To be a baccalaureate degree candidate, a student must:

• Fulfill requirements of the degree program and the institution.*

• Complete a minimum of 120 semester hours.**

• Maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 either overall or within their program of study.

*Generally, a student meeting all baccalaureate degree requirements in effect at the time they began their coursework toward a specific degree program will qualify for graduation. However, if the course of study is prolonged beyond eight years after beginning, a student is required to consult academic advising to work with the appropriate department chairperson to determine graduation requirements. If a student has been enrolled continuously at Sinclair College for more than eight years, and the degree program has not significantly changed, the student may request approval to graduate under their initial catalog requirements.

**Generally, the requisite 120 semester hours must be earned at Sinclair College or through other arrangements with other regionally accredited institutions or contractual relationships approved by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Additionally, unless a higher number of semester hours are specified by individual academic programs, students earning a baccalaureate degree from Sinclair College must earn a minimum of 30 semester hours of their academic program from Sinclair College. Programs requiring additional hours of residency (for accreditation, licensure, etc.) will provide an explanation or justification for any variations of the minimum credit hour requirements in their program literature and college catalog.

To earn more than one baccalaureate degree at Sinclair College, a student must take a minimum of 24 credit hours in the second program that are different than the first. If a student qualifies for more than one degree during the same semester using the same curriculum and does not take the minimum credit hour difference, the student may choose the degree to be awarded.

For more information about degree related policies mandated by Ohio's Higher Learning Commission (HLC) visit: https://www.hlcommission.org/Policies/assumed-practices.html