General Requirements for Graduation
The following graduation requirements apply to all undergraduate students. Meeting graduation requirements is the individual responsibility of each student. The student, with their advisor, should check the student’s plan of study frequently to assure that the student is fulfilling all graduation requirements.
Total Credit Hours
A student must have a minimum of 120 hours of credit acceptable toward graduation. Some courses may not count toward graduation. These restrictions are noted in the course descriptions. Some curricula or combinations of fields require additional credit hours. If all specified requirements are completed with fewer than 120 credit hours, a student must elect sufficient additional course work to total at least 120.
A student may apply for and receive two bachelor's degrees in the same term. To receive two degrees simultaneously, completion of a minimum of 150 credit hours is required. The degrees may be the same (e.g., two B.A. degrees) or different (e.g., a B.A. and a B.S.). The majors may be the same as long as two different sequences are completed. All requirements for both degrees, both majors and sequences, and all general graduation requirements must be met.
Senior College Credit Hours
Senior college credit hours (courses numbered 200 or above) must total at least 40 credit hours. Coursework transferred from other colleges and universities may be counted as senior college credit as determined in policy 4.1.18. No credit from two-year colleges may be counted as senior level.
Major-Minor Plans of Study
Each candidate for a B.S. or B.A. degree must complete a major field of study. Completion of a second major, a minor, or a second minor is optional unless specified by the student’s major.
At least half (with a minimum of nine) of the credit hours for a minor must be distinct from any credit hours the student counts toward a major within the same department or school. A department or school seeking an exception must provide convincing evidence that the resulting major/minor combination confers a breadth of knowledge that meaningfully exceeds what the major alone would provide. This applies to both first and second majors and minors.
Specific Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)/ Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Requirements
Students graduating from B.A. or B.S. degree programs must meet specific requirements beyond major and other graduation requirements. A student pursuing the B.A. degree will acquire knowledge of a world language as demonstrated by successful completion of LAN 115 (or equivalent).
A student pursuing the B.S. degree will complete a three-hour natural science, mathematics, or technology (SMT) course beyond General Education requirements.
Grade Point Average
The grade point average for all courses taken at Illinois State University must be 2.0 (C) or higher to confer a baccalaureate degree. In addition, the student must have a grade point average of 2.0 (C) (or higher as required by certain programs) in the courses required in the major, and in the minor if the student has a minor.
Removal of Incompletes
A student may not graduate with incomplete grades.
Residence Requirements
Unless otherwise specified in a specific program, at least 30 of the last 60 credit hours completed toward the baccalaureate degree must be earned at Illinois State University.
Time Limit for Courses as Prerequisites
Because disciplinary knowledge advances and course content changes, some courses taken seven or more years prior to an advance registration period will not automatically be accepted as prerequisites for other courses. When a department or school determines that applicability of a course will lapse, it will designate this in the prerequisite listing as "taken within x years."
Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, or Indigenous Peoples of the World (AMALI) Requirement
Students graduating from Illinois State University must have successfully completed a course designated as a course in the cultures and traditions of societies or peoples from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, or Indigenous Peoples of the World. Students may complete this requirement in two ways: successfully completing an ISU course with an AMALI designation or complete an approved course in the Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core Curriculum—identified with a "N" designation.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access in United States Society (IDEAS) Requirement
Each student must complete at least one course designated as one focusing on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access in United States Society (IDEAS). IDEAS designated courses may count both toward this graduation requirement and general education requirements; however, IDEAS courses cannot count toward both the IDEAS graduation requirement and the AMALI graduation requirement. Students can satisfy the IDEAS requirement in three ways: complete an IDEAS-approved course at Illinois State University; complete an approved course in the Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core Curriculum—identified with a "D" designation; or complete a baccalaureate-oriented associates degree at an Illinois community college.
Professional Practice and Independent Study
A student may count no more than 16 credit hours of professional practice courses (198, 298, 398, 399) toward graduation. Some programs allow fewer than 16 credit hours and will indicate this within the Undergraduate Catalog. A student may count no more than 6 credit hours of independent study (287) credit toward graduation.
