Graduation requirements

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Graduation requirements – baccalaureate level

Filing an application

A UW Bothell student must make an appointment with their advisor to complete an application for graduation. The student should file three quarters before the expected date of graduation. The absolute deadline for filing an application is Friday of the third week of the quarter in which the student intends to graduate.

Because degrees are not automatically awarded when requirements have been satisfied, it is the student’s responsibility to apply for a degree.

The application will be submitted by the program advisor, confirmed by the student, and reviewed by the UW Bothell Registrar’s Office. If a problem arises, the UW Bothell Registrar’s Office, or the advisor, will notify the student.

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Graduating senior priority

Graduating seniors or post-baccalaureate students, may qualify for early registration for the upcoming quarter(s). To qualify, the student must file a graduation application no later than the third Friday of the quarter before they plan to graduate.

Students who qualify will receive Graduating Senior Priority status for no more than two quarters prior to graduation. If graduation is postponed, the student may postpone their priority quarter. When Graduating Senior Priority has been used for two quarters, the student will revert to regular senior priority.

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Requirements for a baccalaureate degree

To graduate, a student must meet university requirements; college, school, or campus requirements; and department or program requirements. This section contains only University requirements. The graduation requirements for particular programs at the UW Bothell campus are explained in the catalog sections devoted to the academic programs.

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Scholastic standards required

To be eligible for the baccalaureate degree, a student must earn a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00 for all work done in residence at the University. The graduation grade-point average is computed when the student has completed all work for the degree and includes only credits earned while in residence at the University.

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Credits required

To be eligible for graduation from the University, with the baccalaureate degree, a student must offer a minimum of 180 academic credits and satisfy all other specific requirements. The University of Washington Bothell has established minimum general education requirements for baccalaureate degrees. These minimum requirements are:

  • English Composition – 5 credits (A grade of 2.0 is required)
  • Additional Writing – 10 credits
  • Reasoning (RSN) – 5 credits
  • Natural Sciences (NSc) – 15 credits
  • Arts and Humanities (A&H) – 15 credits
  • Social Sciences (SSc) – 15 credits
  • Diversity – 5 credits (can overlap with General Education requirements above)*
    • *For students admitted to the University prior to autumn quarter 2023, the Diversity requirement is 3 credits.

Each University of Washington Bothell degree program has established requirements that meet or exceed these minimum requirements.

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Limitation on ROTC credits

Credits earned in first- and second-year military training courses cannot be counted in the basic 180 credits required for graduation.

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Limitations on physical education activity credits

No more than three physical education activity credits can apply toward a degree.

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Final-year residence requirement

To be recommended for a first, or subsequent, baccalaureate degree, a student must complete 45 of his or her final 60 credits as a matriculated student in residence at the campus of the University where the degree is being earned. Exceptions are rare, but the granting of exceptions to this rule is the responsibility of the Bothell Office of the Registrar. If an exception is granted, the student still must present a minimum of 45 credits taken in residence as a matriculated student to be awarded a UW degree.

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Catalog for graduation requirements

In general, a student graduates under the requirements of the current catalog. However, a student may fulfill graduation requirements noted in the catalog in effect at the time he or she entered the school or college from which he or she is to graduate, provided that (1) not more than ten years have elapsed since the student’s entry, and (2) the school, college or campus, and department or program agree that the student may graduate under the earlier requirements.

If the student graduates more than 10 years after enrolling in the school, college, or campus, the current catalog must be used for graduation purposes. Exceptions to this rule cannot be made without official University and Bothell campus approval.

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Waiver of graduation requirements

A request for waiver of Bothell campus or University graduation requirements must be petitioned to the UW Bothell Registrar, who represents the General Faculty Organization at the University of Washington Bothell. Petition forms should be filed with the application for the degree or as soon as possible after the need arises. A student should see his or her academic advisor to initiate a petition.

An exemption from an all-University graduation requirement, that is granted by the Registrar, becomes void at the end of two calendar years from the date such exemption is granted, if all degree requirements have not been completed within that period.

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Two majors or two degrees

Second baccalaureate degree

A second baccalaureate degree may be granted, but a student must earn a minimum of 45 credits beyond the number required for the first degree. These credits usually must be earned in residence, with the granting of exceptions to the residency rule being the responsibility of the college, school, or campus awarding the degree. The student must achieve no less than a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average in the credits required for the second degree.

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Degrees with two majors

The student’s application for a baccalaureate degree, with two majors at the University of Washington Bothell, must show both majors and be approved by the academic advisors representing those majors. Both majors appear on the student’s transcript.

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Two baccalaureate degrees concurrently

Two baccalaureate degrees, associated with different majors at the University of Washington Bothell, may be granted at the same time. The total number of academic credits earned must reach a minimum of 45 credits in excess of the number required for the first baccalaureate degree.

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Graduation with honors

Baccalaureate honors are awarded upon graduation to undergraduates earning their first bachelor’s degree with at least 90 UW credits, of which at least 60 are numerically graded. Correspondence credits do not count as “UW credits.

These honors have nothing to do with whether the students are in either the departmental or college honors program. In addition, students who have earned quarterly and/or annual Dean’s List recognition do not necessarily qualify for baccalaureate honors.

All graduates earning baccalaureate honors are given a gold honor cord to wear in the Commencement ceremony. For students graduating in spring, the honors listed in the commencement program, as well as honor cord distribution, are based upon a student’s cumulative GPA as of the winter quarter, since spring grades are not available for this determination. Spring classes are ultimately included in the credit totals and GPA calculations for honors posted to the student’s final record.

