University of Arizona Graduation Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide

Graduating from the University of Arizona (UA) is a significant achievement, marking the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. To successfully earn a degree, students must navigate a specific set of requirements, encompassing coursework, credit hours, GPA standards, and adherence to university policies. This article provides a detailed overview of these requirements, covering bachelor's degrees, second bachelor's degrees, and other essential considerations.

Core Requirements for a Bachelor's Degree

To be awarded a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, candidates must fulfill several key requirements. These include:

Minimum Credit Hours: A bachelor's degree necessitates a minimum of 120 units. This ensures students have completed a substantial amount of coursework across various disciplines.
Major, Minor, and General Education: Students must successfully complete all requirements for their chosen major and any declared minor. Additionally, the General Education requirements, designed to provide a broad foundation of knowledge, must be satisfied.
Upper-Division Courses: A specific number of credit hours must be earned in upper-division courses. Students must complete a minimum of 45 credit hours in upper-division courses.
GPA Requirement: A minimum cumulative grade point average is required for graduation with an undergraduate degree. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 for all courses taken at ASU is required to graduate with an undergraduate degree.
Mathematics Requirement: All undergraduate degree-seeking students are expected to fulfill the university's mathematics requirement by the time they have accumulated 30 credit hours in residence at ASU. Any student who has more than 30 credit hours and has not fulfilled the mathematics requirement must enroll in a mathematics course or an appropriate prerequisite course and continue to do so every semester until the mathematics requirement is met. A waiver may be granted for continuous enrollment if there are scheduling conflicts detrimental to the student's academic progress.
English Composition: This is evidenced by completing ENG 101 and ENG 102, or ENG 105 with a grade of "C" (2.00) or higher is required for graduation from ASU in any baccalaureate or associate program. Students whose native language is not English may meet the first-year composition requirement by completing ENG 107 and 108 with a grade of "C" (2.00) or higher. Composition courses transferred from other postsecondary institutions may require evaluation. If, after consultation with an advisor, it is determined that an evaluation is necessary, the student should submit a request for evaluation through the ASU Transfer Guide. The process should be completed upon transfer of coursework to ASU so the student is able to enroll in additional courses, if required.
General Studies Coursework: All students enrolled in an undergraduate degree program must satisfy the university requirement for a minimum number of approved credit hours of general studies coursework. Effective fall 2024, ASU has approved a revised general studies curriculum. Students beginning in the 2024-2025 catalog year complete the requirements in the General Studies Gold curriculum. Students who attended ASU before fall 2024 and are in a catalog year before 2024-2025 complete the requirements defined by the General Studies Maroon curriculum. The requirements applicable for a student's catalog year are displayed on their major map or curriculum checksheet and graduation audit. Completion of general studies and composition requirements, as documented on an official transcript from regionally accredited institutions of higher education within the United States, fulfills ASU's lower-division general studies requirements within the Gold and Maroon systems as well as first-year composition requirements. Certification of completed general studies includes completion of a general education package recognized by ASU, an Associate of Arts degree, a bachelor's degree or comparable. Transfer students without completed and documented general education packages or degrees receive credit for general studies based on course-by-course equivalency.
Completion Deadline: All degree requirements must be completed by the last day of final exams in the semester or term in which the degree is to be awarded.

Application for Degree Candidacy

The University of Arizona awards degrees four times a year, specifically in January, May, August, and December. Students must formally apply for degree candidacy to be considered for graduation.

Filing Deadlines and Fees: Undergraduate students should consult the Graduation Services site for specific deadlines and fee information related to their degree candidacy application. Graduate students can find relevant information on the Graduate Degree Requirements site.
Changes in Application Information: Once an application has been submitted, it is crucial to promptly notify the Graduation Services advisor of any changes to the following:
- Anticipated date of graduation
- Degree, major, minor, and catalog being used
- Name, local address, and telephone number, and permanent address
- Failure to report these changes may result in a delay in the awarding of the degree.

Documentation and Responsibilities

Degree candidates bear the responsibility of providing all necessary documentation related to the completion of their degree program to the Undergraduate Graduation Services Office within 30 calendar days following the last day of final exams in their graduating semester or term.

Required Documentation: This documentation may include official transcripts from other educational institutions or programs, actions resulting from University General Petitions, and Change of Grade forms (including removals of "I" grades).
Potential Consequences of Non-Compliance: Failure to meet these responsibilities may lead to a delay or non-awarding of the degree.
Transfer Work: Degree candidates who need to complete final course requirements through transfer work at another institution must inform their Graduation Services advisor before leaving the University.

Second Bachelor's Degrees

The University of Arizona offers options for students seeking a second bachelor's degree, with specific requirements depending on whether the degrees are pursued sequentially or concurrently.

