaureate degree. MA 110 or MA 116 will count toward distribution requirements for associate degrees.)
   MA 117, MA 123, MA 140, MA 141, MA 145, MA 148, MA 151, MA 206
   
   
7. Honors
   HN 203
   
   
8. Interdisciplinary Studies
   IS 170*
   
   * This course may be used in any one of the three general education areas.

SOCIAL SCIENCES

1. Political Science / Geography
   PO 106, PO 107, PO 225, PO 235, GG 101, GG 102
   
   
2. History
   HI 100, HI 101, HI 102, HI 111, HI 112
   
   
3. Psychology
   PY 100, PY 210, PY 211, PY 231
   
   
4. Economics
   EC 100, EC 200, EC 201
   
   
5. Sociology
   SO 100, SO 101
   
   
6. Anthropology
   AN 112, AN 120/MU 106
   
   
7. Honors
   HN 202
   
   
8. Interdisciplinary Studies
   IS 170*
   
   * This course may be used in any one of the three general education areas.

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GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC BACHELOR'S AND ASSOCIATE DEGREES

1. Bachelor of Arts.
   
   A student must have 15 hours in Arts and Humanities with at least 3 of those hours selected from the area of Art, Music, or Theatre. The remaining credit hours from at least two other disciplines. The student must also have 12 hours in Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The credit hours must include courses from at least two disciplines other than Mathematics. The student must also have 15 hours in Social Sciences. No more than 6 hours may be counted for General Education credit from any one discipline. The student must also complete the 102 level course, or the equivalent, in one of the languages offered by the Department of Modern Languages. Students must earn a D or better grade, or CR credit, in order to fulfill the foreign language requirement. Course work taken to fulfill this requirement may not be applied toward general education requirements for the B.A. degree. Equivalents of the course work are defined as follows:
   
   
   • successful completion of a similar course of study in a foreign language taken at an accredited post-secondary
     institution.
     
     
   • successfully challenging the departmentally administered 102 level examinations or a score of "4" or higher on the AP or CLEP foreign language examinations.
     
     Note: Native speakers of any of the languages taught by the department may not receive credit for any 100 level courses.
     
     
   • acceptance into a regular credit-bearing academic program of study by students whose native language is not English.
     
     
2. Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Public Administration degrees.
   
   A student must have 15 hours in Arts and Humanities with at least 3 of those hours selected from the area of Art, Music, or Theatre. The remaining credit hours from at least two other disciplines. The student must also have 12 hours in Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The credit hours must include courses from at least two disciplines other than Mathematics. The student must also have 15 hours in Social Sciences. No more than 6 hours may be counted for General Education credit from any one discipline. Candidates for the Bachelor of Business Administration degree cannot use Economics courses to fulfill the General Education social science requirement.
   
   
3. Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Health Science, or Bachelor of Music with a major in Education or Performance.
   
   A student must have 9 hours in each of the three distribution groups with courses selected from at least two disciplines in each group, to include 3 hours in Art, Music, or Theatre within the 9 hours of Arts and Humanities. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing has additional specified course requirements that fall within the distribution groups.
   
   Bachelor of Science Degree: All coursework taken to meet the concentration in Natural Sciences must be a grade of “C” or better.
   
   
4. Bachelor of Education (majors in elementary education and physical education).
   
   A student should consult with the appropriate department for specific course requirements.
   
   
5. Bachelor of Social Work.
   
   A student must have 15 hours in the Arts and Humanities, three hours of which must be in Art, Music, or Theatre, and 12 hours in Natural Sciences and Mathematics with some specified courses. Fifteen hours are required in Social Sciences with specific course requirements. No more than 6 hours may be counted from any one discipline. Please read the Social Work section of this catalog for further information.
   
   
6. Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
   
   A student must have 12 hours in the Arts and Humanities, three hours of which must be in Art, Music, or Theatre, and 12 hours in Natural Sciences and Mathematics with some specified courses. Twelve hours are required in Social Science with specific course requirements. No more than 6 hours may be counted from one discipline.
   
   
7. Bachelor of Applied Science.
   
   A student must have 12 hours in the Arts and Humanities, three hours of which must be in Art, Music, or Theatre, 12 hours in Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and 12 hours in the Social Sciences with specific course requirements in each of the distribution areas. No more than 6 hours may be counted from any one discipline.
   
   
8. Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Science.
   
   A student must complete six hours from the Arts and Humanities, six hours in Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and six hours in the Social Sciences, with courses selected from at least two disciplines in each distribution group.
   
   

DECLARING A MAJOR

In order to insure the early and proper selection of a field of concentration, students seeking a baccalaureate degree are required to file a declaration of major by the time they have completed 54 hours. Candidates for the associate degree must file the declaration of major at the completion of 24 credit hours. A student is free at any time to change majors, or to add a second or third major, by following the prescribed procedures. Declaration of a major is made on a Declaration of Major/Degree/Catalog Year form which the student secures from the department chair, Academic Advising in the Center for Learning and Student Success, or the University Registrar's Office. The student fills out the form, in consultation with the department chair of the department in which he or she plans to major. The chairperson signs the form and assigns the student an advisor. Either the chairperson or the student then returns the form to Academic Advising. An additional form should be submitted for any change of major, change of degree, or additional major.

OPTIONAL MINOR

Students may complete a minor area of study from a discipline other than their major degree field. Such a minor is optional and not to be confused with any department's required minor or required correlated courses.

A minor will consist of no less than 15 hours in one discipline as specified by the department. Of these, 6 hours must be at the upper division level. Students must have a grade of C or better in each course in the optional minor.

The course content of the minor is to be selected in consultation with an advisor in the minor department or program. Prior to graduation, the department or program chair must certify the completion of the minor to the University Registrar.

PARTICIPATION IN COMMENCEMENT

The University has two commencements which are at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters. Students who are scheduled to complete final requirements for a degree during the following Summer term may be permitted to participate in the Spring commencement. Such candidates must have Declaration of Major/Degree/Catalog Year form and Application for Degree on file in the University Registrar's Office. Additional information and ceremony details can be found at www.washburn.edu/commencement.

DEGREES

DEGREE CONFERMENT

The University confers degrees three times a year to students who have met all requirements as of the last day of final examinations for each semester/term: Fall semester, Spring semester, and the Summer term. The summer term is comprised of several sessions or short courses, but the degree will be conferred at the end of the term. All work not completed by the last day of finals for each semester/term will result in a graduation date of the following semester/term or later if a previous "incomplete" has not been finalized. If a student is concurrently enrolled at another institution and intends to use the work to complete graduation requirements at Washburn, an official transcript from the institution must be received within two weeks of Washburn's last final examination date of the graduating semester/term in order to have the degree conferred in that same semester/term.

APPLICATION FOR DEGREE

Students planning to complete a Baccalaureate and/or Associate degree must file an Application for Degree form in the Office of the University Registrar in order to initiate a graduation check. The graduation check will be completed early in the semester/term in which the student plans to graduate. The form should be filed in September for the Fall semester and in February for the Spring semester and Summer term (see the academic calendar for the exact dates). A student is not a Candidate for Degree until the University Registrar's Office has the form on file. Students who do not graduate in the semester/term specified on the Application for Degree must file another application for the subsequent semester/term in which they plan to graduate. Forms are available in the University Registrar's Office.

DEGREE AUDIT

Degree audits are completed in the Office of the University Registrar for currently enrolled Washburn University students only. A student may request a Baccalaureate degree audit upon obtaining 85 semester hours of credit (including current enrollment). An Associate Degree candidate must have a minimum of 40 hours (including current enrollment). In order to receive a degree audit, the student must submit a Degree Audit Request Form to the University Registrar's Office. A student may make only two requests for degree audits prior to graduation. Any changes in a student schedule (i.e. dropping or adding a class during the term) after a degree audit has been made should be discussed with the academic advisor.

All completed degree audits prior to the final check are sent directly to the respective academic departments for distribution to advisors. Students are mailed a postcard to inform them of the date the audit was completed and to encourage them to meet with their advisor or department chairs for a review of remaining requirements.

POSTHUMOUS DEGREES

Upon recommendation of deceased student's major department or school, and upon approval of the Dean of the College or School, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the President, and the Board of Regents, a degree may be awarded posthumously provided that the student:

1. Was in good academic standing at the time of death, and,
   
   
2. Unless exceptional circumstances exist,
   
   
   1. had achieved senior status, if the student was enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program; or
      
      
   2. was within one semester of completion, if the student was enrolled in an associate degree program; or
      
      
   3. was in the final year, if the student was enrolled in a graduate degree program.
      

DIPLOMAS

Diploma Distribution

Diplomas will be available approximately two months after each semester/term. Diplomas may be picked up in the Office of the University Registrar, Morgan 115, during regular business hours. Photo identification must be presented to obtain your diploma. Students may have diplomas mailed by completing the Diploma Mailing Request Form in the University Registrar's Office. The fee for mailing a diploma is $5.00 if mailed to a U.S. address and $10.00 if mailed to an overseas address. Diplomas are not issued if the student has outstanding financial obligations to the University.

Diploma Replacement

A diploma may be replaced providing a request is made in writing. The request may be mailed to or made in person duringregular business hours at the Office of the University Registrar, Morgan Hall 115. The replacement processing fee is $25.00.

Diploma Designations

Majors and minors are not designated on the diploma; however, they are reflected on the transcript. If a student adds a major/minor to a degree after the diploma is issued, the additional designation will be reflected on the transcript. An additional diploma will not be issued. Only Latin honors (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude) are designated on undergraduate, bachelor degree diplomas. In addition to Latin honors, Stoffer Honors, Departmental and School Honors, and University Honors are posted on the transcript.

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