Requirements for Baccalaureate
Degree Programs
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
NOTE:The information that follows applies to students entering
beginning Fall 1999, under the Centers of Distinction Curriculum.
Students previously enrolled and transfers entering prior to Fall
2000, should consult the 1998-99 academic catalog for their
requirements.
To earn a bachelor's degree the student must pass no fewer
than 33 academic units (including at least one intensive
learning experience), two one-quarter unit physical education
activities (or the equivalent) and a one-quarter unit cocurricular
requirement for a total of 33 3 / 4 units or the
equivalent. In addition, the student must meet a standard of
computer literacy set by his or her major program.
A minimum of 17 of the academic units must be earned at
Roanoke College toward the degree. If a student is granted
competency for one physical education activity, the one-half
unit of physical education required for graduation is reduced
to one-quarter unit.The student must have a cumulative
grade point average of at least 2.0 in all courses (excluding
courses offered and passed on a "pass/fail" basis.) In addition,
the student must meet the requirements for a major and must
earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in all
courses in that major. In any major, prerequisite courses
which are not themselves required for the major are not
included in the major cumulative grade point average.
Students must satisfactorily complete General Education
requirements and major requirements. Since these may be
completed without reaching the total of 33 3 / 4 course units,
students must elect courses to fulfill the remaining work.
These elective studies may be used to satisfy areas of personal
interest or professional need. Some students choose to use
these subjects to qualify for a second major, a minor, or an
area of concentration.
DECLARATION OF DEGREE CANDIDACY
By no later than the middle of the term preceding that term
in which graduation is expected, students anticipating
graduation must submit to the Office of the Registrar an
application for degree candidacy and meet with the Registrar
to complete the senior review.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT
Up to two of the last eight units of degree credit may be
taken at another approved institution, but no more than one
of the final four units may be taken at another institution. All
courses taken at another institution must be approved in
advance by the Registrar. Approval will not be granted for
courses previously failed at Roanoke College. Credit will be
granted for work in which a grade of "C-" or higher has
been earned.Transfer grades will neither appear on the
Roanoke College transcript nor be used in calculation of the
cumulative or major grade point average. Students majoring
in medical technology are naturally in residence at their
approved hospital and are excused from this rule. Also,
students participating in Study Abroad receive a waiver.
Special permission for others to waive this rule may be
granted upon successful appeal to the Panel on Admissions,
Readmissions, and Appeals.
LIMITATION REGULATIONS
Rapid changes in the content and methodologies of academic
disciplines make it necessary to require that one's program of
study not be outdated by long delays in qualifying for the
degree. Consequently, the College imposes certain conditions
on those who fail to complete their programs within a
stipulated time.
Students seeking their first bachelor's degree are subject to the
degree requirements and the academic regulations governing
classification and scholarship as described in the Catalog
current at the time of their first enrollment at Roanoke,
provided that they qualify for a degree within 10 calendar
years of the date of first enrollment. For transfer students, the
period will be dated from the earliest enrollment at an
accredited institution from which transfer credit is recorded.
Students who do not qualify for the degree within the 10
year period must meet the degree requirements and be
subject to academic regulations governing classification and
scholarship which apply for the next year in which the
student re-enrolls. Applicable requirements and regulations
shall be based thereafter on those prevailing at five-year
intervals.
At any time after the conclusion of the tenth year following
initial enrollment, the faculty of the department of major
study may review the currency of the student's program and
may, with the concurrence of the Registrar, require the
student to repeat certain courses or otherwise make up
deficiencies.
AFTER GRADUATION
Upon completion of the College career, one becomes a
member of the Roanoke College Alumni Association, a nondues-
paying organization of Roanoke College alumni now
numbering over 21,000.The Alumni Association is governed
by an Executive Council which represents the geographic
areas and interests of alumni (including Honor Guard, Hall of
Fame, Roanoke Fund, and area chapter). The Alumni
Executive Council President serves as an ex-officio member
of the Board of Trustees and works with the Parents Council
to coordinate activities and programs to promote the College.
All alumni are given the opportunity to receive the Roanoke
College Magazine , may attend the Spring Alumni Festival held
on campus annually, and are invited to participate in area
chapter events and activities. Alumni chapters focus on
involvement of area alumni, parents, and friends in the
promotion of the College through social events, admissions
efforts, career networking, and development and are active in
Atlanta, Baltimore,Washington, D.C., Hampton Roads, New
England, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond, and the
Roanoke Valley. Other events throughout the year are also
held in California, Chicago, and Florida.
SECOND MAJORS AND SECOND BACHELOR'S DEGREES
The College recognizes that some individuals have a need for
a broader based education than that which can be obtained
through the traditional single-major, single-degree program.
This circumstance is particularly true for those who wish to
have highly flexible career opportunities at the time of
graduation and for graduates who may wish to pursue new
career directions which require additional education.
