St. Olaf CollegeAcademic CatalogSt. Olaf College

Table of Contents
An Education for the 21st Century: Academic Life
Graduation Requirements and Curricular Advice
» Requirements & Degrees
» General Requirements
» Comprehensive Requirements
Academic Regulations and Procedures
International and Off-Campus Studies
Special Programs
Admissions and Financial Aid
Life Outside the Classroom
People
Facts and Figures
College Calendar

Registrar's Office
Admin 224
1520 St. Olaf Avenue
Northfield, MN 55057

507-786-3015
registrar@stolaf.edu

 

Please note: This is NOT the most current catalog.

Requirements for B.A. Degree Candidates

General Graduation Requirements

1. Courses

The equivalent of 35 full course credits through a combination of full-credit and fractional-credit courses.

2a. Residency Requirement for One Degree

Seventeen of the 35 full course credits required for graduation must be taken through St. Olaf College. This may include St. Olaf-sponsored off-campus programs.

The senior residency requirement consists of registration through St. Olaf either (a) during the last two semesters and Interim preceding the conferring of the degree, or (b) for at least nine of the last 12 full course credits. For instance, seniors may spend one of their last terms at another institution only if a maximum of three full course credits are applied to the St. Olaf degree. A senior may spend the final semester on a St. Olaf-sponsored off-campus program.

2b. Residency Requirement for Two Degrees

Should a student desire to earn both the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Music degrees at St. Olaf, both the junior and senior year, or the senior year and a fifth year, must be spent in residence. A minimum of 43 full course credits must be completed with the last 17 full course credits earned through St. Olaf.

3. January Interim

At least three of the required 35 full course credits must be earned in three separate January Interims. An Interim may be taken on campus, through a St. Olaf off-campus Interim program, or through an approved Interim exchange with another 4-1-4 college. Transfer students admitted with at least sophomore standing must complete two Interims. After having successfully completed two Interims, senior participators may satisfy the third Interim requirement by means of registering for a summer course taken during a St. Olaf summer session after graduation.

4. Grade Points and Grade Point Average

An average grade of C (2.00 on a 4.00 system) for all courses taken for the usual letter grades. See the Academic Regulations section of this catalog for details.

5. Course Level

Satisfactory completion of 18 full course credits above Level I, courses numbered 200 and higher.
A course can earn only its assigned level. It cannot be raised in level as the result of extra studies, assignments or performance.

6. Graded Courses

A minimum of 24 full course credits out of 35 must be graded.

A sliding scale is used if not all work is taken at St. Olaf or if credit is earned through special programs such as Advanced Placement. As a rule, two-thirds of the courses taken at St. Olaf must be graded. Sophomore transfer students need a minimum of 18 graded courses and junior transfer students a minimum of 13 graded courses. Details are available from the registrar.

All students should be aware of the restrictions on S/U and P/N grades.

Students studying on St. Olaf off-campus programs should refer to “Graded and Ungraded Courses” in the Academic Regulations section of this catalog for details about how this graduation requirement is affected by off-campus programs.

7. Major — 8 or More Full Course Credits

Objective: To study a discipline or an interdisciplinary field in depth.
Requirement: A minimum of eight full course credits in a disciplinary or interdisciplinary major.
Specific requirements for each major are listed in the preface to course offerings in each department and interdisciplinary program. All majors include writing requirements. Many departments/programs require more than the minimum eight courses for a major; they may also require comprehensive examinations or papers.

8. Credits Outside the Major

Students must take a total of at least 21.00 full course credits outside the department or program certifying each major. Credits outside the major may include full (1.00) credit courses plus partial (.25 and .50) credit courses.

9. Completion of Incomplete Grades

A student with an incomplete on his/her academic record may participate in Commencement if all other requirements for graduation have been met (see “Participation in Commencement,” page 57). Only after a final grade has been recorded for the course, however, will a degree be conferred and a diploma issued.