Undergraduate Degree and Graduation Requirements

Requirements and Options for a Baccalaureate Degree

Each student is responsible for proper completion of his or her academic program, for familiarity with The University of North Carolina at Pembroke Catalog, for maintaining the grade point average required, and for meeting all other degree requirements. The academic advisor will counsel, but the final responsibility for a successful college career rests with the student. 

To earn a baccalaureate degree from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, students must earn a minimum of 120 hours of course credit in a program of study that includes a Freshman Seminar (UNV 1000), required of all freshmen during their first 15 hours; a General Education program of 44 hours; a Writing Intensive Program of 9 hours; completion of ICC requirements; and at least one academic major. Detailed requirements for Freshman Seminar, General Education, the Writing Intensive Program and ICC can be found in the links at the top of this page.

UNC Pembroke operates on the traditional two‑semester system and offers an extensive summer program designed to permit the academic acceleration of regular university students and to serve the needs of public-school teachers. Summer Session is divided into two terms.

Requirements for a Major

A major is a planned program of study of between 30‑50 semester hours of course credit, exclusive of courses applied to satisfy General Education requirements. At least 15 hours of credit must be in courses numbered above 2999.

Detailed requirements for majors have been established by each department and can be found in the sections of this catalog describing undergraduate programs of study in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Thomas College of Business and Economics, and School of Education.

Requirements for a Double Major

A student may elect to earn majors in two separate disciplines on the condition that the student meets all requirements for each major. The student who completes requirements for more than one major will receive only one degree, but at the time of initial graduation, the record will indicate both majors.

Requirements for a Second Baccalaureate Degree

A student with a bachelor’s degree may receive a second baccalaureate degree as long as the second degree is in a different major and by meeting the following requirements:

1. The student must meet all the requirements for the second degree and major.
2. The student must complete a minimum of 30 hours in residence beyond the requirement for the first degree. (A minimum of 150 hours is required.)
3. The student must meet with the major department chair to determine an individual education plan. This plan must be forwarded to the Registrar.

A student without a bachelor’s degree may receive two different baccalaureate degrees by fulfilling the following requirements:

1. The student must meet all the requirements for one degree (primary major).
2. The student must complete a minimum of 30 unduplicated hours in a different major and a different degree (secondary major). (A minimum of 150 hours is required.)
3. The student must meet with both major department chairs to determine an individual education plan. This plan must be forwarded to the Registrar.

Special Programs and Interdisciplinary Programs

Students earning a baccalaureate degree may take advantage of one or more special programs. Aerospace Studies (Air Force ROTC), Military Science (Army ROTC), and Teacher Education are described under the School of Education. Other special programs are listed below.

Academic and Professional Concentrations

In addition to majors and minors, several departments offer academic or professional concentrations. Any concentration requires at least 18 semester hours, depending on departmental requirements. A student must have a minimum cumulative QPA of 2.0 in academic and professional concentration courses to receive credit for the concentration. Teacher Education majors subject to The University of North Carolina requirement for completion of a concentration in a basic academic discipline may select one of these academic or professional concentrations to fulfill that requirement or may choose to earn a second major of 30 hours in Philosophy and Religion. Any student may elect to complete an academic or professional concentration in addition to a major. Students considering academic or professional concentrations should consult the appropriate academic department in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Health Sciences, School of Education sections and Thomas College of Business and Economics.

Requirements for a Minor

A recognized minor ordinarily consists of 18 to 21 semester hours of courses. With the approval of the department granting the minor, up to six hours of the courses counted toward a minor may be used to satisfy General Education, major requirements, or requirements of an additional minor. The award of a minor requires a minimum cumulative QPA of 2.0 in the minor and the formal approval of the department concerned. Successful completion of a minor will be noted on the student’s official transcript. Student participation in minor programs will be optional. For more information on academic minors, including *interdisciplinary minors, see the appropriate academic departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Health Sciences, the Thomas College of Business and Economics, and School of Education sections.

Course Load and Progress Toward Graduation

Students are expected to enroll in at least 15‑16 semester hours credit per term so that it is possible for them to graduate in four years (eight semesters). Full‑time students must carry at least 12 semester hours each semester. The maximum load is 18 semester hours except as follows. Students who are on the Honors List may take up to 19 semester hours; students who are on the Chancellor’s List may take up to 21 semester hours. Summer session students may carry no more than 3 semester hours during Maymester, no more than 7 semester hours during Summer I, no more than 7 semester hours during Summer II, and Winter session, no more than 4 semester hours can be taken. All course work counts toward student load whether the student is enrolled for credit or as an auditor at this or another institution.

All undergraduate degree programs at UNCP require between 120‑128 semester hours for graduation. To graduate in 4 years (8 semesters), it is necessary to take (and pass) 15‑16 semester hours for 8 semesters. Students must work with their advisors and their major departments to ensure that they follow the scheduling sequence of required courses for their majors.

