Degree Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

To qualify for a bachelor’s degree, students must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Successfully complete the minimum credits required for the chosen curriculum in courses numbered 100 and above, including general education and specific university graduation requirements. The minimum credits required for a baccalaureate degree is 120. Programs that require 150 or more hours take five or more years to complete.
2. Obtain a minimum NMU cumulative GPA of 2.00.
3. Obtain the minimum GPA and the minimum grades in majors, minors and other courses where required by departments.
4. To qualify for a bachelor of arts degree, students must complete language course work equivalent to or higher than the 202 level or DFST 330 and DFST 340 in deaf studies. Students with a major in the College of Business must complete one of the following options:
   1. FR 202 and FR 310;
   2. GR 202 and GR 310;
   3. SN 202 and SN 310 or SN 312 or SN 314.
5. In lieu of the culture course, College of Business students may meet the requirement by completion of the language at the 202 level and an approved directed study for a summer or semester in a country of the language. This must be submitted in writing by the student’s adviser to the Registrar’s Office prior to inception of the directed study
6. Complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit in residence at Northern Michigan University, excluding advanced placement credit. Transfer students must earn a minimum of eight credits in each major and four credits in each minor.
7. Adhere to the following limit for a non-business degree: Total credits that may be taken from the College of Business (courses with prefixes ACT, CIS, FIN, IS, MGT, MKT, OIS and transfer BUS courses) cannot exceed 25 percent of the requirements for a non-business degree. This includes credits taken to complete a major or minor, a minor in the College of Business, and general elective credits taken from the College of Business.
8. Students who would like to complete their NMU degree with course work from another institution should:

• have a minimum NMU cumulative GPA of 2.00;
• meet the minimum GPAs as established by their major and minor departments;
• obtain written approval from their department head as well as the Registrar’s Office;
• have all courses approved by the appropriate academic department prior to
• enrollment at another institution (Permission to Complete Degree Away form); and
• have processed a Guest Student Application form through the Registrar’s Office.

      9. Receive only one degree at this level per commencement.

Associate Degree Requirements

To qualify for an associate degree, students must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Successfully complete the minimum credits required for their chosen curriculum in courses numbered 100 and above, with a minimum NMU cumulative GPA of 2.00. The minimum credits required for an associate degree is 60.
2. Complete a minimum of 16 semester hours of credit in residence at Northern Michigan University, excluding advance placement credit.
3. Complete the general education requirements associated with their degree. Program requirements may be more extensive and/or specific than the minimum required.
4. Receive only one degree at this level per commencement.

Associate of Applied Arts, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Business, and Associate of Technology

In addition, the associate of applied arts and associate of applied science degrees require a minimum of 15 semester hours in the following disciplines:

1. Effective Communication - 1 course
2. General Education Courses:
   
   Chosen from the following categories:

• Effective Communication - 1 course
• Quantitative Reasoning - 1 course
• Social Responsibility in a Diverse World - 1 course
• Integrative Thinking - 1 course
• Human Expression - 1 course
• Perspectives on Society - 1-2 courses
• Scientific Inquiry - 1-2 courses

Departments that offer associate degrees which they believe have courses embedded within the degree requirements that are equivalent to the general education criteria may petition to the Registrar’s Office to count this coursework toward the 15 minimum semester hours required. Any variation must be explained, justified, and approved.

Associate of Arts and Associate of Science

In addition, the associate of arts and associate of science degrees require a minimum of 32 semester hours selected from the following general education categories:

• Effective Communication - 1-2 courses
• Quantitative Reasoning - 1 course
• Social Responsibility in a Diverse World - 1 course
• Integrative Thinking - 1 course
• Human Expression - 1 course
• Perspectives on Society - 1-2 courses
• Scientific Inquiry - 1-2 courses

Certificate Requirements

To qualify for a certificate, students must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Complete the prescribed program of course work. The minimum credits required for the certificate is 16.
2. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. Only those courses applying to the program will be utilized in calculating the GPA.
3. Earn a minimum of 16 semester hours of credit in residence at NMU.

Additional Degrees and Certificates

Students who complete the requirements for multiple majors or minors will be awarded one degree, with the transcript showing the major(s) and minor(s) which are part of that degree.

Students who have already earned a baccalaureate or associate degree or a certificate at Northern Michigan University or elsewhere may earn additional degrees or certificates in academic areas or programs other than any previously earned degrees or certificates. Students must meet all current requirements relating to their new degree or certificate. Students who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and who seek a second bachelor’s degree will be considered to have met the University-wide General Education and Graduation Requirements, but must satisfy all school/college, department and program requirements.

Students with an earned baccalaureate degree who are seeking additional degrees must apply in the Admissions Office. Students may not enroll in any courses at the 500 level or above.

To qualify for a second baccalaureate degree, the student must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at NMU beyond the first baccalaureate degree.

To qualify for an associate degree, the student must complete a minimum of 16 credit hours at NMU beyond the first baccalaureate or associate degree.

To qualify for a certificate, the student must complete a minimum of 8 semester credit hours at NMU beyond the first baccalaureate or associate degree or certificate program.