2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 15, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Degree Requirements



 

Requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree

For Campus-Based Students

  • Completion of at least 120 credit hours of work (not including basic skills credits).
  • Achievement of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (on a scale where A equals 4.00).
  • Completion of the General Education Core Curriculum.
  • Completion of bachelor-level Graduation Standards.
  • Completion of all course work in the major.
  • At least 30 credits applying toward the degree must be earned from Northern Vermont University.
  • At least 33 credits must be at the 3000/4000 (upper) level.*

For NVU Online Students

  • Completion of at least 120 credit hours of work (not including basic skills credits).
  • Achievement of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (on a scale where A equals 4.00).
  • Submission and approval of an individualized degree plan (for Professional Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies majors only).
  • Completion of the General Education Core Curriculum.
  • Completion of bachelor-level Graduation Standards.
  • Completion of all course work in the major.
  • At least 30 credits applying toward the degree must be earned from Northern Vermont University.
  • At least 33 credits must be at the 3000/4000 (upper) level.*

Requirements for an Associate’s Degree

  • Completion of at least 60 credit hours of course work (not including basic skills credits).
  • A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (on a scale where A equals 4.00).
  • At least 15 of the credits applying toward the degree must be earned from Northern Vermont University.
  • Of the General Education Core Curriculum:
    • ​Creative Audience (1 credit) NVU-Johnson students only
    • First Year Seminar (3 credits)
    • Communicating in the World: Written Expression (6 credits)
    • Mathematics and Computing in the World (6 credits)
    • Natural and Physical Worlds (4 credits)
    • Being in the World: Society and Behavior (3 credits) 
    • Creativity in the World: Art and Aesthetics (3 credits)
    • Diversity in the World: History and Culture (3 credits)
    • Enriched Course in Climate Change, Sustainability, or Social Justice (3-4 credits)  
  • Completion of associate-level Graduation Standards.

Requirements for Earning a Second Degree

A Second Bachelor’s Degree

Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree may earn a second degree by completing the following requirements:

  • Completion of at least an additional 30 credits through Northern Vermont University.
  • Completion of the requirements of a major unique from the first bachelor’s degree major.
  • Achievement of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00.

Note that requirements for double majors also may apply.

A Second Associate’s Degree

Students who already hold an associate’s degree may earn a second degree by completing the following requirements:

  • Completion of at least an additional 15 credits at Northern Vermont University.
  • Completion of the requirements of a major unique from the major of the first associate’s degree.
  • Achievement of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00.

Note that requirements for double majors also may apply.

Requirements for a Double Major

Students wishing to earn a degree with a double major must meet the following requirements:

  • Completion of degree requirements as listed under Requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree.
  • Completion of the requirements of two unique majors.
  • For baccalaureate degrees, at least 30, and for associate’s degree, at least 15, of the credits used to complete each major must be in courses not used to meet the requirements in the other major.

Requirements for Academic Minors

An academic minor consists of a minimum of 18 credits in a discipline or field, at least six of which are at the 3000/4000 level*. In general, students may not use the same courses used to satisfy requirements in a major to also satisfy requirements in a minor. Any questions should be referred to the department chair of the department sponsoring the minor. (See list of Academic Programs.)

 

*These policies are subject to full Faculty and Provost approval.

Graduation Standards

Northern Vermont University strives to ensure that all students achieve and be able to demonstrate their mastery of important skills. This commitment is consistent with the mandate of the trustees and presidents of the Vermont State Colleges (VSC), including NVU, that all students must satisfy graduation standards in four areas: writing, quantitative reasoning, information literacy and oral communication. As a mandate of the Board of Trustees and the Council of Presidents, the requirement to satisfy graduation standards supersedes all other catalog statements concerning academic regulations and requirements. Successfully fulfilling graduation standards at one VSC institution is accepted as fulfilling the standards at any other VSC institution for an equivalent associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

All students must satisfy the following graduation standards in order to graduate:

  • Writing: All baccalaureate- and associate-level students must pass ENG 3999 - Writing Proficiency Exam , or ENG 2005 - The Self-Sufficient Writer  course. The Writing Proficiency Exam is offered every semester on a pass/no pass basis. Students should take the exam when they have accumulated between 15-60 credits to ensure completion of this standard. Students who fail the exam once may attempt it a second time; those who fail twice must take and pass ENG 2005 - The Self-Sufficient Writer .
  • Quantitative Reasoning: All baccalaureate- and associate-level students must pass the Quantitative Reasoning Assessment (QRA) or MAT 1080 - Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning . In addition, all baccalaureate-level students must pass one course designated as “quantitatively enriched.” (Courses identified with a “QE” prefix are approved as quantitatively enriched.) Note: Unlike MAT-1080, the QRA does not count toward the “Foundational Skills: Mathematics” component of the General Education Curriculum.
  • Information Literacy: All baccalaureate- and associate-level students must complete GRS 3000, the Information Literacy Tutorial (TILT) and score 80% or higher on each of the accompanying quizzes. TILT and the quizzes are available to students on the VSC Moodle site after registering for a section of GRS-3000. It is recommended that students take TILT during their first year at JSC.
  • Oral Communication: All baccalaureate- and associate-level students must receive passing scores on the Oral Communication Grading & Evaluation Form. Baccalaureate students must complete two oral presentations, each at least five minutes long; associate-level students must complete one oral presentation.