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Registrar's Office

General Graduation Requirements

Graduation requirements below are from the 2022-23 catalog. If you are completing your degree under an earlier catalog, please consult the specific catalog year for your graduation requirements. Contact the Registrar's Office if you have questions.

  1. Completion of a minimum number of course units as specified by the degree.Commencement
    • Bachelor of Arts 32 units
    • Bachelor of Science 32 units
    • Bachelor of Science in Nursing 32 units
    • Bachelor of Fine Arts 32 units
    • Bachelor of Music 35 units
    • Bachelor of Music Education 36 units

    The minimum course unit requirement must be met without counting the fractional portion in courses valued at 1.25 units-that is, courses valued at 1.25 units contribute one unit each toward the minimum number of course units.

    No more than two units of the minimum course unit requirement may be earned in courses receiving less than one full unit of credit (for example, no more than four courses receiving .5 unit of credit can be used in meeting the minimum course unit requirement). Students majoring in Music and Theatre Arts are exempted from this limitation.

    To be counted as one full course, the course must be equivalent to .66 units or above.

  2. Completion of the Shared Curriculum.
    All students must complete the shared curriculum, as described in the "Shared Curriculum'' chapter of the University Catalog. Students should note the variations in the shared curriculum requirements for the professional schools, and for the education certification program within the College of Liberal Arts. The shared curriculum programs specifically required for the BA/BS, BFA, BM, BME, or BSN are given at the beginning of the Catalog chapter describing each degree.

    No course may be counted toward more than one Shared Curriculum category requirement. However, a single course may count for both a Shared Curriculum category credit and a flag (these distinctions are described in the "Shared Curriculum'' chapter of the Catalog).

    No more than two Shared Curriculum requirements may come from a single department or school, not counting Gateway Colloquia and elementary language instruction courses (101 & 102).

  3. Completion of a major.
    • A course may count for both a shared curriculum requirement and a major or minor requirement
    • A limit of two courses may count toward the completion of any of the following combinations (major/major, major/minor, minor/minor).

  4. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
    • Students must achieve an overall minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 ("C'').
    • A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is also required in the major and minor sequences

  5. Limitations on the amount of "D" work.
    • No more than four units of "D" work may be counted toward the degree.
    • No more than one unit of "D" work can be counted toward the major or the minor.
    • No more than two units of "D" work may be counted toward general education requirements.

  6. Completion of at least nine upper division courses and units, with at least four in the major.
    • All students must complete a total of at least nine course units in eleven upper-division courses (numbered 300 or higher).
    • At least four upper-division courses and units must be completed in the major department or field.

  7. A minimum of two years and 16 courses in residence.
    • All degree candidates must complete a minimum of two years and 16 course units in residence.
    • At least 8 of the last 10 course units must be taken at Illinois Wesleyan.
    For further information on residency requirements and course transfer, see the Catalog section, "Credit for Work External to Illinois Wesleyan''.

  8. Double Major vs. Double Degree.
    Please refer to Double Major or Double Degree in the current University catalog.

  9. Commencement Participation & Graduation Dates
    Illinois Wesleyan has one commencement ceremony which takes place after the end of the spring semester. Those students wishing to participate in the commencement should have completed, by the end of spring term, all requirements for the degree or be within two requirements of completion. December graduates from the previous year may also participate.

    If you are enrolled in the May term after commencement, you may participate in the ceremony (having met the criteria above), but you will not officially graduate or receive your diploma until the May term is over. Additionally, if you are taking a summer course elsewhere to complete requirements, you may participate in the ceremony (having met the criteria above), but you will not officially graduate until August 31st and we have received the official transcript showing completion of approved coursework.

    In addition, coursework for all Incomplete or In Progress grades must be completed and turned in by the end of the term to be considered for graduation in that term.

  10. Clearance Requirements for Graduation
    All financial obligations to the university must be met before your degree will be posted or your diploma released to you.