University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog
Graduation and Degree Requirements
University Policy
The conferring of degrees by the
University of Louisville is
conditional upon completion of all
requirements in the opinion of the
Dean/Director and faculty,
regardless of the students’
participation in Commencement or
any other representations by
University employees. The student
is responsible for submitting an
application for a degree in a timely
manner to be considered for a
degree.
Commencements are scheduled for
May and December.
Commencement information and
current schedules are available on
the web at
http://louisville.edu/commencemen
t. Graduates participating in the
commencement ceremonies must
order academic apparel before the
deadline stated on the website.
All graduating students must apply
for their degrees online according
to deadlines stated in the
Registration Information newspaper
(dates also available on the web at
http://louisville.edu/student/service
s/registrar/degreecomm.html).
Additional Unit Policies
College of Arts and Sciences
All undergraduate degree programs
are based on a combination of
freshman, sophomore, junior, and
senior level courses which form a
coherent, comprehensive
undergraduate curriculum. The
important distinction between
these levels is that the freshman
and sophomore curriculum is
designed to provide a background
that helps form the basis for
University Policies
Summer 2010 – Spring 2011
advanced course work and
concentration in a major area at
the junior and senior level. The
junior and senior level courses
permit students to pursue more
advanced work in the chosen
major, in related fields, and in
courses designed to explore the
relationships among the
disciplines.
The baccalaureate degree is the
most comprehensive
undergraduate degree in the
College. It is awarded to students
who have completed both College-
wide requirements and the
requirements of the selected major.
This combination is designed to
provide the broad spectrum of
educational experiences that is
fundamental to a liberal arts
degree.
Admission to a Major
In order to graduate from the
College of Arts and Sciences, all
students must major in one of the
degree programs of the College. To
become a major in a degree
program, students must complete
an Application for Major form which
is available at:
http://louisville.edu/artsandscience
s/advising. The completed form is
submitted to the Advising Center
and then transmitted to the major
program or department for
consideration. Students become
majors after acceptance by the
department or the program. Some
departments have specific
requirements (e.g., completion of
introductory course; minimum
grade point average) for admission
to the major. Consult the Advising
Center for details of any admission
Graduation and Degree Requirements
University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog
requirements for a particular major.
Students interested in a B.A. who
find that the College’s major
programs do not meet their
interests and needs should
consider the Liberal Studies major.
Students may apply for admission
to a major at any time. Most
programs allow students to take
work in the major field and in
related fields during the freshman
and sophomore years. Students
who need to discover or confirm
the choice of a major are
encouraged to take a variety of
foundation courses in different
fields. Students who feel certain of
their choices are encouraged to
apply for a major early in their
college experience in order to
enjoy the benefits of advising and
counseling from faculty in the
major program. Students may
change majors at any time;
however, the need to fulfill the
requirements of the ultimate major
might require additional course
work beyond the minimum hours
required for graduation from the
College.
Minimum Hours
Each student must present a
minimum of 121 semester hours of
credit (unless a higher minimum is
specified in a program of study). At
least 50 of the total semester
hours, whether required or elective,
must be earned in courses
numbered 300 or higher.
Point Standing
Each student must attain a grade
point average of at least 2.0 for all
courses in the major field, and 2.0
overall. Details of requirements in
programs requiring higher
standings may be seen in
University Policies
Summer 2010 – Spring 2011
departmental entries.
Maximum Hours in Major
No more than 40 hours in the major
field may be applied toward
graduation by candidates for the
B.A. degree. No more than 60
hours in the major field may be
applied toward graduation by
candidates for the B.S. degree. No
more than 80 hours in Fine Art
(courses designated ART and ARTH)
may be applied toward the B.F.A. in
