Degree Information

Academic Advisement

Plainview Campus

External Campuses

Degree Plans

Prior to declaring a major field of study, students should register for only those courses included in the university general education core. This will ensure that all courses completed will satisfy degree requirements. After declaring the degree, major, and minor being pursued, students will be provided with a degree plan by the registrar’s office through their respective advisor or evaluator. The original copy of this plan is filed in the university registrar’s office. All students who have 60 or more hours must have an official degree plan on file in the University Registrar’s office. The degree plan will list those courses required to satisfy the university and degree specific general education core, major, and minor requirements. Students changing their major or minor fields of study after having official degree plans completed must have their file amended with the University Registrar’s office. There will be a $10 fee for each amended degree plan. Most programs of study specify the academic degree which will be sought. Students pursuing teacher certification must have their degree plan audited by the teacher education coordinator to ensure that the plan also meets the respective state certification requirements.

Petition for a Course Substitution

Under certain circumstances, substitutions for required courses may be necessary and appropriate. Substitutions in the university or degree specific general education core must be recommended by the Academic Council. The student must submit a letter to the Academic Council requesting a course substitution. The letter should be submitted to the vice president of academic affairs. Substitutions for courses required for academic majors and minors must be recommended by the appropriate dean. Substitutions for required courses for teacher certification may be recommended, if allowable under state certification policies, by the Don Williams School of Education dean. An electronic form to petition for course substitution is available from the dean of the respective school or the external campus executive director/dean. Substitutions in the undergraduate major or minor must first be approved by the student’s academic advisor and/or external campus executive director/dean (when applicable), and then must be approved by the academic dean of the respective school and the university registrar. Only if additional assessment or interpretation is needed will the vice president of academic affairs review the substitution and determine whether final approval is justified.

Definition of Program Concentrations

The university offers a number of program concentrations, see Academic Program Profile . In addition to the university or degree specific general education core, each degree offered by the university includes a major and a minor field of study, or composite major, and free electives, when needed, to complete degree requirements. Degree designations are based on those disciplines included as major fields of study. Concentrations offered and a brief description of each follow:

The Major

A concentration of at least 30 credit hours in a single discipline constitutes the major. The major must contain a minimum of 15 credit hours of upper-level credit. The university offers a major in 102 disciplines. A $10 fee will be assessed for each change of major after the initial request for degree plan. A minimum of 15 credit hours in the major must be completed at Wayland.

The Minor

A concentration of at least 18 credit hours in a single discipline constitutes the minor. The minor must contain a minimum of six credit hours of upper-level credit that has not fulfilled a requirement elsewhere on the degree plan. The university offers a minor in 61 disciplines. A minimum of 6 credit hours in the minor must be completed at Wayland.

The Composite Major

A concentration of 36 to 77 credit hours in a combination of disciplines constitutes the composite major. Upper-level requirements for the composite major are included in that section of the catalog which addresses the specific composite major. Composite majors are offered in interdisciplinary studies for those preparing to become elementary school teachers. In addition, composite majors are offered in applied science, business administration, co-vocational ministry, English, fine arts, fitness management, human services, humanities, language arts, media arts, music, and social studies.

The Specialization

A concentration of at least 18 credit hours in a single discipline constitutes the specialization. Specializations are included as a part of the following programs: the composite major in fitness management, the composite major in interdisciplinary studies, the major in business administration, the major in exercise and sport science, the major in co-vocational ministry, and the 36 credit hour composite major in the B.A.S. degree.

As a part of the B.A.S. degree, several specializations are available under each major.

As a part of the B.S.I.S. degree, a specialization is available in special education and English as a second language.

As a part of the B.B.A. degree, a specialization is available in accounting, business administration, business analytics, cyber security, digital marketing, economics and finance, health care administration, hospitality management, management, management information systems, management and marketing, mission in business, professional communication and sports management.

As a part of the major in English, a specialization is available in comparative literature, creative writing, journalistic writing, literature, and professional writing.

As a part of the major fitness management, a specialization is available in personal training and strength, recreation leadership and sport ministry, sport management and sports medicine and rehabilitation.

