All students completing a first bachelor’s degree at Seattle Pacific University are governed by the following policies and requirements:
- A minimum of 180 college-level quarter credits.
- At least 60 credits earned in upper-division (UD) courses (those numbered 3000–4999).
- At least 45 college-level credits earned in residence as a matriculated student. (Credits earned through Credit by Examination do not satisfy the residence requirement.)
- At least 25 of the final 45 credits for the degree must be earned from SPU.
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in all courses applicable to the degree.
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in all college-level courses taken at SPU.
- With the exception of courses from pre-approved study abroad programs, no more than 30 credits may be earned from another institution after a student has matriculated at SPU.
- You must gain pre-approval for transfer credit from an academic counselor before enrolling at any other institution.
- Transfer credit policies are found in the Admissions section of this catalog.
- You may not take courses concurrently from SPU and another institution during the regular academic year (Autumn through Spring quarters) unless participating in an approved study abroad program.
- “Pass” grades do not fulfill requirements in the major or minor, in the General Education curriculum, or in the University Scholars curriculum.
- Satisfactory completion of your academic major.
- Demonstration of competency in a foreign language, either through coursework or one of the means outlined under Foreign Language Competency.
- Completion of the “W” requirement. If you enter SPU with freshman or sophomore standing, you are required to complete 8 credits in Writing “W” courses prior to graduation; if you enter as a junior, you are required to complete 5 credits; if you enter SPU as a senior, you are required to complete 3 credits. This requirement is different than and separate from the Academic Inquiry and Writing requirement.
- Completion of the Cultural Understanding and Engagement (CUE) requirement. All students are required to complete a course with a CUE designation. (See CUE Requirements.)
- All degree requirements for a major or minor are determined by the Undergraduate Catalog in effect when you are accepted to the major or minor.
- For example, if you are accepted to a major in Autumn Quarter 2018, you are subject to all major requirements listed in the 2018–19 Undergraduate Catalog.
- First-year students are encouraged to apply for a major no later than April of their sophomore year, or as soon as they are eligible based on that major’s admission policies and procedures.
- Transfer students who enter as juniors or seniors should apply to a major as soon as they are eligible based on that major's admission policies and procedures.
- Major and minor applications are available online in Banner, in most cases.
- Policies and procedures related to application for graduation and degree posting:
- You must be accepted into a major prior to applying for graduation.
- You are responsible for applying for graduation. Apply through the Banner Information System by selecting Student Menu then Graduation Menu. For application deadlines, see the Graduation section of this catalog.
- You may change your application for graduation, but you should notify your undergraduate academic counselor of the change at least one quarter in advance of the previous intended quarter of graduation.
- Your degree will not be posted to your academic transcript, nor will your diploma be ordered, until all requirements are completed, including any outstanding I and N grades.
- The quarter in which you complete your final degree requirements will be listed as your quarter of graduation.
- The official record of your degree completion is the official SPU academic transcript.