Preparing for your College Graduation
A baccalaureate degree at Appalachian typically requires 122-128 semester hours of course work. Students who satisfactorily complete an average of 15-16 hours per semester can complete the degree in four years (eight semesters). Factors that may increase the length of time for and individual student to complete a degree include:
- Taking less than the hours advised or averaging fewer than 15-16 hours per semester.
- Changing majors frequently.
- Dropping, failing, and repeating courses.
- Failing to meet course prerequisites.
- Taking unnecessary or inappropriate courses.
- Transferring from one institution to another.
- Delaying entry into academic programs.
- Withdrawing from school.
Entering the institution with an incomplete or inadequate secondary school background requiring some additional compensatory, developmental, or prerequisite courses
As mandated by the North Carolina General Assembly, students enrolling in more than 140 semester hours for the first baccalaureate degree will be assessed a 25 percent tuition surcharge on the excess hours.
Students are encouraged to take full advantage of Appalachian's advising and support services to ensure continuous progress toward graduation. Effective career decision making, long range semester-by-semester planning of courses, and careful selection of extracurricular commitments can provide direction and motivation necessary for effective use of time to graduation. Additional factors that may assure a student's continuous progress toward graduation include good academic performance in freshman and basic prerequisite courses, advanced placement credit for introductory courses, and enrollment in summer sessions.
