Graduation and Degree Requirements

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SDBOR policy 2.6.1, SDBOR policy 2.8.1

1. Total Semester Hours of Credit: Completion of at least 120 semester credit hours at the 100 level or above for the baccalaureate degree or 60 semester credit hours for the associate degree.
2. Grade Point Average: A cumulative grade point average and institutional grade point average of 2.00. The cumulative grade point average is based on all courses taken, including transfer courses and those taken at other regental institutions. The institutional grade point average is based on all coursework taken at USD. The grade point average for the major(s) must be at least 2.0.  If a course is repeated only the last grade received will be included in the calculation of the cumulative and institutional grade point averages. 
3. Developmental Education Course Requirements in English and Mathematics: Developmental education courses include ENGL 032, ENGL 033, MATH 093 and MATH 095. Credit hours for the developmental education courses are included in the total number of credit hours attempted. The grades assigned for these courses will be RI, RS, RU or SP and will not be included in the GPA calculation.
4. Completion of University general education requirements  .
5. Majors : Each degree candidate must select the work of one department or discipline as a major subject and must complete all requirements as set out by the major department. Any deviation from this requires the written consent of the chair of the department and the dean of the relevant college or school. Note: Exceptions to the System-wide Requirements must be approved by the dean of the student’s college or school and the Vice President for Academic Affairs or designee.

• Students pursuing more than one major must complete all requirements for the majors as set forth by the academic units involved. When the majors are offered within the same college or school and may be completed within the same degree program structure, students complete the requirements for only one degree, and only one degree is awarded. Students wishing to complete two undergraduate majors that are offered in separate colleges or schools, or in the same school or college but not within the same degree program structure, must complete all requirements for each related degree, and two separate degrees are awarded. Completion of a second degree will not be allowed when both majors may be awarded under the same degree. Students may pursue minors outside the college/school of their major program.

6. Upper-Division Requirement: A minimum of 30 semester hours of credit in courses numbered 300 or above. Specific academic units may require additional hours of upper-division work.
7. Institutional Credit Requirement: Credit taken by students at USD or at its approved sites using any approved method of delivery is considered institutional credit, including credit from courses that are part of a formal collaborative agreement between USD and another regental university. The minimum number of credit hours that must be earned as institutional credit is 30 credits for the baccalaureate degree and 15 credits for the associate degree. The number of credit hours immediately preceding completion of the degree that must be earned as institutional credit is 15 of the last 30 credits for the baccalaureate degree and 8 of the last 15 for the associate degree. The minimum number of credit hours in the discipline of the major and the minor that must be completed as institutional credit is 50 percent. Degree-seeking students may, however, complete a minor from any of the South Dakota regental universities; the minor will be recorded on the student’s transcript in conjunction with a degree, indicating the university from which it was earned. Degree seeking students may complete requirements for a minor at any Regental university that has been approved to grant that minor. This minor will be recorded on the transcript in conjunction with a degree/major at that university or a degree/ major at any other Regental university. A minor will only be recorded on the transcript in conjunction with a degree and major. Certificates require 50 percent of the total hours required to be completed at the degree granting institution. Those certificates that are system certificates shall be exempt from this credit hour requirement. System certificates are exempt from the credit hour requirement. In addition, when the requirements set by a specialized accrediting agency exceed the requirements set forth in this policy, those of the specialized accrediting agency take precedence (SDBOR policy 2.6.1.D.2).   
8. Degree seeking students may complete requirements for a minor at any Regental university that has been approved to grant that minor. This minor will be recorded on the transcript in conjunction with a degree/major at that university or a degree/ major at any other Regental university. A minor will only be recorded on the transcript in conjunction with a degree and major.

Candidates for degrees are required to make formal application for their degree by the deadline published in the Schedule of Classes.

After completing 75 semester hours of credit, students should apply for graduation and request an undergraduate degree audit using the Undergraduate Degree Audit request form (link). The audit will identify any remaining requirements needed to qualify for the degree. The degree audit form must emailed to registrar@usd.edu or faxed to: 605-677-6753.

