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2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog - Belmont University


Graduation Requirements

All students should officially “declare” a major and minor after 64 credit hours, and must declare a major and minor after 94 credit hours. After the major/minor form has been filed at Belmont Central, the student will be notified of the courses which must be taken in order to graduate. Any course that does not follow the bulletin (for the degree program) in course title must have a substitution form (Program of Study Change Form) submitted. These can be obtained from the advisor or the Dean of the College.

Students must file a graduation application online through their "My Belmont" account by the posted deadlines for each graduation date. These dates are listed in the Academic Calendar in the front of this catalog. At the beginning of the semester of that graduation, the student will be billed for the non-refundable graduation fee. If a student fails to complete the graduation process in a given semester (as requested on the student's Graduation Application), the student must reapply for graduation and an additional $50 fee is charged for each subsequent application.

General Degree Requirements 

  1. A minimum of 128 semester hours of university work numbered 1000 and above, with a minimum of 32 credit hours taken in residence at Belmont University. Some majors may require more than the minimum of 128 credit hours in order to earn the degree.
  2. The last 32 semester hours of course work on which a degree is granted must be done in residence at Belmont (with the exception of Medical Technology, Imaging Technology, and approved active articulation agreements), unless a Senior Residency Waiver is granted by the University Registrar for specific credit hours. (See Senior Residency Waiver Policy at the bottom of this page)
  3. C average (2.0) G.P.A. on the total hours attempted at Belmont University and an overall G.P.A. of 2.0 on all postsecondary institutions, colleges and universities attended.
  4. C average (2.0) G.P.A. is required over all work done in both the major and the minor areas (including transfer work used to meet degree requirements).
  5. All degree requirements (including convocation) must be finished and officially recorded with the University Registrar prior to commencement in order to be eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony.
  6. 24 hours of a student's major must be in courses numbered 2000 or above, unless otherwise approved under that major in the university catalog.
  7. A minor of at least 18 hours is required of every student, except those seeking the Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Social Work, Bachelor of Fine Arts, University College students, students who have double majors, those seeking elementary licensure, or majors approved in the catalog without a minor required. Students may not minor in the same subject discipline as the major (i.e. have the same major and minor), unless university approved and so stated under that major in the university catalog.
  8. A minimum of 12 hours of the major and 6 hours of the minor must be taken at Belmont.
  9. A student may graduate by meeting degree requirements listed in the university catalog for either the year in which she/he enters Belmont University or the one for the year in which she/he graduates. A student who is not enrolled for a period of two (2) consecutive academic years must meet the graduation requirements for either the university catalog under which he/she reenters Belmont or the one for the year in which he/she graduates.
  10.  No more than one-fourth of the total curriculum leading to a degree, may be taken via distance education.
  11.  At least 64 hours must be taken from accredited senior colleges and universities.
  12.  To fulfill graduation requirements, students must earn a specified number of credits as designated in the University Convocation Program. (See The Guide, or access the convocation website from the Belmont home page.)
  13.  It is the student's responsibility to check with the Registrar's Office regarding the applicability of transfer work to the Belmont degree program.
  14.  The general policies and procedures in the latest edition of the university catalog are always applicable to all students.

Second Bachelor's Degrees

  1. For a Belmont degree recipient to receive a second bachelor's degree, the candidate must complete at least 30 hours in the major at Belmont University over and above the number of hours required for the first degree plus any General Education requirements not previously earned for the new degree.1 (see below).  A student earning a second (different) degree is eligible to participate in graduation commencement. That graduation GPA calculation will be the cumulative GPA of all academic work.
  2. A Belmont degree recipient seeking a second degree may not earn the same degree twice. Students may elect to add another major post-graduation when that major is taken with no intention of earning a different degree. Upon completion of the requirements for the second major, the transcript will note the original degree GPA, the GPA of the additional work, and add in the comment section at the top of the transcript "second major completed in (name of major), (date)."
  3.  The holder of a bachelor's degree from another university wishing to pursue a second degree from Belmont University must complete all the following requirements:
  • A minimum of 32 hours must be completed at Belmont, plus any General Education requirements not previously earned for the new degree.1
  • A student seeking a second degree at Belmont may not earn the same degree previously earned at the other university.
  • The requirement for a minor is waived for students who have an earned bachelor's degree from another institution.

1 Students who have previously completed a four-year, baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. university shall be exempt from General Education requirements at Belmont, except for the six-hour Religion requirement and General Education courses required of that degree not previously earned in the prior degree as follows: the math requirements for the B.S. and B.B.A. degree (whichever degree is sought) and two 2000+ level same language requirement for those seeking the B.A. The 32 hours at a minimum includes the "major" requirements, plus unmet General Education courses as outlined above.

Undergraduate Senior Residency and Waiver

All degree seeking students are required to take their last 32 credit hours in their degree / program at Belmont University.  Prior to registration for the course(s), students seeking to take courses outside of Belmont must request a waiver of the senior residency requirement.  Any credit hours taken without prior approval will not be accepted in transfer. See the Senior Residence Waiver policy and criteria on the Transfer Credit page.

Students approved for Senior Residency or in a Study Abroad program in their final semester of study are responsible to ensure that official grades are received by the deadline for all graduating senior grades near the end of the term. Without grades, completion of degree requirements cannot be confirmed. Students not meeting degree requirements may not participate in graduation / commencement.

Honors (Graduation)

Academic honors are calculated on all grades from all institutions of higher education attended. Those students who earn a Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) between 3.50 and 3.749 are graduated Cum laude (with honors). Students who earn a G.P.A. between 3.75 and 3.949, are graduated Magna cum laude (with high honors). Students who earn a G.P.A. between 3.950 and 4.00 are graduated Summa cum laude (with highest honors).