Academic Degrees, Requirements, and Records

Additional Undergraduate Degree

With the recommendation of the college dean, a student already holding a baccalaureate degree from Carroll University or another institution may, under certain conditions, qualify for and be awarded an additional baccalaureate degree. Those conditions are as follows:

At least 32 credits beyond those used to achieve the initial degree must be undertaken and successfully completed at Carroll.
All of the university general education requirements in effect at the time of the enrollment for a second undergraduate degree must be met, either through transfer or in subsequent study at Carroll.
All of the program requirements for an additional major field of study must be met either through transfer or in subsequent study at Carroll.

Classification of Students

Policy on Student Records

Several information sources are maintained concerning each student at Carroll University: the admission file, the permanent academic record, the student personnel file, the placement file, the alumni file, the publicity file, and the financial aid file for students applying for aid. A student may review the applicable files, except for material provided in confidence, with a professional staff member under the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) as amended.

FERPA¹ gives certain rights to parents regarding their children’s educational records. These rights transfer to the student who has reached the age of 18 or is attending school beyond the high school level. Generally the school must have the student’s written permission to release any educational information to anyone, including the student’s parents. The law does allow for the following exceptions: school employees who have a need to know; other schools to which a student is transferring; certain government officials to carry out lawful functions; accrediting organizations; persons who need to know in cases of health and safety concerns.

Schools may disclose “directory information” or information published in the student directory unless the student signs a Right to Privacy form each time a student registers. Carroll University has adopted a policy that will only allow the disclosure of directory information if the party asking for the information can identify himself/herself in writing (this Carroll University policy is within FERPA regulations, which allow individual institutions to determine their own policies concerning directory information).

FERPA also grants the student the right to review those records, files, etc., that are maintained by the University. The student must make an appointment with the University Registrar to do so. Students may challenge any information they believe to be inaccurate. If the University official does not agree to modify the information, the student may file a written appeal and has a right to a hearing.

¹ Furnished by the United States Department of Education, fact sheet.

Graduation Requirements

Awarding of Diplomas

Diplomas are awarded three times a year (May, August and December) to seniors who have completed all degree requirements. Commencement ceremonies are conducted in May each year.

Seniors who have all degree requirements completed but wish to defer graduation, and those with specific academic deficiencies, will be allowed to participate in Commencement as long as the deficiencies are within the following parameters:

1. Undergraduate - 1 course, 1-4 credits, or completion of student teaching that is already in progress.
2. A deficiency of eight or fewer academic grade points.
3. Incomplete grades of from one to four credits.

Students may participate in only one Commencement. Notice of intent to participate in the May Commencement ceremony without the degree being awarded should be filed with the registrar’s office at the time the application for graduation is submitted or by April 15. All students who choose not to receive their degree and those with academic deficiencies will receive their diplomas at the next issuance following completion of all required work

General Graduation Requirements

Specific Degree Requirements

Notes and Exceptions:

• Convocation: Each year the academic community gathers to consider contemporary issues and enduring questions, to honor individual and collective achievement, and to celebrate shared vision and values. All students are encouraged to attend these convocation events. Students should consult their instructors for academic department-sponsored events and any implications for attendance.
• ENG 170  is required for all degree types.
• Bachelor of Arts:
  • Exceptions to modern language requirement:
    • Transfer students who have completed language courses at their previous institutions
    • Carroll students who take language courses at other institutions of higher education while enrolled at Carroll
    • International students who come from non-English speaking countries
    • Students from Puerto Rico
  • Dual Enrollment, Retroactive, and AP Credits: 
    • Students who have taken a language course through a dual-enrollment high school program need to take only one language course at Carroll
    • Neither retroactive credits nor AP credits fulfill the BA requirement
• Bachelor of Music - Music Education:
  • Modern language must be other than English
  • Modern language does not include American Sign Language
  • Carroll University will accept a total of 6-8 transferred credits from another college/university as long as all of those credits are completed in the same language.
• Bachelor of Science:
  • Each major may have specific program requirements.
• Degree Requirements - Math: 
  • This requirement can also be met by Advanced Placement credit in statistics or calculus.
  •  Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science or the Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy degrees may fulfill their CMP 114  requirement with a program-designated equivalent such as BUS 114 , PBH 114 , or SOC 114  

 Dean’s List

The Dean’s List is determined twice each year, at the end of the fall and spring semesters. It includes the names of all degree candidates who earned at least 12 credits at Carroll University and earned a 3.5 grade point average the previous semester in a minimum of 6 credits with letter grades. Achievement of the dean’s list is noted on the student’s transcript.  Dean’s List is published 3 weeks following the conclusion of the posted end of term.

 Graduation Honors

Delta Sigma Nu is the university’s honorary scholastic society. Students in the upper 10 percent of the senior class who have completed by graduation 64 letter-graded credits at Carroll and a total of 100 letter-graded credits are elected to membership. The only exception is students on approved off-campus programs where letter grades are not given. Members of the junior class with an overall grade point average of 3.9 or higher who have completed 64 letter-graded credits at Carroll and have been enrolled at Carroll University for at least four semesters are elected to membership.

Graduation honors based on the cumulative grade point average (GPA)* are awarded to those students who have completed all requirements for the degree: summa cum laude requires a GPA starting at 3.9 on a 4.0 scale; magna cum laude requires a GPA starting at 3.6; cum laude requires a GPA starting at 3.4. The complete record is considered, and there must be a minimum of 64 credits of letter grades earned at Carroll University. Students with transfer work must meet two criteria:

*The GPA is not rounded up.

Latin Honors for the Commencement program in May will be calculated using the student’s cumulative GPA as of the end of the Fall/Winter semester. Latin Honors for a student’s official transcript and diploma will be calculated using the final, cumulative GPA after all Spring courses have been graded. These honors may differ from the Commencement Program. Carroll University recognizes the transcript and diploma as the official record for the student, not the Commencement program.

Second degree graduation honors will be awarded to students who have completed all requirements for the degree. There must be a minimum of 32 letter-graded credits completed at Carroll University. The entire undergraduate record is considered and, if there is transfer work, the lower of the Carroll or overall grade point average (GPA)* determines eligibility for honors.

Note: Graduating with honors, or as part of an honors society such as Delta Sigma Nu, is distinct from the Honors Program. For information on the Honors Program, see the Honors Program page.