Second Sequential Bachelor’s Degree: Eligibility and Requirements

Second Sequential Bachelor’s Degree:
Eligibility and Requirements

PLEASE NOTE:
Earning a sequential second bachelor's degree from the College of Arts and Sciences at IU Bloomington can be a valuable experience; however, many students with a completed bachelor's degree may be better served by pursuing graduate study or entering the workforce. We encourage you to speak with advisors in potential graduate programs, as well as career advisors at your alma mater, to help determine which credentials are most aligned with your professional goals. To be considered for admission as a second sequential degree student, you will need to include a rationale in your application explaining why an additional bachelor's degree is necessary for achieving your academic and career objectives.

ELIGIBILITY:

In order to be eligible to enter the College as a Sequential Second Degree student, you must have the following in place at the time of application:

• A completed bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• A proposed sequential second degree major that is substantively different from the major or concentration of any previously earned degree
• A minimum 2.500 College GPA in courses previously taken that are applicable to the major of the sequential second degree
• A minimum 2.500 cumulative College GPA in all previous college/university-level coursework
• Completion of the English Composition requirement at the time of application. Current information about the requirement can be found here.
  • If you have not completed the English Composition requirement at IU, you must have a grade of C or higher in a course identified by the Credit Transfer Service as an equivalent to a course that fulfills the requirement at IU.
• All application materials must be submitted by the application deadline

POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS:

• The student must follow all College of Arts and Sciences degree requirements in effect at the approved start date for the second degree program.
• The student must complete at least 36 College of Arts and Sciences credit hours at IUB as a degree-seeking student. These credits cannot have been used toward a previous degree.
• The student must complete at least 18 credit hours in the major as a sequential second degree student on the IUB campus.
• The student must complete all College of Arts and Sciences Education (CASE) requirements.
• The student must work closely with their academic advisor to develop a course sequence map and follow it as planned to ensure timely completion of the degree.
• A second bachelor's degree may not be pursued simultaneously with a graduate degree.
• Only under rare circumstances (and with permission of an academic dean in advance) may a second degree student enroll in a graduate course.
• A change in major for the second degree requires permission of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and is not granted automatically.
• The College's academic standing criteria is available here. Academic records are reviewed after the Spring, Summer, and Fall terms. Please note that academic dismissal is final for sequential second degree candidates.
• If requested before the start date of the term for which you originally applied, you may defer your entry term for one semester (excluding summer terms). You must contact both the IU Office of Admissions and the College to request the deferral. For any deferral period longer than one term, you must submit a new application.
• Courses taken in non-degree status may only count towards a sequential second bachelor's degree by special advance permission of the College.
• Students admitted to the second degree program who have not previously attended IU Bloomington are strongly encouraged to attend New Student Orientation for Transfer Students.