Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

B. General Education Requirements for Degree Completion Program — B.A., B.F.A., B.S., or B.S.N. Degree

Degree Completion

A degree completion program is specifically designed for students who have started, but not finished, a four-year undergraduate degree. By accepting some or all credits a student has already earned from their previous education, degree completion programs offer students a faster and often less expensive alternative to starting an undergraduate education from scratch. In addition to accepting students who have started and not finished a bachelor’s degree, some degree completion programs cater specifically to students who have already earned an associate degree.

Athens and Demorest Campuses
To enter a degree completion program, Piedmont University must accept a minimum of 45 semester units of college-level credit from an accredited college or university or nationally recognized examination credit (CLEP or similar). First-time in college students who have earned 45 hours or more in dual enrollment and/or advanced placement courses are not eligible for the degree completion program and must enter as traditional freshmen. Students with fewer than 45 hours may appeal to the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences to enter the program.

Those who have completed an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree at an accredited college or university are deemed to have completed the general education requirements at Piedmont University. This exemption does not apply to other associate degrees (e.g. AAS or AAT).

Applicants who have not earned an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree will need to complete the degree completion general education requirements as outlined in the university catalog.

Credit is transferrable only for courses in which a grade of C or above is earned.

Special Populations (Paraprofessional to Teacher)

Paraprofessionals working in a school system who wish to complete a Bachelor’s degree may enter a specifically designed degree completion program.  These applicants must have earned at least 60 semester hours of college-level transfer credit from an accredited college or university or nationally recognized examination credit (CLEP or similar).  Students with fewer than 60 semester hours may appeal to the Dean of the College of Education to enter the Degree Completion Program.

Those who have successfully completed an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree are also eligible for this degree completion program. Those who have completed an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree at an accredited college or university are deemed to have completed the general education requirements at Piedmont University. This exemption does not apply to other associate degrees (e.g. AAS or AAT).

Applicants with 60 hours of transferrable credit but who have not earned an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree may need to complete some required general education coursework.  These applicants would follow the degree completion general education requirements as outlined in the university catalog.

Credit is transferrable only for courses in which a grade of C or above is earned.

 

Please note: majors may require or encourage specific courses within these general education categories. Please see the Curriculum Outline for the selected major.

 

I. Communication 9 hours
English Composition 6 hours
Speech Communications 3 hours
II. Humanities and Fine Arts 12 hours
Humanities 3 hours
Fine Arts 3 hours
Modern Language 6 hours
III. Social Sciences 9 hours
History 3 hours
American Government 3 hours
Other social science 3 hours
IV. Mathematics (except MATH 1600 and MATH 1700) 3 hours
V. Natural Sciences 4 hours
One corresponding or included lab course required  4 hours
VI. Ethics* 3 hours
Course with an ethics component 3 hours
TOTAL 40 hours

*Students in education and nursing/health sciences are exempt from these courses since their major delivers and assesses these outcomes (ethics).