College Degree Requirements

In determining graduation requirements, students must use the program requirements from a single catalog and not a combination of requirements from multiple catalog years for graduation.

Generally, the catalog year used to determine graduation requirements initially defaults to the same semester that the student entered the college, changed their program or declared additional programs.

Students who are continuously registered in classes (excluding summer session) can use the graduation requirements of the catalog at the time of their initial enrollment up to and including the catalog in effect during the academic year in which they intend to graduate.

To change your catalog year used to determine your graduation requirements, visit with your advisor and complete the Graduation Catalog Change form located in CampusConnection under BSC eForms. It is the student's responsibility to fulfill all the graduation requirements in the newly chosen catalog year.

To be awarded a degree, students must indicate their intent to graduate when registering for their last semester. The Application for Degree is available online.

If you indicate on your Application for Degree that you will not be attending BSC after graduation and are active in multiple programs, those additional programs will be discontinued upon degree conferral. This does not apply if you are enrolled in future terms.

Students who change programs of study (i.e. Liberal Arts to Human Services) must use the requirements of the catalog in effect during the academic year in which they declare a new program up to and including the catalog in effect during the academic year in which they plan to graduate.
Students who change or add plans (i.e. Certificate to AAS) but remain in the same program of study must use the requirements of the catalog at the time of their initial enrollment up to and including the catalog in effect during the academic year in which they intend to graduate.
Students who change pre-plans (i.e. pre-Practical Nursing to Practical Nursing) must use the requirements of the catalog in effect during the academic year in which they were accepted into the program up to and including the catalog in effect during the academic year in which they intend to graduate.
Students who add additional programs must use the requirements of the catalog in effect during the academic year in which they declare the additional program(s) up to and including the catalog in effect during the academic year in which they intend to graduate.

Non-degree seeking students are not eligible to earn a degree at Bismarck State College. To change status from non-degree to degree seeking, students must reapply, satisfy all admission requirements, and submit an application for degree. Students must use the requirements of the catalog in effect during the academic year in which they become degree seeking up to and including the catalog in effect during the academic year in which they intend to graduate.

Students who are not registered in classes for three or more consecutive semesters (including summer session), must comply with the catalog requirements in effect at the time of re-enrollment and up to and including the catalog in effect during the academic year in which they intend to graduate

Admissions Closure: No new applications or admissions to the program will be accepted after the official discontinuation decision is approved.

Teach-Out Commitment: The college will provide a teach-out plan that allows currently enrolled students to complete the program within a reasonable and defined timeline, typically not to exceed three academic years.

Student Notification: Affected students will be notified in writing and provided with timely updates throughout the transition.

Advising and Support: Academic advising services will be available to help students evaluate their options, including completion of the program, transfer to another program, or external transfer pathways.

Catalog Rights: Students may complete the program requirements listed in the catalog at the time of their initial enrollment up to and including the catalog in effect at the time of program inactivation.

Institutional Support: Bismarck State College will make every reasonable effort to minimize disruption and ensure students are able to complete their educational goals.