Policy - Degree Requirements

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Associate's & Bachelor's Degree Requirements

University policy requires all degree candidates to comply with the following standards:

• Mastery of at least one discipline, field of knowledge or applied professional area
• Competence in writing the English language
• An understanding of the humanities, social sciences, mathematics and science
• A familiarity with problems and issues of value and choice

Associate's Degrees

All candidates are required to:

• Earn at least a 2.000 (C) cumulative average
• Complete a minimum of 60 semester hours
• Fulfill the residency requirements
• Conform to the general regulations and requirements of the University
• Satisfy the regulations and academic standards of the colleges which exercise jurisdiction over the degrees for which they are matriculating
• Satisfy the curriculum requirements established by the departments or programs in their major
• Complete the University Core Curriculum and/or General Education requirements

Bachelor's Degrees

All candidates are required to:

• Earn at least a 2.000 (C) cumulative average in their total course of study (unless otherwise specified for a specific degree program)
• Complete a minimum of 120 semester hours
• Fulfill the residency requirements
• Conform to the general regulations and requirements of the University
• Satisfy the regulations and academic standards of the colleges which exercise jurisdiction over the degrees for which they are matriculating
• Satisfy the curriculum requirements established by the departments or programs in their major
• Complete the University Core Curriculum and/or General Education requirements

Residency Requirements

Associate's Degrees

In addition to meeting all the course requirements of an associate's degree, candidates must adhere to the following residency requirements:

1. Complete at least 9 semester credits in regular course work within the major department
2. Complete at least 24 semester credits through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies at the University of Massachusetts Lowell

Bachelor's Degrees

In addition to satisfying specific course and achievement requirements, each bachelor's candidate must complete at least 15 semester credits in regular course work within the major department of the University for each major which is presented for a degree with a 30 semester credit minimum completed through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies. This 30 semester credit minimum may include authorized day courses in the University.

Each candidate for a baccalaureate degree must satisfy one of the following five residency requirements:

1. Complete an associate's degree under the provisions of the Massachusetts Transfer Compact at a Massachusetts community college, earning not more than 60 semester credits, and the remainder in courses at the University, earning not less than 60 semester credits, with 30 credits earned in the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies.
2. Complete up to the first two years in an accredited two-year institution earning not more than 60 semester credits with grades of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better, and the remainder in courses at the University, earning not less than 60 semester credits, with 30 credits earned in the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies.
3. Complete the equivalent of the first three years of a baccalaureate program in an accredited four-year institution, earning not more than 90 semester credits (C grades or better) and the remaining courses at the University, earning not less than 30 semester credits in the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies.
4. Complete 90 or more semester credits at the University (30 of which must be earned in the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies) and complete the remainder of an approved prescribed course of study at another accredited institution, earning not more than 30 semester credits at that institution.
5. Complete the equivalent of the first three years of a baccalaureate program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the remaining credits through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies, earning not less than 30 credits (unless University of Massachusetts Lowell day classes are authorized).

The requirement of 30 semester credits of study in UMass Lowell's Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies courses may not be satisfied through course equivalency procedures.

Residency Requirement for Major Fields

Each bachelor's degree candidate must complete at least 15 credits of course work in their major at the University of Massachusetts Lowell for each major which is presented for a degree.

Guidelines for Additional Degrees

Associate's Degrees

A student may pursue an additional associate's degree under the same regulations set forth for pursuing an additional bachelor's degree except that the total number of credits to satisfy the residency requirement is 24.

Bachelor's Degrees

A student who has already earned a bachelor's degree may be admitted to the University to pursue an additional bachelor's degree in accordance with the following:

1. The major field of the previous degree must be clearly distinct from that of the additional degree
2. The work for the additional degree must include the Graduate, Online & Professional Studies residency requirements
3. The final 30 credits presented for the additional degree must be in addition to and independent of any previous baccalaureate
4. A minimum of 15 credits must be taken through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies in the major field which is presented for the additional degree
5. A minimum of 30 semester credits must be completed through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies (unless University of Massachusetts Lowell day classes are authorized).

Candidates for the additional bachelor's degree must earn a minimum of 30 credits and must comply with any special college regulation concerning completion at the University of major field and professional program requirements (including collateral and prerequisite course requirements for the major/professional program). Second degree candidates may be eligible for major field honors but are not eligible for University honors unless they have completed 60 credits at the University for the additional bachelor's degree.

Core Curriculum and General Education Program Requirements

Transformational Education is the first pillar of excellence; it is the key to UMass Lowell's vision for our students. Our aim is to prepare students for work, world, and life with a robust educational experience both in their majors and as university students. The Core Curriculum, introduced for students entering the university in fall 2015 and beyond, builds on our General Education program to empower students with relevant knowledge, intellectual skills, and the ability to bring a broad perspective to the complex problems and challenges of the 21st century. For more information, please visit https://www.uml.edu/Academics/undergraduate-programs/Gened/

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