University of Minnesota Graduation Requirements

Earning a degree from the University of Minnesota involves fulfilling a comprehensive set of requirements and standards established by the University Regents on the recommendation of the faculty. These requirements ensure that graduates have a strong foundation for their future endeavors. While the University sets overall degree requirements, departments, colleges, and campuses have the authority to determine the specific requirements related to programs and majors, provided they align with the University's policies.

Core Principles

Credit Recognition: All credit awarded by the University, irrespective of the campus or mode of instruction, is universally recognized across all University campuses. This credit appears on the transcript and counts towards degree requirements, subject to departmental, college, and campus standards. In some instances, students may accumulate credits exceeding the requirements for their degree program.

Restrictions on Duplicate Degrees: Students are restricted from earning two baccalaureate degrees in the same major (e.g., a B.A. and a B.S. in Economics) from any University campus. However, a student pursuing two majors within different degree structures (e.g., one B.A. and one B.S.) may earn two degrees, provided they complete all additional degree requirements beyond the major.

Minimum Credit Requirement: Baccalaureate degrees necessitate a minimum of 120 semester credits. Any baccalaureate degree programs requiring more than 120 credits must receive college/campus approval. Programs proposing more than 132 credits must also secure approval from the appropriate chancellor or provost in consultation with the Senate Committee on Educational Policy. Accumulating 120 or more credits does not automatically entitle a student to a degree; all requirements and standards must be met.

Breadth of Study and Campus Standards: Requirements pertaining to breadth of study, such as liberal or general education, along with other campus-wide graduation standards, must be approved by the faculty governing body for that campus.

Grading Policies

Limits on S/N Grades: The policy limits the use of S/N (Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory) grades. The maximum proportion of University S/N credits permitted within the total University credits in the degree is 25%. For the Twin Cities campus, this limit is 20%. For students completing only the minimum 30 credits at the University, no more than 8 may be taken S/N.

S/N Grading in Major Coursework (Twin Cities): No unit will allow S/N grading in major coursework unless the S/N grading system is preset by the unit for specific courses. Subject to the overall limits, colleges, campuses, and programs may specify which courses must be taken on the A-F or S-N grading system.

A/F Grading (Crookston): Courses used to satisfy Crookston degree requirements must be taken A/F (A-F grading scale) unless the course is offered exclusively S/N.

D Grades (Twin Cities and Rochester): D grades are not permitted to satisfy requirements in major, minor, or certificate courses. Required courses in these areas where a student receives a D grade do not count toward fulfilling the requirements. However, other courses, including those in the major or minor field that are not required, will count toward a degree if the student earns a D or better.

D Grades (Crookston): Students may have no more than two D grades in courses included in an academic major. D grades are not permitted in minor or certificate courses. Program faculty and the academic department determine the specific classes required for an academic major, minor, or certificate.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Major Restrictions (Morris): No major or program may require students to take more than 40 of the 120 credits required for graduation in any one discipline. There are also limits on the number of credits from specific courses that can be applied to the 120-credit degree requirement.

GPA Requirement

To earn a degree, students admitted to a degree program or major must complete all requirements with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.000 in University of Minnesota coursework. This GPA is based solely on University of Minnesota coursework and sets a consistent minimum standard across the University system.

Definitions

Academic Major: A student's primary field of specialization during their undergraduate or graduate studies, recorded on the transcript.

Academic Minor: A student's secondary field of study, typically consisting of a set of courses meeting specified guidelines, designed to allow a sub-major concentration. The minor is recorded on the student's transcript.

Baccalaureate Degree: An academic degree conferred upon completion of the undergraduate curriculum, also known as a bachelor's degree.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Degree Structure: The type of baccalaureate degree, such as Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), or Bachelor of Science in Business (B.S.B.).

Requirements for the Major and Minor: The set of courses that constitute the program of study in a focused area for a particular degree program.

Graduation with Honors and Distinction

The University of Minnesota recognizes high-achieving students through degrees with distinction and degrees with honors. Campuses may offer either, both, or neither. A student may earn both a degree with honors and a degree with distinction if offered by their campus.

