Requirements for Graduation

To graduate from Limestone University a student must successfully complete a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree or 62 credit hours for an associate degree with a minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average, including the Verbal and Quantitative Skills Requirements, the AWE Writing Intensive Courses, the General Education Program, the Critical Thinking Requirement, the Assessment Examinations, the Application for Degree form, and a major program. A student is also required to have at least a 2.0-grade point average in the major field. Thirty (30) credit hours of the baccalaureate degree and fifteen (15) credit hours of the associate degree must be Limestone University courses. For students who are involved in a Military Program recognized by Limestone, this requirement may be waived.

I. Verbal and Quantitative Skills Requirements

  1. Each student will successfully complete a three-hour course in critical analysis and informed verbal expression (English 102) with a grade of “C” or better as well as a course in public speaking (English 105) with a grade of "C" or better. A student must be enrolled continuously in a communication skills course until English 102 is successfully completed. (If for any reason a student withdraws from EN 100, EN 101 or EN 102, they are expected to reenroll the next term/semester.) Each student who has not completed the equivalent of the Limestone communication requirement will take a written verbal skills examination during orientation. If major deficiencies are assessed, additional coursework will be established as a prerequisite to English 101. Students required to take English 100 must be continuously enrolled in the course until the proficiency level is reached. A student must successfully complete English 101 with a grade of “C” or better as a prerequisite for English 102; English 102 and English 105 must also be completed with a grade of “C” or better to satisfy the verbal skills requirement.
    • All Online and Evening students must take English 100, as a prerequisite to English 101, unless exempted by the following: A passing score is obtained on the English placement examination, or the student transfers an English 101 course from a regionally accredited college with a grade of "C" or higher. Students must successfully complete English 101 with a grade of “C” or better as a prerequisite for English 102; English 102 and English 105 must also be completed with a grade of “C” or better to satisfy the verbal skills requirement. (Note: Students achieving an SAT score of 440 on the Verbal Skills section or equivalent ACT score (18) on either the Writing section or the English section are not required to take the Writing placement exam.)
  2. Students whose majors require Mathematics 115 or Mathematics 116 must take and pass Mathematics 114 with at least a “C” as a prerequisite to Mathematics 115 and 116 unless exempted by an ACT score of 18 on the mathematics section test or SAT score of 500 on the mathematics section test. Only students whose majors require Mathematics 115 or 116 must satisfy this prerequisite. Students whose majors require only Mathematics 110, 111, 112, or 200 may register for those courses without taking Mathematics 114. However, passing Mathematics 110, 111, 112, or 200 does not satisfy the prerequisite of Mathematics 114 with at least a “C” for Mathematics 115 or 116. Students should begin their mathematics requirement during their first term at Limestone.

II. Achieving Writing Excellence (AWE) Writing Intensive Courses
In addition to requirements for the academic major, students pursuing a baccalaureate degree must complete a minimum of 3 AWE courses (9 credit hours) to complete the AWE requirement. Students pursuing an associate degree must complete a minimum of 2 AWE courses (6 credit hours) to complete the AWE requirement. Students who transfer to Limestone with credit in English 101 and 102 (including AP credit) must complete a minimum of 1 AWE course (3 hours) to complete the AWE requirement. Students transferring to Limestone with credit in English 101 must complete a minimum of 2 AWE course (6 credit hours). Courses which are AWE Writing Intensive Courses state "This course is writing intensive." in the course description.

