Each student is responsible for proper completion of his or her academic program, for familiarity with the University of North Carolina at Pembroke Catalog, for maintaining the grade point average required, and for meeting all other degree requirements. The academic advisor will counsel, but the final responsibility for a successful college career rests with the student.

To earn a baccalaureate degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, students must earn a minimum of 120 hours of course credit in a program of study that includes a Freshman Seminar (UNV 1000), required of all freshmen during their first 15 hours; a General Education program of 44 hours; a Writing Intensive Program of 9 hours; completion of Indigenous Cultures and Communities and Foundations of American Democracy requirements; and at least one academic major. More details of these requirements can be found in the links at the top of this page.

UNC Pembroke operates on the traditional two‑semester system and offers an extensive summer program designed to permit the academic acceleration of regular university students and to serve the needs of public-school teachers. Summer Session is divided into two terms.

Requirements for a Major

A major is a planned program of study of between 30‑50 semester hours of course credit, exclusive of courses applied to satisfy General Education requirements. At least 15 hours of credit must be in courses numbered above 2999.

Detailed requirements for majors have been established by each department and can be found in the sections of this catalog describing undergraduate programs of study in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Thomas College of Business and Economics, and School of Education.

Requirements for a Double Major

A student may elect to earn majors in two separate disciplines on the condition that the student meets all requirements for each major. The student who completes requirements for more than one major will receive only one degree and diploma; the academic record will indicate both majors.

Requirements for a Minor

A minor represents a secondary field of study designed to complement the major for a degree-seeking student. A minor typically consists of 18 to 21 semester hours of coursework beyond what is already required for a related major. Some academic programs may require students to earn a minor. Students whose academic programs do not require a minor are free to earn one, with the understanding that fulfilling the requirements for a minor may delay their graduation. Acceptance into the minor and approval of any exceptions to the stated requirements of the minor will be approved by the academic department. Students are eligible to seek up to 2 minors in any of the undergraduate colleges as long as the prerequisites for the courses have been met. Additional minors require approval by the academic dean or provost designee.

Students who wish to complete a minor must earn at least 9 hours of distinct coursework in the minor in residence at UNCP; no more than 6 credits in the minor may be shared with other major or minor requirements.

The award of a minor requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 in the minor coursework. Minors are awarded at the same time the bachelor’s degree is awarded. Students may not be awarded a minor after the degree for the major has been conferred. The minor appears on the academic transcript.

Special Programs

Students earning a baccalaureate degree may take advantage of one or more special programs. Aerospace Studies (Air Force ROTC), Military Science (Army ROTC), and Teacher Education are described under the School of Education.

Course Load and Progress Toward Graduation

Students are expected to enroll in at least 15‑16 semester hours credit per term so that it is possible for them to graduate in four years (eight semesters). Full‑time students must carry at least 12 semester hours each semester. The maximum load is 18 semester hours except as follows. Students who are on the Honors List may take up to 19 semester hours; students who are on the Chancellor’s List may take up to 21 semester hours. Summer session students may carry no more than 3 semester hours during Maymester, no more than 7 semester hours during Summer I, no more than 7 semester hours during Summer II, and Winter session, no more than 4 semester hours can be taken. All course work counts toward student load whether the student is enrolled for credit or as an auditor at this or another institution.

All undergraduate degree programs at UNCP require between 120‑128 semester hours for graduation. To graduate in 4 years (8 semesters), it is necessary to take (and pass) 15‑16 semester hours for 8 semesters. Students must work with their advisors and their major departments to ensure that they follow the scheduling sequence of required courses for their majors.

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Graduating with a baccalaureate degree involves meeting a detailed set of requirements to ensure a well-rounded and complete academic experience. Though appropriate UNCP faculty and staff make every effort to ensure that students register for the courses required by their chosen degree program, the ultimate responsibility for meeting graduation requirements lies with the individual student.

