Degree Requirements

^{Baccalaureate Degrees}

The University of St. Thomas grants the degrees Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Music (B.M.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (B.S.C.E.) , Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (B.S.C.P.E.), Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (B.S.E.E.) and Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.) to individuals who successfully complete its undergraduate degree programs. These undergraduate degrees have two primary components: the core curriculum and the major concentration. 

To complete the core curriculum, a student takes courses in literature and writing, moral and philosophical reasoning, natural science and mathematical and quantitative reasoning, faith and the Catholic tradition, social analysis, historical studies, fine arts, language and culture and human diversity. These courses provide the student with a broad education and with the skills needed for further work in these and other areas.  See the section on Core Curriculum for additional details.

A candidate for a degree completes a major concentration in one of the specific academic disciplines represented in the undergraduate program.  Alternatively, a student may construct a major concentration to meet a specific need or interest, subject to the approval of the Committee on Studies. This major concentration component of a degree provides students with the opportunity to pursue a limited subject in depth and to prepare for a career. See the section on Major Requirements for additional details.

If desired, a student may also complete one or more minor concentrations or an additional major concentration in an area of special interest.

Additional general requirements for graduation are listed int he section on requirements for a degree.

GPA Requirements

A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 must be achieved in all of the following categories:

• all credits presented for graduation (including transfer credits)
• all credits earned at St. Thomas
• all credits in the department (Opus College of Business for business majors) of the major field (including transfer credits)
• all credits in the department (Opus College of Business for business majors) of the major field earned at St. Thomas.

If the student has elected to declare a minor field, all credits in the department (Opus College of Business for business minors) of the minor (including transfer credits) and all credits in the department (Opus College of Business for business minors) of the minor field earned at St. Thomas must have a GPA of 2.00.

Minimum Credit Requirement

To receive a bachelor's degree, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 132 credits and fulfill all degree requirements.  One credit can be waived for students who complete a minimum of 131 credits and all other degree requirements. 

Minimum Credit Requirement Outside Major

In addition, students in all majors except business, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering must earn 84 credits outside of their major.  Students in the aforementioned programs must earn 76 credits outside of their major.  One credit can be waived for students who complete a minimum of 83 credits outside of the major (or 75 credits for business and the engineering majors) and have completed all other degree requirements. 

Maximum Credits in Experiential Learning and Courses Graded Pass/Fail.

No more than eight credits in Experiential Learning may be counted toward the minimum 132 credits for graduation.

No more than one-eighth of the courses taken at St. Thomas presented for graduation may be graded on the Pass/Fail system.

Overlapping or Equivalent Courses and Courses Satisfying More Than One Requirement

No two courses may be equivalent or overlapping. (Credit is not given for a course that overlaps a course previously taken or a cross-listed course in another department. Such courses are indicated in the course descriptions by the number of the conflicting courses in parentheses following the title.)

Within the core curriculum, the only instance in which one course may satisfy more than one requirement is when a course fulfills a core or core-area requirement and simultaneously satisfies the requirement in human diversity.

The same course may be used to satisfy both a requirement in the core curriculum and in the major and/or minor fields.

Senior Residency Requirement

Senior residency requires that a graduate have completed thirty-two of the final thirty-six credits at St. Thomas, at one of the other four ACTC colleges, or through an affiliated program.