University-Wide Degree Requirements

Common Bulletin Statement Regarding General Education

Effective Fall Semester 2004, each institution in the State University and Community College System of Tennessee (The Tennessee Board of Regents System) share a common lower division general education core curriculum of forty-one (41) semester hours for baccalaureate degrees and the Associate of Science degrees. Lower division means freshman and sophomore courses. The courses comprising the general education curriculum are contained within the following subject categories.

APSU Recommended Courses for the TBR General Education Core

Academic Regulations for Degree Completion

1. Application for Degree and Commencement: Formal online application for the degree must be filed with the Office of the Registrar no later than the date published in the University Calendar. Applications for the degree will be accepted only from students who have earned a minimum cumulative 2.00 GPA. Candidates may participate in the commencement held at the end of the semester that the requirements for the degree are completed. The applicant’s intent to participate in commencement must be submitted in writing to the Office of the Registrar when applying for the degree by the published deadline.
2. Degree Evaluation: A preliminary review of coursework at APSU and any evaluated transfer work in preparation for graduation is available to all students via AP Self Service at http://onestop.apsu.edu.
3. Records Complete: All grades of “Incomplete” must be removed, all evaluation of transfer of credits made, and all correspondence and extension courses finished by the end of the semester/term in which the candidate expects to receive the degree.
4. Earning a Second Major/Concentration Under Same Degree Earned at Austin Peay: A second undergraduate major to be received under the degree already awarded may be earned by meeting all of the requirements for that major/concentration as shown in the current edition of the Bulletin at the time of admission to the program. A memorandum from the appropriate department chair must be sent to the Office of the Registrar stating that all requirements for that major have been met. The second major will be added to the transcript; a second diploma will not be issued.
5. Earning Two Majors Under Different Degrees Simultaneously: Students who pursue double majors under different degree programs must comply with one of the following:
   1. Before graduation, the student must complete a minimum of 150 hours of which 60 must be earned in courses numbered 3000 - 4999. Two degrees will be awarded.
   2. The student may elect to change one major to a minor. One degree will be awarded.

NOTE:  The second major will be added to the transcript; a second diploma will not be issued.

Academic Regulations for Completing a Second Degree

Students who hold a bachelors degree from APSU or any other regionally accredited college or university may subsequently earn a second bachelors degree from APSU if the following requirements are met:

1. Hold an earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree from a foreign university as certified by an educational credential agency, including the American History requirement as specified in the TBR General Education core;
2. Indicate second degree on the Application for Admission Form submitted online to the Admissions Office or Change of Major/Minor Form submitted online to the Office of the Registrar;
3. Submit all transcripts from previously attended regionally accredited institutions; coursework that applies to the second degree must be reviewed; majors with additional admission requirements may require a review of the entire transcript; 
4. Academic Advising. After reviewing the Degree Evaluation online at http://onestop.apsu.edu, the student will arrange an appointment with an academic advisor in the department of the major;
5. Complete an additional 30 hours APSU credit; 24 of these hours must be earned in courses numbered 3000-4999;
6. Complete, without exception, the requirements for the major and minor appropriate to the new degree (this requirement may be met by the major and minor of the curriculum for the first degree if appropriate to the second degree);
7. Earn at least a 2.00 GPA on all coursework attempted in meeting the requirements for the second degree; and
8. Submit to the Office of the Registrar a Major/Minor Substitution Form for particular courses that have been approved by the academic department and contain appropriate signatures showing approval.

Requirements for Degrees in Absentia

A student may plan to complete three years of college coursework before transferring to a professional school, and be a candidate for the bachelor’s degree after the successful completion of the first year’s coursework in the professional school, provided:

1. The candidate completes the last two semesters as a full-time student in residence at APSU;
2. The candidate earns before transfer to the professional school sufficient credit to total 120 semester hours when combined with the credit earned during the first school year at the professional school;
3. Students needing clinical internship credit register on campus for a minimum of 15 hours of internship for those hospital programs generating 36 hours or less of credit applicable toward the degree in absentia (enrollment for these units shall be approved by the APSU clinical education coordinator);
4. The candidate achieves an overall GPA of “C” (2.00) on all courses attempted before transfer to the professional school;
5. The candidate’s completed program of study at APSU includes (a) the General Education core requirements for a degree, in addition to (b) an approved major of not less than 18 semester hours and an approved minor, if required by the major, of not less than 12 semester hours, (c) not less than 24 semester hours earned in courses numbered 3000 or above, and (d) not less than 30 APSU semester hours credit;
6. The candidate has an overall GPA of “C” (2.00) on all courses attempted and submitted for meeting the requirements of 120 hours credit for the degree;
7. The professional school holds accreditation acceptable to APSU;
8. The student files an application for degree by the deadline as published in the University Calendar; and
9. Should the professional school award a B.S. degree upon successful completion of the program, a student will not be eligible for a B.S. degree in absentia from APSU.