Credits earned in pursuit of a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences do not expire and a student does not "lose credits" if credits are "old." What does change over time, however, are degree requirements and how the credits earned count toward these requirements. According to College policy, when more than eight years have elapsed since a student in the College first began work on a bachelor’s degree, the student forfeits the right to fulfill the requirements that were in place when the degree work was first started. Normally, the student is required to fulfill whatever newer requirements are in place when the student resumes study. This sometimes affects the amount of coursework that is required for the student to complete the degree. Each student's case is reviewed individually.
Because the process of determining remaining degree requirements is often labor-intensive and complicated, the College has initiated a multi-step process. The first step is to complete and submit this form. After doing so, a representative from the College Recorder's Office will retrieve and analyze your academic records. Understanding your goals and limitations will help in making recommendations and identifying potential obstacles for degree completion. The entire process can take 6 to 10 weeks, assuming you act in a timely manner.
After your record is retrieved and reviewed, you will be invited by email to speak with the representative from the College Recorder's Office who is assisting with your case. Should you decide to move forward with degree completion in the College of Arts and Sciences, the representative will guide you through the next steps in the process.