Requirements

Some degree programs have admission requirements beyond the general requirements for admission to the university. These additional admission requirements are published in the catalog section of the department that houses the degree program

General Requirements

What Catalog to Use

  • Students pursuing degrees must meet all curricular requirements as outlined in one issue of the LSUA Catalog.
  • Students themselves are responsible for knowing what those curricular requirements are.
  • Students may elect to follow the curricular requirements of any issue of the catalog in force during their residence at this or any other accredited institution of higher learning, provided their residence is continuous. The catalog chosen is for use in determining curricular requirements only.
  • In some cases, however, students will be required to meet curricular requirements that supersede those printed in catalogs that were in force earlier in their residence. The university reserves the right to enforce such requirements without prior notice.
  • From the effective date of termination of a degree program, no additional students will be admitted into the program and students already in the program will have 150% of the time associated with earning the degree (three years for an associate degree and six years for a baccalaureate degree) to complete all program requirements.
  • Students whose enrollment here or elsewhere is interrupted (whether voluntarily or not) for at least two consecutive regular semesters may not elect to use a catalog issued earlier than the one in force at the time of re-entry. The act of transferring from one institution to another is not regarded in itself as an interruption of enrollment; the interval between enrollments is the controlling factor.
  • Students changing from one degree program to another may not elect to follow the curricular requirements of a catalog in force earlier than the date on which the change was made.
  • Under no circumstance may students follow the curricular requirements of a catalog that is more than five years old.
  • PASS and non-degree students must meet the requirements of the catalog in effect at the time they enroll in a degree program.
  • Students pursuing the Associate of Arts, the Associate of Science, or a minor curriculum must meet the curricular requirements presented in the current catalog.

Requirements For All Degrees

  • Students pursuing degrees must meet all curricular requirements as outlined in one issue of the LSUA Catalog.
  • Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in ENGL 1001, ENGL 1002, and MATH 1021.
  • Students must achieve an overall grade point average of at least 2.0 on all college work attempted.
  • Students must demonstrate computer literacy by passing a computer competency exam or by successfully completing CMIS 1000.
  • Students must be enrolled at LSUA during the semester in which their degrees are awarded.
  • Students will receive no degree credit for courses numbered below 1000, i.e., for developmental education courses.
  • At least 25% of the total number of hours required for a degree must be earned in courses taught by LSUA.
  • Degrees are conferred only by vote of the LSU Board of Supervisors upon recommendation

Requirements For Graduating

  • Before the final date for applying for degrees to be awarded at commencement, candidates must request that the appropriate department chair evaluate their academic records for compliance with degree requirements. After a candidate’s degree checkout form has been signed by the chair, it is presented to Records for verification. At that time, the candidate must apply for a degree and state his or her exact name as it is to appear on the diploma and in the commencement program.
  • Candidates must pay the diploma fee.
  • Candidates must meet all requirements as stated in their degree curricula. Only candidates who have fulfilled all degree requirements can participate in commencement.
  • Candidates must clear all financial debts and other obligations to the university before graduation.
  • Candidates are expected to participate in the commencement exercises unless excused by the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs.
  • Candidates are required to take an exit examination, as stipulated by the Office of Academic and Student Affairs. The academic department in which the candidate’s degree program is housed may require additional exit assessments. LSUA uses the results of such assessments to monitor the effectiveness of its instructional programs.

Additional Requirements

For Associate Degrees

  • Students pursuing the Associate of Arts, the Associate of Arts in a specific discipline (e.g., Early Childhood Education), and the Associate in Criminal Justice must complete at least 30 semester hours in general education. For more information about general education requirements, consult pages 67-68 this catalog.
  • Students pursuing the Associate of Science, the Associate of Science in a specific discipline (e.g., Radiologic Technology), and the Associate in Nursing must complete at least 27 semester hours of general education courses. For more information about general education requirements, consult pages 67-68 this catalog.
  • Students must complete at least 21 semester hours at the 2000-level or above.
  • Twelve of the student’s final 15 semester hours must be resident hours.

For Baccalaureate Degrees

  • Students must complete at least 45 semester hours at the 3000 level or above.
  • Students must complete at least 15 semester hours at the 4000 level.
  • Twenty-four of the student’s final 30 semester hours must be taken at LSUA.
  • Students must complete at least 39 semester hours of general education courses. For more information about general education requirements, consult pages 67-68 this catalog.
  • Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education must earn an overall grade point average of at least 2.5.

For a Second Degree

Students who wish to earn a second associate degree must

  • Complete the curricular requirements of both the first and second degree;
  • Complete at least 15 hours at LSUA beyond the number of hours applied toward the first degree and that are applicable to the second degree;
  • Meet any additional requirements (academic or residency) set by the department(s) concerned;
  • Meet all academic and graduation requirements pertaining to associate degrees.

Students who wish to earn a second baccalaureate degree must

  • Choose a second degree with a major field of study that is different from that of the first degree;
  • Complete the curricular requirements of both the first and second degree;
  • Complete at least 30 hours at LSUA beyond the number of hours applied towards the first degree and that are applicable to the second degree;
  • Meet any additional requirements (academic or residency) set by the department(s) concerned;
  • Meet all academic and graduation requirements pertaining to baccalaureate degrees.

For a Second Major

A student who wishes to earn a baccalaureate degree with two majors must

  • Complete the curricular requirements of both the first and second major program;
  • Meet any additional requirements (academic or residency) set by the department(s) concerned;
  • Meet all academic and graduation requirements pertaining to baccalaureate degrees.

For Receiving Posthumous Degree

LSU at Alexandria recognizes that under certain and quite rare circumstances, a student will be sufficiently close to earning a degree at the time of death that consideration by the faculty of a posthumous degree is warranted. The requirements for receiving a posthumous degree are presented below:

  • The student must have been in good academic standing and must have met residency requirements for the degree.
  • At the time of the student’s death, he or she must have been enrolled at LSUA and within 21 credit hours of completing a degree as well as having substantially met the requirements for the degree’s major.
  • The recommendation for the award of such a degree must be made by the student’s major department and be subsequently approved by the appropriate departmental faculty and chair before consideration by the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs and the Chancellor.
  • Under extraordinary circumstances short of death (e.g., a terminal illness documented by a student’s treating physician), the action described in this section may be considered. In such instances, the requirements outlined above apply.
  • All recommendations will be considered by the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs and on his or her recommendation will be forwarded to the Chancellor who, in turn, will make an independent recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for final action.