General Provisions:

Performance is judged relative to other degree-seeking students on the same campus.
Students must complete 60 or more semester credits at the University of Minnesota to qualify.
Only University of Minnesota coursework factors into the GPA calculation.
Campuses are expected to award degrees with honors and distinction to approximately 10-15% of any graduating class.
The University transcript contains a brief explanation of the difference between a degree with distinction and a degree with honors.
The Senate Committee on Educational Policy reviews data on the number and percentage of students receiving these degrees annually.

Degrees with Distinction:

The initiative lies with the campuses and must be approved by the chief academic officer.
To graduate "with distinction," a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.750 or higher.
To graduate "with high distinction," a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.900 or higher.
The GPA is the sole determinant. Campuses may offer only one type of distinction degree.

Degrees with Honors and Campus Honors Programs:

Requirements include a definite standard of excellence in scholarship with evidence of ability to accomplish independent or original work, not just coursework or GPA.
Students must participate in a fully developed campus honors program.
The initiative lies with each campus and must be approved by the senior academic officer.
A campus must propose an honors program specifying selection criteria, the nature of honors requirements, and requirements for earning a degree cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude.
The minimum GPA in courses taken after completing 60 semester credits is 3.500 for "cum laude," 3.666 for "magna cum laude," and 3.750 for "summa cum laude." Campuses may adopt higher GPAs.

Recognition:

Students who achieve high academic performance or participate in an honors program receive recognition on their transcripts and diplomas. Graduating with distinction indicates a high cumulative GPA, while graduating with honors indicates completion of the campus-specific honors program requirements.

Campus-Specific Honors Programs:

Honors Program (Morris): Successful completion of the interdisciplinary Honors Program provides the student a degree 'with Honors.'
University Honors Program (Twin Cities): A selective program providing an enriched academic experience and a path toward graduation with Latin Honors. Students are admitted upon acceptance to the University or can apply as current students.
Graduating with Latin Honors (Twin Cities): Available to students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher who have completed the University Honors Program requirements.

Minnesota State Requirements

In addition to University requirements, students must also meet Minnesota state requirements for graduation, including:

Satisfactorily completing all state academic standards or local academic standards where state standards do not apply.
Satisfactorily completing the state credit requirements under Minnesota Statutes 2025, section 120B.024.

These standards are met by taking a course of study that equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for success in postsecondary education, highly skilled work, and civic life.

Minimum State Credit Requirements:

Students must complete a minimum of 21.5 course credits, including:

4 credits of language arts
3 credits of mathematics, encompassing Algebra II, Integrated Mathematics III, or an equivalent
3 credits of science, including earth and space science, life science, and chemistry or physics
3Â½ credits of social studies, including government and citizenship, United States history, geography, world history, and economics
1 credit in the arts
Physical Education and Health Education credits as determined at the local level
7 elective credits
Personal finance course for students beginning grade 9 in the 2024-25 school year and later

Credit Equivalencies:

The policy allows for certain credit equivalencies, such as:

A one-half credit of economics taught in agriculture, food, and natural resources education or business education may fulfill a one-half credit in social studies.
An agriculture science or career and technical education credit may fulfill the elective science credit.
A career and technical education credit may fulfill a mathematics or arts credit requirement.
A computer science credit may fulfill a mathematics credit requirement.
A Project Lead the Way credit may fulfill a science or mathematics credit requirement.
An ethnic studies course may fulfill a social studies, language arts, arts, math, or science credit if the course meets the applicable state academic standards.

Credits and Early Graduation:

Minnesota Statutes 2025, Section 120B.07 allows any secondary school student who has completed all required courses or standards to graduate before the completion of the school year, with the approval of the student, their parent or guardian, and local school officials.

Rigorous Course of Study:

The rigorous course of study waiver allows high school students to replace a required course with a more rigorous course, adhering to the statutory requirement for a comprehensive education in all academic content standards.

