Degree Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

To qualify for a bachelor’s degree, students must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Successfully complete the minimum credits required for the chosen curriculum in courses numbered 100 and above, including liberal studies and specific university graduation requirements. The minimum credits required for a baccalaureate degree is 124. Programs that require 150 or more hours take five or more years to complete.
2. Obtain a minimum NMU cumulative GPA of 2.00.
3. Obtain the minimum GPA and the minimum grades in majors, minors and other courses where required by departments.
4. To qualify for a bachelor of arts degree, students must complete language course work equivalent to or higher than the 202 level. Students with a major in the Walker L. Cisler College of Business must complete one of the following options:
   1. FR 202 and FR 310
   2. GR 202 and GR 310
   3. SN 202 and SN 310 or SN 312 or SN 314

   In lieu of the culture course, College of Business students may meet the requirement by completion of the language at the 202 level and an approved directed study for a summer or semester in a country of the language. This must be submitted in writing by the student’s adviser to the Registrar’s Office prior to inception of the directed study.

5. Complete a minimum of 32 semester hours of credit in residence at Northern Michigan University, excluding advanced placement credit. Transfer students must earn a minimum of eight credits in each major and four credits in each minor.

6. Apply toward the degree no more than 32 hours of advance placement credit.
7. Adhere to the following limit for a non-business degree: Total credits that may be taken from the Walker L. Cisler College of Business (courses with prefixes ACT, CIS, FIN, IS, MGT, MKT, OIS and transfer BUS courses) cannot exceed 25 percent of the requirements for a non-business degree. This includes credits taken to complete a major or minor, a minor in the College of Business, and general elective credits taken from the College of Business.
8. Meet one of the following two residency requirements:

1. Students must be enrolled at Northern Michigan University for their last 8 credit hours preceding the awarding of their degree, or
2. Students must complete 20 of their last 30 credits at NMU. To qualify for this option students must:

• have a minimum NMU cumulative GPA of 2.00;
• meet the minimum GPAs as established by their major and minor departments;
• obtain written approval from their department head as well as the Registrar’s Office;
• have all courses approved prior to enrollment at another institution; and
• have processed a Guest Student Application form through the Registrar’s Office;
• enroll in no more than 10 credits at guest institution.

9.  Receive only one degree per commencement.

Associate Degree Requirements

To qualify for an associate degree, students must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Successfully complete the minimum credits required for their chosen curriculum in courses numbered 100 and above, with a minimum NMU cumulative GPA of 2.00. The minimum credits required for an associate degree is 62.
2. Complete a minimum of 16 semester hours of credit in residence at Northern Michigan University, excluding advance placement credit.
3. Apply no more than 16 semester hours of advance placement credit.
4. Meet one of the residency requirements as listed in number 8 above, under the requirements for a bachelor’s degree.
5. Receive only one degree per commencement.
6. Complete liberal studies requirements associated with their degree. Program requirements may be more extensive and/or specific than the minimum required.

Associate of Arts and Associate of Science

In addition, the associate of arts and associate of science degrees require 32 semester hours in the following disciplines;

1. Foundations of communication: 8 semester hours.*
   
2. Foundations of humanities: 8 semester hours. (Students may take any course from Divisions II and VI.)
   
3. Foundations of natural sciences/mathematics: 8 semester hours. One course must be a laboratory science. (Students may take any course from Division III and any MA, CIS, CS and IS course from Division V.)
   
4. Foundations of social sciences: 8 semester hours. (Students may take any course from Division IV.)

*Transfer students may meet this requirement with 6 semester hours as long as the total number of liberal studies credits is 32.

Associate of Applied Arts and Associate of Applied Science

In addition, the associate of applied arts and associate of applied science degrees require a minimum of 12 semester hours in the following disciplines:

1. Foundations of communication: minimum of 4 semester hours.
   
2. Other liberal studies: minimum of 8 semester hours.

Associate of Business and Associate of Technology

In addition, the associate of business and associate of technology degrees require 8 semester hours in the following disciplines:

1. Foundations of communication: 4 semester hours.
   
2. Other liberal studies: 4 semester hours.

Certificate Requirements

To qualify for a certificate, students must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Complete the prescribed program of course work. The minimum credits required for the certificate is 31.
2. Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00 in all course work following matriculation (official admission) into the certificate program.
3. Obtain a minimum GPA of 2.00 in all program courses as well as meet the minimum GPAs established by their major department.
4. Earn a minimum of 16 semester hours of credit in residence at NMU.
5. Apply no more than 8 semester hours of advanced placement credit to a certificate program.
6. Meet one of the following residency requirements:
   1. Students must be enrolled at Northern Michigan University for their last 4 credit hours preceding the awarding of their certificate; or
   2. Students must complete 10 of their last 15 credits at NMU. This allows students to complete their certificate at another school by enrolling in previously approved courses to a maximum of 5 semester hours of credit. To qualify for this option, students must meet the requirements stipulated in points 1 through 5 above.
7. Receive only one degree per commencement.

Vocational Diploma Requirements

To qualify for a vocational diploma, students must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Complete the prescribed program with a minimum NMU cumulative GPA of 2.00. Only those courses applying to the program will be utilized in calculating the GPA.
2. Earn a minimum of 16 credits in residence at NMU.
3. Meet one of the residency requirements described in item 6 above, under the requirements for a certificate.
4. Receive only one degree per commencement.

Additional Degrees and Certificates

Students who have earned a baccalaureate or associate degree or a certificate at Northern Michigan University or elsewhere may earn additional degrees or certificates in academic areas or programs other than any previously earned degrees or certificates. Students must meet all current requirements relating to their new degree or certificate. Students who hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and who seek a second bachelor's degree will be considered to have met the University-wide Liberal Studies Program and Graduation Requirements, but must satisfy all school/college, department and program requirements.

Students with an earned baccalaureate degree who are seeking additional degrees must apply in the Admissions Office. Students may not enroll in any courses at the 500 level or above.

To qualify for a second baccalaureate degree, the student must complete a minimum of 32 credit hours at NMU beyond the first baccalaureate degree.

To qualify for an associate degree, the student must complete a minimum of 16 credit hours at NMU beyond the first baccalaureate or associate degree.

To qualify for a certificate, the student must complete a minimum of 16 semester credit hours at NMU beyond the first baccalaureate or associate degree or certificate program.