Earning Two Degrees Simultaneously

Students occasionally wish to graduate with more than one degree (e.g. both a B.A. and B.S.). In order to graduate with two degrees at the same time, the following requirements must be met:

1. All of the regular requirements for the degrees must be met.
2. The major for the second degree must be from a different department or the requirements for the second major must be substantially different and lead to a different degree.
3. At least 16 credits must be earned beyond the minimum 126 credits to receive a second degree (for a total of at least 142 credits).

Note that earning multiple degrees is not the same thing as having multiple majors. Students having multiple majors in programs that lead to a single degree (e.g. bachelor of arts) would not receive multiple degrees. For example, a student majoring in both English and religion would not be earning two degrees, as both of those majors lead to a B.A. The only time that multiple majors can lead to multiple degrees is when all three criteria above are met. The earning of multiple degrees, therefore, is based on different (and generally more extensive) requirements than those that lead to the completion of multiple majors.

Some examples:

1. A student wishes to earn a B.A. with a major in psychology and a B.S. with a major in business management. The student must complete at least 142 total hours, 126 hours minimally required to receive one of the degrees plus an additional 16 hours. If the student earned fewer than 142 total credits, he or she would not receive both degrees, though both majors would be noted on the transcript.
2. A student wishes to earn both a B.A. degree and a B.S. degree with a major in physics. This is not acceptable, because the degrees are not in different majors.
3. A student wishes to triple major in mathematics, biology, and chemistry. The student would still earn only a single degree, even if that student earned 142 or more hours, because all three degree programs lead to a single degree, B.A.