Contract Degree Requirements
The contract degree program is designed to serve students whose educational or personal objectives cannot be met through one of the standard Lindenwood programs but for which the university can provide faculty and other resources. The basic requirements for all bachelor’s degrees shall be maintained, including the required 120 credit hours necessary for graduation and all applicable general education requirements. In addition, the student for whom a contract degree is created shall have completed at least 30 semester hours of credit at Lindenwood and be in good academic standing. Successful completion of the requirements for one of the undergraduate majors offered by the university. The greater of 18 credit hours or 40 percent of the courses required for the major, and at least 40 percent of the courses required for a minor, certificate, emphasis, or track must be taken in residence at Lindenwood University. Standard grading practices shall be maintained for the contracted degree student.
Procedures for creating a contract degree are outlined below.
- The student works with an advisor to develop a degree plan; both the student and the advisor will sign the proposed plan.
- The student submits the completed, signed plan to the college dean(s) for critique.
- Once the proposed contract degree has been approved by the advisor and college dean, the student submits the proposed plan to the registrar.
- The registrar submits the proposed contract degree to the Academic Processes Committee for review by the APC and the provost.
- The approved contract degree proposal is recorded and reported to the student and an advisor by the registrar within 30 days of the submission of the contract to the APC committee.
- Any changes of degree requirements by the student and/or advisor after initial approval nullify the contract.
- The up-to-date contract degree program is included in the student’s file in the Office of Academic Services.