Award of Degrees
First Associate Degree
Students who desire both a Thomas Edison State College associate degree and a Thomas Edison State College bachelor’s degree may have both degrees awarded together in the same graduation cycle.
If a student has completed an undergraduate, advanced or professional degree and applies for an associate degree, he/she must complete a minimum of 12 credits in the option beyond credits completed on the date the most recent degree was awarded. The student must also meet all requirements specific to the degree.
Second Associate Degree
Students who have received one associate degree at Thomas Edison State College or another regionally accredited institution and wish to earn a second associate degree must:
- Complete a minimum of 12 additional credits in the option for a second associate degree beyond the date the most recent degree was completed.
- Students must complete all requirements for the degree as listed in the current Thomas Edison State College Catalog.
First Bachelor’s Degree
A student who applies for a first bachelor’s degree may not have completed another four-year degree. Students who have earned a bachelor’s, graduate or professional degree must follow the policies and procedures under “Second Bachelor’s Degree.” A student may have completed an associate degree or degrees prior to earning his/her first bachelor’s degree.
Second Bachelor’s Degree
Students who have received one bachelor’s degree at Thomas Edison State College or another regionally accredited institution and wish to earn a second bachelor’s degree must:
- Complete a minimum of 24 additional credits in the area of study/core for a second bachelor’s degree beyond the date the most recent degree was completed
- Students must complete all requirements for the degree as listed in the current Thomas Edison State College Catalog.
The College will not award a third associate or bachelor’s degree.
Two Areas of Study Within One Degree
Students may complete up to two areas of study within one bachelor’s degree. No more than 9 credits that are used in the first area of study may be used for the second area of study. All related required credits for each area of study, as well as all degree requirements, must be met at the same time. Students cannot complete a third area of study within one bachelor’s degree.
Second Master’s Degree
Students who hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution may earn another master’s degree under the following conditions:
- Students may apply no more than 12 graduate semester hours of credits from any previously earned master’s degrees toward the new master’s degree.
- Transfer graduate credits that were earned more than seven years ago may not be applied to the new master’s degree without the permission of the appropriate School dean.
- Students must also adhere to any additional degree and transfer credit policies imposed by the School in which their degree is to be earned.
Bachelor's to Master's Program
Thomas Edison State College undergraduates may apply for conditional admission to the Thomas Edison State College graduate program of their choice when:
- they have earned at least 60 undergraduate transcripted credits
- they have a minimum GPA of 3.0
- they have three years of degree program relevant experience.
Conditionally admitted students will not be permitted to enroll in graduate courses until they have successfully completed 90 undergraduate credits with an overall Thomas Edison State College GPA of 3.0. Conditionally admitted students may earn up to 9 graduate credits (three courses) to meet requirements for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. These students will pay undergraduate tuition for the 9 graduate credits (three courses) and must maintain their active undergraduate enrollment status.
Note: there are recommended courses in each graduate program in which undergraduate students may enroll; check with an advisor for those courses. Students who do not achieve a 3.0 in their graduate course work will not be permitted to take additional courses.
Students who do not successfully complete the nine credits successfully will have to reapply for admission to graduate study.
Note: See W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing for the Bachelor to Master Nursing Option.