Earning a Second Degree at Lakeland

Students with Two or More Majors*

• Pursuit of two majors in the same degree categorization will result in only one degree awarded, regardless of credit accumulated.
• Students who declare two or more majors with differing degree distinctions are granted only one baccalaureate degree and receive only one diploma upon graduation if they have completed fewer than 150 semester hours associated with both degree requirements.
• Students must complete at least 120 total semester hours of appropriate coursework and all graduation, major, and minor/emphases (if applicable) requirements in order to have degree conferred. 
• Students must earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 or better in Lakeland University coursework and must have a minimum 2.0 GPA in any program for it to be recognized as a completed program on their transcript.
• Students must select which degree designation they want to receive by contacting the Registrar’s office or application for graduation.
• One degree (B.A., B.F.A., B.S., B.S.N.) is annotated on the transcript along with record of all successfully completed majors/minors.

Second Bachelor’s Degree*

Dual Degree (concurrent completion)

• Students may have two degrees (diplomas) awarded if the two degree designations differ. Pursuit of two majors in the same degree categorization will result in only one degree awarded, regardless of credit accumulated.
• Students must complete a minimum of 150 semester hours of coursework, the final 30 semester hours of which must be completed in residency at Lakeland University.
• Students must meet all interdisciplinary studies, major, and minor/emphases (as applicable) requirements.
• Students must earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 or better in Lakeland University coursework and must have a minimum 2.0 GPA in any program for it to be recognized as a completed program on their transcript.
• Both degrees with respective majors, minors/emphases will be annotated on the academic transcript with same degree date.

  NOTE: Federal financial aid guidelines require adjustments of aid once a student has completed the first bachelor’s degree. Students who wish to be eligible for financial aid throughout the completion of both degree requirements must:

  • Complete a Change of Major/Minor/Advisor form to indicate intent to earn two degrees while at Lakeland University. 

  • Schedule their coursework to ensure that one of the following cases is met:

    • One course applicable to both degrees is completed in the last semester of attendance at Lakeland (e.g., Core III or other interdisciplinary studies requirement).
    • One course specific to each degree sought is completed in the last semester of attendance at Lakeland.
    • Students hoping to complete two degrees with the requirements above should announce their intentions early to receive proper advising through their advisor and/or the Registrar’s Office. 

Second Degrees (sequentially completed)

Students who have previously earned a degree from Lakeland University or from an accredited college or university can earn a second bachelor’s degree if the following criteria are met:

• The second degree must have a different degree designation than the prior degree (B.A., B.F.A., B.S. or B.S.N.).
• Students must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework beyond the initial degree requirements through Lakeland University.
• Students must meet all major/minor and other degree-specific requirements of the second degree.
• Students must earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 or better in Lakeland University coursework and a minimum 2.0 GPA within the major and/or minor.
• Both degrees (if both earned at Lakeland) with respective majors, minors/emphases will be annotated on the academic transcript with two different degree dates.
• Second-degree candidates, with the exception of education students as noted below, are exempt from the Interdisciplinary Studies requirements of the university.

  Note: Second-degree candidates seeking teacher certification are required to follow a discrete set of requirements: earn a 3.0 GPA for all coursework applied to teacher certification requirements; complete specific Interdisciplinary Studies, major, minor, and professional sequence courses; achieve passing scores on the Praxis CORE and Praxis II examinations and on the edTPA; and satisfy all other state-mandated requirements. Refer to the Education  section of this catalog for additional details on the Education program.

*A degree or degree(s) will not be rescinded, retroactively awarded or altered once conferred.