The academic procedures at Columbia College are designed to aid the student in fulfilling the requirements for graduation. Each student must meet these requirements in order to complete the degree program. It should be emphasized that the procedures are established to help the student secure the best education possible.
Degree Requirements
A student is generally graduated according to degree requirements published for the semester of her/his initial Columbia College registration as a degree-seeking student unless attendance has not been continuous. In cases of readmission, degree requirements published for the semester of readmission must be met.
Any student may choose by written request to be graduated according to degree requirements published after her/his current graduation requirements. A student making this choice must accept all changes made to the degree requirements between the two publication dates.
The College reserves the right to change requirements for graduation when it is decided that such changes are necessary. Graduation is permitted only after a student has completed all attempted courses and has satisfied all of the relevant academic requirements for her/his degree program. A graduate must satisfy all financial obligations to the College to be able to participate in Commencement, receive a diploma, or have her/his official transcripts released.
Semester Hours
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees are required to complete 120 semester hours of college work. This work must include the appropriate General Education requirements and a major field of study chosen from those listed in this bulletin. Students enrolled in the Second Bachelor’s Degree program should refer to the special requirements.
GPA Needed for Graduation
The College requires a final cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 and a GPA of at least 2.50 in the major and optional minor fields.
Residence Time
Degree applicants must complete a minimum of 25 percent of all courses required by the degree at Columbia College. This requirement means that at least 30 semester hours of coursework must be taken at Columbia College.
A student must take at least 12 semester hours in her major at Columbia College. These 12 hours cannot include courses graded on a pass/fail basis.
A student must take at least half of the hours in her minor at Columbia College.
Application for Degree
A student must file an Application for Degree with the Office of the Registrar. Students completing requirements in December must turn their form in no later than October 1 and for May completion no later than February 1, and for August completion no later than June 15. Degrees will be issued at commencement in May and December.
Walking at Commencement
Students who fail to satisfy all requirements to complete their degree may petition to participate at Commencement if the following criteria have been met.
- Student was approved by the Board of Trustees and Faculty to graduate,
- Student has no more than 6 hours of outstanding coursework or student has completed all course requirements but has not yet passed a required licensure examination.
- Student is registered for all remaining coursework in the subsequent regular semester.
- Student has a 2.5 GPA in the major and a 2.0 CC cumulative GPA
- Student has satisfied all financial obligations to the College through the end of the current semester and for the subsequent semester in which they are registered.
More information about graduation requirements can be found in the Academic Policies.