The GPA’s for baccalaureate honors are set each year for the following year (autumn through summer) by a subcommittee of the Faculty Council on Academic Standards, based on statistics for the current year provided by the Graduation and Academic Records Office. The GPA cutoffs have been different for each of the degree programs.

Faculty honor is awarded upon graduation to undergraduates earning their first bachelor’s degree and ranked in the top 10% of their respective program. Undergraduates must earn a minimum of 70 graded credits at UW Bothell with the exception of BSN students, who must earn a minimum of 43 graded credits. Undergraduates qualified for baccalaureate honors are not eligible to receive faculty honors.

The GPAs for faculty honors are determined each year for the following year (autumn through summer) by the UW Bothell Registrar’s Office, based on statistics for the current year. The GPA cutoffs may be different for each of the degree programs.

All graduates earning faculty honors are given a purple honor cord to wear in the Commencement ceremony and the honor is listed in the commencement program. Honor cord distribution is based upon a student’s cumulative GPA as of the winter quarter, since spring and summer quarter grades are not available for this determination. However, spring and summer courses are ultimately included in the credit totals and GPA calculations for honors and posted to the student’s final record.

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Commencement

Formal commencement exercises are conducted at the close of Spring Quarter. During March of each year, commencement information is sent to each student entitled to participate the following June (i.e., those who graduate the previous December or March and those who anticipate graduating in the current June and August).

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Diploma distribution

Diplomas are available 8-10 weeks after the end of the quarter in which they are earned.

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Graduation requirements – graduate level

Requirements Applying to All Graduate Degree Programs

Credits applied towards graduate degree requirements must include University of Washington coursework of (1) at least 18 credits at the 500 level and above; and (2) at least 18 numerically graded credits of 400- and 500-level coursework, excluding 499 and transfer credit.

For CR/NC courses, submission of a CR grade indicates that the student has met course expectations at a level such that the course may be applied towards graduate degree requirements.

For S/NS courses, an S grade indicates that the student has met course expectations at a level such that the course may be applied towards graduate degree requirements. A graduate program may restrict S courses from counting towards program requirements.

Graduate degree requirements consist primarily of graduate-level coursework at the 500 level and above. Courses at the 300 level and 400 level may be part of a student’s course of study and applied toward graduate degree requirements when acceptable to the Graduate School and the Graduate Faculty of the student’s graduate program (Faculty Code Section 23-44).

Any 300- or 400-level course applied towards graduate degree requirements must be confirmed by the Graduate Faculty of the unit to have a level of rigor and depth appropriate to the graduate program and to have a subject matter closely aligned with the degree program’s outcomes.

Coursework at the 300 level may not be applied towards the minimum 18 graded credits and may not be applied towards more than one-third of total degree requirements, except as previously approved by the Graduate School.

A student must be registered for credit the quarter in which any required exam or presentation occurs. A student must maintain registration as a full-time or part-time graduate student for the quarter the degree or certificate is conferred.

A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 is required to earn a graduate degree, and a minimum of 2.7 is required in each course that is counted toward graduate degree requirements. The GPA for graduate students is calculated entirely on the basis of numeric grades in 400- and 500-level courses, see Scholastic Regulations 110.

With the approval of a student’s graduate program and the Graduate School, up to 6 credits of 400-level or 500-level coursework, taken as a senior while an undergraduate at the University of Washington, may be applied towards graduate degree requirements.

With the approval of a student’s graduate program, a restricted amount of Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) credit may be applied towards degree requirements, as described in Policy 3.3.

Credit taken while enrolled as a non-matriculated (NM) student or while matriculated as a post-baccalaureate student at the University of Washington may not be applied towards graduate degree requirements. Credit by independent study or advanced credit examination is not transferable.

The Master’s Degree

In addition to the requirements listed under Policy 1.1.1 that apply to all graduate degree programs:

Master’s degree requirements must include a minimum of 36 credits. A master’s program may require more than this minimum.

A student must complete all work for the master’s degree within six years from the time of first enrollment. Periods spent on leave or out of status are included in these limits. Exceptions to time to degree will be made at the program level.

A master’s program generally should require a final culminating or integrated experience, with the exception of applied professional programs where a coursework-only program can be thoroughly justified in the program proposal (e.g., a coursework-only program is the standard in the field).

Coursework that may be applied towards master’s degree requirements

A maximum of 6 quarter credits of graduate-level coursework taken at another recognized academic institution may be transferred and apply to UW master’s degree requirements, when acceptable to the graduate program and the Graduate School.

No more than 12 credits derived from any combination of GNM credits and transfer credits may be applied towards the total degree requirements. Transfer credits may not be applied towards the thesis or culminating experience requirement.

Thesis Programs

The master’s thesis provides evidence of the graduate student’s ability to carry out independent investigation and to present the results in clear and systemic form.

The thesis must be written in the English language. If there are circumstances that warrant a dissertation in another language, the program may petition the Graduate School.

A thesis program must include a minimum of 9 thesis credits (700).

Thesis credits (700) will not apply to requirements for a non-thesis master’s degree.

See Policy 4.2.1 for any thesis that will include human or animal subjects.

Final Examination

If a master’s program requires a final examination, it may be either oral or written. A majority of the supervisory committee must approve for satisfactory completion, and all members of the supervisory committee must certify examination results. If the examination is not satisfactory, the committee may recommend to the Dean of the Graduate School that the student be allowed to take another examination after a period of further study.

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