Applying for Graduation

Students are automatically scheduled to graduate when they have completed 75% or more of the credits applicable toward their degree, including major requirements, liberal education requirements, writing intensive requirements, and elective requirements. Students can contact their advisor for more information. Students who have completed 90 degree credits and wish to apply early can find the "Apply to Graduate" link in MyU: Academics.

Steps to Apply:

Verify your degree information and requirements using your APAS report.
Speak to your advisor about any remaining requirements.
Set your degree name by updating your personal information.
Add, verify, or update your diploma address.
Apply to graduate via MyU: Academics.

Students must apply before the deadline each term. If a student has more than one degree program, they must submit an application for each program.

Commencement Ceremony

The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) holds one commencement ceremony each year in May.

High School Preparation

A strong high school curriculum enhances success in college. The University expects students to continue with academic coursework, including math and science, for all four years of high school and to maintain strong academic performance through graduation.

Subject Expectations:

English: 4 years with an emphasis on writing, reading, speaking skills, and literary understanding.
Mathematics: 4 years including elementary algebra, geometry, intermediate algebra, and a 4th year of math such as calculus, pre-calculus, analysis, or integrated math 4.
Science: 3 years including one year each of biological and physical science, with a laboratory experience.
Social studies: 3 years including one year each of history and geography.
Single second language: 2 years (if English is not your first language, this requirement is met).
Visual and/or performing arts: 1 year including instruction in the history and interpretation of the art form.

Schedule Changes & Senior Year Performance:

The University expects students to successfully complete the senior year coursework they self-report at the time of application. Schedule changes or unsuccessful completion of senior year coursework may result in the cancellation of admission or a change to the college of admission.

General Education Requirements (UMR)

The Universityâs general education requirements are designed to be integrated throughout the undergraduate experience, providing opportunities to explore fields outside the major and complement the major curriculum with a multidisciplinary perspective. The BS in Health Sciences and BS in Health Professions degrees offered at the University of Minnesota Rochester require the same general education requirements. UMR's General Education requirements are changing in Fall of 2026. The Current Requirements must be fulfilled by students who were admitted to UMR prior to Fall of 2026. The Future Requirements (2026+) must be fulfilled by students who will be admitted to UMR in the Fall of 2026 onward.

Tips for Four-Year Graduation

Enroll in at least 15 credits every semester.
Consider taking summer classes to make up for lost credits or ease the academic load during the school year.
Avoid dropping or repeating classes.
Work towards earning satisfactory grades.
Prioritize school and create a healthy school-life balance.
Take advantage of the knowledge and resources of advisors.

Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM)

Minnesota State University Moorhead offers the two-year Associate in Arts (AA) degree in Liberal Arts.

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements at MSUM:

At least 120 credits are required for all baccalaureate degrees.
Candidates must have a GPA of at least 2.0 for all credits applied to the degree program.
Students must complete the requirements of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum (LASC), requiring a minimum of 40 credits with a cumulative average GPA of at least 2.0.
All students entering with less than 32 transferable credits must complete five writing-intensive (W) courses.
The degree program must include at least one major with a GPA of 2.0 or above.
Candidates must be enrolled as a resident student for at least 30 credits taught by MSUM faculty.
Undergraduate students may apply graduate credits taken at MSUM towards their undergraduate degree with approval from the Office of Graduate and Extended Learning and their undergraduate program.
An application for graduation must be submitted to the registrarâs office prior to the semester in which candidates expect to complete graduation requirements.
Students must secure the approval of each major advisor and department chairperson before submitting the application.
Candidates for graduation must have official transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions on file in the registrarâs office.

Final Steps Before Graduation

Check graduation dates and deadlines on the Academic calendar.
Verify your degree information and requirements using your APAS report.
Speak to your advisor about any remaining requirements.
Set your degree name by updating your personal information.
Add, verify, or update your diploma address.
Apply to graduate (see step-by-step instructions above).
Complete your financial aid requirements, including online exit counseling for student loan borrowers.
Attend your campus graduation fair.

tags: #university #of #minnesota #graduation #requirements