Graduation Requirements

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

To earn the Associate of Arts, The Associate of Fine Arts, the Associate of Science, the Associate of Science in Teaching, or the Associate of Applied Science Degree at Motlow State Community College, students must do the following:

1. Complete curriculum requirements for the specific degree and major (and concentration or area of emphasis, if applicable) selected. No course or courses may be used to meet more than one requirement in a given program. These items apply to all programs completed for a degree:
   1. Not fewer than sixty (60) semester hours of college-level credit.
   2. A minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of coursework must be completed in residence at Motlow State Community College.
   3. A cumulative grade point average of not less than 2.00 (“C” average) for the degree program excluding all hours earned in learning support courses.
   4. All learning support course requirements must be met and all high school deficiencies must be removed.

To earn the Associate of Science in Teaching Degree at Motlow State Community College, students must meet each of the requirements listed above with the additional requirement that students who qualify for the A.S.T. must satisfy the following:

1. Attainment of a cumulative 2.75 grade point average
2. Successful completion of the PRAXIS I
3. Achievement of satisfactory rating on an index of suitability for the teaching profession
4. Achievement of “C” or better in ENGL 1010 and ENGL1020 and each of the Mathematics (MATH) and Education (EDU) courses in the curriculum.

2. An Intent to Graduate form and Cap and Gown Measurement form should be filed with the Office of Admissions and Records no later than the following dates: Spring Semester – March 15, Summer Semester – July 1, Fall Semester – October 25 by anyone who plans to receive a degree in May, August, or December of the current academic year.
3. Students who complete requirements by August should plan to participate in graduation the preceding May. Those who will not complete degree requirements until fall term must wait until the following spring to take part in the graduation ceremony.
4. REQUIRED STUDENT ASSESSMENT AND PROGRAM EVALUATION: All graduating students are required to take the ETS Proficiency Profile test designed to measure general education achievement, and graduates of career programs are required to take competency tests applicable to the chosen major for the purpose of evaluation of the career program, as required by public policy. Unless otherwise provided for in any individual program, no minimum score or level of achievement is required for graduation. Participation in testing is required for all graduating students. In order to comply fully with this provision, the student must authorize the release of his or her scores to Motlow College. Individual student scores will be treated as confidential.

INTENT TO GRADUATE

Completing the Intent to Graduate process and participating in the graduation ceremony require that the student meet the following criteria:

1. Complete all learning support.
2. For Spring and Summer graduates – Be able to complete all program requirements described in the catalog of record by end of summer semester following the spring semester in which he/she plans to participate in the graduation ceremony.
3. For Fall Graduates – Be able to complete all program requirements described in the catalog of record by end of summer semester following the spring semester in which he/she plans to participate in the graduation ceremony.
4. Have a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all collegiate-level courses attempted at the time the Intent to Graduate form is filed.
5. Pick up Intent to Graduate form (which includes the Cap and Gown Measurement form) from the Admissions and Records Office (Moore County) or Administrative Office (satellite campuses).
6. Print and attach Graduating Planning System (GPS) degree audit to the Intent to Graduate form.
7. Meet with an advisor to discuss graduation requirements and complete the Intent to Graduate form. An advisor must sign the Intent to Graduate form, signifying that you have met all degree requirements.
8. Have your advisor assist in completing any necessary substitution, waiver, and/or repeat forms.
9. Student should complete the Cap and Gown Measurement Form.
10. Complete and submit the following completed documents to the Office of Admissions and Records office (Moore County) or Administrative Office (satellite campuses): 

• GPS degree audit
• Intent to Graduate Form
• Substitution waiver and repeat forms, if necessary
• Cap and Gown Measurement Form

FORMS ARE DUE IN THE ADMISSIONS AND RECORDS OFFICE PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE:

11. Complete competency examinations. Register (via MyMotlow) and complete the ETS Proficiency Profile (Exit Exam). All students are required to take tests designed to measure general education achievement. In addition, some students majoring in career programs may be required to take competency tests applicable to the chosen major for the purpose of evaluation of academic programs. Unless otherwise provided for in an individual program, no minimum score or level of achievement on these tests is required for graduation.