III. General Education Requirements

  1. Baccalaureate Degrees - In addition to earning 120 credit hours with a minimum of a 2.0 GPA, candidates for all baccalaureate degrees are required to complete the general education requirements of the University. The general education component is basic to the many learning experiences offered in higher education and aims to assist in the realization of the goals and purposes of the University. Specifically, the general education requirement is intended to provide the student a liberal education which encourages the development of informed involvement in the changing world, to develop an appreciation of different modes of learning, and to develop an awareness of an integrated core of knowledge.
    • The general education requirements cover the main areas of academic study which the University considers to be basic for a well-educated person. Each student will satisfy this requirement by successfully completing the critical thinking requirement (6 credit hours) and a minimum of 33 hours as described in the following section. Semester hours completed in the General Education Requirement may be counted toward the requirements for a major field of study.
    • A student is required to fulfill the general education requirements which are in effect at the time of his/her initial enrollment as a degree-seeking student. If a student returns to Limestone after being unenrolled for a period of 36 months, the student must complete the general education requirements in effect when he/she re-enrolls.
  2. Associate Degrees - In addition to earning 62 credit hours with a minimum of a 2.0 GPA, candidates for all associate degrees are required to complete the general education requirements of the University. The general education component is basic to the many learning experiences offered in higher education and aims to assist in the realization of the goals and purposes of the University. Specifically, the general education requirement is intended to provide the student a liberal education that encourages the development of informed involvement in the changing world, to develop an appreciation of different modes of learning, and to develop an awareness of an integrated core of knowledge.
    • The general education requirements cover the main areas of academic study which the University considers to be basic for a well-educated person. Each student will satisfy this requirement by completing the critical thinking requirement (3 credit hours) and a minimum of 33 hours as described in the following section. Semester hours completed in the General Education Requirement may be counted toward the requirements for a major field of study.
  3. General Education Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) and Required Courses for Baccalaureate and Associate Degrees
    • SLO1. Communication: Comprehend and articulate complex ideas in speech and writing, adapting the message to the audience, situation, purpose, and occasion. (6-9 hours required)English 101W and 102 W(or 103HW); and 105. If 103HW is taken, 103HW and 105 are required;
    • SLO2. Literary Comprehension: Comprehend, demonstrate, or articulate the value inherent in literary creation. (3 hours required). One course selected from English 201,202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 220, 311W, 312;
    • SLO3. Fine Arts: Comprehend, demonstrate, or articulate the value inherent in an artistic, musical, or dramatic creation. (3 hours required) Art 101, 102, 103, 110, 200, 208, 210, 211, 213, 240; Music 100, 101, 104, 205, 208 any Music Ensemble course; English 232, 240, 340; Physical Education 135,136, 137, 138; Theatre 101, 102, 103, 202, 204; Communication 103;
    • SLO4. History: Use historical perspectives to analyze past events (3 hours required). One course selected from HI 110, 111, 112, 113, 214.
    • SLO5. Social Science: Use social, political, global, or cultural perspectives from the study in the social sciences or foreign languages to analyze present-day issues, and forces shaping the future. (3 hours required). Another course selected from: BA103, EC 204, 211, EC/HI 350; HI 110, 111, 112, 113, 214, 303, 310, 311, 312, 321, 325, 334, 338, 341, 344, 345, 346; HC 311; HR 103, IS 150; PO 101, 242, 243, 341, 342; any foreign language; SO 201, 202, PS 101, SW 101, CJ 201; or any Global Experience Course (IS201-222).
    • SLO6. Mathematics: Demonstrate accurate calculating abilities and apply logical reasoning skills to solve quantitative problems. (3 hours required). One course selected from: MA 110, 111, 112, 114, 115, 116, 122, 200, 205;
    • SLO 7. Lab Science: Apply the scientific method as an analytical problem solving or general inquiry model and integrate scientific principles into the student’s field of study. One lab science (4 hours required.);
    • SLO 8. Computer Science: Apply the scientific method as an analytical problem solving or general inquiry model and integrate appropriate information technologies into the student’s field of study. One computer science (100-level and above) (3 hours required.);
    • SLO9. Wellness: Develop skills and abilities in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains which support lifetime wellness. (2 hours required). At least 2 semester hours from the following list: Any 1 hour PE activity course; PE 150, PE 201, 202, 210, 287; PS 105, 202, 204; ME 236, SW 206;
    • SLO10. Ethics: Demonstrate an understanding of the role of values and ethics in decision making. (3 hours required). One course selected from the following list: BA 310, CJ 325; ED 310, HC210, HI 309, HI 315, HS210, PL 201, 210, 211, 310; RE 202, 203, 205, 210, 221, 222, 225, 301; SC 201, 203, SW 230.

IV. Critical Thinking Requirement
All students seeking a baccalaureate degree at Limestone must satisfy a critical thinking requirement, either by scoring at the proficiency level on all parts of the ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly MAPP) or by successfully completing ID 301W, Critical Thinking. This course helps students develop and refine their higher-order thinking skills. During the course, students will analyze the thinking evident in a variety of texts and media for clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, significance, fairness, and ethics. Students will also write frequently, applying the same standards to their own thinking and writing. The examination adopted by Limestone to measure students’ general education competency levels will be one of the assessment methods in the course. Before taking this course, a student must have achieved junior standing (with 60 hours or more) and completed Limestone’s Verbal and Quantitative Skills Requirements (EN 101W, 102W, 105, MA 114 or satisfactory completion of the Quantitative Skills placement examination).

  1. Baccalaureate Degrees.  

    a. All students seeking a baccalaureate degree at Limestone College must achieve competence in critical thinking. Students are expected to demonstrate critical thinking through analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing diverse perspectives. When a student transfers into Limestone College with an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from another regionally accredited college or university, this critical thinking requirement is not waived along with general education requirements. Students who successfully complete the following courses will satisfy the critical thinking requirement for baccalaureate students. One course is required: ID 110, ID 150 or 201.  

