6.19.5.2. Oglethorpe Alumni Who Wish To Earn a Second Major Post-Baccalaureate

Students who have been awarded an Oglethorpe baccalaureate degree may return to earn a second major. As noted previously, both majors must be affiliated with the same admit status, either TU or ADP.  Candidates must first apply for readmission (see Sec. 6.24.5.) under the same admit status (TU versus ADP) that is associated with the degree already earned. If the student’s first degree was a B.A. or B.S. then the student must apply for readmission into the TU program and must remain in that program throughout the process of earning a second major. Likewise, if the student’s first degree was a B.A.L.S. or B.B.A., then the student must apply for readmission into the ADP program and must remain in that program throughout the process of earning a second major.

The requirements for successful attainment of the second major are:

  1. Except as noted below, the student must complete all degree and graduation requirements of the new major.
  2. No more than three courses from the student’s previous work at Oglethorpe can be counted in common between the two majors. Individual programs may establish different standards, and these requirements automatically supersede this more generic regulation.
  3. Other than the three potentially in-common courses described in item 2. above, previous disciplinary course work may or may not count toward the new major, at the discretion of the student’s advisor, appropriate program coordinator, and the registrar. For example, if the student has been gone more than five years, the advisor, program coordinator, and registrar may decide that the best interests of the student would be served by starting the new major partly or wholly afresh. If the student has been gone fewer than five years, the advisor, program coordinator, and registrar may decide that some or all previous course work could be applied to satisfy requirements of the new major. The same decision-making process will be used to decide whether or not previous course work can be used to satisfy course prerequisites relative to the new major.
  4. Certain specific academic and co-curricular degree and graduation requirements for the new major are waived if those same components were satisfied at the time of the student’s first degree conferral, including:
    • Any candidate for a second major under this policy has already satisfied the University’s general education requirement (the Core program for TU students and the relevant distribution requirement for ADP students) and no additional general education courses are required.
    • If the student’s first degree was a B.A. then the student has already satisfied the foreign language requirement for that degree (see 8.4.) and no further foreign language courses need be attempted. However, if the student’s first degree was a B.S. and the new major is affiliated with the B.A. degree, then the foreign language requirement for the B.A. degree must be satisfied for the second major. If relevant, previous disciplinary course work will be accepted in satisfaction of this requirement. But if the student’s previous academic work at Oglethorpe did not satisfy the foreign language requirement for the B.A. degree, then satisfaction of that requirement must be accomplished after readmission.
  5. The student must complete a minimum of 24 new semester hours of course work in residence at Oglethorpe to earn the second major. Once the student is readmitted to Oglethorpe to pursue the second major, no new transfer work will be accepted.
  6. Maintenance of a 2.0 or higher cumulative grade-point average on all course work contributing to the Oglethorpe cumulative grade-point average. Maintenance of a 2.0 or higher grade-point average on all course work contributing to the new, second major.
  7. No more than 8 semester hours of independent studies; and no more than 12 semester hours of internship are permitted.
  8. Submission of a new, completed application for degree by the stated deadline. If a student does not complete the second major as anticipated, an updated application for degree must be submitted.
  9. If the new major and the original major fall under the same degree type, then upon successful completion of the new major and all other related requirements enumerated in this section, the student’s permanent record will be modified to show degree attainment with both majors. If the new major falls under a different degree type than the first major then, at time of application for degree with the registrar, the student will indicate which degree he/she/they would prefer. Upon successful completion of the new major and all other related requirements enumerated in this section, the student’s permanent record will be modified to show degree attainment of this preferred degree with both majors. If the student would like to have an updated diploma reflecting the new degree type then he/she/they will pay all associated costs. Consult the registrar for details.
  10. Satisfaction of all financial and other obligations to the University. However, no new degree completion fee will be assessed as long as such fee was paid at time of first degree conferral.
  11. Participation in assessments of competencies gained and curricular effectiveness by completing standardized or other tests and surveys.
  12. Formal faculty and board of trustees’ approval for graduation.
  13. Students who earn a second major post-baccalaureate will not be permitted to walk a second time at commencement.