To confer a baccalaureate degree, UNCP students must fulfill the following requirements:

Credit Requirement: Earn a minimum of 120 academic credits.
Academic Residence: Complete at least 25% of total required credits at UNCP, half of which must be within the major (beyond the general education program level). If declared, 9 credits required for a minor must be completed in residence at UNCP.
Curriculum Requirements: Complete the General Education curriculum, Writing Enriched and Writing in the Discipline (WE/WD), Indigenous Cultures and Communities (ICC), and Foundations of American Democracy (FAD) requirements, along with the requirements specific to the academic school and major. Complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of 3000 and 4000 level coursework in the major.
Catalog Adherence: Follow the academic catalog in place at the time of matriculation or readmittance. Students will not be permitted to combine requirements from different catalog years.
Grade Point Average (GPA): Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 for all UNCP coursework and a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major field of study as well as minor, if declared.
Transfer Credits: Ensure all transfer credits are received and posted. Details on transfer policies and acceptable accreditors are available on the university’s website at Exams for Credit.
Degree Application: Submit an undergraduate graduation application (with applicable payment) at least one year in advance - April 1st for the following year’s spring or summer commencement and by November 1st for the following year’s winter commencement - or upon completion of 75 credit hours (by the end of the first junior semester). Consult your advisor and the Registrar’s Office website for further details, deadlines, and forms. If the candidate fails to meet this requirement as specified, the student must wait until the next commencement to receive their degree and diploma.

Degrees are conferred three times each year: after winter and spring commencement ceremonies and at the end of the summer sessions. Once a degree is conferred, it will not be amended.

Undergraduate Certificate Programs

Program Description
The Undergraduate Certificate Program is designed to provide students with focused, career-relevant knowledge in a specialized area of study. This program equips students with practical skills and foundational competencies that support professional advancement, academic development, and lifelong learning.

The certificate is available to both degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students and may be completed as a standalone credential or in conjunction with a bachelor’s degree. Typically, these programs include a minimum of 12 semester credits of undergraduate-level course work.

Program Requirements

Minimum Credits: Completion of at least 12 semester credit hours of approved undergraduate coursework.
Curriculum: Students must complete all required courses within the certificate program as prescribed. Electives may be included if applicable to the program structure.
Grade Requirements: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 is required for all certificate coursework. Individual programs may establish higher GPA standards.
Transfer Credit: A maximum of 6 semester credit hours may be applied from approved transfer coursework, subject to institutional policies.
Residency Requirement: At least 50% of the certificate coursework must be completed at the institution. A maximum of 6 semester credit hours from a previously conferred UNCP degree or certificate may be applied to a certificate.
Enrollment Eligibility: Students must be admitted to the institution as either degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking students and meet any additional program-specific admission criteria.
- Note: Non-degree seeking students who are actively pursuing or previously completed a certificate and want to earn a degree, must apply through the Office of Admissions to transition to degree-seeking status and formally declare a degree program.

Certificate Conferral Requirements

Application for Completion: Students must submit a Certificate Completion Application by the published deadline, typically at the beginning of the term in which they intend to complete all requirements.
Completion Verification: All academic requirements, including coursework and GPA, must be satisfied and verified by the institution.
Conferral Timing: Certificates are awarded in accordance with the institution’s official conferral schedule. For degree-seeking students, certificates will be awarded concurrently with the bachelor’s degree.
Credential Awarded: The certificate will be issued as an official eCertificate credential and recorded on the student’s academic transcript.
Restrictions:
- Certificates are not awarded retroactively.

Certificate program completion is not recognized in undergraduate commencement ceremonies.

Undergraduate Certificate Completion Requirements

Academic Residence: At least 50% of the certificate coursework must be completed at the institution. A maximum of 6 semester credit hours from a previously conferred UNCP degree or certificate may be applied to a certificate.

Catalog Adherence: Follow the academic catalog in place at the time of matriculation or readmittance. Students will not be permitted to combine requirements from different catalog years.
Grade Point Average (GPA): Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 for all UNCP certificate coursework.
Transfer Credits: Ensure all transfer credits are received and posted. Details on transfer policies and acceptable accreditors are available on the university’s website at Exams for Credit.
Certificate Application: Submit an undergraduate certificate application (with applicable payment) prior to final course or with undergraduate graduation application. Consult your advisor and the Registrar’s Office website for further details, deadlines, and forms. Certificate programs are not recognized in commencement ceremonies.