As a part of the major in co-vocational ministry, a specialization is available in exercise and sport science (grades EC-12), general business, middle school language arts (grades 4-8), middle school mathematics (grades 4-8), middle school science (grades 4-8), middle school social studies (grades 4-8), and personal training.

As part of the major in humanities, a specialization is available in tabletop game design.

A $10 fee will be charged for each change of specialization after the initial request for degree plan.

The Concentration

A concentration consists of 15 credit hours in a single discipline and is applicable to only to the Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) degree. Concentrations are included as a part of the 60 credit-hour general studies major and are available from the following disciplines: following programs: art, business administration, communication studies, education, environmental science, environmental studies, exercise and sport science, graphic design, history, criminal justice administration, media arts, multimedia production and broadcasting, political science, psychology, and sociology.

Earning a Double Major

An academic school may provide the opportunity for a student to earn a double major while working toward the first undergraduate degree. Students wishing to pursue a double major will be required to meet all academic school and university requirements for each of the majors. Students who graduate with a double major will have a notation to that effect placed on their transcript.

Automatic Awarding of Associate Degree

Wayland Baptist University (WBU) will automatically award associate degrees to bachelor’s degree-seeking students who have completed all requirements for an associate degree*. Automatic awarding is defined by meeting the requirements of the associate degree prior to meeting the requirements of the bachelor’s degree. If degree requirements are met concurrently, then the normal procedure for conferral stands.

Available for Associate Degree Auto-Award*

To qualify, a WBU student must:

• Be currently enrolled in a qualifying bachelor’s degree program
• Have completed or be currently enrolled in courses that meet the requirements of an associate degree
• For current students–opt in by submitting the appropriate form, no later than six working weeks before the Application for Graduation deadline.

Those who have met the criteria above will receive an email letting them know of their eligibility for the associate degree at the time the requirements have been met. Unless a student decides to opt-out or cancel the automatic awarding, the conferral is notated on the student’s official transcript. The degree will be posted to the transcript at no cost to the student. Please visit the FAQ page for more information.

Earning a Subsequent Baccalaureate Degree

A student may earn more than one baccalaureate degree from the university. The degree designation for the subsequent degree may be the same as that for the initial degree as long as the major or program of study is significantly different than previously awarded and meets the eligibility criteria. The following programs* may not be a part of the first degree and the second degree:

*NOTE: this list is not exhaustive and subject to change based on eligibility requirements. Please contact the Office of the University Registrar for additional program questions.

To be eligible for a subsequent baccalaureate degree the student must:

1. File an approved degree plan, which lists the requirements established for the subsequent degree.
2. Meet all requirements, including university and degree specific general education requirements, established for the subsequent degree.
3. Complete 30 credit hours beyond the minimum required for a previous degree(s). Of these 30 hours, 24 must be upper-level credits and 12 must be in the major. The major(s) must be significantly different from the previous major issued under the same degree.
4. Meet all requirements as outlined in the graduation requirements of the catalog regarding grade point average, application process, and comprehensive major examination.

Two degrees may not be awarded concurrently. To be eligible for graduation honors, the student must have completed the required hours at Wayland and must meet the graduation honors requirements listed in the catalog in effect on the date the degree plan for the subsequent degree was approved.

Accelerated Degree Programs

Wayland Baptist University’s accelerated degree programs allow high-achieving, motivated students to combine undergraduate and graduate, or graduate and doctoral, coursework toward completion of an academically rigorous yet efficient and cost-effective program of study. Wayland’s accelerated programs reduce time to degree completion through an integrated curriculum that avoids duplicated courses and maximizes academic coursework and learning.

Acceptance to the university does not guarantee admission to an accelerated degree program. Students must apply to a specific accelerated degree program in order to be admitted to that program.

Steps to Pursuing an Accelerated Degree Program
Students who wish to pursue a specific accelerated degree must first complete a Request for Degree Plan (RDP) with the Office of the Registrar. This accelerated degree plan will assist the student in selecting the undergraduate and graduate coursework necessary for successful completion of the chosen accelerated degree. Each accelerated program, undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral, maintains distinctive requirements that students must meet to be admitted into and complete the specified accelerated program.

Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree General Requirements
Students may apply to the accelerated graduate program of their choice after–

• Successfully completing the prescribed undergraduate coursework required for entrance into the selected accelerated program. Students should consult the appropriate section of the catalog to determine:
  • number of undergraduate credit hours necessary for entrance into that accelerated program (often, but not always, 70 credit hours).
  • an additional graduate program-specific application requirements (such as letters of recommendation or reference).
• Successfully maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (for Master of Divinity accelerated programs, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0).

To apply to the accelerated graduate program of their choice, students must obtain an Accelerated Graduate Program application from the appropriate academic school, complete the form with assistance from their academic advisor, and then submit the completed form to Office of the Registrar.

Only if the Accelerated Graduate Program application is approved may a student enroll in the shared graduate coursework required to complete the specified accelerated degree. Students may enroll in a maximum of six hours of non-shared graduate-level coursework in their final undergraduate term. Enrollment in non-shared graduate hours may impact undergraduate financial aid; advance communication with the Office of Financial Aid is necessary to determine eligibility for funding.

Program Success and Graduation
To continue enrollment in and ensure graduation from an approved accelerated program, students must:

• Maintain and graduate with undergraduate GPA requirements noted in the academic catalog for that degree and major.
• Meet the residency requirements for both degrees in the accelerated program, with shared courses at the graduate level counting toward the undergraduate residency requirement as requirements for upper-level credit hours.
• Use the same year of both the undergraduate and the graduate catalog for the selected accelerated degree.
• Submit the Application for Graduation by the deadline noted in the academic calendar. Students may participate in only one ceremony upon the completion of requirements for the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master degree.

Note: At the completion of the undergraduate degree requirements, including the shared hours, the student is no longer eligible for undergraduate scholarships and undergraduate tuition.

Accelerated program students are granted official Graduate Program admission only after successful completion of all undergraduate degree requirements while maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher on the last 60 graded hours earned at the point of graduation (GPA of 2.0 for the M.Div.).

If the student determines not to complete an accelerated degree program but does wish to continue pursuit of his/her undergraduate degree, he/she must complete a Request for Degree Plan and work with an undergraduate advisor to meet the degree requirements outlined in the selected undergraduate program. In this scenario, only shared graduate courses taken at the undergraduate level may be applied toward undergraduate requirements; non-shared graduate courses already taken may not be applied toward undergraduate level requirements.

For information related to Wayland’s Accelerated Bachelor’s to Doctoral Program (the Doctorate in Management), please consult the section of the academic catalog related to School of Business - Graduate Programs.

Classification of Degree-Seeking Students

A degree-seeking undergraduate student is classified as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior according to the number of credit hours of course work earned toward the degree. Students are classified as follows:

Graduation Requirements

Requirements to receive a baccalaureate degree from Wayland include:

1. Completion of BASC 1200 - Best Achievement Strategies for College  or BASC 1301 - Best Achievement Strategies for College  or equivalent. See course description.
2. A minimum of 124 credit hours for baccalaureate degrees. No more than four credit hours of music ensemble credits may be included in the 124 credit hours for degrees other than B.A.S. or B.C.M.
3. A minimum of 31 credit hours completed in residence to earn a degree at Wayland with the exception of the B.M. and B.S.N. degrees which require a minimum of 35 hours and 34 hours respectively. For the A.A. at least 15 hours must be completed in residence. A minimum of 18 hours must be completed in residence for the A.A.S. degree.
4. Except for the B.A.S. and B.C.M. degrees, a minimum of 15 credit hours in the major and six credit hours in the minor must be completed at Wayland. 
5. A minimum GPA of 2.0 (C) on a 4-point scale on all Wayland course work and a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the major and minor fields of study. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 from all course work applied to the degree. 
6. A minimum of 42 credit hours of upper-level credit (courses numbered 3000 and above) for the degrees B.A., B.B.A., B.F.A., B.G.S., B.M., B.S., B.S.I.S., and B.S.N. A minimum of 36 credit hours of upper-level credit for the B.A.S. and B.C.M. degrees.
7. Completion of all general education core requirements for the respective undergraduate degree. 
8. A minimum of 30 credit hours in the major field of study, 15 of which must be upper-level courses. For those degrees which include a composite major, the number of credit hours and number of upper-level credits are indicated in that section of the catalog which describes the composite major. 
9. A minimum of 18 credit hours in the minor of which six must be upper-level courses that have not fulfilled a requirement elsewhere on the degree plan. For those degrees which include a broad field major, no minor is required.
10. Completion of GRAD 0001 - Senior Seminar . See course descriptions. (Students who are clinical teaching should take GRAD 0001  the term prior to clinical teaching.) 
11. Completion of application for graduation for appropriate degree.
12. A comprehensive examination in the major field.

