Welcome to the College Catalog
Graduation from Elizabethtown College is celebrated once each year in May. The ceremony is typically held on the morning of the third Saturday in May, outdoors in The Dell, except in cases of severely inclement weather when the ceremony is held in Thompson Gymnasium. Students who complete all graduation requirements in the previous summer or fall or in the current spring semester are recognized at this ceremony. Undergraduate students majoring in Music Therapy and graduate students in Occupational Therapy who have completed all course work participate in the May graduation ceremony, but do not receive their diplomas until their respective clinical experiences are completed.
Senior students who are not actually graduating may petition to indicate their desire to participate in the Commencement exercises and for verification of their status as a “member of the class.” To be eligible for this status, students must have a 2.00 grade point average in both the major and overall at the time of the ceremony and have no more than eight credit hours of course work remaining, regardless of total number of credits completed. These students are designated as “early participants” and participate in Commencement with their class, have their name listed in the official program, and are called to the platform for recognition as members of the graduating class. They are not graduates and do not receive a diploma until they successfully have completed all requirements. Students who are required to student teach and have not completed this requirement for their major are not eligible for early participation. Early participation petitions are due to the Registrar by February 15.
Honors are listed in the Commencement program only for those students who have actually graduated and those whose only remaining requirement is a non-credit clinical experience.
To receive a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Music degree from Elizabethtown College, the student must earn a minimum of 125 credits. (Mathematics 011 is not counted toward these credits.) In the case of engineering, clinical laboratory sciences, and other special programs, the number of credits required is indicated in the program outline. (See the Programs and Courses chapter in this Catalog for specific information.)
No more than one bachelor’s degree is ever awarded to an individual by Elizabethtown College; however, students may complete a second major, a minor or teacher certification subsequent to graduation.
Students are required to successfully complete all requirements of the major and the Core Program. The College does not guarantee graduation to any student who is unable to complete requirements of a specific program or academic major.
In addition to their major, students have the option of pursuing a second major and/or one or more minors. Second majors must include at least 16 credits not included in the first major. For each minor, the student must complete at least eight credits that are not used to fulfill the requirements of the major(s) or another minor.
Second majors and minors represent additional knowledge and interest in areas outside the first major. Therefore, second majors and minors must be selected in disciplines outside the first major. Major and minor disciplines are determined by the predominant course prefix of the major/minor course requirements. For Secondary Education majors, the major subject area is considered to be the discipline of the major.
To be eligible for graduation, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00, with a minimum average of 2.00 in a major (and a 2.00 in a minor, if the minor is to be recorded on the student’s transcript). A student who transferred from another college to Elizabethtown College must have an average of at least 2.00 in courses pursued in residence at Elizabethtown.
To meet graduation requirements, the student must earn on-campus credits as follows: l) a minimum of 16 credits in the major, at least eight of which are at the upper level (normally 300 and 400 level) and 2) at least 30 of the last 60 credits.To recognize completion of a minor on the transcript, a student must have completed at least eight credits of the requirements on the Elizabethtown College campus and must have earned a bachelor’s degree at Elizabethtown College.
Note: Credits earned through the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg; the Lancaster campus; the Brethren Colleges Abroad program; Nihon University; the International Study Centre at Herstmonceux Castle at East Sussex, England; AustraLearn or American University’s Washington Semester while the student is matriculated at Elizabethtown College are considered on-campus credits.
Graduation requirements are governed by the College Catalog dated four years prior to graduation or, for major requirements, by the College Catalog in effect at the time of graduation, if the student so chooses. For most students, this means they will follow the requirements of the Catalog in effect when they begin their studies at Elizabethtown College. Students who choose to change Catalog years for their major or minor must inform their academic advisor and the Office of Registration and Records by the end of the fall semester of their senior year. Transfer students are subject to the requirements of the College Catalog in effect when they begin studies at Elizabethtown College or, for major requirements, the one in effect at the time of graduation.
In no case may a student use a College Catalog dated more than four years prior to graduation to determine requirements for a degree, nor may a student use a combination of College Catalogs to complete a major or minor.
Elizabethtown College will graduate only those students who meet the moral and financial obligations incurred in pursuit of their studies. The completion of the required number of credits does not in itself constitute eligibility for graduation. It is the responsibility of the candidate for a degree to make formal written application for the degree to the Office of Registration and Records by the stated deadline.
The Office of the President must be notified by any student who plans to graduate in absentia.