• Undergraduate Degree Audit request form

SDBOR policy 2.6.2.A(1)

The Board approves the awarding of academic degrees after receiving the university president’s recommendation on behalf of the university. In recommending that the Board approve the award of a degree to an individual, the President certifies that the student has satisfied, or is expected to satisfy, the applicable degree requirements in Board Policy or in curricular requests approved by the Board.

1.1. Board approval is contingent upon the student’s completion of all of the degree requirements. A degree may be awarded only after the student has completed the degree requirements.
1.2. Approval of institutional recommendations by the Board shall not be to waive any degree requirement for an individual student.
1.3. Recommendations for awarding degrees shall be submitted to the Board through its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer and shall appear on the agenda of a regularly scheduled Board meeting.

1.3.1. Universities are authorized to hold commencement exercises prior to Board approval of institutional recommendations.
1.3.2. The recommendations shall be submitted in a uniform format determined by the Board.
1.3.3. Recommendations shall be submitted to the Board through its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer according to the following schedule:

1.3.3.1. Recommendations for May commencement exercises or graduation shall be provided to the Board at its regularly scheduled May meeting.
1.3.3.2. Recommendations for August graduation shall be provided to the Board at its regularly scheduled August meeting.
1.3.3.3. Recommendations for December graduation shall be provided to the Board at its regularly scheduled December meeting.

SDBOR policy 2.6.2.A(2)

2.1 The official date of graduation for the term is the last date of the term. For the Fall and Spring terms, this date is the last date of final examinations. For the Summer term, it is the last date of the full summer term. This date of graduation will be recorded both on the academic transcript and on the diploma.
2.2. Commencement ceremonies may be held prior to the official graduation date or after the official graduation date.
2.3. A student’s official date of graduation shall be the official date of graduation for the term in which the student successfully completes all requirements.
2.4. The final graduation verification date for each term will be two days prior to the Clearinghouse certification date.

2.4.1. The institution’s Vice President for Academic Affairs may make an exception to the final graduation verification date for student teachers who complete their student teaching experience on a date after the verification deadline.
2.4.2. The Medical School is exempted from the final graduation verification date.
2.4.3. Other than the exceptions noted above for student teachers and the Medical School, a student’s date of graduation will not be backdated. If the student does not meet graduation requirements prior to the verification deadline, the student
          must apply for graduation in a future term.

SDBOR policy 2.6.2.A(3)

3.1 The catalog of graduation begins with the summer term and ends with the subsequent spring term.
3.2 Every student is required to have a catalog of graduation. New and transfer students are assigned the catalog in effect at the time of their initial enrollment at the university from which they are seeking a degree. Students may elect a catalog of graduation that is later than their initial catalog but may not elect a catalog of graduation that is earlier than their initial catalog.
3.3 In order to receive a degree, a student must meet the program requirements listed in his/her catalog of graduation.
3.4 Students who discontinue enrollment at any Regental university for more than two consecutive semesters are assigned the catalog in effect at the time of their re-enrollment as their catalog of graduation.
3.5 Students are considered to be in continuous enrollment for purposes of the catalog of graduation so long as any break in enrollment at any Regental university is for two or fewer consecutive semesters (excluding summer) and students maintain their degree seeking status at the same Regental university.
3.6 Students who change their degree seeking status from one Regental university to another Regental university are assigned the catalog of graduation that corresponds to the term they are admitted to their new degree granting university.
3.7 Students who are not currently enrolled and who petition to graduate based on coursework previously completed at a Regental university are assigned the catalog in effect during the term they wish to graduate.

Dean’s List Designation (SDBOR policy 2.8.1.C(8))

Undergraduate, full-time students may be designated for the Dean’s List at the end of the fall and spring terms. The Dean’s List designation is based on a student’s total course registrations for academic credit for the term from any South Dakota regental university. The Dean’s List designation does not appear on the transcript.

The following criteria must be met to be awarded Dean’s List designation:

1. Students must have earned a minimum of 12 credit hours during the term in courses numbered 100-699;
2. Students must have achieved a system term GPA of at least 3.50; and
3. Students must have no F, I, U, RI, or RU grades for the term regardless of system term GPA attained.
4. Students who receive an IP grade must meet all criteria without consideration of the course in which the IP grade was assigned. 

