Graduation: Requirements
and Procedures

Graduation Requirements

Students are personally responsible for knowing degree requirements and enrolling in courses that fulfill their degree program. Students, with the help of their advisers, design their program to satisfy their needs and aims. Students will be required to complete assessment activities as determined by the university prior to the awarding of degrees. Students are likewise held responsible for knowing regulations governing the standard of work required for continuance in the university involving academic probation and suspension.

Although this bulletin is intended to set forth the various provisions for study and requirements for the awarding of degrees, periodic revisions of the provisions for study and degree requirements are appropriate (because of advances in knowledge, changes in occupational requirements, academic preparation of students, and in faculty and facilities at the university). In order for the bulletin to be available in spring of each year, publication must begin the previous October. This is almost a year before the requirements specified therein become effective the following fall and almost five years before a student entering at that time could graduate. Accordingly, the university cannot guarantee the awarding of a degree based on the unchanged requirements as set forth in a particular bulletin.

Adjustment to Changing Requirements

Students are expected to inform themselves of changes in degree requirements by reviewing the bulletins that are published annually and their CAPP electronic degree progress reports; then, when necessary, adjust their degree plans accordingly.

If university or college requirements are changed, students are encouraged to adopt the new requirements; however, students will have the option of graduating under the requirements in effect when they entered the university or one of Wyoming’s community colleges, provided the courses are still available. The student must accept either the new requirements or the requirements in effect when they entered the university or one of Wyoming’s community colleges in their entirety, not a combination from each. Students changing colleges within the university or reentering the university after one or more years away are expected to adopt the requirements in effect at the time of the reentry. Any substitution to the above must be approved in writing by the student’s adviser and the college dean and added to the student’s advising folder in the department or college.

If departmental requirements are changed, students will ordinarily be permitted to continue under the requirements in effect when they entered that major department provided there has not been an interruption in their education for a year or more; however, students are encouraged to adopt the new requirements in total, or to accept, with the written approval of the student’s adviser within the department, those of the new requirements which would not be an undue hardship. Notice of changes will be available from departmental offices and advisers. It is the responsibility of students to keep in touch with their major departments, to learn of changes in requirements, and to plan ahead so that necessary courses can be taken by the expected time of completing a degree. Many courses are not given every semester and some not every year.

If required prerequisites for a course are changed, notice may be obtained from the department offices. The university cannot continue two courses, one with and one without a newly-adopted prerequisite. The student must therefore meet the new prerequisite or obtain permission from the instructor to enroll in the course. In the event of any doubt as to the adequacy of preparation for a course, the student should consult with the instructor or an adviser in the department as far in advance as possible. Independent study, if approved, may be accepted in lieu of a specific course prerequisite.

A UW cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 is required for undergraduate degrees. The cumulative grade point average is defined as the sum of all grade points earned in residence, correspondence study, or outreach at the University of Wyoming, with the following exceptions:

1. The credit hours shall not be counted in courses in which marks of W, S, or U were assigned, or in which marks of I (for incomplete) are still in effect.

2. For repeated courses:

a. First repeat: only the second credit and grade is used to calculate the cumulative grade point average.

b. If repeated more than once, the last grade is used to calculate the cumulative grade point average.

c. If a mark of W, S, or U is assigned in a repeated course, the previous grade assigned will stand except when an S or U is earned repeating a previous S or U.

d. Courses applied towards one completed degree may be repeated as part of a second degree; however, the grade and grade point average in the original degree will not be changed.

3. Transfer grades are not counted in the UW grade point average. If a course taken at UW is repeated for the first time at another institution, the credits and grade earned at UW will be deleted from the UW cumulative grade point average if credit for the repeated course is transferred to UW.

4. For graduate students, courses numbered below 4000 are not added in to the semester and cumulative totals, nor computed into the grade point average.

Students who entered the University of Wyoming, one of Wyoming’s community colleges, or an out-of-state academic institution fall 2003 or later, are required to complete the University Studies Program 2003, a university-wide program in general education.

Semester Hour Requirements
Completion of the total minimum credit hours for the various colleges is indicated below:

1. A cumulative grade point average of 2.000 or better from the University of Wyoming.

2. Satisfactory completion of the prescribed curriculum in which the degree is sought, including fulfillment of the entrance requirements in the college concerned.

3. Students must complete a minimum of 48 upper division (junior/senior) or graduate-level semester credit hours, 30 of which must be earned from the University of Wyoming. Credit by examination does not count towards the required 30 hours of residency credit.

4. Not more than 24 semester hours of flexible enrollment courses (correspondence credit) may be used toward fulfilling requirements for a bachelor’s degree.

5. Not more than 4 semester hours of credit in physical activity courses can count toward a baccalaureate degree.

6. The last credit applicable to degree requirements must be earned from the University of Wyoming with the following exception: students of senior standing may complete degree requirements elsewhere by obtaining special permission of the department head, adviser, and college dean, and declaring an anticipated graduation date with the Office of the Registrar.

