Graduation Information

Application for Graduation

All candidates for graduation must file a Graduation Application with Mustang Central. The purpose of this procedure is to allow this office to check whether the student has satisfied all College requirements for graduation.

Students pay a standard fee covering all costs related to diplomas, certificates, caps and gowns, and other additions to graduation regalia. Students who are excused from Commencement, or do not complete graduation requirements, will still owe applicable fees. Note: All fees are non-refundable once the application deadline has passed.

Degrees and Certificates Offered

The following degrees and certificates are offered at Western:

Associate of Arts: This degree is primarily for students majoring in the humanities, arts, and social sciences and who plan to transfer to a four-year, or professional, school.

Associate of Nursing: This degree is for students completing the nursing program. See the Health Science section for specific requirements.

Associate of Science: This degree is primarily for students majoring in math, science, engineering, or business and who plan to transfer to a four year, or professional, school.

Associate of Applied Science: This degree is primarily for students majoring in occupational fields who do not plan to transfer following completion of the AAS Degree.

Certificates of Completion: These certificates are given in various areas and require completion of a defined group of courses.

Bachelor of Applied Science: This degree is for students wishing to add business and management skills to a wide variety of technical skills and broad academic backgrounds.

To graduate, students must complete all requirements of their degree or certificate program. Students may opt to graduate under the current catalog requirements or under those of the catalog in place the year they began attending Western Wyoming Community College as long as there has been continuous attendance. Exceptions must be approved by the Registrar in Mustang Central.

General Requirements for All Degrees or Certificates

Students must complete the following general requirements before the College will grant a degree or certificate.

The student must have:

• A cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (a “C” average) or better in all hours attempted at Western Wyoming Community College;
• At least 15 credit hours must be completed through Western Wyoming Community College for all Associate degrees and certificates;
• At least 30 credit hours must be completed through Western Wyoming Community College for a Bachelor’s degree;
• Generally no courses taken from Western for “S/U” grades may be used for graduation hours (does not include credit by exam, extra-institutional credit, or military credit, or approved S/U courses);
• Students may not receive credit for courses which are prerequisite to courses they have already completed;
• A maximum of six hours of studies or workshops (2490, 2495, 2990 or 2995) coursework may be applied towards an Associate degree;
• A maximum of four hours of internship for AA & AS degrees and six hours for AAS degrees may be applied towards credit for graduation.

Double Major

A double major is a program of study that meets the requirements of two distinct majors in a single Associates degree. The program of study consists of courses required to meet the degree requirements for each of the two majors, together with the courses needed to meet the general education requirements for the degree. The minimum number of credit hours required for a double major equals the total number of credit hours required for the major comprising the larger number of credit hours for the degree.

Students may apply the same coursework towards the fulfillment of requirements for both majors; however, nine major credits must be distinctive to the second major. Students who complete the requirements for a double major receive a single diploma that acknowledges both majors.

Because a double major program leads to a single Associates degree, each of the two majors must be associated with the same degree type (i.e., both must be registered as a AA degree).

Dual Degree

A dual degree program is one in which the student works towards satisfying the academic requirements for two distinct degree types in an integrated fashion. Students may apply the same coursework towards the fulfillment of the requirements for both degrees. To achieve the academic depth and breadth implied by a program of study that results in the awarding of two associates degrees, a dual degree program consists of substantial additional coursework as compared to that required for a double major; namely, a minimum of 15 additional semester hours beyond the credit hours required for the degree program comprised of the smaller number of credits. In most cases, a minimum of 79 credits will be required to earn dual degrees. Students who successfully complete a dual degree program receive two diplomas, one for each degree earned.

Candidates for Certificates

Candidates for certificate programs must complete all courses listed under the program description for that certificate before the certificate will be awarded.

The Commencement Ceremony

Western Wyoming Community College holds the annual Commencement ceremony for graduating students every May in the Rushmore Gymnasium on the main campus in Rock Springs.

• Attendance at Commencement is required whether a student completes requirements in Summer, Fall, or Spring. Students with conflicts must submit a request explaining the conflict in order to be excused.
• A student may only participate in the Commencement ceremony if they have completed all required coursework for any degrees or certificates awarded at that time. If completion is expected following a future term (summer), or semester, the student will be expected to participate in the May ceremony following that period.