Graduation Requirements
Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021
Candidates Eligible to Participate in Commencement
Time Limit for Fulfilling Undergraduate Degree Requirements
Bachelor's Degree Requirements
Approved Major/Degree Summaries/Program of Study
Degree Applications
Degree Requirement Completion Date
Degree Completion Fee
Diplomas
Honors at Graduation
Candidates Eligible to Participate in Commencement
Candidates completing all degree requirements (associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees) during the Summer or Fall semesters are eligible to participate in fall commencement. Candidates completing all degree rquirements during the Spring semester are eligible to participate in spring commencement.
Students with reasonable expectation to finish a degree during the summer term may participate in the spring commencement prior to completion. Summer graduates also have the option to attend the following fall commencement. However, all graduates are allowed only one opportunity to participate in commencement. Names will appear in the program for the ceremony in which the graduates are scheduled to participate. Undergraduate students present requests to the Registrar; graduate students present requests to the Dean of the Graduate School.
Time Limit for Fulfilling Undergraduate Degree Requirements
Students have a maximum of six years to meet catalog requirements for graduation in effect at Fort Hays State University when they first entered any college or university. They may also graduate under the requirements of any subsequent FHSU catalog. Students may not, however, be allowed to graduate under the requirements of an FHSU catalog in effect earlier than two years preceding their enrollment at FHSU.
If students have had their college program interrupted by more than two consecutive years, they will be subject to the requirements of the later catalog.
Bachelor's Degree Requirements
The requirements for the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music degrees, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Social Work, and Bachelor of Science in applied fields are as follows: (1) completion of at least 120 hours of credit with a passing grade and a minimum grade average index of 2.00 in all coursework, unless the department specifies a higher grade index; (2) a minimum average grade index of 2.00 in all coursework taken at Fort Hays State University; (3) completion of a major (with a minimum of 30 hours) as specified for the degree sought—with a minimum average grade index of 2.00 for all courses in the signed major, unless the department specifies a higher grade index; (4) completion of general education program (foundation studies, liberal arts and university integrative course requirements; (5) completion of at least 45 hours of credit in upper-division courses numbered 300 and above; and (6) a degree summary signed by academic advisor and submission of written degree application to the Office of the Registrar.
The Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree requires 120 hours of credit, including the following components: (1) a minimum of 80 hours of coursework in the following liberal arts and sciences areas: art, biological sciences, chemistry, communication, economics, English, geosciences, history, informatics, interdisciplinary studies, justice studies, leadership studies, mathematics and computer science, modern languages, music, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, and sociology and social work; (2) a minimum of 45 hours of upper division coursework (numbered 300 and above at FHSU); (3) a maximum of 40 hours in one department; (4) six hours of English composition; (5) a minimum of 12 hours of approved general education courses in each of the areas of humanities, natural sciences and mathematics, and social and behavioral sciences; (6) a minimum grade index of 2.00 for all coursework and coursework at FHSU; (7) no modern language requirements; (8) a minimum of 30 hours of credit from FHSU; (9) a 21-hour individualized area of concentration; (10) a 3-hour computer literacy course or suitable equivalent; and (11) a degree summary signed by academic advisor and submission of written degree application to the Office of the Registrar.
Approved Major/Degree Summaries
Associate degree candidates should complete a degree summary by the time they have completed 48 credit hours.
Bachelor's degree candidates should complete a degree summary near the end of the sophomore year or as soon as junior classification is attained--60 credit hours completed.
Graduate students should have a program of study on file by the completion of 9 graduate hours.
Degree Applications
Undergraduate students must file Intent to Graduate by the final enrollment for the last semester in which the degree is being sought. If you are completing your degree this semester, log in to Tiger Tracks, go to Online Services, and complete and submit the application.
Graduate students should check the Graduate School website for Intent to Graduate deadlines.
To be included in the Spring 2021 commencement program and recognized in the ceremony students will need to submit any changes to their Intent to Graduate by April 9, 2021.
Degree Requirement Completion Date
All requirements for the completion of a degree must be completed and on record in the Office of the Registrar by January 15 for fall semester graduates; May 31 for spring semester graduates; and August 15 for summer term graduates to be included in the degree granting dates for the semester or term.
Degree Completion Fee
Undergraduate degree $50 (even for a student receiving two bachelor's degrees in the same semester); graduate degree $50. Graduate students who are in the thesis or field study option will pay binding fees of $15 each for the first four copies required by the university and $25 for additional copies. These non-refundable graduation fees are required of all degree candidates. This fee supports the costs associated with the graduation process such as administrative expenses, diploma printing and covers, and mailing costs.
Diplomas
Diplomas will be mailed out to the address indicated on your Intent to Graduate form, NOT your permanent address. Associates and Bachelor's degree candidates should speak with their degree analyst in the Registrar's Office at 785-628-4222 to change their diploma address. Master's and Ed.S. degree candidates should talk to the Graduate School at 785-628-4236 to change their diploma address. All address changes must be made before the end of your final semester to ensure correct delivery of your diploma.
Honors at Graduation
There will be three levels of academic honors at graduation: cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude.
Cum Laude: Achievement of a grade point average of 3.60 to 3.79 on your cumulative and Fort Hays State University coursework.
Magna Cum Laude: Achievement of a grade point average of 3.80 to 3.89 on your cumulative and Fort Hays State University coursework.
Summa Cum Laude: Achievement of a grade point average of 3.90 or above on your cumulative and Fort Hays State University coursework.
Each student graduating with academic honors must have attended the university for one of the last two years, and at least 60 hours must be earned in an institution offering regular upper-position credit.
While honors will be listed in the commencement program for those who may reasonably anticipate them, the listing on the program is not a guarantee of receiving honors. The listing and reading of honors for spring degree candidates are based on the grades indexes achieved at the beginning of the student's final semester. The official honor awarded based on final grade indexes will be noted on the student's diploma and transcript.
The Office of the Registrar distributes honor cords with name cards.
There are no honors distinctions for Master's, Ed.S., or Doctoral degrees.