Academic Recognition For Undergraduate, Part-Time Students (SDBOR policy 2.8.1.C(9))

Undergraduate part-time students may be designated for Academic Recognition for Part-Time Students at the end of the fall and spring terms. The Academic Recognition for Part-Time Student’s designation is based on a student’s total course registrations for academic credit for the term from any South Dakota regental university. The Academic Recognition for Part-Time Students designation does not appear on the transcript.

The following criteria must be met to be awarded Academic Recognition for Part-Time Students designation:

1. Students must have completed at least 12 credit hours prior to the current semester at one or more South Dakota regental institutions;
2. Students must have earned at least 3 and up to 11 credit hours during the term in courses numbered 100-699;
3. Students must have achieved a system term GPA of at least 3.50; and
4. Students must have no F, I, U, RI, or RU grades for the term regardless of system term GPA attained.

Students who receive an IP grade must meet all criteria without consideration of the course in which the IP grade was assigned.

Graduation with Honors

The University of South Dakota encourages and recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement. Therefore, the University determines the scholastic honors, if any, to be awarded with a degree. Announcement of such honors is made on the diploma, on the official transcript.

Baccalaureate Degree

Graduation honors are awarded on the following basis:

The undergraduate student must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours at the institution granting the degree. Courses that are part of a formal collaborative agreement among Regental universities are considered to be earned from the institution granting the degree. (Also refer to BOR Policy 2.6.1)

Associate Degree

Graduation honors are awarded on the following basis:

In addition, students must have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours at the degree-granting institution.

University Scholar and Thesis Scholar     

The designation of University Scholar has been specified by the University Senate as the highest honor granted to an undergraduate at the University of South Dakota. A University Scholar must complete the Honors Program Curriculum, including an Honors thesis, and have a cumulative USD grade point average of at least 3.25. The designation of Thesis Scholar is an honor bestowed upon an undergraduate who completes 9-15 credits of Honors coursework, an Honors thesis, and has a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25. Both designations require admission to the University Honors Program.

Honor Societies

Phi Beta Kappa

Founded in 1776, this organization is the best-known and most prestigious academic honorary society. Alpha Chapter at USD is the only chapter at a South Dakota private or public college or university. Students are elected to membership as juniors or seniors based on high scholastic achievement and completion of a liberal education, including one semester of calculus; one semester of study of western civilization or world civilizations or Honors Interdisciplinary Civilization; one year of a non-English language; one year of study of laboratory science; two courses at the 300 or 400 level of Social Sciences. The chapter hosts the annual Lifto Amundson Phi Beta Kappa Lecture. For more information contact chapter offices through the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office at 677-5221, visit the chapter website at http://link.usd.edu/pbk or e-mail the chapter at pbk@usd.edu.

Mortar Board

A National Honor Society recognizing the top 5% of the senior class for their outstanding scholarship, leadership and service. Members are elected during the second semester of their junior year through an application process. Students must have shown substantial campus leadership and at least a 3.2 GPA. Mortar Board selects up to thirty-five new members each year.  Mortar Board’s national philanthropy is “Reading is Leading” and works closely with the local Vermillion schools to donate books, work book sales, and help promote reading with the children of Vermillion.

National Society of Collegiate Scholars

NSCS recognizes high achievement among first and second year students in all academic disciplines; to encourage and promote high standards throughout the collegiate experience; to provide opportunities for personal growth and leadership development for members; to organize and encourage learning opportunities through community service. Membership is by invitation and only those students meeting the following criteria may be elected: be a first or second year student at the time of affirmation; completed at least 12 hours but no more than 60 hours of coursework; attain at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Learn more at nscs.org.

Departmental and Professional Honors Societies

A number of honor societies and honorary organizations exist on campus for student in specific fields of study or interests. For information about these societies contact your academic discipline or d

Future catalog sections: 

• Graduation Policies and Procedures

• Minimum Graduation Standards