Graduation

2008 GRADUATION

May 10, 2008, at 3pm in the Bernice Hansen Center on the main campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Graduation Requirements:

Participation in Commencement
Graduation Dates and Diplomas

Associate of Science Requirements

To be eligible for graduation, students must fulfill the following conditions:

A student must complete 61 semester hours. If the total number of credits from specific program coursework, Prior Learning/PST credit, and transfer credit does not total 61 semester hours, additional work must be completed. This is accomplished by: 1) taking courses from Cornerstone University; or 2) taking courses from other accredited colleges or universities; or 3) testing: CLEP (College Level Examination Program) or DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support).

A student must complete general education requirements in the following academic areas. All requirements for graduation are met in the Associate of Science in Business Studies (Steps I and II) program and the Associate of Science in Education (Steps I and II) program.

English: a college writing course including instruction in and production of a research paper

Speech: a communication course that includes oral speech opportunities

Fine Arts: one course chosen from the following categories a) Art appreciation with historical emphasis; b) Music appreciation with historical emphasis

Humanities: one course from each of the following categories: a) History; b) Literature; c) Philosophy; d)Theology or REL 102; e) Old Testament survey or REL23; f) New Testament survey or REL232

Math/Computer Science: one course (equivalent of MAT110 or higher)

Lab Science: one course (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) 

Social Science: two courses chosen from the following disciplines: a)Sociology; b) Psychology; c)  Economics; d) Political Science; e)Geography

KIN100 Foundations of Wellness

IDS100 Foundations of Inquiry/or Electives 
(Students with less than 20 transferable credits must take IDS100)

  • A cumulative GPA of 2.00 (C) or higher.
  • Credit from remedial or non-college level courses will not count toward graduation credit.
  • A grade of C- or better in ENG 118 and COM 111.
  • Payment of all tuition and fees.
  • Residency requirements: Students must complete at least 24 semester hours at Cornerstone University, including residency for at least 12 semester hours of the major. Prior Learning Assessment credit (i.e., Professional Schools & Training or Life Learning Essay) and credit by exam (i.e., CLEP, DANTES, or Berlitz language evaluation) do not apply to in-residence credit.
  • Graduation application to the Registrar’s Office filed no later than November 1 for December graduates and no later than February 1 for May/August graduates.

Bachelor of Science Requirements

A student must complete divisional requirements in each academic area. Courses that count toward divisional requirements must be at least two semester hours and the total general education core must not be less than 30 semester hours. Divisional requirements (general education credits) can be earned through college coursework, credit by exam or awarded through prior learning assessment.

Divisional Requirements:
*English - a college writing course including instruction in and production of a research paper

*Speech – a communication course that includes oral speech opportunities

Fine Arts - one course chosen from the following categories: a) Art appreciation with historical emphasis; b) Music appreciation with historical emphasis

Humanities - three courses chosen from at least two of the following categories: a) History; b) Literature c) Modern Foreign Language (one year of college or above); d) Philosophy/Religion

Math/Computer Science - one course (equivalent of MAT110 or higher)
Lab Science - one course (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)

Social Science - two courses from the following disciplines: a) Sociology; b) Psychology; c) Economics; d) Political Science e) Geography

* These courses are included in the Bachelor programs.

  • Completion of a degree completion program, including a minimum 24 semester-hour major and 15 semester-hour minor.
  • Completion of 120 semester hours. If the total number of credits from the Prior Learning Assessment (PST & LLE), specific program coursework, and transfer credit does not total 120 semester hours, additional work must be completed. This is accomplished by: 1) taking courses from Cornerstone University; or 2) taking courses from other accredited colleges or universities; or 3) obtaining credit through credit by exam—i.e. CLEP (College Level Examination Program), DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support), or Berlitz language evaluation. 
  • A  maximum of 30 credits through Prior Learning Assessment (i.e., PST & LLE) may be awarded.
  • A maximum of 30 credits can be awarded through credit by exam (CLEP, DANTES, Berlitz language evaluation).
  • Credit from remedial or non-college level courses will not count toward graduation credit.
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.00 (C) or higher must be maintained. A 2.5 GPA average or higher is required in the major.
  • A grade of C- or better in ENG 119 and COM 211.
  • Students completing the Management Major with a Ministry Leadership Specialization must complete 6 semester hours of Bible/religion courses in the following areas outside their program:

New Testament Survey course - 3 credits
Old Testament Survey course - 3 credits

  • Payment of all tuition and fees.
  • Residency Requirements: Students must complete at least 32 semester hours at Cornerstone University, including residency for at least 12 hours of the major. Prior Learning Assessment (PST and LLE) and credit by exam (CLEP, DANTES, or Berlitz language evaluation) credit do not apply to in-residence credit.
  • Graduation application to the Registrar’s Office filed no later than November 1 for December graduates and no later than February 1 for May/August graduates.
  • All prior learning assessment petitions (Life Learning Essays and/or PST Documentation) for credit must be submitted 30 days prior to any of the three graduation dates in order to allow time for evaluation.

Master Program Requirements

  • Completion of the Master’s program curriculum with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.
  • Any course with a grade less than a C- will not count toward graduation and must be repeated.
  • Payment of all tuition and fees.
  • Completion of all degree requirements within five years of beginning the program.
  • Graduation application to the Registrar’s Office filed no later than November 1 for December graduates and no later than February 1 for May/August graduates.
    Specific Master of Arts in Education Graduation Requirements
    • K-8 certified: Completion of the subject area workshops
    • Secondary certified: Completion of the subject area workshops in the areas of certification

Participation in Commencement

To participate in the May commencement ceremony, a student must have six (6) semester hours or less to complete his/her degree requirements on the last day of the spring session (using the traditional program calendar). Students who have not completed all graduation requirements by this date must have a written plan on file in the Registrar’s Office before the May commencement documenting how they will complete the remaining hours (6 or less) before the last day of the summer session (using the traditional program calendar).

Graduation Dates and Diplomas

  • There are three (3) graduation dates during the year: May, August, and December. Transcripts and diplomas will specify one of these dates. Students who complete all degree requirements by the last day of classes in the spring session (traditional program calendar) will receive a May date on their diploma; students who complete their degree requirements before August 1 will receive an August graduation date; students who complete their degree requirements after the summer graduation date and by December 23 of that year will receive a December graduation date.
  • Students taking credit at an institution other than Cornerstone University for completion of Cornerstone University’s degree requirements must have their final, official transcript from that institution on file in the Registrar’s Office by the following August 15 to maintain a May graduation date; by the following November 15 to maintain an August graduation date; and by the following March 15 to maintain a December graduation date. Receipt of the transcript after that date will necessitate moving the graduation date to the next regularly occurring graduation date.
  • Students must submit a Graduation/Diploma application and order form by November 1 for December graduation or February 1 for May or August graduation.
  • All financial obligations must have been met before a diploma will be released.
  • Students who find they will not complete their requirements by the anticipated date may call or write the Registrar’s Office at Cornerstone University to request a change in their graduation date.