Degree Checking

GUS Audit Assistance: The GUS audit is a helpful tool for students, providing support in monitoring their progress toward completing their selected degree/major/emphasis/minor, in consultation with their advisor.

Official Degree Check Application: Students are encouraged to apply for the official degree check when the graduation term's 'Anticipated Graduation Date' is within the current academic year (details provided in the GUS audit).

Keeping Anticipated Graduation Date Updated: To receive timely alerts for filing the official degree check, ensure that your 'Anticipated Graduation Date' (discussed with your advisor) is up-to-date in your student record. This information can be accessed in GUS Classic under 'Degree Information' by viewing the 'Anticipated Graduation Date'. If incorrect, return to the Home Page and select 'Change Graduation Term' from the drop-down box.

Special Instructions for Certain Programs:

• Certificate of Completion or Associate degree in a technology area: File for an official check during the first semester of the program, contacting the coordinator of the specific Technology area for guidance.
• Bachelor of Science in Career and Technical Education degree, Bachelor of Applied Science degree, or transfer Nursing students: Establish the Anticipated Graduation date early in the advisement process, and communicate any major substitutions or coursework adjustments promptly to the Degree Checking Office.

Contact Information: For additional information or assistance, students can reach out to the Degree Checking Office.

Program requirements are commonly divided into three areas:

1. General Education Requirements
2. Major/Emphasis requirements
3. Minor requirements

1. Any changes made to the stated General Education requirements for your area of study must be approved by the Dean of your college. Your advisor or department chair may recommend a substitution for a General Education course, etc. This request must be initiated in the Registrar's Office. Mariah Laman, Transcript Analyst, receives these requests and forwards them to the appropriate Dean for approval. The approval/non approval information is then sent ot the Degree Checking Office (DCO) for posting in your file.

2. Any changes made to the Major/Emphasis/Option requirements may be recommended by your advisor, but the request must be approved and signed by the Chair of the Department of your major. This approval is then forwarded to the Degree Checking Office.

3. The Chair of the Department that offers the minor that you are pursuing must approve any changes in the Minor requirements. That approval is then forwarded to the Degree Checking Office.

PLEASE NOTE:  Any changes to program requirements are not complete until the proper approval is sent to the Degree Checking Office and posted to your file. You may call the DCO (620-235-4211) to check on the status of your request.

When a student first enrolls in any college or university with nine hours or more, that student is placed in a specific catalog to follow to earn a degree. This is the catalog that is currently in effect for that enrollment year. The student then has 6 years from their first enrollment year to complete the program under that catalog. A student does, however, have the option to move up to any subsequent catalog that is published.

A catalog is active for a period of six years. For example, the 2016-2017 University catalog will expire the end of the 2022 summer session for students who take their first college course fall semester 2016 or before (Fall 2016 + 6 = Summer 2022). Those students who take their first college course after fall 2016 will have six years to complete their degree under the 2016-2017 University catalog (e.g. Fall 2018 + 6 = Fall 2024).

A major or minor must be legislated in a catalog in order for the student to complete the program under that given catalog. A student must choose the same catalog in which to complete a major, minor, and all general education requirements. 

Any questions concerning the University catalog may be directed to the Degree Checking Office (620-235-4211).

Faculty and Staff:

What is a degree audit?

A degree audit lists all requirements to be met for the degree, major, and minor as selected by the student. The degree audit is available on line through the GUS Web enrollment system, from your advisor, or from the Degree Checking (Certification) Office.

What is an official degree check, and how does the official degree check differ from an audit?

The use of the online GUS audit assists students (in consultation with their advisor) in monitoring their progress through the completion of the selected degree/major/emphasis/minor. Students are asked to apply for the official degree check when the graduation term—‘Anticipated Graduation Date’—is within the current academic year (see information listed at the end of the GUS audit).

The GUS audit will display a prompt for students to apply for an Official Degree Check if they will be graduating during the semesters/term listed at the end of the audit. If you are planning to graduate during any of those terms listed, follow that link and verify all information and make corrections, as needed, and submit the request.

Upon receipt and acceptance of the request, the Degree Checking Office will send an approval e-mail to the student. The student's permanent record and current enrollment will be examined in detail to assess progress toward the degree objective. An official audit is sent to the student following the record analysis outlining specific requirements which must be met before the degree may be granted. A copy of the official audit is sent to the student's advisor.

To ensure that you will be alerted to the appropriate time to file for the official degree check, please keep your ‘Anticipated Graduation Date’ (as discussed with your advisor) updated in your student record. This date can be found by going to GUS Classic, selecting ‘Degree Information’, and viewing ‘Anticipated Graduation Date’. If this date is incorrect, please return to your Home Page and select ‘Change Graduation Term’. The drop down box will allow you to select the appropriate term.

Why do I need an official degree check?

A degree cannot be granted without official application from a student. After the application has been made and processed, a file is created for that student in which any information concerning the completion of the program of study is maintained. It is from this student file that graduation progress is monitored and the diploma for the degree is ordered.

What information do I need to have to complete a request form for an official degree check?

The student will also be asked to verify or select: Degree (BS, BSE, BSET, etc)

• Major
• Emphasis/option, if required
• Minor, if required
• Diploma Name and mailing address
• Hometown city/state/country

A University catalog will also need to be selected.  The graduation date, as discussed with your advisor, will need to be determined before submitting the degree check request.

