Second Bachelor's Candidate /

Postgraduate Applicant

Frequently Asked Questions

Though there are many similarities between Transfer Applicants and Second Bachelor's/Postgraduate Applicants, we recognize that there are specific questions unique to Second Bachelor's/Postgraduate Applicants. The most common questions we receive are answered here.

1.What are the admission requirements for second bachelors/postgraduate candidates?
2.Are all majors available?
3.What if I am currently finishing my first degree and want to apply as a second bachelor's candidate for the very next term?
4. What if I earned my first Bachelor's Degree at Colorado State University?
5. How long will it take me to complete a second degree?
6. How will credits from my first degree apply to my second degree? 7. What if I am only interested in Teacher Licensure and not a full undergraduate degree?
8. What if I am only interested in completing pre-requisites before applying for a graduate program?
9. Where can I get help choosing between a second bachelor's degree and a graduate degree?

1. What are the admission requirements for second bachelors/postgraduate candidates?

Refer to the Transfer Admission Requirements and How to Apply sections for basic information about required documents, admission decision factors, and deadlines. In addition to meeting these basic guidelines, you must have:

• successfully completed a first bachelor's degree
• selected a degree-seeking major (i.e., applicants cannot enter as "undecided")
• selected a major that does not duplicate the first degree

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2. Are all majors available?

The following programs require a higher GPA and/or specific course work. Entry into music majors requires an audition (taped auditions considered).

• Art
• Business
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Landscape Architecture
• Music (Audition required)
• Restaurant and Resort Management
• Technical Journalism

If you are admissible to the University but you do not meet the more competitive admission requirements, we may admit you to a corresponding "pre" or "undeclared-exploring" program (e.g. undeclared-exploring business interests) so that you may begin working toward the prerequisites for the major. Admission to a "pre" or "undeclared-exploring" program does not assure admission to the college, major, or professional program.

Please note that programs that duplicate the major of a first degree are not available to second bachelor's candidates. For example, students with a first degree in an area of Business (e.g., accounting) are ineligible for a second degree in another area of Business (e.g., finance) because they are different concentrations within the same degree and major.

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3. What if I am currently finishing my first degree and want to apply as a second bachelor's candidate for the very next term?

You may apply for admission as a second bachelor's candidate during the term in which you are finishing your first degree. Colorado State will consider you for admission based on the strength of your academic record to date, and you may be eligible for a provisional admission. According to the provisional admission, you must provide a final, official transcript demonstrating completion of your first degree before you enroll for your first term as a second bachelor's candidate.

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4. What if I earned my first Bachelor's Degree at Colorado State University?

If you completed your first degree at Colorado State, you still must submit a completed application for admission as a second bachelor's candidate by the posted deadline dates (July 1 for the fall term and December 1 for the spring term).

A completed application includes an application form and $50 nonrefundable processing fee. Colorado State University transcripts are not required. However, if you have taken additional course work at another college/university since leaving Colorado State, you must submit an official transcript from each institution by the posted deadlines.

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5. How long will it take me to complete a second degree?

A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence in addition to the minimum number of credits required for the first degree (typically 120) are required to complete a second bachelor's degree. This will require at least two semesters. Other factors that can impact your length of study include how recently you completed your first degree, how your prior undergraduate credits are evaluated for transfer to Colorado State, how closely aligned your first and second majors are, whether you plan to attend full-time or part-time, and the requirements of the second degree you wish to pursue (teacher licensure has a semester of student teaching in addition to course work, for example). You will work closely with your academic adviser to review your transfer evaluation and to discuss your goals in order to establish a timeframe for degree completion.

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6. How will credits from my first degree apply to my second degree?

Once you are admitted to Colorado State, the Transfer Evaluation Office will conduct a course-by-course evaluation of the work you completed in your first degree and send a copy of the evaluation to you and to your academic department. Generally, college-level academic credits in which you have earned a grade of C- or better will transfer to Colorado State, and the critical question is whether the credits will be applied toward your major, toward the All-University Core Curriculum, or toward electives. Students who have completed their first bachelor's degree from any college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting agencies automatically meet our All-University Core Curriculum (AUCC) requirements for their second bachelor's degree, with the exception of those AUCC courses (including Category 4 courses) that are required in the major.

For more information, please follow the link to the Registrar's Office (look under Transfer Office information): http://www.registrar.colostate.edu.

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7. What if I am only interested in Teacher Licensure and not a full undergraduate degree?

For more information about Teacher Licensure at Colorado State, contact the School of Education.

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8. What if I am only interested in completing pre-requisites before applying for a graduate program?

It is common for students to use the second bachelor's status as a way to strengthen their undergraduate profile before applying for graduate degree programs. When you apply for admission as a second bachelor's candidate, you are not limiting your options to pursue graduate admission even before your second degree may be complete.

Please be sure to work closely with the key adviser for the graduate program(s) you are considering to make sure that you know exactly what undergraduate requirements you may need to satisfy and how undergraduate credits taken as a second bachelor's candidate will factor into the graduate admission decision. The Graduate School also can answer general questions you may have.

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9. Where can I get help choosing between a second bachelor's degree and a graduate degree?

Each graduate program has a key adviser who can assist you in evaluating your personal and professional goals to determine whether a second bachelor's degree or a graduate degree is best for you. Please contact the graduate program of interest for more information.

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