Undergraduate Students Earning a Second Degree

Undergraduate students who have earned a bachelor's or associate degree from Charter Oak State College, or from another regionally accredited college or university, may matriculate at Charter Oak State College to pursue a second degree with permission. The second degree must be in a different field of study from the first one. Persons seeking admission for a second bachelor's degree must obtain approval from the Director of Admissions before submitting an application for admissions. To obtain approval, submit an email to the Director of Admissions explaining the rationale for the request and how the second degree will differ from the first. Students who have already earned any Bachelor’s level degree, may not pursue an additional Bachelor’s degree with a Major in General Studies. Students who have earned any Associate level degree may not pursue an additional Associate degree with a Major in General Studies.

To earn a second associate degree, with a major other than General Studies, a student must:

• obtain approval from the Director of Admissions; 
• earn a minimum of 15 semester credits subsequent to the award of the initial/most recent degree;
  • apply no more than 9 credits from the previous degree earned to the new major; and 
• meet current degree requirements.

To earn a second baccalaureate degree in a major other than General Studies, a student must:

• obtain approval from the Director of Admissions;
• earn a minimum of 30 semester credits subsequent to the award of the initial degree; 15 of which must be upper level in the new major;
  • apply no more than 9 credits from the previous degree earned to the new major; and
• meet current degree requirements.

Persons holding a Master of Arts or Master of Science, an advanced professional degree or an earned doctorate must also request approval from the Director of Admissions before applying for an associate or bachelor's degree. The College will allow up to nine (9) credits  from a completed graduate program to be applied toward  a Charter Oak undergraduate degree. The credits must fulfill a specific requirement in the undergraduate program. Graduate courses in transfer may not be used as electives in an undergraduate degree program.  Graduate courses transferred in to meet undergraduate requirements may not be used as part of a future graduate program at Charter Oak. 

Note: The College's policy on undergraduate admission to a second degree program governs students who have earned their degree prior to matriculating at Charter Oak State College. For undergraduate students who wish to simultaneously seek a degree at Charter Oak State College and another regionally accredited college or university should review the Concurrent Degree Policy.