Online Degree Completion Program General Information & Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

To graduate from The University of Olivet with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree a student must complete at least 120 semester hours of academic credit, including transfer credit, maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 on a 4.00 scale. Some degree programs have higher GPA requirements for graduation. Students must also complete all requirements for an academic major offered at the university and complete all required coursework delivering the learning outcomes of the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum.

Liberal Education in a Professional Program Context

The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) defines a contemporary liberal education as:

An approach to university learning that empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change. This approach emphasizes broad knowledge of the wider world (e.g., science, culture, and society) as well as in-depth achievement in a specific field of interest. It helps students develop a sense of social responsibility; strong intellectual and practical skills that span all major fields of study, such as communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills; and the demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-world settings. (AAC&U, “What is a Liberal Education?,” 2018, www.aacu.org)

The University of Olivet is committed to providing a liberal education for participants in our adult professional undergraduate programs. This liberal education is expressed through the educational goals and learning outcomes of the university that have been established for all undergraduate students:

Educational Goals and Learning Outcomes

1. Effective Communication and Collaboration - Strengthen Foundational Skills in Written Communication, Interpersonal Communication and Collaboration
   1. Written Communication. Organize and convey ideas in writing clearly and concisely, using the standards of academic writing.
   2. Interpersonal Communication and Collaboration. Effectively communicate and work with others.
2. Critical Thinking - Strengthen Foundational Skills in Critical Thinking and Quantitative Analysis
   1. Reasoning and Critical Thinking. Analyze and evaluate assumptions, claims, evidence, arguments, and forms of expression; use information critically.
   2. Quantitative Analysis. Analyze numerical information and integrate quantitative methods into problem solving.
3. Liberal Arts Knowledge - Develop a Broad Foundation of Knowledge and Experience in the Liberal Arts
   1. Foundational Liberal Arts Knowledge. Articulate basic theories, analytic methods, and content of the arts and humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.
   2. Creative Experience. Demonstrate an innovative artistic expression with original perspective through performance or creation.
4. Global Awareness - Develop Cultural Understanding and Respect for Human Diversity
   1. Knowledge of Diversity within the United States. Articulate aspects of social and/or cultural diversity within the United States; appreciate the contributions of and challenges faced by different social groups and communities.
   2. Cultural Understanding and Global Awareness. Articulate aspects of contemporary cultures or cultural traditions outside of the United States in their global context, as well as identify aspects of one’s own cultural assumptions, values and practices.
5. Ethics and Responsibility - Demonstrate Ethical Awareness, Individual Responsibility, and Social Responsibility
   1. Individual Responsibility and Ethical Awareness. Demonstrate a combination of knowledge and practices that reflect an understanding of individual responsibility and ethical behavior.
   2. Social Responsibility. Demonstrate positive contributions to the local, national, or global community through civic or environmental leadership, service, collaborative projects, or direct action.
6. Application of Knowledge - Integrate and Apply Advanced Knowledge in an Academic or Professional Discipline
   1. Integrative Knowledge. Demonstrate use of the theories, analytic methods, and content of one’s discipline in an integrated manner.
   2. Problem-Solving Skills. Apply the tools of one’s discipline to demonstrate problem-solving competency in one’s field.

These university-wide educational goals are delivered in multiple ways to all students at the university, including students within the adult professional and online programs. At times these goals are delivered through particular courses required in the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences; at times they are integrated into courses within the professional program itself; at other times, they are met through internship and cooperative educational experiences. Information on the ways in which specific academic programs deliver the liberal educational goals and learning outcomes of The University of Olivet can be obtained through consultation with academic advisors within each program. Additional program-specific educational outcomes are required by the various programs of study at the university.