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Graduation Requirements

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Trinity grants four types of degrees: The bachelor of arts (B.A.) is granted to those completing requirements in the traditional liberal arts disciplines, the bachelor of science (B.S.), is awarded in two specialized areas: accountancy and business, the bachelor of science in nursing (B.S.N.), and the bachelor of social work (B.S.W.). The Registrar’s office posts degrees four times a year: January, May, August and December.

To complete a bachelor’s degree at Trinity, students must complete all of the following requirements:

  1. 125 total credits. These credits will consist of courses fulfilling major, minor, and general education requirements as well as electives.
  2. A minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.0 (C) in total attempted hours and in all courses applied to the major. Refer to departments for specific requirements.
  3. The general education requirements. These vary slightly by the type of major.
  4. The residency requirement. Students must complete 45 hours of the total credits required for graduation at Trinity. In addition, at least twelve hours of all major courses and six hours of all minor courses must be completed at Trinity, and 12 of the last 20 hours must be completed at Trinity.

Requirements for Transfer Students

In order to receive a degree from Trinity, transfer students must meet all of the general requirements stated above with the following exceptions:

  1. Those entering Trinity with 30 or more transfer credits will be required to take only one interim course at Trinity.
  2. Those entering Trinity with 60 or more transfer credits will be required to take one interim, and either philosophy 101 or 102, and either theology 121 or 122 at Trinity.
  3. Those entering Trinity with either an associate of arts or associate of science degree approved by the registrar will receive waivers for any deficiencies in the English literature, mathematics, biological or physical science, social science, fine arts, and physical education requirements, but must take the following:
    • Philosophy 101 or 102 at Trinity;
    • Theology 121 or 122 at Trinity;
    • One interim course at Trinity;
    • English 103 at Trinity or by transfer;
    • History 103 or 104 at Trinity or by transfer;
    • One cross-cultural course at Trinity or by transfer.

Participating in Commencement Ceremonies

Trinity holds two commencement ceremonies each year: in May and December. Students can participate in either commencement ceremony but must have completed all the graduation requirements of the major and minor, with the exception of either:

  1. Six or fewer credits of coursework, or
  2. A fieldwork or internship (e.g., student-teaching).

All academic requirements and financial obligations must be met to receive a diploma. Academic honors will be reflected on the transcript when all requirements are completed at the next regularly scheduled date for conferral of degrees.

Graduation Application Procedures

All students wishing to earn a degree from Trinity must complete a graduation application. Graduation applications are available from the Registrar’s Office and online. Students seeking to graduate must submit an application even if they do not plan to participate in commencement ceremonies.