Certificates can be awarded three times each year: after winter and spring commencement ceremonies and at the end of the summer sessions. For students pursuing an undergraduate degree and certificate simultaneously, the certificate will be awarded in the year and term the undergraduate degree is conferred; the certificate will not be awarded prior to undergraduate degree completion. A digital credential recognizing the certificate achievement will be issued to the student. Once a certificate is awarded, it will not be amended.

Requirements for a Second Baccalaureate Degree

A student with a bachelor’s degree may receive a second baccalaureate degree as long as the second degree is in a different major and by meeting the following requirements:

The student must meet all the requirements for the second degree and major.
The student must complete a minimum of 30 hours in residence beyond the requirement for the first degree. (A minimum of 150 hours is required.)
The student must meet with the major department chair to determine an individual education plan. This plan must be forwarded to the Registrar.

A student without a bachelor’s degree may receive two different baccalaureate degrees by fulfilling the following requirements:

The student must meet all the requirements for one degree (primary major).
The student must complete a minimum of 30 unduplicated hours in a different major and a different degree (secondary major). (A minimum of 150 hours is required.)
The student must meet with both major department chairs to determine an individual education plan. This plan must be forwarded to the Registrar.

Commencement

A student may complete baccalaureate degree requirements at the end of fall, spring or summer sessions. A student who completes requirements in fall or spring will attend commencement at that time. A student who completes graduation at the close of the summer sessions will have the option of returning to participate in the winter commencement or of receiving the diploma in absentia. If the student elects to receive the diploma in absentia, the student must submit to the Registrar one month prior to commencement a written request which indicates the address to which the diploma will be mailed. Regardless of when a student graduates, all diplomas will be mailed out six (6) weeks after commencement.

A student may participate in commencement exercises if they have met all the requirements for graduation. When commencement takes place before final grades are processed, a student may participate in commencement if the Registrar has not been notified that the student will not meet all the requirements by the last day of exams. Degree conferral is solely dependent on the completion of degree requirements. Participation in commencement exercises does not imply graduation is imminent.

For detailed information and instructions about commencement, visit the Commencement Website.

Graduation With Honors

Graduating seniors may be considered for honors if they have earned a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.40 for 45 semester hours of course work in residence at UNCP. All UNCP course work attempted (including repeated hours) will be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA for determining the honors designation awarded. Students who attain a cumulative GPA of 3.85 or higher are graduated summa cum laude. Those who achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.70 are graduated magna cum laude and students who’s cumulative GPA is at least 3.40 are graduated cum laude.

Students who achieve the hours and the GPA requirement at the beginning of the last semester of their senior year will be recognized at commencement. The final assessment is done after graduation and honors are pending for all students until this is completed. The honors designation will appear on the student’s diploma and transcript.

Career Center

The Career Center provides high-quality career development programs customized to students’ developmental and professional needs. Services including one-on-one career advising, career assessments, career exploration, career events, and others are available. For further information regarding Career Center resources, please visit the Career Center Website or contact us at 910-521-6270.

Transient Registration

Students seeking permission to take a course as a visitor at another university to apply toward a degree at UNCP must adhere to the following policies:

Have written approval from UNCP advisor or UNCP Department Chair if the course is part of their major curriculum.
Have written approval from the UNCP Registrar.
Be in good academic standing with a minimum 2.00 GPA.
Have an official transcript submitted to the UNCP Office of the Registrar immediately upon completion of the course.
Courses will be evaluated and applied in accordance to UNCP’s transfer credit evaluation policies and the student’s declared program requirements. Courses with an earned grade of “C-” or better will be considered for transfer.

Written approval from the advisor or department chair and the registrar should be obtained using the appropriate form found on the Registrar’s Office website.