General Requirements

To be considered a candidate for graduation a student must fulfill the specific requirements for a particular degree as set forth in the following pages:

Complete 120-129 semester hours, determined by your program of study, with a minimum “C” average 2.00 GPA. Earn a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of those semester hours from a four-year college or university, and at least twenty-five percent (25%) of semester hours required for degree must be resident work at JSU. Thirty-six (36) semester hours of credits presented for a degree must be in courses numbered 300 or above.
Earn a minimum “C” or better in each of the major and minor courses. Some undergraduate programs/majors may have more stringent requirements than university policy, and students should refer to their program/major for specific requirements.
No matter what advanced standing candidates may have been admitted under, or what credits they may have transferred, they must earn credit at JSU for at least 12 hours of advanced work (courses numbered 300 or above) in their major subject or teaching field area and six hours in advanced work (courses numbered 300 or above) in his/her minor subject.

For education students, one-third of the total hours in each teaching field(s) must be advanced work. In addition, a minimum of 12 hours of advanced level courses in each single comprehensive teaching field, or a minimum of nine hours of advanced level courses in each dual-teaching field must have been taken at JSU.
Students are expected to complete the general subject requirements for graduation during the freshman and sophomore years, in so far as this is possible. In case of deficiencies, students must register for courses which will remove such deficiencies before they will be permitted to elect other courses.
A minor, in addition to a major, is required for all degrees with the exception of majors in accounting, applied manufacturing engineering, aviation, biology, business economics, chemistry, computer science, computer information systems, entrepreneurship, exercise science and wellness, family and consumer sciences, finance, geography, industrial leadership, integrated studies, management, marketing, mathematics, music, nursing, occupational safety and health management, public health, respiratory therapy, social work, sociology, and the B.F.A. degree in art. The B.F.A. degree and the B.S. in family and consumer sciences require an area of concentration in lieu of a minor. However, degrees for those seeking teacher certification require teaching field(s) in lieu of majors/minors.
Students entering with advanced standing or earning credit from another institution after initial enrollment at JSU must earn a minimum “C” average, 2.00 GPA, at this institution.
Students select their major and minor subjects before the end of their sophomore year, or if a junior or senior transferring from another college, before they register for any work leading to a degree from this institution. The choice of their major and minor fields must be made only after consultation with the professors/advisors in these fields and must have the approval of both the major and minor professors/advisors. Note: Students pursuing a degree in education will need to select their teaching field(s) by the end of their freshman year. Note: Candidates, including transfers, must submit minimum requirements and a portfolio for review and approval by the Department of Art and Design prior to assessment into the B.F.A. degree program.
Before each registration, students confer with their advisor and secure approval of the choice of courses for the major and minor(s) or electives, and of sequences of such courses.
Successfully complete the First Year Experience course.
Successfully complete two Writing Intensive (WI) courses, one of which must be at the 300 or 400 level. At initial evaluation, transfer students with 32+ earned credit hours accepted by JSU for transfer and students seeking a second bachelor's degree are expected to complete a minimum of one WI course at JSU.
Earn a minimum “C” or better in each of the microcredential courses. No course substitutions may be made for a microcredential unless otherwise specifically stated in the catalog program.
Apply to graduate no later than the last day to add classes in the semester in which you will graduate.

First Year Experience Course

All first-time freshmen (including former dual enrollment students) must complete a First Year Experience course. According to admissions status (unconditional vs. conditional), students will be advised to take either: SSC 101 First Year Experience (0), or SSC 104 Academic Success Skills (3).

Students will achieve course objectives related to their overall adjustment to being a successful student at JSU. Topics discussed include: how to develop a relationship with an academic and career advisor; know and understand JSU policies; learn about and become active in JSU activities for students; understand and develop appropriate behaviors for a college student; become familiar with student services; and acquire knowledge and skills necessary to prosper as a JSU student.

First-time freshmen aged 25 or older are exempt from completing a First Year Experience course. Dual Enrollment students who are currently in high school are restricted from taking any First Year Experience course designed for undergraduate students.

Catalog Requirements and Time Limits

Degree requirements and other university regulations are established by the catalog current at the time of initial enrollment (Former JSU dual enrollment students follow the degree requirements in the catalog current at the time of initial enrollment after high school completion.) Students may complete requirements under the catalog current at that time or any later catalog during their JSU enrollment provided the undergraduate degree is completed within twelve (12) years from initial collegiate enrollment and with a continuous status of active. Students not completing the undergraduate degree within twelve (12) years from initial enrollment must update to a more current catalog as negotiated with the appropriate college dean. Students returning after a period of inactive status must update to the catalog in effect at the time of return. Exceptions will be on a case-by-case basis, presented by the academic advisor in conjunction with the College Dean, and require approval by the Associate Vice Provost of Academic Affairs. Students may not combine components of different catalogs. Once updated, prior catalogs can not be used.

Students tracking toward transfer enrollment may follow the JSU catalog in effect at the time of initial collegiate enrollment. However, students should be advised that the twelve (12) year catalog entitlement would then start upon initial collegiate enrollment rather than initial enrollment with Jacksonville State University.

Writing Across the Curriculum

Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) is a program that seeks to establish, recognize, and support the use of writing in multiple forms and various genres within a student's academic experience. It helps students transfer important written communication skills learned in composition to their major courses and, then, their professions. Specifically, writing within the discipline helps students to

Communicate information clearly
Clarify thinking
Learn new concepts and information
Think critically
Become familiar with and practice writing useful for their career.

Writing Across the Curriculum is a model that has been adopted by institutions nationwide and is the product of extensive research on best practices in teaching and learning. WAC at JSU requires that a student successfully complete the first-year composition course sequence and two Writing Intensive courses (WI) in order to graduate. At least one WI course must be at the upper-level (300 or 400-level course). Eligible courses have the WI designation, and advisors will guide students to the appropriate courses based on their major. At initial evaluation, transfer students with 32+ credit hours accepted by JSU for transfer and students seeking a second bachelor's degree are expected to complete a minimum of one WI course at JSU.

Additional Bachelor’s Degree

Students seeking to earn additional bachelor’s degrees in a different major must complete, in residence, a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of hours for the second degree (for example, 30 hours for a 120-hour degree program). All academic requirements for the additional degree must be met according to the undergraduate catalog at the time of enrollment in the additional degree program. The use of previously earned minor course hours for the new degree varies by academic program. Those seeking an additional bachelor's degree must contact the advisor and/or department head of the new degree program to create a plan of study that must be approved by the dean (or the dean's designee) of the college and filed with the Registrar's Office prior to enrolling in courses. Students may not be awarded multiple degrees in the same ceremony.

Candidates for Degrees

Application for degree may be submitted through the student's MyJaxState after junior classification is attained but no later than the last day to register in the semester in which the student will graduate. Degrees are awarded only three times a year: Fall Graduation (December), Spring Graduation (May), and Summer Graduation (August). Students who are unsuccessful degree candidates must wait to receive their degrees until the next available graduation after all degree requirements are met. These candidates should contact their respective academic advisor within their college regarding the procedure for re-applying for a graduation in a future term