Graduation
The Ceremony
Graduation from Elizabethtown College is celebrated once each year in May. The ceremony is typically held on the morning of the third Saturday in May, outdoors in The Dell, except in cases of severely inclement weather when the ceremony is held in Thompson Gymnasium. Students who complete all graduation requirements in the previous summer or fall or in the current spring semester are recognized at this ceremony. Undergraduate students majoring in Music Therapy and graduate students in Occupational Therapy who have completed all course work participate in the May graduation ceremony, but do not receive their diplomas until their respective clinical experiences are completed.
Senior students who are not actually graduating may petition to indicate their desire to participate in the Commencement exercises and for verification of their status as a “member of the class.” To be eligible for this status, students must have a 2.00 grade point average in both the major and overall at the time of the ceremony and have no more than eight credit hours of course work remaining, regardless of total number of credits completed. These students are designated as “early participants” and participate in Commencement with their class, have their name listed in the official program, and are called to the platform for recognition as members of the graduating class. They are not graduates and do not receive a diploma until they successfully have completed all requirements. Students who are required to student teach and have not completed this requirement for their major are not eligible for early participation. Early participation petitions are due to the Registrar by February 15.
Honors are listed in the Commencement program only for those students who have actually graduated and those whose only remaining requirement is a non-credit clinical experience.
Credit Requirements
To receive a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Music degree from Elizabethtown College, the student must earn a minimum of 125 credits. (Mathematics 011 is not counted toward these credits.) In the case of engineering, clinical laboratory sciences, and other special programs, the number of credits required is indicated in the program outline. (See the Programs and Courses chapter in this Catalog for specific information.)
No more than one bachelor’s degree is ever awarded to an individual by Elizabethtown College; however, students may complete a second major, a minor or teacher certification subsequent to graduation.
Program Requirements
Students are required to successfully complete all requirements of the major and the Core Program. The College does not guarantee graduation to any student who is unable to complete requirements of a specific program or academic major.
In addition to their major, students have the option of pursuing a second major and/or one or more minors. Second majors must include at least 16 credits not included in the first major. For each minor, the student must complete at least eight credits that are not used to fulfill the requirements of the major(s) or another minor.
Second majors and minors represent additional knowledge and interest in areas outside the first major. Therefore, second majors and minors must be selected in disciplines outside the first major. Major and minor disciplines are determined by the predominant course prefix of the major/minor course requirements. For Secondary Education majors, the major subject area is considered to be the discipline of the major.
Grade Point Average
To be eligible for graduation, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00, with a minimum average of 2.00 in a major (and a 2.00 in a minor, if the minor is to be recorded on the student’s transcript). A student who transferred from another college to Elizabethtown College must have an average of at least 2.00 in courses pursued in residence at Elizabethtown.
On-Campus Credits
To meet graduation requirements, the student must earn on-campus credits as follows: l) a minimum of 16 credits in the major, at least eight of which are at the upper level (normally 300 and 400 level) and 2) at least 30 of the last 60 credits.To recognize completion of a minor on the transcript, a student must have completed at least eight credits of the requirements on the Elizabethtown College campus and must have earned a bachelor’s degree at Elizabethtown College.
Note: Credits earned through the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg; the Lancaster campus; the Brethren Colleges Abroad program; Nihon University; the International Study Centre at Herstmonceux Castle at East Sussex, England; AustraLearn or American University’s Washington Semester while the student is matriculated at Elizabethtown College are considered on-campus credits.
Other Requirements
Graduation requirements are governed by the College Catalog dated four years prior to graduation or, for major requirements, by the College Catalog in effect at the time of graduation, if the student so chooses. For most students, this means they will follow the requirements of the Catalog in effect when they begin their studies at Elizabethtown College. Students who choose to change Catalog years for their major or minor must inform their academic advisor and the Office of Registration and Records by the end of the fall semester of their senior year. Transfer students are subject to the requirements of the College Catalog in effect when they begin studies at Elizabethtown College or, for major requirements, the one in effect at the time of graduation.
In no case may a student use a College Catalog dated more than four years prior to graduation to determine requirements for a degree, nor may a student use a combination of College Catalogs to complete a major or minor.
Elizabethtown College will graduate only those students who meet the moral and financial obligations incurred in pursuit of their studies. The completion of the required number of credits does not in itself constitute eligibility for graduation. It is the responsibility of the candidate for a degree to make formal written application for the degree to the Office of Registration and Records by the stated deadline.
The Office of the President must be notified by any student who plans to graduate in absentia.
