Award of Degrees Policy

If a student has completed an undergraduate, advanced or professional degree from a regionally accredited institution 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, regardless of academic level, was awarded. The student must also meet all requirements specific to the degree.

First Simultaneous Associate and Baccalaureate Degrees

• Students who desire to have two Thomas Edison State University baccalaureate degrees awarded in the same graduation cycle may do so providing 24 credits are different in the second degree's core/area of study.
• Students who desire to have two Thomas Edison State University associate degrees awarded in the same graduation cycle may do so providing 12 credits are different in the second degree's option.

Students who have received one associate degree from a regionally accredited institution and wish to earn a second associate degree must:

• Complete a minimum of 12 additional credits for a second associate degree beyond the date the most recent degree, regardless of academic level, was conferred.
• Additional credits must be earned in the degree option or area of study where an option or area of study is part of the degree.
• Students must complete all requirements for the degree as listed in the current Thomas Edison State University Catalog.

Students who have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution must follow the policies and procedures under “Second Baccalaureate Degree.” A student may have completed an associate degree or degrees prior to earning his/her first baccalaureate degree.

If a student has earned a graduate or a professional degree from a regionally accredited institution, but has not earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, the student must:

• Complete a minimum of 24 credits in the area of study and/or core of the baccalaureate degree. These credits must be earned after the date the most recent degree, regardless of academic level, was conferred.
• Complete all the general education requirements required for the baccalaureate degree.
• Complete all other baccalaureate degree requirements as listed in the current Thomas Edison State University Catalog.

Students who have received one baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution and wish to earn a second baccalaureate degree must:

• Complete a minimum of 24 credits including the required capstone for the degree. These credits must be in the area of study and/or core of the degree. These credits must be earned after the date the most recent degree, regardless of academic level, was conferred.
• Additionally, students must complete all other degree requirements as listed in the current Thomas Edison State University Catalog.

The University will not award a third Thomas Edison State University associate or baccalaureate degree.

Students who have been awarded a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution and wish to earn an additional master's degree must:

• Complete an additional number of credits equivalent to two-thirds of the total number of credits required for the additional master's degree (i.e. 24 credits in a 36 credit degree, 28 credits in a 42 credit program, etc.). These credits must be earned after the date the most recent degree, regardless of academic level, was conferred.
• Adhere to any additional degree and transfer credit policies required by the School in which their degree is to be earned.
• Graduate credits earned previously are transferable and applicable to a TESU graduate degree at the discretion of the dean of the school in which the student is enrolled.

If a student presents a foreign credential evaluation stating his/her foreign degree is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, then the University will consider it a first degree and apply the Second Degree Policy and it may be used for admissions to a Master's Degree program.