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Degree Requirements

Undergraduate degree requirements are of two kinds: university degree requirements determined by the University to be binding on all baccalaureate programs, and specific degree requirements established by the various academic units that offer degree programs. Degree seeking students may choose to meet graduation requirements as presented in any active catalog at Oakland University; providing their catalog is not more than 6 years old at the time of graduation.

Effective Catalogs

Prior to a change of curriculum, academic advisers review the student’s record to determine the most effective catalog related to the student completing their degree; typically, this matches the student’s initial catalog unless noted by the adviser.

Students changing from a pre-major to major standing in the same field of study are able to follow their initial catalog used for their pre-major. Information regarding applying for major standing is listed in the individual program entries of this catalog.

Students may follow separate catalogs for university and specific requirements if it is in their best interest as determined by their academic adviser.

Major Dependent Concentrations must align with the student’s catalog for their corresponding major. The catalog used for the addition of a Minor or stand-alone Concentration will default to the catalog for the student’s major, but can differ as long as it is within 6 years old at the time of graduation.

Degree requirements can be met in the following ways:

  • Earning an appropriate grade in each course

  • Passing a competency examination (if offered and approved) at Oakland University

  • Receiving transfer credit from another institution

  • Receiving credits from Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) and the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams

*Subject to university policies regarding credit limit from outside of Oakland University

In certain circumstances, a requirement may be formally waived through a successful Petition of Exception. Consult your academic adviser.

Final grades are part of the student’s permanent record and cannot be changed after degrees have been awarded.

All policies and procedures in this catalog reflect information as it was available on the publication date. Oakland University reserves the right to revise all announcements contained in this publication and at its discretion to make reasonable changes in requirements to improve or upgrade academic and non-academic programs.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Oakland University has established general degree requirements applicable to all candidates for all undergraduate degrees. To earn a bachelor’s degree at Oakland University, students must satisfy the following:

  1. Credit Hour Requirement: A minimum of 120 credit hours; specific credit hour requirements can be found in the individual program entry or in each academic unit/department section.

  2. Grade Point Average Requirement: Students must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in courses taken at Oakland University. In certain programs, additional GPA requirements must be met.

  3. Residency Requirement: Students must successfully complete a minimum of 30 credits at Oakland University. Oakland University limits residency requirements for active-duty service members, including Reservists and National Guardsmen on active-duty, to no more than 25% of the undergraduate degree program. Some exceptions to this policy include specific Articulation Agreements. Upon request, this rule may be retroactively applied to a previous catalog.

  4. Upper-level Credit Requirement: Students must have successfully completed at least 30 credits in courses at the 3000 level or above. Students transferring credits to Oakland University should consult the Transfer Student Information.

  5. General Education Requirements

  6. Specific Requirements: Students must select a major or primary field of study, and for some programs (as described in relevant sections of this catalog), must be admitted to the major by the academic unit offering the program. Students must fulfill all specific undergraduate degree requirements appropriate to their chosen major(s) as stipulated by the various colleges, schools or other academic units empowered to present candidates for the undergraduate degree(s) over which they have authority. 

  • Specializations are groups of related courses within certain major fields and are options in some major programs. For other programs, students must select a required specialization as part of the major. At least 50% of the major with specialization requirements must be earned at Oakland University.

  • Concentrations which are groupings of interrelated courses with an interdisciplinary focus, are optional in most programs but required in some. At least 50% of the concentration/major dependent concentration requirements must be earned at Oakland University.

  • Minors, secondary fields or subject areas of study, are optional. At least 50% of the minor requirements must be earned at Oakland University. A minimum of 6 credits of the minor must be at the upper division level (course numbers 3000 or above). A student cannot declare a major and a minor in the same discipline (e.g. a BS in Accounting with a minor in Accounting).    

  1. Graduation Application Requirement: Students must apply to graduate for each major/degree through SAIL based on dates/deadlines provided by the Office of the Registrar. Degree candidates must have any petitions approved and all official transcripts for coursework applicable to the degree submitted to Oakland University’s Office of the Registrar by the end of the second week of their intended graduation semester. Failure to do so may result in removal from the graduation list.

Writing Foundation Requirements

The most up to date information is found at Department of Writing and Rhetoric.

Complete course (and any required prerequisites including course and/or course) with a grade of C or better. (Note: Some majors require a higher grade. Please consult with your academic adviser.)

Additional Undergraduate Degrees and Majors

Under certain conditions, a student may earn either:

  • an additional baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree
    or

  • a single baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree with multiple majors.

Dual Degrees

In order to pursue 2 or more Oakland University bachelor’s degrees simultaneously, students must:

  1. Have not already earned a baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree at OU or elsewhere.

  2. Meet all specified requirements for each degree program.

  3. Complete at least 30 credits at Oakland University beyond those required for the degree with the most credits.

  • Of the 30 credits, at least 15 credits must be at the 3000 level or above.

  • Ex: If a student is pursuing the Public Health, BS (120 credits) and Mechanical Engineering, BSE (128 credits) the student would be required to earn at least 160 credits (158 credits + 30 credits).

Students may earn 2 bachelor’s degrees in any combination (Ex: A BA and a different BA degree, a BS and a BFA degree, a BSE degree and a BA degree, etc.).

  • The degrees may come from the same academic unit, or different units. Students may not earn 2 baccalaureate degrees of the same major, such as a BA in Economics and a BS in Economics.

Some program combinations limit the number of credits that can be applied to both degrees. A student should consult with their academic adviser to incorporate an additional degree to their academic record. Students who complete a dual degree will receive an individual diploma for each bachelor’s degree.

Double Majors

Students who meet the requirements for double majors, but do not meet the above conditions for a dual degree will receive a bachelor’s degree with both majors recorded on their official transcripts. A student who completes a double major will be awarded one diploma, listing both majors. 

  • Ex: If a student is pursuing the Accounting, BS and an additional major in Marketing the student would earn one diploma which would note both majors. The official transcript would note a Bachelor’s of Science with an Accounting Major and a Certificate of Additional Major in Marketing.

  • Students pursuing a double major under different degree types, will receive a diploma and a certificate.

    • Ex: a student earning a double major in Communication, BA and Musical Theatre, BFA would have a diploma for their primary degree (Communication, BA) and their Musical Theatre major would be listed on a certificate.

Some program combinations limit the number of credits that can be applied to both degrees. A student should consult with their academic adviser to incorporate an additional degree to their academic record.

Post-Baccalaureate (PB) Students

Students already holding a baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree who wish to earn an additional bachelor’s degree at Oakland University must:

  1. Receive written approval from the college or school concerned (and, where appropriate, from the department) as part of the admission process to the new program.

  2. Complete at least 30 additional credits at Oakland University.

  3. Meet all specific requirements for the new degree.

PB students are exempt from Oakland University’s General Education requirements.

Students may enroll as post-baccalaureate students and have completion of an additional major recorded on the transcript. Such students must meet all requirements for the additional major.

Graduation Application Requirement: Students must apply to graduate for each major/degree through SAIL based on dates/deadlines provided by the Office of the Registrar. Degree candidates must have any petitions approved and all official transcripts for coursework applicable to the degree submitted to Oakland University’s Office of the Registrar by the end of the second week of their intended graduation semester. Failure to do so may result in removal from the graduation list.