7. Native language credit: students are not allowed university credit for language courses below the 4000-level in their native language.

Students will be required to complete assessment activities as determined by the university prior to the awarding of degrees.

Second Bachelor’s Degree

Students are personally responsible for knowing degree requirements and enrolling in courses that fulfill their degree program. Students, with the help of their advisers, design their program to satisfy their needs and aims. Students will be required to complete assessment activities as determined by the university prior to the awarding of degrees. Students are likewise held responsible for knowing regulations governing the standard of work required for continuance in the university involving academic probation and suspension. Although this bulletin is intended to set forth the various provisions for study and requirements for the awarding of degrees, periodic revisions of the provisions for study and degree requirements are appropriate (because of advances in knowledge, changes in occupational requirements, academic preparation of students, and in faculty and facilities at the university). In order for the bulletin to be available in spring of each year, publication must begin the previous October. This is almost a year before the requirements specified therein become effective the following fall and almost five years before a student entering at that time could graduate. Accordingly, the university cannot guarantee the awarding of a degree based on the unchanged requirements as set forth in a particular bulletin.

The minimum study requirement for a second bachelor’s degree is 30 additional semester hours earned from the University of Wyoming, 12 of which must be in upper division (junior/senior-level) or graduate-level courses. However, a student must also fulfill all of the college and major requirements for the second degree. Credit by examination does not count toward UW residency. The 30 hours is in addition to the study requirement for the first degree for those students earning the first degree from the University of Wyoming. The 30 additional hours would be added to the degree requiring the least number of hours. Both degrees may be awarded at the same commencement.

Students may pursue a concurrent major in one or more colleges. Only one degree (BA, BS, etc.) will be awarded from the college of the primary major. All university curricular requirements, including the University Studies Program requirements must be met only once. Requirements for secondary major(s) will be established by the academic departments and may include college requirements, in addition to all major requirements. An academic adviser in each major is required and each adviser must review requirements. The degree will be granted on one date only and only one diploma will be awarded. Both majors will be indicated on the academic transcript and diploma.

It is possible to pursue degrees in one or more colleges. The university requirements and University Studies Program requirements must be met only once. Students must meet the all college and major requirements of both majors. Students must complete an additional 30 semester hours from the University of Wyoming, 12 of which must be in upper-division (junior/senior-level) or graduate-level courses beyond the credit hour requirement for the degree with the minimum number of credit hours required. An academic adviser in each major is required and each adviser must review requirements. Multiple degrees and multiple diplomas will be awarded; however, the completion date must be the same. Both colleges, degrees, and majors will be indicated on the academic transcript.

CAPP/Graduation

The CAPP progress report shows requirements of the degree program and the progress that the student is making toward meeting those requirements. Any discrepancies should be reported to a degree analyst in the Office of the Registrar as soon as possible. Students are responsible for notifying their degree analyst of their anticipated date of graduation. All requirements indicated on the CAPP progress report must be met prior to a student being cleared for graduation. Students may review their CAPP progress report on WyoWeb.

Payment of the graduation fee of $25.00 for each degree to be earned is due from all graduates at least three weeks before graduation. A late fee of $5.00 is added if the graduation fee is paid less than three weeks before graduation.

Final grades covering completion of course work in correspondence study, outreach courses, transfer, special examinations, and incomplete work from previous attendance must be in the Office of the Registrar prior to when final grades are due for the term in which the degree is to be conferred.

Final recommendation of the faculty and approval of the University Trustees for conferral of degrees is required. The trustees may, for good cause, decline to confer a degree upon any candidate.

The official graduation dates for the 2007-08 academic year are August 8 , 2008, December 12, 2008, and May 9, 2009. To be eligible for a graduation date, all work must be completed prior to that date.

All academic colleges hold commencement exercises on the May graduation date. Several of the colleges also have commencement exercises in December. Check the appropriate college dean’s office for specific information. Seniors are considered candidates for graduation. Participation in the exercise does not automatically confer degrees. Confirmation of graduation will occur after a review of final course work.

Commencement exercises are a historical academic custom involving participation by all segments of the university and attendance by members of the graduate’s families and friends as well as the general public. Those students who participate in commencement exercises are expected to wear appropriate traditional academic regalia.

Graduation with Honors
Designations of summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude will be added to the baccalaureate academic transcripts and diplomas of graduating students earning at least 48 UW credit hours (of which 45 hours must be for A-F grades) based on the following percentages:

as computed from the grade point averages of graduating undergraduate students in each college. Honors graduates will be identified by comparison to a 5-year rolling grade point distribution computed for each college, to be recomputed annually each spring semester.

These designations are effective with the fall 2000 semester and are not retroactive.

Honor graduation will be granted for students in the College of Law upon successful completion of 56 hours in the college with a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 or better based on UW College of Law courses.

A Doctor of Pharmacy is awarded with honor by the university to a student who graduates with scholarship in pharmacy of unusual excellence as defined by the School of Pharmacy.

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Please send comments or questions to registrar@uwyo.edu

Last Change: 03/04/08