  2. Associate Degrees. 

    a. All students seeking an associate degree at Limestone College must achieve competence in critical thinking. Students are expected to demonstrate critical thinking through analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing diverse perspectives. When a student transfers into Limestone College with an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from Page 42 of 253 another regionally accredited college or university, this critical thinking requirement is not waived along with general education requirements. Students who successfully complete the following courses will satisfy the critical thinking requirement for students seeking an associate degree: ID 110, ID 150 or ID 201. 

Note: Students who have an overall GPA of 3.5 may qualify to waive ID301W by requesting to take the ETS Proficiency Profile exam. Students who achieve proficiency on all parts of the ETS Proficiency Profile test may waive ID 301W, but “credit by examination” is not available for this course. ID 301W is not waived for students who transfer an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree to Limestone College.

Students should enroll in this course as soon as possible after earning 60 hours. Ideally, students should take this course as juniors.

V. Assessment Examination Requirement
To ensure that the University provides a quality academic program, a series of examinations is administered to students at various points in their academic careers. The purpose of the examinations is to assess the University's academic programs and to identify and eliminate academic deficiencies in fundamental mathematical skills, reading, writing, oral communication, and basic use of computers.

  1. After completion of 60 credit hours, each student is required to take the general education assessment examination which is administered in ID 301W. (Competency in oral communication is evaluated through the achievement of a grade of "C" or better in the completion of English 105, Fundamentals of Public Speaking.)
  2. During the last semester of their senior year, all students are required to complete an exit assessment in their major field of study. (If appropriate, students may complete the assessment prior to the last semester.) The purpose of this requirement is for the institution to evaluate the effectiveness of its methods of instruction and to compare the knowledge level of its graduates with graduates of other institutions of higher learning.

VI. Application for Degree
It is the responsibility of each student to complete and have the Application for Degree form approved. Any student not meeting these deadlines will have to wait until the following graduation. The form may be obtained online and must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

Deadlines:

  • May commencement - December 1.  Applications will be accepted until December 31 with a late fee of $100.00.
  • December commencement - May 1.  Applications will be accepted until May 31 with a late fee of $100.00.
  • Summer conferral - August 15.

VII. Limestone University Graduation Process
Limestone holds graduation in May and December. A student may apply for graduation up to a year in advance. If a student is working toward an Associate's degree, he or she should apply for graduation after earning 40 semester hours. For a Bachelor's degree, the student should apply after earning 90 hours or at the recommendation of his/her academic advisor.

The graduation form can be found at https://limestonecollege.formstack.com/forms/graduation_application.

Once the form is submitted, the registrar will review all course requirements for that student. After the review, the registrar will issue a letter of missing requirements along with a copy of the student degree audit. Following the initial application deadline, the Campus Store will send an email with a link and instruction for ordering cap and gown.

A graduation fee of $125, which includes application, cap/gown/tassel, diploma with cover and one official transcript, will be assessed to all students who have applied for the upcoming graduation. The deadline for May graduation is December 1st; for December, it is May 1st. Applications will be accepted after these dates up to December 31st and May 31, respectively, but late applications will incur a $100 non-refundable late fee, for a total fee of $225. The deadline for the September conferral is August 15th, and no applications will be accepted after this deadline. Since there is no commencement ceremony in September, students who apply for September conferral will have the option to participate in the December ceremony. If for any reason, a student does not complete his or her requirements for the assigned graduation, the application may be transferred to the next ceremony without additional fees. A student’s application may be transferred only one time. After that, the student must reapply and pay a $35 fee to cover the cost of an updated diploma.

For students who graduate in May or December, official transcripts will be mailed out the week of the commencement ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed out 6-8 weeks later. For those students who are conferred in September, official transcripts will be mailed out on September 1, and diplomas will be mailed out 6-8 weeks later.

VIII. Fulfillment of Degree Requirements
Limestone University's awarding of a degree is conditional upon completed coursework with appropriate GPA, the satisfaction of all financial obligations, and compliance with University policies.

Student Responsibilities: All colleges establish certain requirements which must be met before a degree is granted. These regulations concern curricula, courses, and majors. Advisors, counselors, faculty, and deans will make every effort to inform students concerning these requirements, but students themselves are ultimately responsible for being acquainted with regulations and procedures as stated in the Catalog, Student Handbook, and other official publications of the college. For these reasons, it is important for students to be familiar with these publications and remain informed throughout their college careers.

IX. Commencement Exercises
Limestone University offers commencements at the end of the fall semester and at the end of the spring semester. Students may participate in commencement activities only after fully completing all degree requirements.

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Last modified
10/27/2023 - 08:06