Degree Requirements

In order to receive a baccalaureate degree from Northland College, a student must complete a major field of study, fulfill the requirements for the General Education  program, earn at least 124 credits, and be in good academic standing. First-year students must also complete a first-year experience (FYE) course. The distribution of credits is typically:

• 31 to 36 credits in the general education curricula;
• 42 to 75 credits in a declared major field of study; and
• 13 to 52 elective credits or credits in an optional declared major or minor field of study.

To complete a degree, students must also:

• earn a grade point average of at least 2.00 on a scale of 4.00 for all coursework (2.75 for students pursuing teacher licensure or a teacher certification minor);
• earn a grade point average of 2.00 in the major, including concentrations or emphases, and in minors (students pursuing a directed studies major must earn a 3.00 grade point average in the major);
• earn at least 20 credits in the major at Northland College;
• earn at least 6 credits in the minor at Northland College;
• earn 30 of the total required credits at Northland College;
• earn 20 of the final 30 credits at Northland College;
• complete a senior capstone experience at Northland College.

The following credit limits apply:

• no more than 65 credits earned from a two-year community or junior college may be applied toward requirements for the baccalaureate degree (see Transfer of Credits   under Academic Policies and Procedures);
• no more than 12 internship, field experience, or teaching assistantship credits may be applied towards requirements for the baccalaureate degree, with the exception of the Outdoor Education major;
• no more than 30 credits may be applied through testing options such as Advanced Placement, CLEP, or International Baccalaureate.

Though the Registrar’s Office tracks every student’s progress toward meeting degree requirements, each student is ultimately responsible for determining and completing the academic credits they need to satisfy the degree requirements.

Second Baccalaureate Degree

A second baccalaureate degree may be earned by Northland College graduates. The following provisions apply:

• a 30-credit minimum is earned at Northland beyond all of the credits and degree requirements for the first baccalaureate degree, and any repeated courses do not count toward the 30 credits (For students who earned their first degree at Northland, this means that a minimum of 154 credits must be earned to qualify for a second degree.);
• a student may not earn two of the same degrees (e.g. two B.A.’s or two B.S.’s) from Northland College, and double majors within the same degree category lead to one degree with two majors listed, regardless of how many credits are earned;
• students should complete all requirements for the second degree within four semesters of attendance at Northland, and exceptions to this policy must be cleared with the Registrar’s Office prior to the first semester of enrollment.