Application for Graduation

Students intending to have a degree conferred at the next regular graduation period must enroll in GRAD 0001 - Senior Seminar , see course description, and must notify the university registrar and their advisor at the time of registration for the term prior to that graduation. Students on external campuses must notify the campus executive director/dean and advisor. Students who plan to participate in the Plainview campus graduation ceremony must submit the Application for Degree and pay the graduation fee no later than the date indicated in the university calendar (April/May graduation: February 15, August graduation: June 15, December graduation: September 15).

Degree candidates attending one of the university’s external campuses must file the Application for Graduation and pay a fee a minimum of 12 weeks prior to graduation. Graduation applications received after the deadline will be processed with applications for the next graduation. For a Plainview student to be eligible for graduation, all his/her transcripts supporting transfer credit from other institutions must have been received by the registrar and all incompletes must be removed by the application deadline. On external campuses, transfer and assessed credit is due and all incompletes must be removed six weeks prior to posting date.

All students are required to purchase a cap and gown. It is automatically calculated in the application fee. Application for graduation and the graduation fee are not transferable to a subsequent term. If the student does not fulfill graduation requirements, a new application for graduation must be filed and a $50 reapplication fee paid. Financial obligations must be met in the Business Office two weeks prior to graduation. If paying after the deadline, payment must be made with guaranteed funds such as cash, money order, credit card, debit card, or cashier’s check in order to receive a transcript and diploma at time of graduation.

Commencement Attendance

Candidates completing their work at Wayland Baptist University are required to attend commencement exercises. All degrees conferred will be posted to the student’s permanent record as of the official posting date. For external campus students, appeals to this policy should be made in writing to the executive director/campus dean. Plainview campus student appeals should be made in writing to the office of the registrar.

Walk-Only

For external campus graduations, students who are within one term of finishing graduation requirements may, at the discretion of the executive director/campus dean “walk-only” (without having fulfilled degree requirements) at the respective external campus graduation. Students must request in writing to the executive director/campus dean by the deadline issued by the campus for consideration to “walk-only” in a ceremony. Students are allowed to participate in a graduation ceremony only once for each degree.

For Plainview campus graduations, students must contact the office of the registrar by the application for graduation deadline for consideration to “walk-only” in the respective Plainview graduation. Students are allowed to participate in a graduation ceremony only once for each degree.

Graduation with Honors

A student graduating with the baccalaureate degree who has been in residence for at least 60 GPA credit hours, has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or greater on all work taken at Wayland, and who meets the required cumulative GPA on all courses applicable to the baccalaureate degree is eligible for graduation with Latin honors. Latin honor designations include the following:

In addition to graduating with honors, a student who has participated in the Honors Program and completed all the requirements may graduate with special honors within an area of study.

Graduation honors may be awarded to students graduating with the baccalaureate degree if at least 60 credit hours with letter grades (A, B, C, etc.) from all sources have been earned, and if they have achieved a GPA of 3.50 or greater on all work taken at Wayland, and who meets the required cumulative GPA on all courses applicable to the baccalaureate degree. Honor designations include the following:

Graduation Walk-only Students and Honors Designation

Students who have been approved by the executive director/campus dean or the office of the registrar to “walk-only” during a specific campus graduation ceremony will not be awarded honors for the ceremony due to the student’s degree requirements not being completed prior to the established degree posting date. Questions concerning walk-only status should be addressed to the office of the registrar for Plainview campus graduations or the executive director/dean for external campus graduations.