At Southwestern Adventist University, a Seventh-day Adventist liberal arts education emphasizes preparing students with a broad academic background that enables them to contribute to society in multi-faceted ways. Flexibility, adaptability, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to lifelong learning go beyond the confines of a specific discipline. We believe that broad skills and connections across disciplines, including an emphasis on the distinctive beliefs and history of the Seventh-day Adventist church, foster the development of the whole person who will be a responsible citizen of this world and the world to come.

1. Spiritual and Physical Well-being - An education focused on the whole person requires a preparation of the mental and physical body for learning. General Education in this area should focus on the theological and historical foundations of our faith with an emphasis on the SDA health message.
2. Intellectual Curiosity and Inquiry -Learning utilizes discovery, synthesis, analysis, and problem solving, skills which must be intentionally embedded across the curriculum in ways that inspire lifelong learning and enable students to apply them to a variety of situations and environments.
3. Clear and Effective Communication - The ability to communicate thoughts and ideas in a clear and effective manner facilitates the participation of an educated person in society. This concept extends beyond traditional oral and written forms to encompass current modes of expression and their personal, moral and social implications.

Complete either 6 semester credit hours of one foreign language at the intermediate level or 8 semester credit hours each of two foreign languages at the elementary level.

The University awards three types of associate degrees: the Associate in Science, the Associate of Science, and the Associate of Applied Science. Candidates who have completed the following requirements will be awarded degrees upon recommendation by the faculty and approval by the Board of Trustees.

Associate of Science graduates will

1. Complete a minimum of 60 semester credit hours and earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00
2. Complete a minimum of 24 semester credit hours in residence. Twelve of the final 15 hours before graduation must be taken in residence at Southwestern
3. Complete QEP requirement UNIV 111 Wellness for Life

Associate in Science graduates will

1. Complete a minimum of 60 semester credit hours and earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00
2. Complete a minimum of 24 semester credit hours in residence. Twelve of the final 15 hours before graduation, must be taken in residence at Southwestern
3. Complete a major field of specialization with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in the major. No class with a grade below C- may apply toward the major
4. Complete the general education requirements for the Associate in Science degree
5. Complete QEP requirement UNIV 111 Wellness for Life

A graduating student will fulfill all degree requirements published in the Bulletin. The student may complete the degree requirements published in the Bulletin at the time of admission or any Bulletin issued during continuous enrollment. All general requirements for graduation must be fulfilled as published in the current Bulletin.

A Graduation Contract must be completed and returned to the Registrar no later than one week after the start of the second semester of the student's junior year.

Any work taken at another institution must be recorded on the transcript before the degree is awarded.

The student must satisfactorily meet all financial obligations to the University, including payment of graduation dues, in order to obtain a diploma or transcript showing graduation. Graduation class dues are a mandatory non-refundable fee that covers expenses such as class gift, 25 graduation announcements and miscellaneous class activities. This fee applies to campus as well as Adult Degree Program students. When a student returns to obtain an additional degree and graduation dues were paid as an initial Southwestern graduate, only half of the dues will be required for each subsequent graduation class. Graduation dues are charged to the student account at the beginning of the semester in which the student will graduate.

All graduates are expected to participate in the commencement exercises unless given permission by the Vice President for Academic Administration to graduate in absentia.

Candidates will receive instructions on ordering graduation regalia and announcements at the senior class meeting.

The commencement ceremony is held at the end of the spring semester each year. Students eligible to participate in graduation must complete all arrangements with the Registrar by March 15 to be included in the ceremony and ensure name is printed on Graduation Program.

In the unfortunate event that a Southwestern student dies before completing degree requirements, the student may be awarded a posthumous degree upon approval by the Vice President for Academic Administration.

1. Department faculty must first approve and send a recommendation to the Vice President for Academic Administration for approval.
2. To be considered the student must have:
    a. been enrolled within the last 2 semesters.
    b. completed 75% of the degree requirements.
    c. been in good academic standing.

If a student does not meet the above criteria, they may be awarded a certificate of Special Recognition.

Students who have fewer than 6 hours or two courses remaining in their degree program, as documented on their graduation contract, may participate in graduation exercises. The student will be listed as a candidate for graduation in the graduation program. All SWAU residency requirements apply to deferred graduation. All degree requirements must be completed within six (6) years of the date of the catalog selected.

Honors status will be calculated for bachelor's degree graduates after the final semester grades are issued. The following designations are given to graduates who have maintained high GPAs.

1. GPA of 3.50 to 3.74 may graduate cum laude
2. GPA of 3.75 to 3.89 may graduate magna cum laude
3. GPA of 3.90 to 4.00 may graduate summa cum laude

The associate degree candidate who has maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.60 may graduate with distinction.

Honors Program students may graduate with the designation of Honors Program Graduate by meeting the requirements outlined under the Honors Program in this Bulletin.