To accommodate these needs, the College offers two
opportunities: (1) a single degree with two majors, which is
open only to those who are pursuing or who have earned a
degree from Roanoke College, and (2) a second bachelor's
degree, which is available to graduates of Roanoke or any
other regionally accredited college or university.
SECOND MAJOR
While working toward a degree within one major program,
students may also complete the program of a second major
and have the achievement recorded on their permanent
record and official transcripts, provided that the following
conditions are met:
1. All requirements for each major must be completed and a
maximum of five units may be applicable to both majors,
provided that the total number of courses in both majors is
no fewer than 17 (except as described below).
2. If the majors are in different degree areas (BA, BS, B.B.A.),
the student must, at the time of declaring degree candidacy,
select the degree to be awarded. (Two degrees will not be
awarded.)
3. If one major is interdisciplinary, the number of units
applicable to each major must be approved by the
appropriate chairperson or coordinator.
A graduate of the College may subsequently earn a second
major under the conditions described above.The
requirements of the major shall be those set forth in the
catalog for the session in which re-enrollment occurs.Transfer
credit earned elsewhere after graduation may not be used to
satisfy these requirements.
SECOND BACHELOR'S DEGREE
Holders of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited
college or university may earn a second bachelor's degree by
fulfilling the conditions outlined below.
Roanoke College graduates must meet the major
requirements in effect at the time of re-enrollment. Those
graduates who completed General Education requirements as
part of their first degree will not be required to complete the
Centers of Distinction requirements.A minimum of eight
units must be earned at Roanoke beyond those earned for the
first degree. Units in excess of 33 3 /4 earned while working
toward the first degree will not be counted as fulfilling the
eight needed for the second degree. Courses offered for the
first degree may be used to satisfy General Education and
major requirements, provided that they were taken at the
College or taken elsewhere prior to first enrollment at the
College. Credit earned elsewhere after graduation will not be
accepted for transfer credit toward the second degree. If a
second major has been earned as part of the first degree
program, a second degree will not be awarded for a major in
that field.
Graduates of other accredited institutions will be admitted as
transfer students and must fulfill the General Education and
major requirements for the degree program as set forth in the
Catalog for the session in which enrollment first occurs.
Transferable credit and credit earned at Roanoke must total at
least 33 3 /4 (or the equivalent).A minimum of 17 of these
units (excluding the physical education and co-curricular
activities) must be earned at Roanoke after completion of the
original degree.Transferable courses taken in the first degree
program may be used to meet General Education
requirements. No more than one-third of the minimum units
required for the major may be satisfied by transfer credit.
If, in the judgment of the faculty in the major area, the earlier
work of a student does not adequately cover more recent
advances or needs in the field, the student may be required to
repeat certain courses or otherwise make up the deficiency.
Such requirements should be established at an early date and
must have the approval of the chairperson in the major field
and the Office of the Registrar.
Academic requirements: All holders of a bachelor's degree will
be subject to the academic requirements and regulations for
seniors. Such students will not, however, be eligible for any
scholastic awards or recognition except the Dean's List and
honor societies. To qualify for a degree, a student must have a
cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 for all course
work completed at Roanoke College to meet the
requirements of the second degree.A cumulative grade point
average of at least 2.0 must also be attained in all major
courses taken at Roanoke.
Second-degree candidates may not enroll in an elective
course on a pass/fail basis but may enroll in internships,
which are automatically graded on that basis.
BACCALAUREATE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS WHEN
TRANSFERRING EARLY INTO A GRADUATE PROGRAM
Roanoke College plays a major role in the undergraduate
education of some students who choose to leave before
graduating in order to enter a post-graduate program.
Roanoke is proud of these students and will award the
appropriate baccalaureate degree (B.A., B.S., or B.B.A.) to
students who have satisfied or will satisfy the following
guidelines:
1. The student must have been awarded an advanced degree
by the transfer institution. Examples would include Ph.D.,
M.S., and J.D.
2. The student must not have been awarded a baccalaureate
degree.
3. The student must have completed at least 17 academic
units at Roanoke College, with at least a 2.0 overall grade
point average and a 2.0 GPA in the major.
4. The student must have satisfied the core requirements of
Roanoke College in place at the time of transferring. All
substitutions or exemptions must be approved by the
Academic Standards Committee.
5. The student must have completed the requirements for the
major. Not more than four graduate course units may
apply toward the major.
6. The student may apply not more than eight units of the
graduate program toward the 33 3 /4 units required by
Roanoke College.
7. The department chair of the student's major and the
Registrar will determine which graduate courses will be
included in the student's record. In case of disagreements
the Academic Standards Committee will make the final
determination.
8. Upon approval by the faculty, the student will be awarded
the appropriate baccalaureate degree at the next
commencement.