Fine Arts.
Second Bachelor’s Degrees
To be awarded a second bachelor’s
degree, students must earn a
minimum of thirty (30) additional
semester hours in the College. For
students pursuing two degrees
simultaneously, these thirty (30)
hours will be added to the
minimum total of semester hours
needed for the degree requiring
the least number of hours.
Departmental Learning Outcomes
Assessment
Completion of a baccalaureate
degree also requires students to
submit work to the department of
the major for the department’s
Learning Outcomes Measurement.
Details about the specific
requirements and deadlines of an
individual department are available
in the department office. Students
are advised to make themselves
aware of these requirements as
early as possible in their academic
careers.
Requirements for Minors
The course work requirements for a
minor consist of a minimum of 18
semester hours. A maximum of 3
hours of pass-fail work may be
applied. Students may elect a
Graduation and Degree Requirements
University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog
major and a minor in the same
department only if there is more
than one degree program in that
department and if the major and
minor are in two different programs
of the department. Students who
elect a minor and a major in the
same department are cautioned
that no more than 40 semester
hours with the same departmental
designation may be applied toward
the 121 hours minimum for a B.A.
degree and no more than 60 hours
with the same departmental
designation may be applied toward
the 121 hours minimum for a B.S.
degree. Students also are
cautioned that completion of the
major, which is required for all
degrees, and completion of the
minor, which is optional, may
require the student to complete
more than the 121 semester hours
minimum required for a
baccalaureate degree. Courses
required for the minor may be used
to fulfill other degree requirements.
Successfully completed minor
programs are recorded on the
student’s transcript.
College of Business
Application for Degree
Students must apply for their
degree at the beginning of the
semester in which they expect to
complete all degree requirements.
The degree application is to be
filled out on Ulink at
http://www.ulink.louisville.edu .
The degree application must be
submitted by the date published
for each semester in the Schedule
of Courses and on Ulink. Advisors in
the Reinhardt Academic Center will
conduct a degree check following
the application deadline. However,
students are strongly urged to
request a preliminary degree check
University Policies
Summer 2010 – Spring 2011
prior to their final semester so that
possible deficiencies in degree
requirements can be identified
early.
Minimum Hours
Students pursuing a Bachelor of
Science in Business Administration,
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, or
Bachelor of Science in Economics
must complete a minimum of 122-
129 semester hours (depending
upon degree program) in academic
subjects and all required courses
for their degree program. These
hours exclude physical education
courses numbered 100-199 and
other non-academic credits (all
remedial course work including
Reading, English, and Math courses
numbered 100 or below). A
minimum of 54 semester hours in
non-business courses together with
a minimum of 54 semester hours in
business courses are required for
graduation. Students pursuing a
second bachelor's degree must be
admitted to the College of Business
in degree status, must earn a
minimum of 30 hours beyond their
last degree and fulfill all program
and GPA requirements of the
second degree.
Grade Point Average
Candidates for the Bachelor of
Science in Business Administration,
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and
the Bachelor of Science in
Economics must achieve a 2.8
University GPA and a 2.8 GPA in all
major courses (includes major
courses that are transferred).
Senior College Hours
Fifty semester hours of required
and elective courses must be
completed at the senior college
(300/400) level. Note that the
Graduation and Degree Requirements
University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog
number of the course, not the
student's classification, determines
whether or not a course is senior-
level.
Other Stipulations
All incompletes must be removed
by the end of the final semester. All
tuition, fees, fines, and other
charges must be paid in full prior to
graduation.
College of Education & Human
Development
The baccalaureate degrees offered
by the College of Education and
Human Development include
minimum requirements for
completion and graduation.
The following requirements apply
to the B.S. degree in Workforce
Leadership:
