Degree Requirements Graduation Requirements   The following minimum requirements are needed for graduation: • 128 total credit hours • 2.00 minimum USA GPA (does not include transfer credit) • 41 credit hours of general education (core) courses as defined by major • 87 credit hours of major, general electives and minor courses • 2 writing component courses • computer competency • 32 credit hours of upper division work completed at USA   To be eligible for graduation, a student must complete a minimum of 128 approved semester hours, including both general education and major requirements. Some colleges/degrees require a minor.   Note: The total hours excludes Developmental Studies, ESL (English as a Second Language) and repeated courses.   A student must also have a minimum USA grade point average of 2.00 at the time of graduation. Some colleges set their own GPA requirements.   Core Curriculum - All students must fulfill the following 41 semester hours of general education requirements:   Area I Written Composition 6 semester hours Area II Humanities and Fine Arts 12 semester hours Area III Natural Sciences & Mathematics 11 semester hours Area IV History, Social & Behavioral Sciences 12 semester hours   EH 101 and 102, Composition I and II, are the required courses for Area I. However, courses for the other areas will vary by program. Refer to your curriculum sheets or CAPP degree audit for this information.   The remaining 87 semester hours needed for a degree consist of major courses, general electives and minor courses, where applicable.   English Composition Requirements - Students must demonstrate basic writing skills by passing EH 101 and EH 102 (Composition I and Composition II). Students may exempt the EH 101 requirement with an ACT English score of 27 or higher or a SAT verbal score of 550 or higher. Note: Students exempt from EH 101 must make up those credit hours if the exemption leaves them short of the required 128 semester hours.   Currently, students scoring a 3 or higher on the English portion of the Advanced Placement Program or a 50 or higher on the CLEP English examination, may satisfy the EH 101 and EH 102 requirement. Credit will be granted for these courses; therefore, additional courses are not required. Note: Effective Spring 2005, AP credit (3 semester hours) will be awarded only for EH 101 for students who score a 4 or higher.   Writing Component Requirements - In addition to the composition requirement, the University requires that all students complete two designated writing courses. One of these courses must be from a student's major or minor. Courses carrying this required credit are identified in the Schedule of Classes by a "W" after the course title. EH 101 and 102 are prerequisites for all "W" courses.   Computer Competency - All students must be able to demonstrate competency in basic computer skills prior to graduation from the University. This requirement may be satisfied by completion of CIS 150, or another CIS course specified by the major, with a passing grade; placement in CIS 250 on the computer sciences placement exam; or by passing a course approved by the major department as meeting the standard for computer proficiency in the college. As requirements vary between colleges, students should consult the respective portion of the Bulletin and their academic advisor for guidance in meeting this requirement.   Residency Requirements - A candidate for graduation must complete a minimum of 32 credit hours of USA upper division course work (300 and 400 level classes). Upon the recommendation of the dean of the appropriate college and approval of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, credit may be substituted to meet the residency requirement.   Note: Credits earned in approved Study Abroad programs, up to a maximum of 16 semester hours, may be used to satisfy this requirement provided the student is enrolled in IS 391, Study Abroad, and has transient approval from the dean of the college. Study Abroad courses must be certified as equivalent to upper division (300 or 400 level) course work in order to fulfill the USA residency requirement.   Note: Dauphin Island Sea Lab courses at the 300 and 400 level taken by students enrolled at a transfer institution will count as if they were taken as a native USA student and can be used toward the 32 hour residency requirement.