Regulations & Policies

Academic Affairs

I. OBJECTIVE & PURPOSE

Expectation for Degree Completion: The University of North Florida encourages timely completion of degrees for undergraduate students. Students who enter UNF as a First Time in College (FTIC) student are expected to complete an undergraduate degree of 120 semester hours of credit within eight semesters if enrolled full-time. If the degree requires more than 120 semester hours, an additional semester may be required. Also, overseas study, certain internship or co-op experiences may extend the time needed for degree completion. Students who transfer hours earned in high school through Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), dual enrollment, or other mechanisms and those entering with prior college credits or an Associate of Arts degree should complete their degrees in less time.

Purpose of Policy: The University of North Florida is committed to helping students achieve their educational goals and graduate in a timely manner. As a part of this commitment, students are required to declare an academic course of study or major at an appropriate time. Moreover, there may be restrictions on courses that do not contribute to degree completion, and students must follow guidelines regarding their ability to change major.

II. STATEMENT OF POLICY

1. Advising to Ensure Timely Graduation

   Within the first semester, all new undergraduate students (whether FTIC or transfer) will meet with an academic advisor in either the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) or the Honors Program if the student has not yet declared a major or if a student has declared a major and is eligible, will meet with a program advisor. The advisor will create a personalized degree path to ensure the student can meet the expectations for degree completion and provide the student who has declared a major with an Osprey Roadmap, and/or a degree evaluation, that outlines all degree requirements, including precise course requirements, and the sequence of critical courses to ensure timely degree completion. If the student has not yet declared a major, the advisor will facilitate the student's exploration of a major.

    

2. Declaration of Major

   Undergraduate students are encouraged to declare an academic course of study by the completion of 30 semester hours of credit and are required to declare a major by the time they have earned 60 semester credit hours in order to continue enrollment. These semester credit hours include UNF credits, credits transferred from other institutions, and semester credit hours awarded through credit by examination (e.g., AP, CLEP, IB, Dual Enrollment).

    

3. Restrictions on Courses

   Undergraduate students who have earned 120 credits or more will ordinarily not be permitted to enroll in courses that are not degree applicable. Exceptions may be approved for students required to maintain full-time status and/or in the event that a required course is not available. Students who have completed all degree requirements will be required to graduate. Exceptions may be approved by the college dean or designee for up to two additional semesters to allow students to complete an approved minor or a second major or to complete clearly defined objectives to enhance qualifications for employment or graduate and professional programs. If an exception is not approved by the dean or designee, UNF will move the student through to graduation and confer the degree earned.

    

4. Change of Major
   1. Students who have earned more than 90 hours of credit will be allowed to change majors only if either:
      1. the current major is unattainable, or
      2. a change of major does not result in excess hours for graduation.
   2. Change of major after 90 hours requires advisor approval as well as the approval from the college dean (or designee) of the proposed major.

       

   3. Undergraduate students with less than 90 hours of credit may be allowed to change majors, with the following restrictions:
      1. Students must review with an academic advisor in the new major the expected number of hours and semesters required for degree completion, with special attention to the likelihood that the major change may result in excess hour surcharges. The college may exercise flexibility depending on their assessment of the student's individual circumstances.
      2. Changing majors between colleges must be approved by the college of the proposed major. The student must meet with the academic advisor in the proposed major to determine if the student has a minimum UNF GPA of 2.0, or meets the minimum GPA specified by the program, and can complete the major without excess hours. Students who do not meet these conditions will be required to obtain the approval by the dean or designee of the college of the proposed major.

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