The Board of Regents of the State of New York has established minimal credit requirements in the liberal arts and sciences for the bachelor’s degree:

• At least 90 of the credits for the B.A. degree must be in the liberal arts and sciences.
• At least 60 of the credits for the B.S. degree must be in the liberal arts and sciences.

At St. John Fisher College, the following courses are not considered to be in the liberal arts and sciences: accounting, accounting law, management, nursing, education, as well as certain interdisciplinary and sport management courses. Certain courses transferred to Fisher in other disciplines, such as arts, communication, and computer science may not be accepted as liberal arts courses; consult with the Registrar’s Office in doubtful cases.

Students may receive degrees in two distinct academic disciplines. Official recognition of such dual degrees will be made on the transcript of a student who has met all the requirements set by the two academic departments and the liberal arts requirements for each degree as established by the State of New York. In addition, a student desiring to obtain dual degrees will be required to complete a minimum of 30 credits beyond the credits used for the first degree.

In the case of a student pursuing both a B.A. and a B.S. degree, the minor required for the B.A. degree may not be in the discipline of the major for the B.S. degree.

In the case of a student pursuing two B.A. degrees, a minor is required for each degree. The two minors must be in separate fields and distinct from either major.

Earning a Second Degree

Individuals who have already earned a bachelor’s degree from St. John Fisher College or from another institution may apply for admission to pursue a second degree. This second degree must be in a discipline that is distinct from the major of the first degree. For example: a first degree in English with a second degree in history would be appropriate. A first degree in English with a second degree in English with adolescence education would not be appropriate. Pursuit of a second degree qualifies for matriculated status, and the student is eligible for federal and state financial aid.

Completion of the requirements for the second degree requires that the student:

• Earn a minimum of 30 credits beyond the credits earned for the first degree.*
• Complete at least half of the credits for the major at St. John Fisher College.
• Satisfy the residency requirement for the second degree.**
• Satisfy the liberal arts and science requirements (90 credits for the B.A., 60 credits for the B.S.) for the second degree.***

If the first degree was a B.S. from Fisher or any degree from another institution, and the second degree is a B.A., the student must satisfy the requirement of completing a minor in another discipline. This minor may not be in the same field as the first major or a minor that was part of the first degree. The coursework to complete the minor may be coursework taken as part of the first degree.

*Example: If the first degree was awarded with 126 credits, the minimum necessary for awarding the second degree is 156.

**If only 30 credits are required for the second degree, all 30 must be taken at St. John Fisher College. If more than 30 additional credits are required, then 30 of the last 36 credits for the second degree must be completed at St. John Fisher College.

***Students pursuing a second degree are exempted from the College Core.

When the requirements are completed, the second degree is awarded and noted on the official transcript with a distinct award date. If qualified, based on the cumulative GPA, the second degree may be awarded with honors. The student must apply for graduation according to the published deadlines. A second diploma is issued.

Earning an Additional Major after Graduation

Individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree at St. John Fisher College may return to complete the requirements for a second major. Pursuit of a second major does not qualify for matriculated status and therefore the student is not eligible for any financial aid. The decision to pursue a second undergraduate major should be carefully weighed against the benefits of pursuing this new field of study at the graduate level.

Completion of the requirements for an additional major requires that students complete at least half of the credits for the major at St. John Fisher College and as outlined in the catalog in force at the time they return to the College. When the requirements are completed, the second major is noted on the official transcript with a statement indicating the date on which the requirements were completed.

At the point in time when the requirements are completed, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the Registrar’s Office so that completion may be noted on the student’s transcript.

Upon admission, a student is a candidate for the bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree in the major for which he or she indicated a preference. Entering freshmen must fulfill all the requirements for graduation contained in the St. John Fisher College catalog in effect in the year in which they enter the College. Transfer students must fulfill the requirements for graduation in effect when their transfer credit is evaluated. If graduation requirements change, students may choose any single subsequent catalog to satisfy their graduation requirements. College-wide policy changes with specific implementation dates may be exceptions. It is the student’s responsibility to know and fulfill all the requirements for the declared degree and major.

Academic advice is offered to all students through freshman seminar, departmental and program advisors, as well as the Center for Academic Advising and Support Services. Ultimately, the final responsibility for knowing and meeting all graduation requirements rests solely with the student.

To earn a bachelor’s degree from St. John Fisher College, the student must:

• Complete a minimum of 120 credits and have no incomplete grades.
• Earn a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 for all courses taken in residence and for all courses taken in residence for the major and minor, unless otherwise specified. See Grading for an explanation of the grade point average.
• Satisfy the residency requirement by earning at least 30 credits at St. John Fisher College. At least 30 of the last 36 credits must be earned in residence, unless waived in individual cases by the Academic Standing Committee. In addition to credit hours earned at St. John Fisher College, credits earned in approved study abroad programs will be considered in residence. Approved programs exist with Central College Abroad, the American Institute for Foreign Study, the Council on International Education Exchange, or the American University in Rome, Italy. Credits earned through St. John Fisher College’s Credit by Examination are considered in residence.
• Satisfy the degree requirements of the declared major. At least one-half of the required credits in the major must be completed in residence unless this requirement is waived in writing by the department chair and the provost or his designee.
• Complete the appropriate College Core Requirements.
• Complete the courses required for the declared minor. A minor is required in all B.A. degree programs.
• File an Application for Graduation. Students who qualify for graduation must notify the Registrar’s Office by completing the online Graduation application. Submission of this form initiates an administrative process in which the student’s record is reviewed with regard to program requirements for graduation and potential difficulties. Notification of the availability of the online application will be sent to students using their Fisher email accounts. Failure to apply on time may result in a delay in graduation. St. John Fisher College confers degrees three times per year, in May, August, and December.

Failure to meet these deadlines may result in a delay in graduation.

August and December potential graduates who will need no more than six credits to complete their degrees may request permission to attend the May ceremony. Students in inclusive adolescence education or inclusive childhood education may participate in the May ceremony provided they have only student teaching to complete. Students allowed to participate in the May commencement ceremony who have not completed all graduation requirements will be noted on the commencement program with an asterisk (*) and are not eligible for Latin Honors until their requirements are completed. For those students who complete their graduation requirements after the commencement ceremony, the official date of graduation noted on the diploma and all official College records will be the graduation date at the end of the semester in which the student completes requirements.

A student who is away from the College for more than four calendar years from the semester of last attendance will be held to the degree requirements in place at the time of the student’s return to St. John Fisher College. Upon return to the College, the student’s previous coursework will be evaluated by the appropriate department chair. Depending upon the age of prior credit, the chair may require that some or all coursework be repeated.

Note: A student who has been certified as a graduate will be allowed to remain in attendance at St. John Fisher College in matriculated status only if pursuing a second degree.

2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog