Guidelines for Graduation 
Academic Requirements for Degree Programs

Guidelines for Graduation

Students in their junior year, or one year from graduation, must submit an Application for Graduation to the Office of the Registrar, Student Services Building, Room 113, by the published deadline.

Instructions for completing the Application for Graduation:

1. Make an appointment with your advisor to review your Degree Progress Report to make sure you are on track to graduate. If you are uncertain about any requirements or policies, please check with your department or the Office of the Registrar.
2. If changes need to be made to your Degree Progress Report, please have your advisor notify the Office of the Registrar.
3. Complete the diploma order survey.
4. Complete the Application for Graduation. Please be sure to include your signature and the signature of your advisor.

NOTE: Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

What if...?

I don't complete my senior project by the last day of the semester?
In extenuating circumstances a sponsor may grant an incomplete grade. The project must be submitted to the library before the first day of the spring semester to be considered a January graduate, before Commencement day to be considered a May graduate and before the August degree conferral date to be considered an August graduate. If an incomplete is not granted or the project is not submitted by the above deadlines, you will need to re-register for 4 credits of the Senior Project and verify with the registrar that your application for graduation is still valid.

I take an incomplete in my final semester?
An incomplete in your final semester usually results in delaying the graduation date until the next semester. Please consult with the registrar for details.

I miss the graduation application deadline?
You must apply for the next semester's graduation. If there are extenuating circumstances, please contact the Office of the Registrar.

Academic Requirements for Degree Programs

• Academic credit and student workload
• BA and BS Programs
• BFA and MusB Programs
• MA, MM, and MFA Programs

Academic Credit and Student Workload
     The academic year at Purchase College comprises two 15-week semesters. The unit of credit is the semester hour, which normally represents one 50-minute class hour per week in lecture/discussion courses and two 50-minute class hours per week in studio/lab courses. In credit-bearing courses that meet fewer than 15 weeks (e.g., three-week summer session courses), the class hours per week are proportionately increased.
     For each credit, students are expected to complete a minimum of two hours of academic work (study, preparation, etc.) outside of class each week. Some courses require three or more hours of outside work for every credit. In particular, the BFA and MusB programs are intensive professional training programs and require students’ full-time commitment. Students in all majors are advised to limit their job and social commitments in order to give their coursework adequate attention.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) Degrees

1. Earn a minimum of 120 credits, 90 of which must be liberal arts credits. A total of 45 credits must be earned in upper-level (3000- or 4000-level) courses. A maximum of 4 physical education credits may be applied toward the degree.
2. Complete a minimum of 60 credits outside the student's board of study (major).*
3. Complete the core curriculum requirements (for students who matriculated before fall 2011).**
4. Complete all requirements for the major.
5. Earn a minimum 2.0 (C) cumulative GPA at Purchase College.

* Item 2 does not apply to matriculated students in the liberal studies BA program.

**For item 3, liberal studies matriculated students admitted before fall 2011 should use the former core curriculum for the BA completion program. All matriculated students admitted fall 2011 or after should use the new core curriculum, which became effective fall 2011.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Bachelor of Music (MusB) Degrees

1. Earn a minimum of 120 credits, at least 30 of which must be liberal arts credits.
2. Complete all requirements for the major.
3. Complete the core curriculum requirements (for students who matriculated before fall 2011).*
4. Earn a minimum 2.0 (C) cumulative GPA at Purchase College.

*All matriculated students admitted fall 2011 or after should use the new core curriculum, which became effective fall 2011.

Master of Arts (MA), Master of Music (MM), and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Degrees

1. Complete all requirements for the major
2. Earn a minimum 3.0 (B) cumulative GPA at Purchase College

Modified March 7, 2013