Gulf College
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The Graduation Requirements 


Completion of the Academic Degree and Graduation

Overview:

This policy and its procedures cover the regulations related to the requirements for awarding a bachelor's degree, including the names of academic degrees at the undergraduate level, the structure of its educational programs, conditions, limitations on credited hours for transfer students, degree authentication, graduation evaluation, and honors classification.

Scope:

This policy applies to all students and all academic and administrative units related to the college.

Objective:

The objective of this policy is to ensure that the process of approving the completion and awarding of the bachelor's degree at the college aligns with the principles, standards, and expectations consistent with the educational mission of the college, operating with effectiveness, fairness, and necessary integrity.

Policy:
  • The undergraduate degree programs at the college align with the general content, academic expectations, and educational outcomes present in equivalent study programs in the international government college.
  • The college offers high-quality academic programs at the undergraduate level, distinguished by adopting general academic requirements that suit all students in various college programs, meeting the educational needs of the community by creating and offering academically recognized international standard programs.
  • The college distinguishes and appreciates the academic achievements of students by awarding graduation honors.

The Bachelor's degree is awarded to students who fulfill the minimum requirements of approved credit hours, cumulative GPA, and other program-specific requirements according to the college's regulations and policies:

  • The required credit hours for obtaining a Bachelor's degree depend on the student's academic program.
  • The cumulative GPA of the student must not be less than (2.00) points to be eligible for a Bachelor's degree.
  • A Bachelor's degree is not awarded to a student if their academic record includes a grade of "Incomplete."
  • Students are allowed to enroll in additional courses in their college if they need to improve their cumulative GPA to meet the minimum graduation requirements, based on the academic advisor's recommendation and the dean's approval.
  • Undergraduate programs vary by department and include seven specific components, each comprising a minimum of credited hours, specified courses, and/or skills and abilities:

    • General University Education / University Requirements: Courses offered to all students in the college.
    • Department Requirements: Courses offered to department students, varying based on the student's specialization.
    • Major Requirements: Courses offered to major students, including sub-specialization and tracks, varying based on the student's academic focus.
    • Elective Courses / Free Courses: Courses that students can choose from the department to fulfill degree requirements. They may vary based on the student's academic plan.
    • The college may propose the introduction of one or more sub-specializations within its academic programs, subject to review and approval according to college procedures.
    • Students can request the inclusion of an approved sub-specialization in their academic plan by submitting a request to the department head.
    • Some scientific departments may require students to demonstrate skills and abilities by passing a competency test, in addition to or instead of credited courses, to obtain the academic degree.
  • Students whose academic qualifications are deemed insufficient for enrolling in credited courses are required to demonstrate relevant skills and/or complete appropriate introductory or foundational courses as a prerequisite for enrolling in college courses.

  • Courses with credited hours from other recognized universities or colleges can be transferred to the college.
  • For colleges or programs accredited internationally or its equivalent, major courses (those required for the main specialization of the college or program) can only be transferred to the college when these courses have been studied at universities or colleges holding the same international academic accreditation for the equivalent college. The head of the department to which the transfer is required can individually exempt some cases.
  • The transferred student from other universities or colleges must study at least 60% of the credited hours required for the degree, in addition to studying all advanced-level courses in the academic specialization at the college.
  • The decision to equate the transferred credited hours with the degree requirements in the undergraduate stage is considered a department-specific decision.
  • Upon the student's preliminary acceptance to the college as a transfer student, he must obtain approval from the relevant department to transfer the completed hours from other universities or colleges.
  • Credited hours for completed courses in other universities or colleges are calculated if their grades are (C) or higher.

The student expected to graduate in a specific semester must submit the graduation request to his department and the Admission and Registration Unit office by the last day for withdrawal without failure in that semester.

  • According to the information system, the College's Admission and Registration Unit verifies the completion of academic grades and awards them.
  • Academic grades are awarded at the end of the first and second semesters, as well as the summer semester.
  • The official date for awarding the academic degree in the academic semester is the date of announcing the results of that semester, according to the official academic calendar. This information is recorded in the student's official record regardless of the date of approval of the academic degree by the relevant department.

The academic performance of bachelor's degree recipients can be described as follows:

Grade Honor Grade Symbol Grade Weight
95-100 Excellent High A+ 5.0
90-94 Excellent A 4.75
85-89 Very Good High B+ 4.5
80-85 Very Good B 4
75-79 Good High C+ 3.5
70-74 Good C 3.0
65-69 Acceptable High D+ 2.5
60-64 Acceptable D 2.0
Less than 60 Fail F 1.0
  • The college grants two levels of outstanding academic performance for students who graduate with a bachelor's degree according to the cumulative GPA:
    • First Honor Rank – with a cumulative GPA from (4.75) to (5.00).
    • Second Honor Rank – with a cumulative GPA from (4.25) to less than (4.75) out of (5.00).
  • To obtain an honor rank, the student must have studied at the college from which he/she will graduate in at least 60% of the graduation requirements in the college.
  • To obtain an honor rank, the student must not have failed in any of the college courses.
  • To obtain an honor rank, the student must have completed the graduation requirements within a maximum period equal to the average duration between the minimum and maximum duration to stay in his/her college.