Second Bachelor’s Degree Policy

Second Bachelor’s Degree Policy

Sponsor:

Academic Affairs

Contact:

Provost, Academic Affairs

Category:

Academic

Number:

100.105

Effective Date:

05/06/1980

Implementation History:

Approved: May 6, 1980; Supersedes 1976 Policy; Revised May 2014 for implementation September 2014; May 1996; February 1996

Keywords:

Second Bachelor’s Degree, Second Degree, 2nd Degree

Background Information:

Purpose

This policy outlines the criteria for the awarding of a second bachelor’s degree.

Definitions

Statements

Occasionally, people who already hold bachelor's degrees from Empire State College or other institutions seek to enroll for a second degree. Potential students who seek to enroll for a second bachelor's at Empire State College should first consider that other approaches may be preferable. They should consider whether they might be better served by seeking to enroll in an appropriate master's program or by taking a traditional course or sequence of courses or by enrolling as non-matriculated students at Empire State.

In some cases, however, potential students will be well aware of alternatives and still choose to seek a second bachelor's degree. Such students will be subject to the same graduation requirements as all other students, viz., they will have to complete satisfactorily an approved degree program including 124 credits with at least 31 new credits of contract learning. The program also must include at least 4 credits of educational planning. Previous credit from Empire State College and other accredited degree granting institutions as well as assessed learning may be credited toward a second bachelor's degree up to a limit of 93 credits. A second bachelor's degree program must include at least 4 credits of educational planning, but planning of both degrees may be done in the same contract. A second bachelor's degree must meet a significantly different educational objective from the first degree.

The college will in no case award two degrees for the same 124 credits. Students who wish a double concentration within a single degree may develop such a program but they will not receive two degrees. Students who complete an Empire State College bachelor's degree must reapply for admission if they wish to pursue a second bachelor's degree. Some forms of financial aid are not available to students pursuing undergraduate study beyond a first bachelor's degree.

The college also complies with the SUNY policy on awarding of two degrees at the same level.

Applicable Legislation and Regulations

Related References, Policies, Procedures, Forms and Appendices

Related Policies: Advanced Standing Credit: Transcript Credit; Policy and Procedures for Degree Program and Portfolio Review and Approval; Degree Program Rationale Policy; Individual Prior Learning Assessment Policy and Procedures; Breadth of Degree Programs and SUNY General Education Requirements; Individualized Program Design: Bachelor’s Degrees