General Requirements for a Baccalaureate Degree

Bethel's Baccalaureate degrees include the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Science Nursing (B.S.N.), Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.), Bachelor of Music Education (B.Mus.Ed.)

1. A cumulative overall grade point average of 2.00. The cumulative GPA includes only courses taken at Bethel.
2. A 2.25 grade point average in one’s major, unless otherwise noted in the academic section of this catalog. The major GPA includes all courses required in the major and all electives taken for the major at Bethel.
3. A minimum of 122 semester credit hours.
4. The following residency requirements for traditional undergraduate students apply. All requirements must be met at Bethel or completed in programs approved to meet Bethel residency requirements (see Office of the Registrar or Office of Off-Campus Programs and International Studies):
   • at least 28 of the last 35 credits,
   • at least half of the credits used to meet the ­requirements of the major,
   • at least 30 of the 122 credits needed to graduate,
   • GES 130 Christianity and Western Culture or course numbers GES 145 through GES 149 in the Humanities Program (must be taken at Bethel; cannot be brought in through any other programs),
   • a Contemporary Christian Issues (P) course (must be taken at Bethel; cannot be brought in through any other programs).
   • GES 140 Introduction to Wellbeing must be taken at Bethel except by students who are exempt from this requirement because of their entry level. 
   1. ​NOTE: Online undergraduate students must take/fulfill the following:
      1. Bethel Distinctive courses
      2. SOCS 110 for Transfer Level A
      3. Specific courses in a program, if any, that are required to be taken in residence
      4. Demonstration of basic competencies in writing, speaking, and computing. Student knowledge of basic applications in their fields will be required.
5. A minimum of four (4) semester credit hours in General Education Biblical Foundations courses.
6. A minimum of 36 credits at the upper-division level (300 and 400).
7. All General Education required courses and experiences listed on the General Education Entry Standing chart that are indicated by a “Yes” for their entry level.
   1. NOTE: Online undergraduate students must complete all required general education curriculum as indicated on the Online Undergraduate General Education page.
8. Completion of January Session courses as indicated on the General Education Entry/Transfer Level chart on the following pages (minimum of two (2) credits, maximum of five (5) credits per January).
9. Completion of the requirements of a major (listed by department in this catalog).
10. Demonstration of basic competencies in:
    • Writing: One course is designated in each major, in addition to the required GES 160 Inquiry Writing Seminar course and a writing emphasis in Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course, Comparative Systems (G) course, World Cultures (U) course, and Contemporary Christian Issues (P) course.
    • Speaking: One upper-division course is designated in each major, in addition to required speaking assignments in the GES 160 Inquiry Writing Seminar course, the Humanities Program, and Contemporary Christian Issues (P) courses.

11. In order for multiple majors and minors to be considered as one degree program, they must be taken simultaneously and completed within one academic year of each other. Bethel University will award a student’s degree when a student’s degree program requirements have been completed, whether or not the student applies to graduate (commence). Students maintain eligibility for financial aid while completing their degree program provided that their total credits attempted do not exceed 150% of the credits required for their degree program. Exceptions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

12. Completion of any departmental and institutional assessment activities.
13. Upon completion of program, participation in commencement ceremonies is expected.

Additional Requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Post-Baccalaureate) Degree

1. Completion of a previous bachelors degree
2. Maintain a major GPA of at least 3.0
3. Earn a grade of C or higher in all nursing courses

NOTE: General Education and Bethel Distinctive courses are not a required part of this program.

Additional Baccalaureate Degree

An additional Bethel University Baccalaureate Degree [(e.g., Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.), Bachelor of Music Education (B.Mus.Ed.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)] may be awarded, upon request, when a student has met all requirements of the additional degree and earned, in residence, a minimum of thirty (30) unduplicated Semester Credits from the department in which the additional degree is earned. Unduplicated semester credits are those that are not used to meet the requirements of any other Bethel University Baccalaureate Degree. Transfer students who hold a Baccalaureate Degree from another institution may earn a Bethel University Baccalaureate Degree if they meet all the requirements of the degree program including the general education requirement and the residency requirements. 

Double Majors

The overlapping of requirements in any combination of majors chosen by a student is permitted as long as the student meets the requirements listed for each major. All completed programs [(e.g., Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.), Bachelor of Music Education (B.Mus.Ed.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)] will be indicated on the transcript, regardless of overlapping course requirements and without the addition of extra required hours. The senior seminar in both majors is required of students unless the student gets written approval from one of the departments to waive that seminar. Students should have an official advisor in one of the two majors, but they should regularly check with an advisor in the second major to make sure they are on track with that second major. 

Commencement Ceremony Participation

Students who have not completed all required courses for graduation may participate in the commencement ceremony provided they have no more than a total of seven (7) credits remaining. For May commencement, students must plan to complete their courses by the end of the Fall term of the next academic year. For December commencement, courses must be completed by the end of the Spring term of the same academic year. 

Policies regarding residency requirements, as well as any departmental residency requirements, apply.