Disciplinary hold
A student may not graduate with a disciplinary hold on their record.
General Education Requirements
General Education Completion
There are three ways to complete General Education requirements at Illinois State University.
- Complete Illinois State University’s General Education Program as outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog.
- Complete the Illinois General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) package available through the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI). This program, intended for transfer students, is a statewide agreement between participating colleges and universities and some private schools designed to facilitate timely degree completion.
- Complete a baccalaureate-oriented Associates Degree.
- Students who have completed an Associate of Arts (A.A.) from any regionally accredited post-secondary institution will be considered to have met the Illinois State University General Education requirements.
- Students who have completed an Associate of Science (A.S.) from an accredited, participating Illinois college or university, must complete the IAI GECC either as part of their A.S. degree or by completing the GECC at Illinois State University or by transfer credit. All distribution requirements of each GECC category must be followed; that is, both a Humanities and a Fine Arts course must be completed and at least two different disciplines must be represented in Social and Behavioral Sciences.
- Students who have completed an A.S. from any regionally accredited post-secondary institution outside the state of Illinois will be considered to have met the Illinois State University General Education requirements.
- Interdisciplinary Studies Major: General Education coursework may be used to fulfill requirements of the Interdisciplinary Studies Major.
- International Studies: Credit in General Education may be earned through the Study Abroad program.
- The Proficiency and Placement Examinations section of the University Undergraduate Catalog and policy 4.1.18 describe how a student may meet some of the General Education requirements through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or other proficiency examinations.
General Education Policies
- Depending on the major, a student may be exempted from one General Education category (maximum of one course) because of disciplinary expertise gained in the major as listed in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Degree Programs
Undergraduate degrees available at Illinois State University include the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Education, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, and Bachelor of Social Work degrees. When applying for graduation, the student indicates the specific degree that they are qualified to receive. Other requirements are specified for each degree below.
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree
Statement of Purpose - The Bachelor of Arts degree provides for the acquisition of written and oral communication skills, creative thinking, abilities in the critical analyses of texts, the understanding of cultures, and a working knowledge of social, political, and historical contexts. The degree is typically pursued by those students whose academic emphasis in their major area of study is directed toward the humanities, arts, and selected areas of the social sciences disciplines.
Statement of Requirements - General Education requirements, university-wide requirements for graduation, and knowledge of a world language as demonstrated by successful completion of LAN 115 (or the equivalent). A student seeking a B.A. degree takes LAN 115 in place of Quantitative Reasoning.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree
Statement of Purpose - The Bachelor of Science degree provides for the acquisition of oral and written communication skills and the acquisition of analytical skills for examining and solving problems. The degree is typically pursued by those students whose academic emphasis in their major area of study is directed towards the natural sciences, mathematics, statistics, social sciences, or a technological field.
Statement of Requirements - General Education requirements, university-wide requirements for graduation, and increased knowledge of the natural sciences, mathematics, statistics, and/or technology. This knowledge is demonstrated by the successful completion of a three-hour course, beyond those required for General Education, selected from an approved list of courses that involve natural sciences, mathematics, statistics, and technology (SMT).
Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.in Ed.) Degree
Statement of Purpose - The Bachelor of Science in Education degree encourages acquisition of communication skills, development of analytical skills for examining and solving problems, and the understanding of cultures with special emphasis on application to the art and science of teaching. The degree is typically pursued by students interested in the teaching profession.
Statement of Requirements - General Education requirements, university-wide requirements for graduation, and increased knowledge and skills related to professional standards established by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) through the successful completion of professional education requirements and approved teacher education major requirements.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) Degree
Statement of Purpose - The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree provides graduates with knowledge and skills in communication, critical thinking for analyzing and solving problems, and an understanding of the societal changes that impact health care. Courses from the Humanities, Psychology, Physical and Social Sciences, as well as the use of technology, provide a foundation for scientific inquiry and application of nursing knowledge and theories to diverse populations and settings.
Statement of Requirements - General Education requirements, university-wide requirements for graduation, and nursing field of study requirements.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) Degree
Statement of Purpose - The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree encourages the acquisition and display of talent in theatre and art, with special emphasis on aesthetic performance and understanding. The degree is typically pursued by individuals interested in the creative and fine arts.
