Policy on Academic Credentials and Programs

This policy applies to all academic units of the university.  It is of interest to all faculty, academic administrators, program directors, and staff of the office of the University Registrar.

Indiana Wesleyan University awards academic credentials (degrees and certificates) to students who complete defined programs of study.  Each credential is defined in terms of a set of essential learning outcomes, which may include discipline-specific and general education outcomes, as well as credit-hour and other specifications.  Each program of study for a particular credential maps the credential learning outcomes to a series of credit-bearing courses.  Student performance in each course, credit-hours earned in each course, and credentials awarded are transcripted by the University Registrar.

As appropriate, given the learning outcomes and alignment of involved programs and courses, credit-hours may be shared between academic credentials awarded concurrently, within the following boundaries.  Credentials earned concurrently must be awarded concurrently – students must apply for all credentials appropriate to their current matriculation prior to conferral and credentials reflecting coursework solely from prior matriculation will not be added to the transcript.  

1. The student must fulfill all of the requirements for any credential awarded.
2. Credit-hours may be shared between a major and a minor, as long as the minor includes at least 15 unique credit-hours unshared with any other major or minor. 
3. Credit-hours may be shared between two minors, as long as each minor includes at least 15 unique credit-hours unshared with any other major or minor.
4. Credit-hours may be shared between two undergraduate majors as long as there are 51 unique (unduplicated) credit hours between the two majors.
5. Credit-hours may be shared between two graduate majors or specializations as long as two thirds of the credit-hours in each major or specialization are unique (unduplicated).
6. Up to three credit hours may be shared between:
   1. certificate and a minor
   2. a certificate and a concentration/specialization
   3. two certificates
   4. two specializations/concentrations
7. Unlimited credit-hours may be shared between a certificate and a major (undergraduate or graduate) as long as the certificate and the major do not share the same name.  Exceptions to this provision for specific certificates and majors may be published in the catalog.  Check degree program requirements for eligibility for combining the major with specific certificates.
8. Two distinct undergraduate degrees (associate’s and/or bachelor’s) may be conferred together as long as each degree includes at least 25% unique (unshared) credit-hours.  Each degree must have a unique, stand-alone major.
9. Two distinct graduate degrees (master’s, specialist, and/or doctoral) may be conferred together as long as each degree includes at least 50% unique (unshared) credit-hours.  Each degree must have a unique, stand-alone major.
10. An undergraduate and a graduate degree may be conferred together as long as 75% of the credit-hours of each degree are unique (unshared).  See the related Undergraduate and Graduate Credit Crossover Policy.

A major, minor, or specialization/concentration may be added to a previously awarded baccalaureate or graduate degree.  The student must complete all of the course requirements for the major, minor, or specialization/concentration and a minimum of nine new credit-hours must be earned.  New general education requirements need not be met to post an additional major, minor, or specialization/concentration to a previously awarded undergraduate degree. Students adding a major, minor, or specialization/concentration are not eligible to participate in commencement ceremonies again. The additional major, minor, or specialization/concentration will be posted to the transcript only on one of the university conferral dates.

As appropriate, given the learning outcomes and alignment of involved programs and courses, credit-hours applied to a previously-awarded IWU academic credential may be applied, without surrender of the prior credential, to another IWU academic credential within the following boundaries.

1. The student must fulfill all of the requirements for any credential awarded.
2. For credit-hours from a prior IWU academic credential to be applied to a second IWU academic credential, the second academic program must be started within ten years of the awarding of the first credential.  Exceptions must be approved by the dean (or equivalent) of the school sponsoring the academic program of the second credential.  Individual academic programs may specify more strict credit-age limits if warranted by the discipline.
3. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded undergraduate certificate may be applied to fulfill the requirements of an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree.
4. Up to 3 credit-hours from a previously-awarded undergraduate certificate may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a different undergraduate certificate.
5. Up to 6 credit-hours from a previously-awarded associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree may be applied to fulfill the requirements of an undergraduate certificate.
6. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded associate’s degree may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a different associate’s degree, as long as the new associate’s degree has at least 25% unique credit-hours.
7. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded associate’s degree may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a bachelor’s degree.
8. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded bachelor’s degree may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a different bachelor’s degree, as long as the new bachelor’s degree has at least 25% unique credit-hours.
9. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded bachelor’s degree or undergraduate certificate may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a master’s degree, limited by the provisions of the Undergraduate and Graduate Credit Crossover Policy.
10. Up to 3 credit-hours from a previously-awarded graduate certificate or post-master’s certificate may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a different graduate or post-master’s certificate.
11. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded graduate certificate or post-master’s certificate may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a master’s degree.
12. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded graduate certificate or post-master’s certificate may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a specialist degree.
13. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded graduate certificate or post-master’s certificate may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a doctor’s degree.
14. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded master’s degree, specialist degree, or doctor’s degree may be applied to fulfill up to 1/3 of the requirements of a graduate or post-master’s certificate.
15. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded master’s degree may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a different master’s degree, as long as the new master’s degree has at least 50% unique credit-hours.
16. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded master’s degree may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a specialist degree, as long as the specialist degree has at least 50% unique credit-hours.
17. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded master’s degree may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a doctor’s degree, as long as the doctor’s degree has at least 50% unique credit-hours.
18. Up to 6 credit-hours from a previously-awarded specialist degree may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a master’s degree.
19. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded specialist degree may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a different specialist degree, as long as the new specialist degree has at least 50% unique credit-hours.
20. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded specialist degree may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a doctoral degree, as long as the doctoral degree has at least 50% unique credit-hours.
21. Up to 6 credit-hours from a previously-awarded doctor’s degree may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a master’s degree or specialist degree.
22. Credit-hours from a previously-awarded doctor’s degree may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a different doctor’s degree, as long as the new doctor’s degree has at least 50% unique credit-hours.