I am planning to complete two majors. Can I also get two diplomas/degrees?

A student graduating with two majors receives only one degree. The degree of the first major is listed on the diploma/transcript of record.

A second baccalaureate degree may be granted in a major area other than that in which the first baccalaureate degree was granted provided the student has met all requirements for the second baccalaureate degree, including not less than thirty (30) semester hours of Pittsburg State University undergraduate credit with a minimum grade point average of 2.000 after the first degree was granted.

Dual Degrees: A student who earns a bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State University may be granted a second bachelor's degree in a major area/degree other than the first degree was granted provided the student has met all requirements for the second degree, including no fewer than thirty semester hours of Pittsburg State University credit beyond the number required for the first degree.  In cases where two (Dual) degrees will be awarded in the same semester, the student will designate which is to be his or her 'first degree' for purposes of this policy. (See University Catalog, Requirements for All Baccalaureate Degrees, # 15). All Dual Degrees must be declared at the Degree Checking Office, 102 Russ Hall, two semesters prior to the awarding of the degrees.

What do I need to do if I'm planning to graduate at the end of a certain semester?

It is the responsibility of the student to verify his/her final enrollment at the beginning of the last semester. This may be done on GUS, but it is suggested that the student stop by the Degree Checking Office to be certain all requirements are covered.

Approximately four weeks after the beginning of the final semester, a student will receive an e-mail through GUS mail indicating that either 1) you have been approved to apply for graduation, or 2) you must stop by the Degree Checking Office to verify remaining degree requirements and tentative graduation date. View the links provided in the approval e-mail to complete the application for graduation [summer graduates apply at the same time as spring graduates, approximately late February].

A graduation fee is $55 (for undergraduate students) and is required for all graduating undergraduate students. 

To receive a baccalaureate degree* from Pittsburg State University, the following minimum requirements must be met:

• A minimum of 124 credit hours must be completed. The credit hours for courses that are considered pre-college level courses (see catalog course descriptions, e.g. MATH 017 "Not counted toward the total hours required for a degree") will increase the minimum number of credit hours required. For example, if MATH 017 is a three hour course and is completed, the minimum hours required for the degree will be 127 (124 + 3 hr. Math 017).

• A minimum of 60 credit hours must be completed at a four-year school. (Community Colleges are two-year institutions.)

• A minimum of 45 credit hours must be completed at the upper division level (numbered 300 - 799). These hours are junior/senior level courses which is why they cannot be earned at a community college (See Transfer Course Work).

• To earn a baccalaureate degree from Pittsburg State University, a minimum of 30 hours must be completed in residency (at PSU).

• A cumulative grade point average of 2.000 must be attained to receive the baccalaureate degree. Be aware that certain grade point averages may be required in specific areas as well: e.g. certain degrees, major, minor, residency, teacher education general education core, teacher education admission, College of Business admission, etc. For more information concerning specific grade point requirements, contact the Department of your major and the Degree Checking Office.

• A maximum of six semester hours of nonresident credit (correspondence courses, or work at another college or university) may be applied on the last thirty hours prior to graduation.

• The graduation fee of $55 must be paid before an undergraduate degree may be granted.

*Contact the Degree Checking Office with questions concerning requirements for Certificate of Completion and Associate's degrees.

For those students who have a baccalaureate degree and wish to obtain Teacher Certification without pursuing a second baccalaureate degree, contact:

• Amanda Hill, Teacher Certification, 620-235-6153 or
• Jean Dockers, Director/Teacher Education, 620-235-4636

The Degree Checking Office does not handle Teacher Certification requirements.

If you choose to pursue a second baccalaureate degree after speaking with Ms. Hill or Dr. Dockers, contact the Degree Checking Office to file for an official degree check for the second degree.

**A minimum of 30 hours is required for a second baccalaureate degree.**

If you have made the decision to transfer in course work from another University/College to apply to the requirements for your program of study, it is your responsibility to verify that the course that you are taking is equivalent to the required Pittsburg State University course. This can be done by checking the Transfer Equivalencies Guide on the Registrar's Home Page or by contacting Mariah Laman, Transcript Analysis Specialist, 620-235-4253.

Here are some facts about transfer work:

• An official transcript showing the completed course(s) must be sent from that institution directly to the Registrar's Office at Pittsburg State University. Faxed transcripts, transcripts sent by students, or hand delivered copies (unless presented in a college-sealed envelope) are not considered official transcripts.
• Courses transferred from other 4 year institutions will be designated upper or lower division according to the original institution's numbering system. Courses from 2 year institutions will be designated as lower division courses, regardless of the course number assigned as transfer credit. Remedial courses do not transfer as degree credit
• Care should be taken to avoid completing courses at a community college if the four-year-college-hours requirement (minimum of sixty hours from a four-year school for a baccalaureate degree) has or will not be met.

• A maximum of six (6) semester hours of nonresident credit (correspondence courses, or work at another college or university) may be applied on the last thirty hours prior to graduation.

Any questions concerning transfer requirements may be directed to the Degree Checking Office, 620-235-4211, or to Mariah Laman at 620-235-4253.