The Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degrees
Degree requirements for the Associate of Arts:
- 64 credit hours (only 4 credit hours of physical education or sports activity will be counted toward the required 64 hours)
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00
- At least 15 credit hours from the University of Saint Mary
- 12 of the last 15 hours in residency
- Completion of general education requirements for the Associate degree
- Completion of approved major courses for the Associate of Arts degree
- Settlement of all accounts with the University
- Settlement of all holds placed on the student record including, but not limited to, Financial Aid Exit Counseling, Return of Equipment, Account Hold, Transcript Hold, and Registrar’s Hold
Degree requirements for the Associate of Science:
- 60 credit hours (only 2 credit hours of physical education or sports activity will be counted toward the required 60 hours)
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00
- At least 15 credit hours from the University of Saint Mary
- 12 of the last 15 hours in residency
- Completion of general education requirements for the Associate degree
- Completion of approved major courses for the Associate of Science degree
- Settlement of all accounts with the University
- Settlement of all holds placed on the student record including, but not limited to, Financial Aid Exit Counseling, Return of Equipment, Account Hold, Transcript Hold, and Registrar’s Hold
The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degrees
Degree requirements for the Bachelor's Degree:
- 120 credit hours (only 4 credit hours of physical education or sports activity will be counted toward the required 120 hours)
- At least 30 credit hours from the University of Saint Mary; 24 of the last 30 must be from the University of Saint Mary
- 39 credit hours of upper-level coursework (courses numbered 300 or above from most institutions)
- Completion of major requirements, including at least 12 credits of upper-level coursework
- Completion of general education requirements for the Bachelor's degree
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 overall and a 2.00 in all upper-level major coursework unless specified otherwise in program requirements
- Settlement of all accounts with the University
- Participation on program evaluation activities as required
- Settlement of all holds placed on the student record including, but not limited to, Financial Aid Exit Counseling, Return of Equipment, Account Hold, Transcript Hold, and Registrar’s Hold
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree
Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
- 120 credit hours (only 4 credit hours of physical education or sports activity will be counted toward the required 120 hours)
- At least 30 credit hours from the University of Saint Mary; 24 of the last 30 must be from the University of Saint Mary
- 39 credit hours of upper-level coursework (courses numbered 300 or above from most institutions)
- Completion of major requirements, including at least 12 credit hours of upper-level coursework
- Completion of general education requirements for the Bachelor’s degree
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 overall and 2.00 in all upper-level major coursework unless specified otherwise in program requirements
- Settlement of all accounts with the University
- Participation on program evaluation activities as required
- Settlement of all holds placed on the student record including, but not limited to, Financial Aid Exit Counseling, Return of Equipment, Account Hold, Transcript Hold, and Registrar’s Hold
The Bachelor of Social Work Degree
Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Social Work:
- 120 credit hours (only 4 credit hours of physical education or sports activity will be counted toward the required 120 hours)
- At least 30 credit hours from the University of Saint Mary; 24 of the last 30 must be from the University of Saint Mary
- 39 credit hours of upper-level coursework (courses numbered 300 or above from most institutions)
- Completion of major requirements, including at least 12 credit hours of upper-level coursework
- Completion of general education requirements for the Bachelor’s degree
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 overall and 2.00 in all upper-level major coursework unless specified otherwise in program requirements
- Settlement of all accounts with the University
- Participation on program evaluation activities as required
- Settlement of all holds placed on the student record including, but not limited to, Financial Aid Exit Counseling, Return of Equipment, Account Hold, Transcript Hold, and Registrar’s Hold
Second Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degrees
Students who already have a bachelor’s degree from another institution or from the University of Saint Mary may earn a second bachelor’s degree upon completion of the following requirements:
- Completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond the first bachelor’s degree and not included in another earned degree; at least 30 of these hours must be from the University of Saint Mary; 24 of the final 30 hours must be from the University of Saint Mary
- Completion of major requirements, including at least 12 credit hours of upper-level coursework
- General education requirements are considered to be met with the exception of 3 credits of theology (not applicable to University of Saint Mary second bachelor’s degrees)
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 overall and 2.00 in all upper-level major coursework unless specified otherwise in program requirements
- Settlement of all accounts with the University
- Participation in program evaluation activities as required
- Settlement of all holds placed on the student record including, but not limited to, Financial Aid Exit Counseling, Return of Equipment, Account Hold, Transcript Hold, and Registrar’s Hold
- NOTE: The same degree from the University of Saint Mary may not be awarded twice
Course Numbering
The courses contained within this catalog are numbered according to the following general characteristics:
Series 000 – These courses are designed to offer learning to prepare a student for undergraduate college level work and do not count towards the hours required for a University of Saint Mary Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree.
Series 100 – These lower level courses have little or no prerequisite requirement(s), and generally provide basic foundations, concepts, and terminologies in its academic discipline.
Series 200 – These lower level courses are of an intermediate college-level difficulty and may have 100 series courses as prerequisites.
Series 300 – These upper level courses are of an advanced nature, have 100 – 200 series courses as prerequisites, and are within an undergraduate major or offered to academically qualified students with an interest in the subject matter.
Series 400 – These upper level courses and seminars are of an advanced nature, have 100 – 300 series courses as prerequisites, and are within an undergraduate major, honors, or offered to academically qualified students with an interest in the subject matter.
Series 500 – These upper level courses are designed as the final capstone, internship, or learning experience of an academic major, are generally reserved for seniors within the major, and carry 100 – 400 series courses as prerequisites.
Series 600 – These courses are designed to offer learning to prepare a student for graduate college level work and count towards the hours required for a University of Saint Mary Master and/or Doctorate degree. Undergraduate students may also enroll in 600 level coursework as applicable.
Series 700 – 900 – These courses are designed for graduate level college work that counts towards the hours required for a University of Saint Mary Master and/or Doctorate degree.
Policy and Definition of the Semester Credit Hour
The University of Saint Mary conforms to a calendar that divides the academic year into two semesters, fall and spring, of 15-16 weeks each. These semesters are divided between a winter break and a summer session. Online and accelerated coursework occurs in consecutive 8-week terms. Credit hours for each course are determined by this calendar and the nature of the instruction provided. Lecture or seminar courses equate to 1 regular hour per week of scheduled class time and 2 regular hours of student preparation time for each semester credit hour of the course. Laboratory credits equate to 1 regular hour per week of lecture time, 1-2 regular hours per week of laboratory work, and 2 regular hours of student preparation time for each credit hour of the course. Practice credit hours and independent study credit hours (including clinicals, visual and performing arts, and field work) represent 3-4 regular hours per week of such work or practice or independent study. Internship hours are developed between the sponsoring faculty member and the partner facility or work location management but should conform to the same standard as practice and independent study credit hours.