DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND ACADEMIC GUIDELINES
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Undergraduate studies are divided into five academic organizational units: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business Administration, College of Criminal Justice, College of Education, and College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The University is authorized to grant six degrees at the undergraduate level. A student has the option of meeting the academic requirements for any degree as outlined in the catalog at the time of admission or of meeting those listed in any later catalog provided the requirements are met not later than six years from the effective date of the selected catalog.
In the case of transfer students, and consistent with the core curriculum established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the above option is also available, including the use of the University catalog current at the time the original institution was entered. Upon enrollment at the University, the transfer student is then under the above regulations just as though originally enrolled at Sam Houston State University.
Each degree program contains a set of minimum requirements. The student is responsible for knowledge of the detailed requirements of the degree program selected to include any special requirements of the major and/or minor department.
Total Hours. The minimum number of hours required to graduate range from 128 to 139. Please see the appropriate academic section of this catalog for more detailed information.
Advanced Hours. (300-400 level courses) At least 42 semester hours of advanced work must be completed for a degree. Students are encouraged to enroll in as many advanced hours as possible. Courses taken from a community college may not transfer for advanced credit.
Writing Enhanced Courses. All undergraduate students are required to complete six writing enhanced courses (minimum of 18 semester hours) prior to graduation. The courses include ENG 164, ENG 165, at least two courses in the student’s major, and a number of courses in any discipline necessary to achieve a minimum of six writing enhanced courses.
Minimum Residence. To obtain a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University, a student must complete at least 25 percent of the semester credit hours (SCH) in residence, of which at least 24 semester credit hours must be advanced hours. For example, if the completion of a specific bachelor’s degree requires 128 SCH, then at least 32 SCH must be earned in residence at Sam Houston State University of which at least 24 SCH must be advanced hours.
NOTE: Semester credit hours earned in a correspondence course are not considered “resident classroom instruction” hours and are not used in determining the minimum semester credit hour requirement for academic honors: cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude, the Dean’s List, and the President’s Honor Roll. However, the semester credit hours and grade points earned for correspondence courses are included in the calculation of the overall SHSU grade point average.
Major. A major is a grouping of related subject matter courses which characterizes and distinguishes a principal field of study. It may include a course grouping from only one academic discipline or from two or more related disciplines, e.g., interdisciplinary major. A minimum of 12 semester hours within the major must be advanced and taken in residence. All course work taken with the major prefix and/or any additional courses required will be used in the calculation of the major grade point average. A minimum 2.0 major grade point average is required (some programs require a higher minimum major GPA). Students who transfer in major coursework must also achieve a combined (SHSU and transfer major coursework) major GPA of at least 2.0.
Minor. A minor is a grouping of related subject matter courses which characterizes and distinguishes a second field of study. It may include a course grouping from only one academic discipline or from two or more related disciplines, e.g., interdisciplinary minor. A minimum of 6 semester hours must be advanced and taken in residence. All course work taken with the minor prefix and/or any additional courses required will be used in the calculation of the minor grade point average. A minimum 2.0 grade point average is required in the minor. (some programs require a higher minor GPA). Students who transfer in minor coursework must also achieve a combined (SHSU and transfer minor coursework) minor GPA of at least 2.0.
Grade Points. To graduate, a student must attain at least a 2.0 in all of the following grade point averages that apply to the student’s degree plan: (1) SHSU GPA, (2) SHSU major GPA, (3) SHSU minor GPA, (4) total (SHSU and transfer) GPA, (5) total (SHSU and transfer) major GPA, and (6) total (SHSU and transfer) minor GPA. A higher grade point average requirement may be established for a specific program.
Degrees Available. The University is authorized to grant six degrees at the undergraduate level: Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (B.A.A.S), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A), Bachelor of Music (B.M.), and Bachelor of Science (B.S.). Each degree is comprised of the core curriculum (as described later in this catalog), courses specific to the major, courses specific to the minor (when appropriate), and courses related to the type of degree. For example, a Bachelor of Science degree will include a larger concentration of analytical courses such as mathematics and sciences than does the Bachelor of Arts degree which includes a larger concentration of humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. Not every major is available for each degree. All major/degree combinations available at Sam Houston State University are tabled in the Admission and Academic Programs sections of this catalog.
SECOND DEGREE
Any student holding a baccalaureate degree from Sam Houston State University or any other regionally accredited institution may earn a second baccalaureate degree differing in basic academic subject area and concentration from the first degree by completing the following requirements:
- A minimum of an additional 32 semester credit hours in residence above the total hours required for the first degree, of which 24 must be advanced hours.
- Any additional requirements of the department and college approving the respective degree plan.
- All other University requirements for the degree sought.
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