Graduation Requirements

In order to receive the baccalaureate degree from the University of Puget Sound, a student must:

  1. Earn a minimum of 32 units. The 32 units may include up to 4 academic courses graded pass/fail, up to 2.0 units in activity courses, and up to 4.0 units of independent study. (See regulations regarding transfer credit and activity credit.)
  2. Earn a minimum of 16 units in residence at the University of Puget Sound. Residence requirements also exist in core, majors, minors, and graduation honors. (See also the section on study abroad.)
  3. Earn a minimum of 6 of the last 8 units in residence at the University of Puget Sound.
  4. Maintain a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 2.00 in all courses taken at Puget Sound.
  5. Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00 in all graded courses, including transfer courses.
  6. Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00 in all graded courses, including transfer courses, in the major(s) and the minor(s), if a minor is elected.
  7. Successfully complete Puget Sound’s core requirements. (Courses taken pass/fail will not fill Puget Sound core requirements,) Specific courses satisfying core requirements are listed on Puget Sound’s website and in the Bulletin. Students are reminded that specific courses applicable to the core will fulfill core requirements only during the semester(s) that they are officially listed in a Bulletin as fulfilling core.
  8. Satisfy the foreign language graduation requirement in one of the following ways*:
    1. Successfully complete two semesters of a foreign language at the 101-102 college level, or 1 semester of a foreign language at the 200 level or above. (Courses taken pass/fail will not fulfill the foreign language graduation requirement.);
    2. Pass a Puget Sound-approved foreign language proficiency exam at the third-year high school or first-year college level;
    3. Receive a score of 4 or 5 on an Advanced Placement foreign language exam or a score of 5, 6, or 7 on an International Baccalaureate Higher Level foreign language exam.
  9. Satisfy the Knowledge, Identity, and Power (KNOW) graduation requirement.
  10. Earn at least three academic units outside the requirements of the first major, and outside the department/program of the first major, at the upper division level, which is understood to be 300 or 400 level courses or 200 level courses with departmental approval and at least 2 prerequisites. (Courses taken pass/fail will not fulfill the upper division course graduation requirement.)
  11. Meet the requirements for a major field of study. A second major or a minor are options for the student. (Courses counting toward the major or minor may not be taken pass/fail unless they are mandatory pass/fail courses.)
  12. Complete all incomplete or in-progress grades.
  13. File an application for graduation with the Office of the Registrar. Applications are due in September for graduation at the end of the next Spring, Summer, or Fall terms

* A student with a learning disability that affects the ability to learn a foreign language should consult with the Office of Student Accessibility and Accommodations.

All degree requirements must be completed prior to the awarding of the degree. Degrees are awarded on three degree dates each year in May, August, and December.

Each student is subject to one of the following:

  1. degree requirements published in the Bulletin at the time of graduation, or
  2. to degree requirements applicable at the time of matriculation, or
  3. to degree requirements listed in any Bulletin published between the student’s matriculation and graduation, provided that no more than six years separate matriculation and graduation. Students should be aware that specific courses applicable to the core will fulfill the core requirements only during the semester(s) that they are officially listed in a Bulletin or class schedule.

Courses which were listed as satisfying core or department requirements at the time of matriculation may be altered or removed from the curriculum before a student reaches graduation. In the case of department requirements, a student must plan alternate courses with the advisor.

Students applying transfer credit to their degree requirements must complete at least the following minimum core requirements at Puget Sound.

  1. Students entering with freshman or sophomore standing must complete at least a course in Connections plus three additional core areas.
  2. Students entering with junior standing must complete at least a course in Connections plus two additional core areas.

Major Requirements

Students must declare their major area of study through the Office of Academic Advising by the end of their sophomore year. A major consists of a minimum of 8 units outlined within a department/school or program. One major is required of all graduates. At least 4 units of the major must be completed in residence at Puget Sound. A 2.0 minimum grade-point average is required both for those courses completed at Puget Sound and elsewhere. Courses counting toward the major may not be taken pass/fail unless they are mandatory pass/fail courses.

Graduation with Two Majors

Students may earn the baccalaureate degree with two majors. Whichever major is declared as the first major controls the degree to be awarded. Both majors must be completed before the degree is awarded.

Minor Requirements

An minor is not required for a degree. If the student elects to earn a minor, it must consist of a minimum of 5 units within the minor area. At least 3 of these must be completed in residence at Puget Sound. Specific requirements for the minor are established by the individual minor area. A 2.0 minimum grade-point average is required both for those courses completed at Puget Sound and elsewhere. Minors must be completed before the degree is awarded. A student may not major and minor in the same department. Courses counting toward the minor may not be taken pass/fail unless they are mandatory pass/fail courses.

Simultaneous Baccalaureate Degrees

Students who wish to earn two baccalaureate degrees simultaneously must complete:

  1. university requirements for a baccalaureate degree with two majors,
  2. a minimum of 40 total units and a minimum of 24 units in residence,
  3. a minimum of 6 of the last 8 units in residence.

For purposes of other academic policies, simultaneously earned degrees may both be considered “first” degrees.

Second Baccalaureate Degree

Students who wish to earn a second baccalaureate degree must complete a minimum of 8 additional academic and graded units in residence subsequent to the awarding of the first baccalaureate degree. Students are required to complete departmental requirements current as of the date of post-baccalaureate enrollment. Each additional baccalaureate degree requires 8 more discrete academic, and graded units earned in residence.