Graduation Requirements and Procedures

Degree Programs

Westfield State University students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Bachelor of Science degree, a Bachelor of Science in Education degree, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a Bachelor of Social Work degree upon completion of the course of study required in their major field. See department course listings for specific major requirements.

It is the practice of the University to only award one undergraduate degree at a time, regardless of the number of major requirements that have been successfully completed.  If you are interested in earning more than one undergraduate degree, please refer to the Second Bachelors Degree Program requirements listed below.

Bachelor Of Arts Degree Programs

Art
Economics
English
Ethnic and Gender Studies
History
Liberal Studies
Communication
Mathematics
Music
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Spanish
Theatre Arts

Bachelor Of Science Degree Programs

Athletic Training
Biology
Business Management
Chemistry
Computer Science
Computer Information Systems
Criminal Justice
Environmental Science
General Science
Liberal Studies
Movement Science
Regional Planning

Bachelor Of Science In Education Degree Programs

Elementary Education
Early Childhood Education
Special Education
Vocational Technical Education (CGCE Only)

Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Degree Programs

Nursing

Bachelor Of Social Work Degree Programs

Social Work

Second Bachelor’s Degree Program

If you have already earned a baccalaureate degree, you may wish to apply for a Second Bachelor’s degree in a different major. Once you have been accepted into a Second Bachelors degree program, you must complete a minimum of thirty (30) credits in Continuing Education courses at Westfield beyond the awarding of the first bachelor’s degree, complete all major coursework, and fulfill all degree requirements of the department and the University. Courses taken at Westfield (day or evening) prior to matriculating through Continuing Education may satisfy degree requirements, but can not be used to satisfy the 30 credit residency requirement. Second bachelor students assume a new cumulative grade point average that is subject to academic policies established by the University. This program is not available in the Day Division.

Course Pattern For A Degree

One hundred and twenty credits are required for graduation. These credits are distributed among courses required for the chosen academic major; courses that satisfy the common core  ; and electives, which may include courses that fulfill the requirements of an academic minor

The Academic Major

Courses in this segment are prescribed by the department wherein the major is housed and total approximately forty credit hours.

Academic Minors

A student may also earn a minor in an academic area different from the major as part of his/her course of study.

Electives

Students select elective courses according to their personal interests, except for the students majoring in elementary or special education, who may be required  to take specific electives to satisfy certification requirements.

Requirements For Graduation

Students must meet all of the following requirements to graduate with a baccalaureate degree:

1. A cumulative institutional GPA of 2.00 or better.
2. A cumulative overall GPA of 2.00 or better in their major. Major requirements are those in effect at the time the student matriculates into the major. Some departments have higher minimum standards and qualifications for the major GPA. Please refer to the departmental pages in the appropriate Bulletin year.
3. 120 earned credits, of which 30 credits must be completed at Westfield State University. Earned credits require a grade of “D-” or better.
4. Successful completion of core requirements.
5. Successful completion of the major requirements.
6. Successful completion of the minor requirements, if any has been declared.
7. Have no outstanding Incomplete grades.

Students should refer to their degree audit and check with their advisors before their senior year (84 credits) to ensure that they have planned a course of study that will meet all of these requirements for graduation. Upon graduation the student’s undergraduate record is “closed” meaning that no academic programs (majors, minors, concentrations, and/or certifications) can be added after the degree is initially conferred even if the requirements have been met.

Honors/Awards

Graduation Honors are deemed to be a form of recognition for a student’s undergraduate career at Westfield State University. Consequently, for purposes of determining honors eligibility, only the institutional GPA is used for determining graduation honors.  The institutional GPAs for recognition of Latin Honors are:

Students must have completed a minimum of 45 credit hours at Westfield State University to be eligible for graduation honors. Second bachelor’s candidates who have completed a minimum of 45 credits at Westfield State University may be recognized with graduation honors. Graduation Honors will be announced for both graduates and those students approved to participate in graduation. Graduation Honors will only be included on the students’ official transcript at the point of completing their degree and in accordance with the above GPA ranges at the time of completion.

The title of Valedictorian/Salutatorian is awarded to day division students with the highest and second highest GPAs with all coursework complete at Westfield State University (exclusive of AP credits).

The Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence is awarded to a continuing education undergraduate with the highest institutional GPA and with a minimum of 45 credits completed at Westfield State University.

Graduation Ceremony Participation

In order to allow potential August graduates to participate in commencement with their graduating class, Day Division students who will have completed at least 114 credit hours of credit by the end of the spring semester may submit a written petition to the Office of the Registrar (day) or the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education (evening), requesting that they be allowed to participate in the ceremonies.  Day division students will be notified when petitions are due. Continuing Education students may petition the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education by March 4. Petitions (either division) should reflect an approved plan to complete the program by the end of the second summer session.

Students requesting such permission (either division) should be within two courses of completing all degree requirements. Permission is granted at the discretion of the Registrar’s Office (day students) or the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education (Continuing Education students) and is contingent upon the student’s completion of all courses in progress. In addition, to participate in the ceremony, the student must have met the requirement of a 2.0 GPA overall and in all courses applied to the major requirements. As this policy is applied, students are expected to have met all other requirements for graduation listed above.

Note: The wording of the above policy has been modified to provide students with additional information about how the policy is applied and/or procedures to follow when applying the policy. The exact wording of the original policy may be found in the Westfield State University Policies and Procedures Manual.

Procedures For Graduation

All Day Division students wishing to graduate at the end of the spring semester must make a formal application for graduation to the Office of the Registrar by March 1. Prospective July and August graduates must apply by July 1, and prospective December and January graduates must apply by November 1. Diplomas are not awarded without formal application.

All undergraduate and graduate students wishing to graduate through the College of Graduate and Continuing Education must make a formal application for graduation directly to CGCE by March 1. Prospective July and August graduates must apply by April 1, and prospective December and January graduates must apply by November 1. If a formal application is not completed, students may neither participate in graduation ceremonies nor receive the degree at that time. Diplomas are not awarded without formal application.

It is the responsibility of each senior student in either Division to provide the University with official transcripts and other pertinent information concerning all course work completed or in progress at institutions other than Westfield State University.

Listing The Major On Diplomas

The major of each student may be listed on the diploma. Students have the option of not having their major listed on the diploma. Students who have completed two majors may have both listed on the diploma. Neither concentrations nor minors are listed on the diploma.