Sequential Degrees

For students pursuing a second bachelor's degree with a different award date than their first, the following requirements apply:

Additional Units: Candidates must earn no fewer than 30 units of University Credit in addition to the units required for the first degree.
Meeting All Requirements: Students must fulfill all requirements for the second degree.
Minimum Total Units: For partly overlapping but sequential degrees, the 30 additional units are added to the first degree's total units, resulting in a minimum of 150 units. Note that some of the additional units may have been completed before the first degree was conferred.
Same Degree Title: Students may apply for a sequential second degree with the same degree title as the first (e.g., B.S. in Plant Sciences and B.S. in Microbiology). In such cases, they must complete at least 50 percent of all coursework required in the major of the second degree after the first degree has been conferred.

Concurrent Degrees

If the degrees are completed at the same time, different rules apply:

No Additional Units Required: The 30 additional units of University Credit are not necessary.
Minimum Units and Requirements: Students may earn concurrent (simultaneous) degrees with a minimum of 120 units and the completion of all major, minor, and General Education requirements, as long as both degrees are awarded on the same date.
Different Degree Title and Major: Students may apply for a concurrent second degree only if the degree title and major differ from the first. If pursuing another academic program that would lead to the same degree title as the primary program, students must declare that program as an additional major, not a concurrent degree. Two or more majors may be completed within one academic degree program as long as these majors lead to the same degree title. However, after the first degree is awarded, another major cannot be appended to it.

Additional Considerations for Second Bachelor's Degrees

Admission Criteria: Students seeking a second baccalaureate degree must meet admission criteria for that degree.
Resident Credit: After conferral of the first degree, a minimum of 30 additional credit hours in resident credit courses at ASU must be successfully completed to earn the second baccalaureate degree.
Concurrent Pursuit: If prior approval is given by the colleges or schools offering the degrees, more than one baccalaureate degree may be pursued concurrently. Students may receive concurrent degrees if they meet the minimum requirements for both degrees.

Financial Clearance

Before a degree can be officially certified or a diploma released, degree candidates must clear any outstanding financial obligations to the University. This includes any debts or unpaid fees.

Additional Guidelines and Resources

Academic Advisor Directory: Students can find contact information for their academic advisors.
Policy Amendment Memos: Review memos related to the Second Bachelor's Degree Policy for additional clarification.

Transfer Students

Transfer students play a significant role in the University of Arizona's academic community. Several policies and guidelines cater specifically to their unique situations.

General Studies and Composition Requirements: Completion of general studies and composition requirements, as documented on an official transcript from regionally accredited institutions of higher education within the United States, fulfills ASU's lower-division general studies requirements within the Gold and Maroon systems as well as first-year composition requirements. Certification of completed general studies includes completion of a general education package recognized by ASU, an Associate of Arts degree, a bachelor's degree or comparable.
Course-by-Course Equivalency: Transfer students without completed and documented general education packages or degrees receive credit for general studies based on course-by-course equivalency.
Evaluation of Composition Courses: Composition courses transferred from other postsecondary institutions may require evaluation. If, after consultation with an advisor, it is determined that an evaluation is necessary, the student should submit a request for evaluation through the ASU Transfer Guide. The process should be completed upon transfer of coursework to ASU so the student is able to enroll in additional courses, if required.
Transfer Credit Limits: There are requirements on the amount of transfer credit.

Academic Standing and Program Changes

eAdvisor: eAdvisor ensures that students get off to a good start and stay on track toward graduation by helping them find a major that fits their talents and career goals, and then monitoring progress.
Major Maps: Through eAdvisor, students follow a major map that outlines the critical requirements and optimal eight-semester plan.
Advising Holds: If a student does not meet the critical requirements, an advising hold may be placed on their record, and an advising session is required before future registration activities can take place. Critical requirements are identified by the faculty and academic units as predictors of success in a major. To ensure students are able to enroll in critical courses, ASU academic units coordinate to offer sufficient seats to meet demand.
Math Intensity: ASU undergraduate degree programs are categorized in the area of math intensity as either general, moderate or substantial based on the number and type of required math courses. Students enrolled in a degree program that is categorized as substantial in math intensity who receive a failing grade of “E” twice in the same required math course may be required to change their major to one categorized as general or moderate.
Disestablished Programs: A disestablished program is a major, minor or certificate that the institution has chosen to discontinue. Upon the effective term and year of disestablishment, ASU may choose to stop admitting new students into the program. This includes current ASU students seeking to change to the disestablished major, to add the disestablished major as a concurrent degree, or to add the disestablished minor or certificate. Active students in a disestablished program have a period of four academic years to complete the program requirements. This includes active, not enrolled students typically eligible for quick re-entry.
Nondegree Status: Some individuals may be interested in studying in a nondegree status, either through precollege summer programs or for their own personal learning experience. Exceptions to these guidelines may be made for specific programs or partners with approval from the Office of the University Provost.
Impact of Major Change: Additionally, sponsored students, those who receive tuition benefits from a non-ASU entity, or those who accept certain federal funds, including military-affiliated benefit funding, should understand that changing their major may impact college costs.