 123 minimum total hours (60 of
these hours must be earned at
an accredited four-year
institution).
 50 senior college hours (300
level and above).
 2.25 overall grade point
average.
 2.50 grade point average in the
major.
 30 of the last 36 hours must be
taken in residence (does not
apply to distance education
students or active duty military
personnel).
 A grade of “C” or better is
required in all professional
education courses. C- is not
acceptable.
NOTE: Students admitted to the career and
technical education track must maintain a
2.5 overall grade point average and a 2.5
grade point average in the professional
education courses to be eligible for
certification.
University Policies
Summer 2010 – Spring 2011
The Department of Health and
Sport Sciences offers the Bachelor
of Science degree with majors in
Health and Human Performance
and Sport Administration. The
minimum requirements for
completion of these degrees are:
Admission to a Major
To become a major in Health and
Human Performance or Sport
Administration, students must
submit an Application for Major
form, which is available in the
Education Advising Center (EAC).
Students must also meet the
admission requirements as outlined
below:
Health and Human Performance
Students must have completed a
minimum of 45 credit hours and
must have earned a minimum
cumulative UofL grade point
average of 2.25. Students must
have completed HSS 184, HSS 202,
and HSS 320 with a grade of “C” or
better (“C-” will not be accepted).
Students must not have earned
any “D” ’s in courses required for
the major.
Sport Administration
Students must have completed a
minimum of 45 credit hours and
must have earned a minimum
cumulative UofL grade point
average of 2.25. Students must
have completed SPAD 281 and
SPAD 284 with a grade of “C” or
better (“C-” will not be accepted).
Students must not have earned
any “D” ’s in courses required for
the major.
The minimum requirements for
completion of these degrees are:
 A minimum total of 123 hours
Graduation and Degree Requirements
University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog
(60 of these hours must be
earned at an accredited four-
year institution).
 50 senior college hours (300-
level and above).
 2.25 overall grade point
average.
 30 of the last 36 hours must be
taken in residence.
 No “D” ’s in core courses or
concentration courses
combined may be applied
toward a bachelor’s degree.
The following degree requirements
apply to the B.S. degree in Early
Elementary Education:
 A minimum total of 125
semester hours (60 of these
hours must be earned at an
accredited four-year institution).
 50 senior college hours (300
level and above)
 2.75 overall grade point
average
 3.00 grade point average in
professional education courses.
 30 of the last 36 hours must be
taken in residence.
 Successful completion of
portfolio.
The following degree requirements
apply to the B.S. degree in
Middle/Secondary Education:
 A minimum total of 123
semester hours (60 of these
hours must be earned at an
accredited four-year institution).
 50 senior college hours (300
level and above).
 2.50 grade point average in
content area.
 3.00 grade point average in
professional education courses.
 30 of the last 36 hours must be
taken in residence.
University Policies
Summer 2010 – Spring 2011
 Successful completion of
portfolio.
Please note that students must be
formally admitted to the teacher
education program for Early
Elementary or Middle/Secondary
Education. Please contact the
Education Advising Center for
further information.
Requirements for Minors
The Department of Health and
Sport Sciences offers programs for
a minor in four areas: Community
Health, Exercise Science, School
Health Education, and Sport
Administration. A grade point
average of 2.50 is required in the
coursework for the minor. Please
note that only one “D” will be
allowed in the minor courses for
Community Health, Exercise
Science, and School Health
Education. No “D” ’s will be
accepted in the Sport
Administration minor.
These programs are university-wide
minors. The courses are open to
students admitted to units other
than the College of Education and
Human Development. Students
interested in applying for
admission to a minor should
contact the Education Advising
Center.
Application for Graduation
Each degree candidate must
complete an on-line degree
application within the first two
weeks of the semester in which the
candidate intends to graduate. Any
candidate removed from the
graduation list must reapply for the
degree and comply with the rules
and regulations applying to all
Graduation and Degree Requirements
University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog Summer 2010 – Spring 2011

