Degree Requirements

Students come under the academic requirements of the University catalog in effect at the time of matriculation. Normally, these requirements must be completed within five years for graduate students and seven years for doctoral students from the date of first attendance. A student may choose to fulfill graduation requirements of a newer catalog but may not revert to the original catalog once the change is made.

Coursework at the graduate level is held to a higher caliber than undergraduate work. Graduate work requires more research skills, more in-depth and applied knowledge, and mastery of a field or discipline. Therefore, Saint Leo University will not apply undergraduate coursework towards graduate coursework. In addition, to be admitted into a graduate degree program, a student must have earned a four-year bachelor's degree; therefore, no graduate-level work may be applied toward an undergraduate degree.

In addition to time spent in class, Saint Leo University courses are designed to require at least 30 hours of work to be completed outside of class time per credit hour earned. This work includes reading, homework, and completing papers and other assignments. For a three credit hour course students should expect to commit 90 hours of time outside of class in order to be prepared and meet course expectations.

For graduate degrees, students may seek multiple specializations within the major program concurrently, at the discretion of their academic advisor or student success coach's guidance and recommendation. Students pursuing more than one specialization must be cognizant that distinct course requirements could lengthen their time to completion. Specific policies may exist regarding specialization programs that cannot be pursued simultaneously.

After conferral of a Saint Leo University graduate degree, a student may take courses at Saint Leo University to earn a different degree, as long as the second degree is in a major different from that of the first degree. If the student returns and pursues a new specialization under his or her existing degree program, he or she does not earn another degree and is not degree-seeking. Financial Aid is only available to students that are active in a degree-seeking program.

Students cannot earn a degree with Saint Leo University in the same major or specialization subject area in which they already earned a degree or credential at another institution.

Second Master's Degree Requirements

A person who has earned a master's degree from Saint Leo University may earn a second master's degree in a major different from that of the first degree by meeting the below requirements. Students pursuing this option will be considered degree-seeking and an additional degree and diploma will be issued when all of the follow requirements are successfully completed:

1. If a student has already earned a graduate degree and wishes to obtain a second master's degree, he or she must meet the admission criteria for that second degree and go through the admission process again.
2. A minimum of 15 additional graduate credits must be completed successfully in-residence at Saint Leo University.
3. All graduation requirements for the major of the second degree must be met satisfactorily.
4. Coursework completed successfully as part of the first degree program may be used to satisfy the graduation requirements of the second major/degree program.
   1. No course already taken in the first degree program may be repeated in the second degree program for new/distinct credit.

The following are the requirements that students must complete to earn a degree in their discipline. 

The conferral or completion date is based on the completion of all required items listed below.   Saint Leo University will not release a diploma, transcript or confirm completion of a degree until all financial obligations are paid in full.

Master of Business Administration  30-33 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum of 24 required credits with Saint Leo University.
3. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 with no more than two grades of C in any graduate course.
4. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and computational skills.
5. Apply for degree conferral.

Master of Business Administration One-Year International & Experiential 36 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum of 24 required credits with Saint Leo University.
3. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 with no more than two grades of C in any graduate course.
4. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and computational skills.
5. Apply for degree conferral.

Master of Science in Accounting - 30 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum 24 required credits with Saint Leo University.
3. Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 with no more than two C grades in any graduate course.
4. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and computational skills.
5. Apply for degree conferral.

Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence - 30 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum of 24 required credits with Saint Leo University.
3. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 with no more than two grades of C in any graduate course.
4. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and computational skills.
5. Apply for degree conferral.

Master of Science in Computer Science - 30 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum of 24 required credits with Saint Leo University.
3. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 with no more than two grades of C in any graduate course.
4. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and computational skills.
5. Apply for degree conferral.

Master of Science in Cybersecurity - 30 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum of 24 required credits with Saint Leo University
3. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 with no more than two grades of C in any graduate course.
4. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and computational skills.
5. Apply for degree conferral.

Doctor of Business Administration in Management - 60 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum of 54 required credits with Saint Leo University
3. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 with no more than one grade of C in any doctoral course.
4. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and research skills.
5. Successfully complete and defend dissertation within 7 years from the start of the program.
6. Apply for degree conferral.

Master of Science in Criminal Justice - 36 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum of 30 required credits with Saint Leo University
3. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 with no more than two grades of C in any graduate course.
4. Successfully complete a comprehensive project.
5. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and computational skill. 
6. Apply for degree conferral.

Doctor of Criminal Justice - 60 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum of 54 required credits with Saint Leo University.
3. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 0or higher with no more than one grade of C in any doctoral course.
4. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communications, and research skills.
5. Successfully complete and defend the dissertation within 7 years from the start of the program.
6. Apply for degree conferral.

Master of Education: Educational Leadership or Exceptional Student Education and Reading - 30 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum of 30 required credits with Saint Leo University.
3. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 with no more than two grades of C in any graduate course.
4. For Educational Leadership only; pass the required Florida Educational Leadership Exam subject area unless in ulti-state program unless in multi-state program.
5. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and computational skills.
6. Satisfy all financial obligations to the University; and
7. Apply for degree conferral.

Post- Master's degree Education Specialist - 36 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum of 36 graduate credits with Saint Leo University.
3. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 with no more than two grades of C in any graduate course.
4. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and computational skills;
5. Apply for degree conferral.

Doctor of Education: School Leadership- 57 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum of 57 doctoral credits with Saint Leo University.
3. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 with no more than one grade of C in required coursework.
4. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and research skills.
5. Successfully complete and defend dissertation within 7 years from the start of the program.
6. Apply for degree conferral.

Master of Social Work - 62 total credits or 32 credits with advanced standing

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum of 53 required credits with Saint Leo University.
3. Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 each semester of the program.
4. Exhibit clear thinking and competence in written and oral expression.
5. Exhibit evidence of emotional maturity, concern for people, and capacity for self-awareness and personal growth.
6. Follow acceptable standards of professional conduct according to the NASW code of ethics, effective integration of practice skills necessary for professional social work practice, and satisfactory academic standing.
7. Apply for degree conferral.

Master of Arts in Creative Writing - 36 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete 30 graduate credits with Saint Leo University
3. Attain a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.25 with no more than one grade of C in any graduate course.
4. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and research skills.
5. Successfully complete and defend the creative thesis within five years from the start of the program;
6. Apply for degree conferral.

Masters of Science in Psychology - 36 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete 30 graduate credits with Saint Leo University.
3. Attain a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.00 with no more than one grade of C in required coursework.
4. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and research skills.
5. Successful completion of the Thesis or Capstone Project.
6. Apply for degree conferral.

Master of Arts in Theology - 36 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum of 30 graduate credits with Saint Leo University.
3. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 with no more than two grades of C in any graduate course.
4. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and computational skills.
5. Apply for degree conferral.

Doctor of Theology in Applied Theology - 60 total credits

1. Successfully complete all required courses/credits.
2. Complete a minimum of 54 graduate credits with Saint Leo University.
3. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 with no more than one grade of C in any doctoral course.
4. Demonstrate competence in reading, writing, oral communication, and research skills.
5. Successfully complete and defend dissertation within 5 years from the completion of comprehensive exams  
6. Apply for degree conferral.