Coursework and Academic Standards

Resident Credit: Resident credit refers to a course that is offered in a regular semester or summer session. Credit earned through comprehensive examinations also is included when calculating ASU resident hours.
Credit by Examination: No more than 60 credit hours earned in independent learning courses or earned by comprehensive examination (including Advanced Placement, College-Level Examination Program, DANTES Subject Standardized Test, Cambridge International exam and International Baccalaureate exams) are accepted for credit toward the baccalaureate degree.
Removing Exam Credit: There may be instances in which students wish to remove exam credit earned through Advanced Placement, College-Level Examination Program, DANTES Subject Standardized Test, Cambridge International exam and International Baccalaureate exams. If the student elects to remove exam credit, the cumulative university hours are adjusted, and the student can complete the corresponding ASU course.
Eight-Year Limit on Coursework: Coursework that is more than eight years old is applicable to completion of degree requirements at the discretion of the department of the student’s major. Departments may accept or reject such coursework or request that the student revalidate the substance of the coursework. The eight-year limit on coursework applies except when program accreditation agencies limit the life of coursework to fewer than eight years.
Continuous Enrollment: Students may maintain continuous enrollment while pursuing their degrees, whether attending a single Arizona community college or public university, or transferring among public institutions in Arizona. A semester in which a student earns course credit is counted toward continuous enrollment. Students who do not meet the minimum enrollment standard stipulated in step 1 during three consecutive semesters (fall/spring/fall or spring/fall/spring) and the intervening summer term at any Arizona community college or public university are no longer considered continuously enrolled. These students must meet requirements of the Arizona community college or public university catalog in effect at the time they are readmitted or of any single catalog in effect during subsequent terms of continuous enrollment after readmission (examples C and D in the continuous enrollment table below). Enrollment by Arizona community college students in nontransferable courses still constitutes enrollment for purposes of determining whether the student has been continuously enrolled.
Exceptions: Exceptions made by an institution apply only to the institution that made the exception. Any student wishing to have a college or university degree requirement variance must petition the standards committee of the college in which the student is enrolled. The University Undergraduate Standards Committee advises the Office of the University Provost regarding undergraduate student petitions that concern university-level academic requirements. These include requirements on the amount of transfer credit, graduation requirements, limits on credit by examination and requirements for a second baccalaureate degree. To petition for a variance from such university requirements, the University Undergraduate Standards Committee petition is used. University requirements include general studies and first-year composition requirements. Some colleges and schools at ASU have college-specific requirements applicable across all degrees offered within that academic unit.

Academic Catalog and Policy Updates

Annual Publication: The ASU Academic Catalog is published annually. A catalog year runs from fall through summer, and a student who enters during the fall or spring semester follows the policies and requirements in effect for that catalog year. For example, catalog year 2024-2025 applies to students who enter in fall 2024 or spring 2025. In most cases, a student’s catalog year is the year in which they started at ASU.
Following a Catalog Year: Department, school, division, college and university requirements are upgraded often and may change. In determining graduation requirements, an undergraduate student uses only one edition of the catalog but may elect to follow any subsequent catalog edition under which the student attends. Students may not use an edition of the catalog that was in effect before their high school graduation or completion of their GED. Students who maintain continuous enrollment at any Arizona community college or public university may graduate according to the requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of initial enrollment following high school graduation or completion of a GED, or according to the requirements of any single catalog in effect during subsequent terms of continuous enrollment.

Curriculum Structure and Flexibility

Major Requirements: Major requirements represent the majority of the disciplinary content of the degree.
Electives: Many degrees also have room for electives, allowing students to complete credit hours toward the minimum number of credits required for graduation while exploring areas of personal and professional interest.
Minors and Certificates: Some students choose to declare a minor or certificate; this typically adds 15-25 credit hours of coursework, which can also be used for elective credit.
Overlapping Requirements: Some courses may fulfill two or more types of requirements, but other courses fulfill only one requirement.
Designations of Graduation: All designations of graduation with academic recognition are indicated on the diploma and the ASU transcript.
Major-Specific Requirements: Some majors may have specific requirements that a student must meet to be eligible for acceptance to the new major.

College of Medicine - Phoenix Electives

The College of Medicine - Phoenix offers over 200 fourth-year electives that are designed to meet curriculum and graduation requirements and are specific to student interests. Critical Care and Core Sub-Internship are selectives that are graduation requirements to be completed in Year 4. Students can choose sub-specialized rotations in Critical Care such as Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Medical Intensive Care Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and Cardiac Critical Care.

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