candidates for degrees. Candidates have fulfilled the following

should apply for degree at requirements:
ulink.louisville.edu. It is the 1. The student must have
responsibility of the student to completed all required
submit an application for degree by courses and have no
the specified date.
outstanding “I” or “F”
Application for Teacher grades.
Certification
2. The student must have a
Students seeking teacher cumulative GPA of at least
certification upon completion of
2.00 in both Arts and
degree and/or program
requirements, must apply through Sciences courses and
the College of Education and professional courses that are
Human Development Advising required for the Bachelor of
Center to the Kentucky Professional Science degree (e.g.,
Standards Board to receive the General Education core,
teaching certificate. Consult the
Basic Science core, and
Education Advising Center for
information. Dental Hygiene).

3. The student must be

Dental Hygiene Program formally recommended for
the Bachelor of Science
Application for Graduation degree by the ULSD Faculty
All students must submit an Assembly and by the Dean
application for the respective and must be approved for
degree to be awarded. It is the the degree by the Board of
responsibility of the student to
Trustees.
submit an online application for
degree by the specified date. To
4. Discharge of all financial
submit an online application for
degree go to www.louisville.edu obligations to the University.
and log on to ULink. Go to “Student
5. Completion of the final year
Services”, then
“Registration/Student Records” and of the professional phase of
then “Degree Application”. When the Dental Hygiene Program
you have completed the form, just in residence at the
click on “submit”. Students are University of Louisville.
strongly urged to request a
preliminary degree audit prior to
their final semester so that any Kent School of Social Work
deficiencies in degree
During the first month of your final
requirements can be identified
semester of courses, students
early.
should complete an online
Graduation and Degree
Application for Degree. Applications
Requirements
are available online at the ULINK
A candidate for the Bachelor of
Website http://ulink.louisville.edu.
Science in Dental Hygiene must
Log on using your user id and

University Policies Graduation and Degree Requirements

University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog
password; click on the student
services folder; scroll over to the
Registration/Student Records
section; click on the Degree
application and complete the form
(remember to print the degree
confirmation for your records). The
degree application fee for the Kent
School is $25.00 (do not send
payment until you are billed at the
end of the semester in which you
graduate). Certificates are $15.00.
A candidate whose degree is
cancelled at the end of the
semester indicated on this form
must reapply at a later date. If a
candidate does not receive the
degree, the charge will be adjusted
to $10.00. In order to participate in
graduation ceremonies you will to
need sign up online and submit
your cap and gown order. To use
the Commencement web site, go to
the U of L home page and click on
Current Students then on
Commencement. Or enter
http://louisville.edu/commencemen
t You must indicate your intent to
participate and submit your cap
and gown order before the
deadline stated on the web site.
During the commencement
ceremonies, you will receive a
generic letter stating that you have
met the requirements of the BSW
degree. This letter is an official
letter that can be given to your
employer, for possible employment
benefits. Students not attending
commencement will NOT receive
such a letter. You official degree will
take up to six weeks to show on
your transcript. No personal letters
for licensure or employment
purposes can be given to students.
These letters can also not be given
before commencement due to
specific university restrictions.
Please plan your licensure exam or
University Policies
Summer 2010 – Spring 2011
employment date to accommodate
this six week delay after
commencement to get an official
transcript showing your degree.
Please visit the commencement
webpage on a regular basis for any
updated information on when your
official diploma will be available.
School of Music
Minimum Hours and Point Standing
To be recommended for a degree,
the student must have completed
the prescribed number of hours in
the courses taken and must have a
2.5 grade point average.
Application for Graduation
Candidates must apply for
graduation at the beginning of the
semester in which they expect to
complete all degree requirements.
Application for Degree forms may
be obtained in the Dean’s Office.
Completed forms must be
submitted to the Dean’s Office by
the date published for each
semester in the Schedule of
Courses. The Dean’s Office will
conduct a degree audit following
receipt of the form; however,
students are strongly urged to
request a preliminary degree audit
prior to their final semester so that
any deficiencies in degree
requirements can be identified
early.
School of Nursing
Students who plan to graduate at
the end of a given semester must
file an Application for Degree in the
Registrar’s Office. A candidate for
the Bachelor of Science in Nursing
must have fulfilled the following
requirements:
 Satisfactory completion of the
required BSN courses with a
Graduation and Degree Requirements
University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog Summer 2010 – Spring 2011

university grade point average

of 2.5 or higher;
 Discharge of all financial
obligations to the University;
 Submission of a completed
Application for Degree.

Speed School of Engineering

Grade Point Average
Candidates for the Bachelor of
Science degree must have a
minimum final cumulative grade
point average of 2.0.

Second Bachelor’s Degree

To be awarded a second bachelor’s degree,
students must earn a minimum of thirty
additional semester hours from the School of
Engineering. For students pursuing two degrees
simultaneously, these thirty hours will be added
to the minimum total of semester hours needed
for the degree seeking the least number of hours.
In addition, satisfaction of the requirements for
co-op must have approval of both departments.

University Policies Graduation and Degree Requirements