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The University awards the degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) to those matriculated students who have completed an approved sequence of courses and study totaling a minimum of 120 credits and who, by vote of the faculty, are certified as having fulfilled all degree requirements. Matriculated students may fulfill their degree requirements while classified as either full-time or part-time students for individual academic semesters. The following B.A. and B.S. degree requirements must be fulfilled by all students based on matriculation.
To be eligible for graduation from the University, matriculated students must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 in all course grades earned at the University.
Students must achieve a minimum grade point average of at least 2.00 in all University at Albany course work used to fulfill requirements in the major, combined major/minor, or departmental major.
Students must achieve a minimum grade point average of at least 2.00 in all University at Albany course work used to fulfill requirements in the minor(s).
The University requires degree candidates to earn a minimum of 30 of their last 60 graduation credits in courses at the Albany campus. Degree candidates who complete two approved study abroad semesters during their junior or senior year must earn a minimum of 30 of their last 69 credits in courses at the Albany campus. An “approved” study abroad program is any program from which the University accepts credits.
Major Residence
For the B.A. and B.S. degrees, a minimum of 18 graduation credits, including 12 credits at or above the 300 level, must be completed in the major on the Albany campus, or through a State University of New York sponsored Study Abroad Program sponsored by a university center or four-year liberal arts college. Study abroad coursework completed at SUNY Community, Agriculture, or Technology Colleges may not generally be used to satisfy this requirement.
Minor Residence
For the B.A. and B.S. degrees, a minimum of 6 graduation credits of advanced courses (courses at or above the 300 level or courses which require a prerequisite) must be completed in the minor on the Albany campus, or through a State University of New York sponsored study abroad program sponsored by a university center or four-year liberal arts college. Study abroad coursework completed at SUNY Community, Agriculture, or Technology Colleges may not generally be used to satisfy this requirement.
Combined Major/Minor Residence
For the B.A. and B.S. degrees, a minimum of 24 graduation credits, including 12 credits at or above the 300 level, must be completed in a combined major and minor program on the Albany campus, or through a State University of New York sponsored study abroad program sponsored by a university center or four-year liberal arts college. Study abroad coursework completed at SUNY Community, Agriculture, or Technology Colleges may not generally be used to satisfy this requirement.
Degrees are awarded at the conclusion of the fall, spring, and summer terms. The student must file a degree application online via MyUAlbany in accordance with the date specified in the official University academic calendar for the term in which all degree requirements will be completed. All incomplete grades and grades not reported must be resolved before the degree can be awarded. If reasonable attempts to contact the instructor fail, the student with an incomplete or “blank” (not reported) grade may appeal to the Committee on Academic Standing or, if that body is unable to meet to resolve the issue in timely fashion, to the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education.
Students may elect more than one major, designating which is to be considered the "first major," the "second major," etc. The University at Albany diploma lists only the degree of the first major and any Latin Honors, if applicable. Only one diploma is awarded to each undergraduate student indicating a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science. A degree review will be conducted at the end of each term for those students who have properly applied for graduation. The Registrar’s Office will notify the student if the degree is not awarded because the degree requirements have not been met. If the student has completed all requirements for the degree, a confirming email will be sent to the student via the University email address.
In rare and exceptional cases, a waiver of the requirements listed in this section may be granted to an individual student. Petitions for waiver of major or minor requirements should be addressed to the academic unit offering the major or minor. Petitions for waiver of any other requirements in this section should be addressed to the Committee on Academic Standing of the Undergraduate Academic Council and submitted to the Office of Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Taconic Building Third Floor. Please note that the Committee on Academic Standing only reviews these petitions for waivers during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Under certain circumstances, the University will award a degree posthumously to a student who passes away during their last semester of study. The request for such action will be reviewed by the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (undergraduate students) and the Graduate School (graduate students) to determine eligibility.
The following conditions must be met to award a degree posthumously:
To graduate from the University at Albany, a student must have at least 120 graduation credits, fulfill the requirements of the major(s)/minor(s) chosen by the student, complete all General Education requirements that apply to the student, and fulfill the University, major and minor residence requirements. For a Bachelor of Arts degree, a minimum of 90 credits in courses designated "liberal arts and sciences" must be completed; for a Bachelor of Science degree, a minimum of 60 credits in courses designated "liberal arts and sciences" must be completed. Courses may be classified as “liberal arts and sciences” or as “non-liberal arts and sciences” or as a course carrying no credit applicable to graduation.