(Intent to Graduate forms for students who fail to complete all requirements by the end of summer term following spring graduation are VOID. Students MUST submit a new Intent to Graduate form prior to the stated deadline immediately prior to their next anticipated date of graduation.)

The graduation ceremony is held at the end of spring semester each year. Students who have completed all degree requirements and those who will complete degree requirements in the summer term of the current year will be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony.

Those who will not complete degree requirements until fall term must wait until the following spring to take part in the graduation ceremony.

Transcripts for students who complete degree requirements will be appropriately posted following the term in which the degree requirements are completed.

INTENT TO RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF CREDIT

An Intent to Receive a Certificate of Credit form must be completed by October 25 in the fall semester before the certificate of credit is to be awarded in December, May, or August of the current academic year. A student may obtain the form in the Office of Admissions and Records or in any department office. The completed form will indicate the certificate of credit to be received, the effective catalog year, and the projected date for completion of all program requirements. The student should verify the required information with the academic advisor and confirm with the advisor that all certificate of credit requirements will be met by the projected date of graduation. The completed form with the signature of the advisor is to be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Records by October 25 of the completion year. If a student does not finish the certificate of credit requirements during the year that the Intent form is filed, he/she should contact the Office of Admissions and Records during the term that requirements will be completed.

ETS PROFICIENCY PROFILE (EXIT EXAM)

The ETS Proficiency Profile (Exit Exam) is required for all degree programs. This exam must be taken in the same semester that the final coursework is completed. For example, students who complete coursework in the summer term must take the ETS Exit Exam during the summer, even if the student participated in the graduation ceremony. Failure to take the ETS Exit Exam in the appropriate semester will result in a hold on the student’s account; thereby, the student’s transcript and/or diploma will not be released.

BUSINESS AND EDUCATION FIELD TESTS

Students seeking any business-related degree must take an additional test. To register for this test, please see an advisor/instructor within the Business and Technology department.

Students seeking the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in the Early Childhood Education (ECED) must take an additional test. To register for this test, please see an advisor/instructor within the Education department.

CERTIFICATE OF CREDIT COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

The student who receives a certificate of credit may participate in graduation exercises. To receive a certificate of credit at Motlow State Community College, students must do the following:

1. All students must complete curriculum requirements for the specific certificate of credit program selected. A cumulative grade point average of not less than 2.00 (“C” average) is required excluding all hours earned in learning support courses.
2. An Intent to Receive a Certificate of Credit form must be filed with the Office of Admissions and Records no later than October 25 if the program is to be completed by May, August, or December of that year.
3. A Cap and Gown form must be completed.

AWARDING DEGREES OR CERTIFICATES OF CREDIT

When a student has met all graduation or certificate-of-credit requirements, the transcript will be posted to indicate that the degree has been awarded, and a diploma or certificate of credit will be issued. The date of the award will correspond to the term in which the student completed all requirements. Students in degree programs who participate in graduation exercises and subsequently complete all other requirements will receive diplomas following the term in which all requirements are met.

RECEIVING A SECOND ASSOCIATE DEGREE

A second degree will be awarded only when a student has completed a second associate degree of a different designation – Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Science in Teaching, or Associate of Applied Science. The second degree provision applies only to the designation, not to additional majors, concentrations, or areas of emphasis. The student will be governed by the provisions of the catalog in effect at the time work toward the second degree is initiated.

AWARDS AND HONORS

Students graduating with an inclusive combined grade point average will receive the corresponding honor designation on their diplomas: 

3.80–4.00   Summa Cum Laude

3.50–3.79   Magna Cum Laude

3.30–3.49   Cum Laude

DEAN’S LIST

The Dean’s List each semester includes names of full-time students who have a 3.50–4.00 GPA for collegiate-level courses for the semester.

HONOR ROLL

The Honor Roll each semester includes names of full-time students who have a 3.00–3.49 GPA for collegiate-level courses for the semester.