Dual Degree Guidelines

Dual Degree Guidelines

Paul Smith’s College baccalaureate degrees (B.A., B.S., or B.P.S) require 120-121 credits inclusive of a relevant culminating or Capstone experience. The conferral of a second degree is reserved for those students who have satisfied degree requirements in an essentially different area. This requires 24 credits or more in course work different from the primary degree, including a different culminating experience (Capstone). Eighteen (18) of those credits must be upper division coursework. Integrated general education requirements earned for the first degree can be applied to the second degree. The additional course work should provide opportunities for the students to gain essentially different competencies aligned with the new program’s requirements, goals, and learning outcome expectations.

Paul Smith’s College associate degrees (AS, AAS, AA) require 60-63 credits. The conferral of a second associate’s degree is reserved for those students who have satisfied degree requirements for the second associate’s degree. This requires 12 credits or more in course work different from the primary degree. Integrated general education requirements earned for the first degree can be applied to the second degree. The additional course work should provide opportunities for the students to gain essentially different competencies aligned with the new program’s requirements, goals, and learning outcome expectations.

No more than 75% of the additional credits for the second bachelor’s degree or 50% of the additional credits for the associate’s degree can come from transfer credit. Students applying for a second degree must have earned an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Students seeking an additional degree must consult with their advisor and then complete the “dual degree” form and have it approved by the Department Chair of the Department offering the second degree. To be effective in the current semester the form must be completed and submitted to the Registrar’s office prior to the end of the add period for the current semester.

Dual concentrations within one program are not considered separate degrees. Students who wish to add credentials in areas that are similar to their major program (as defined below) are encouraged to add a minor in that area.

The following programs are considered "essentially the same" and therefore will not be allowed to earn two degrees in these combinations

  • Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences (Fisheries or Wildlife Concentrations), Environmental Sciences, Biology, Ecological Restoration
  • Natural Resources Conservation & Management, Sustainable Communities & Working Landscapes, Parks & Conservation Management
  • Entrepreneurial Business Studies, Hotel, Resort & Tourism Management, Food Service Management
  • Integrative Studies and any program (or related program defined above) used as a Topic Area.

Students who wish to add credentials in areas that are similar to their major program (as defined above) should be encouraged to add a minor in that area.

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