Policy Statement on Liberal Arts and Sciences
Higher education institutions in New York State must meet the requirements of the Rules of the Board of Regents, Section 3.47 (c). Additional guidance is available at the the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
ROTC Courses: Students may apply toward their undergraduate degree requirements up to a maximum of twelve credits for ROTC courses completed successfully at the University at Albany and/or from other accredited institutions. All ROTC credit is designated "non-liberal arts and sciences."
Physical Education Courses: Although the University no longer offers physical education courses for credit, students may apply toward their degree a maximum of six credits of physical education activity credits. These and credit for courses in coaching, recreational studies, etc., will ordinarily be designated "non-liberal arts and sciences" credits.
Applied Elective Courses: The term “Applied Elective” designates a transfer course of a relatively non-theoretical and predominantly “skill” or “application” nature only tangentially connected to the objectives or study of the liberal arts and sciences. Such courses typically are intended to prepare a student for a specific vocational pursuit rather than for future academic, graduate or professional study or practice. Students may apply toward their undergraduate degree requirements up to a maximum of twelve credits from transferred "applied elective" courses. (Cf. "Types of Transfer Credit" section below.)
Courses Yielding No Graduation Credit: The following types of courses do not carry credit applicable toward graduation at the University at Albany:
Equivalent Transfer Courses: A department, school or program may designate a course taken elsewhere as equivalent to one of its courses. It is considered "liberal arts and sciences" if the Albany equivalent is so considered; it is considered “non-liberal arts and sciences” if the Albany equivalent is so considered.
Departmental Electives: A department, school or program may designate a course taken elsewhere as "departmental elective credit." For example, a Sociology course may be designated A SOC 000 or A SOC E00 (a Sociology course not applicable to the major or minor in Sociology); A SOC 010 or A SOC E10 (a lower division Sociology course); or A SOC 030 or A SOC E30 (an upper division Sociology course).
Applied Electives: A department, school or program may decide whether a transfer course that is in its discipline should be designated as an “applied elective.” Courses that are not represented by comparable study in the University at Albany’s colleges and schools are generally designated “applied electives” (architecture, agricultural sciences, pharmacy, legal assistant, etc.). However, courses that appear roughly comparable to arts and sciences offerings (architecture comparable to art history or drawing, etc.) may be designated as "liberal arts and sciences" or may have their designation changed to "liberal arts and sciences" based on a student's appeal. A student may receive a maximum of 12 credits for transferred applied electives.
The following limits and restrictions apply whether or not these credits are taken pre-matriculation or post-matriculation.
Maximum Limit on Transfer Credit: Since Albany requires at least 30 credits to be completed at the University, the most transfer credit that can be applied toward graduation is 90 credits. (Since some SUNY and other technical and community colleges now award baccalaureate degrees, the University no longer distinguishes between "two-year" and baccalaureate-granting institutions in determining the maximum credits that may be transferred.)
Non-Liberal Arts and Sciences Courses: Bachelor of Arts degree programs require a minimum of 90 credits in "liberal arts and sciences." Therefore, for students pursuing the B.A. degree the most credit from "non-liberal arts and sciences" courses that can apply to the degree is 30 credits. Bachelor of Science degree programs require a minimum of 60 credits in "liberal arts and sciences." Therefore, for students pursuing the B.S. degree the most credit from "non-liberal arts and sciences" courses that can apply to the degree is 60 credits.
Of a student's transfer credits in courses that are designated "non-liberal arts and sciences," no more than 6 credits may be in physical education activity courses, no more than 12 credits may be in ROTC courses, and no more than 12 credits may be in courses equated to "applied electives."
Although credits successfully completed at other institutions after the student has matriculated will appear on the student's record, the limits and restrictions mentioned above will determine whether or not the student is able to apply all of those credits toward the minimum 120 credits needed for graduation.
A student must earn a minimum of 120 acceptable graduation credits to be eligible for graduation from the University. Acceptable graduation credit is as follows:
A University at Albany grade of D- is minimally acceptable for graduation credit in the major and minor. Note, however, that a 2.00 average within each major and minor is a requirement for graduation.
Students cannot transfer in any grades of D.