Requirements for Baccalaureate Graduation

Though appropriate UNCP faculty and staff make every effort to ensure that students register for the courses required by their chosen degree program, the ultimate responsibility for meeting graduation requirements lies with the individual student. Each candidate for graduation must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Have a minimum of 120 semester hours of course work in accordance with specific degree requirements, excluding ENG 0104, MAT 0104, EDN 0104, MUS 0106;
2. Have successfully completed the General Education Program;
3. Earn a grade of “C” (2.0) or better in both English composition courses, ENG 1050 and ENG 1060;
4. Have successfully completed a program for an academic major;
5. Have a minimum overall cumulative quality point average of 2.0 and have a minimum cumulative quality point average of 2.0 in all work attempted at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke;
6. Have a minimum overall cumulative quality point average of 2.0 in the major field of study;
7. Complete a minimum of 25% of semester credit hours applied toward the degree through regular enrollment in UNC Pembroke courses;
8. Complete a minimum of 9 semester hours above the General Education Program level in the major field of study at UNC Pembroke if the student transferred here (This does not contravene the minimum requirement of 15 total hours of 3000 or 4000 level courses in any major.);
9. Be registered during the academic year in which the student’s graduation occurs;
10. Count no more than 3 semester hours of activity courses toward the credit hours required for graduation. Activity courses are defined as having: no regularly scheduled class meeting time, no well-defined instructional format, and no graded (A, B, C, D) work required. Excluded from this definition are UNV 1000 (Freshman Seminar) and supervised internship courses.
11. Count no more than 24 semester hours of correspondence and/or extension credit (with no more than 12 hours of correspondence from institutions recognized by an accepted institutional accreditors  toward a degree, provided that such correspondence credit is approved by the Office of the Registrar and will not be applied to satisfy specifically stated course requirements in major programs) Accepted institutional accreditors include but are not limited to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).  Other US Department of Education recognized national accreditors which are not listed above may also be considered accepted institutional accreditors. (NOTE: Any student needing to take correspondence work after admission to study at UNC Pembroke may be permitted to do so only after obtaining formal approval from the student’s academic advisor, from the Office of Academic Affairs, and from the Office of the Registrar.);  
12. Meet the requirements of one catalog which were current at the time the student entered this institution or a subsequent catalog. Students will not be allowed to meet some of the requirements of one catalog and some of the requirements of another catalog;
13. Meet the requirements of the catalog in effect at time of readmission or those of a subsequent catalog if attendance is interrupted for more than one year (two semesters);
14. Submit undergraduate graduation application for the degree a year in advance: by April 1st for the following year’s spring or summer commencement and by November 1st for the following year’s winter commencement when earned hours reach 75 (end of first semester of junior year).

• Complete (including all required signatures) a Degree Application Form (form located on the Office of the Registrar’s webpage);
• Pay a non‑refundable graduation fee by the required date or an additional $25 late filing fee will be charged;
• If the candidate fails to meet this requirement as specified, the student must wait until the next commencement to receive his or her degree;

15. Satisfy all financial obligations to the University.
16. Students entering in Fall 2011 or later must complete 9 semester credit hours of Writing Enriched and Writing in the Discipline courses. One course must be a Writing in the Discipline course. These are designated by “WE” or “WD” on the course schedule.
17. Students entering in Fall 2023 or later with less than 60 credit hours must complete the Indigenous Cultures and Communities Graduation Requirement by completing two 3 credit hour approved ICC designated courses OR one 3 credit hour approved ICC designated course and an ICC designated and department approved co-curricular learning experience. Students entering in Fall 2023 or later with 60 credit hours or more must complete one 3 credit hour approved ICC designated course or an ICC designated and department approved co-curricular learning experience.  

Commencement

A student may complete graduation requirements at the end of fall, spring or summer session. A student who completes requirements in fall or spring is required to attend commencement at that time. A student who completes graduation at the close of the summer sessions will have the option of returning to participate in the Fall commencement or of receiving the diploma in absentia. If the student elects to receive the diploma in absentia, the student must submit to the Registrar one month prior to commencement a written request which indicates the address to which the diploma will be mailed. Regardless of when a student graduates, all diplomas will be mailed out six (6) weeks after commencement.

A student may participate in commencement exercises if he or she has met all the requirements for graduation. When commencement takes place before final grades are processed, a student may participate in commencement if the Registrar has not been notified that the student will not meet all the requirements by the last day of exams. Graduation is solely dependent on the completion of degree requirements. Participation in commencement exercises does not imply graduation is imminent.

Commencement website for ceremony informtion and instructions. Other Undergraduate Commencement Information website.

Graduation With Honors

Graduating seniors may be considered for honors if they have earned a Quality Point Average (QPA) of at least 3.4 for 45 semester hours of course work in residence at UNCP. All UNCP course work attempted (including repeated hours) will be included in the calculation of the cumulative QPA for determining the honors designation awarded. Students who attain a cumulative QPA of 3.85 or higher are graduated summa cum laude. Those who achieve a minimum cumulative QPA of 3.7 are graduated magna cum laude and students who’s cumulative QPA is at least 3.4 are graduated cum laude.

Students who achieve the hours and the QPA requirement at the beginning of the last semester of their senior year will be recognized at commencement. The final assessment is done after graduation and honors are pending for all students until this is completed. The honors designation will appear on the student’s diploma and transcript.

Career Center

All candidates needing a graduation application signature must create an appointment on Handshake. For further information regarding Career Center resources, please visit the Career Center Website or contact us at 910-521-6270.

Handshake link if needed: https://uncp.joinhandshake.com/login

Career Center website link: https://www.uncp.edu/campus-life/career-center

Permission to Take a Course as a Visitor at Another University or UNC Language Exchange

Students who wish to enroll in courses at other institutions to apply toward a degree at UNCP must adhere to the following policies:

1. Have written approval from their UNCP advisor.
2. Have written approval from their UNCP Department Chair if the course is part of their major curriculum.
3. Have written approval from the UNCP Registrar.
4. Be in good social standing.
5. Have an official transcript submitted to the UNCP Office of the Registrar immediately upon completion of the course.
6. Credit hours will transfer for courses in which the student earns a “C” or better. Grades earned at other institutions are not used to compute UNCP’s quality point average.
7. Permission will not be granted to repeat a course at another institution. Students may elect to repeat any course if the original course and the repeat course are taken at UNCP.