BACHELOR DEGREE

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees must meet the following requirements:

1. Complete a minimum of 120 units (note: some majors require more than 120 units). 
2. Complete all major requirements as prescribed by the catalog; and at least fifty percent (50%)  of the major must be completed at Vanguard University.
   1. A minimum of thirty-six (36) units must be upper division work and twenty-four (24) units must be taken at Vanguard University.
   2. A minimum of twenty-four (24) of the last thirty (30) units must be earned at Vanguard University.  Veterans and active duty military are exempt from this requirement.
3. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above for work taken at Vanguard University.
4. Complete the Core Curriculum (Traditional Undergraduates) or General Education (Professional Studies) requirements.
5. A minor in a department or subject is optional. If a minor is not declared, and after the major is completed a student had remaining units to reach the 120 unit minimum, a student will complete the required units for graduation by taking general elective courses.
6. A Graduation Application must be completed in the self-service portal on or before the stated deadlines. 

SECOND BACHELOR'S DEGREE

A second Bachelor’s degree may be awarded to a student who applies providing a minimum of thirty units beyond the units required for the first Bachelor’s is achieved. A second Bachelor’s degree may be pursued concurrently with the first one providing no units are applied to both degrees (with the exception of Core Curriculum or General Education courses), including the total number of units needed for the first degree (120 minimum).  The second Bachelor’s must be in a major significantly different from the first Bachelor’s, and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 must be maintained. Requirements for both degrees must be fully satisfied. No more than six units may be transferred toward the second degree’s major—no more than six units may be lower division. A student desiring to be considered for a second Bachelor’s must be enrolled at Vanguard University in the final semester in which graduation requirements are to be met must complete a Graduation Application in the self-service portal by the stated deadlines.

Students may complete a second major at Vanguard University and have the second major indicated on the transcript and diploma; however, only those students who have achieved a second Bachelor’s degree will be awarded a second diploma and be permitted to participate in the commencement ceremonies for a second time.

GRADUATE DEGREE

Candidates for the Master of Arts, Master of Science, or Master of Science in Nursing degrees must meet the following institutional requirements:

1. A major in a department must be completed as prescribed by the catalog; and at least fifty percent (50%)  of the major must be completed at Vanguard University.
2. A Graduation Application must be completed in the self-service portal on or before the stated deadlines. 

AWARDING OF ACADEMIC DEGREES

Academic degrees are formally conferred six times per year: at the end the first 8-week term and at the end of the full term of the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters, once completion of final course work has been confirmed. The degree is posted on the transcript as of the last day of the term in which the graduation requirements are met. Commencement exercises are held annually at the end of the Spring term. Diplomas will not be issued to any student whose Vanguard account is not paid in full or whose Federal Perkins Loan is delinquency status.

DEGREE RESCISSION POLICY

The University reserves the right to rescind any academic degree it has conferred if program requirements have not been met or if it is determined that fraud has been involved in the acquisition of the degree.