Statement of Requirements - General Education requirements, university-wide requirements for graduation, and art or theatre field of study requirements for B.F.A. degree.
Bachelor of Music (B.M.) Degree
Statement of Purpose - The Bachelor of Music degree encourages the acquisition and display of talent in music, with special emphasis on aesthetic performance and understanding. This degree is typically pursued by individuals interested in music performance.
Statement of Requirements - General Education requirements, university-wide requirements for graduation, and music field of study requirements for B.M. degree.
Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) Degree
Statement of Purpose - The Bachelor of Music Education degree encourages the acquisition and display of talent in music, with special emphasis on teaching music. This degree is typically pursued by individuals interested in becoming music teachers.
Statement of Requirements - General Education requirements, university-wide requirements for graduation; music field of study requirements for B.M.E. degree, and professional education requirements.
Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Degree
Statement of Purpose - The B.S.W. encourages acquisition of communication skills; development of analytical skills for examining and solving problems; and the understanding of social, cultural, and legal structures with special emphasis on application to the profession of social work. The degree is pursued by all undergraduates in the School of Social Work and is recognized as the first professional degree in the field that prepares undergraduate students for beginning generalist social work practice.
Statement of Requirements - General Education requirements, university-wide requirements for graduation, and Social Work major requirements.
Programs of Study
Definition Of Major, Minor, Sequence, Concentration, and Certificate
- A major is a cohesive combination of courses, including introductory, intermediate, and advanced course work that designates a student’s primary area of specialization. Majors are designated on University transcripts.
- A minor is a combination of courses designed to provide a cohesive introduction to an area of study beyond the student’s major. Minors are designated on University transcripts and are a minimum of 18 credit hours.
- A sequence is a subdivision of a major in which there are specific requirements. Sequences of the same major generally share a common core within a major. Sequences are designated on University transcripts.
- A concentration is a subdivision of a major without specific requirements. All informal curricular recommendations made by departments (such as emphases, tracks, areas of study, specializations, etc.) should be considered concentrations and no curricular approval process is required. Concentrations are not designated on University transcripts and are not considered requirements.
- Undergraduate certificates are a group of courses focusing on a specific area of knowledge or competency. Undergraduate certificates contain a minimum of 9 credit hours and a maximum of 17 credit hours. Students enrolled in an undergraduate certificate may be degree seeking or non-degree seeking (visiting) student. Certificates are established through the university curriculum process and will be transcripted upon successful completion of all certificate requirements.
Requirements and Limitations for Degree Programs, Majors, Minors, and Semester Hours Mandated by a Major Department
- All hours that are required to graduate within a specific program, including required prerequisites and University requirements, are included in the calculation of total credit hours mandated by the program.
- No undergraduate degree program should require more than 120 hours of course work. Increases in credit hour requirements above 120 credit hours are approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost prior to review by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC). Any program increasing credit hours beyond 120 also requires approval by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) based on the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act (110 ILCS 120/50 (a).
- A major will not mandate more than 72 credit hours beyond general education unless a strong justification (e.g. licensure or accreditation) is provided and approved by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC).
- A major that awards the B.A., B.S, or B.S. in Education degree should not require more than 55 semester hours in the major department. (This limit does not apply to the B.F.A., the B.M., the B.M.E., the B.S. in Nursing, and the B.S.W. degrees.)
- A minor, including all required prerequisite hours, may include 18 to 36 credit hours. In no case may the minor include more than 25 credit hours from the department offering the minor.
- The B.A. degree requires students acquire knowledge of a world language as demonstrated by successful completion of LAN 115 (or equivalent).
- The B.S. degree requires successful completion of an additional three-hour natural science, mathematics, statistics, or technology (SMT) course beyond the General Education requirements.
- The 2.00 grade point average is established as the undergraduate standard for minimum performance in admission of transfer students, admission of re-entering students, probation, reinstatement, continuation in the major, and graduation. Some majors or sequences may have higher requirements.