Special Conditions for DDS and DVM Candidates
(An exception to the academic policy, Graduate Credit for Seniors.)

UA students who matriculate early into an accredited, professional veterinary or dental college, prior to completion of their undergraduate degree, may apply for the following UA baccalaureate degrees: veterinary students for the B.S. with a major in veterinary science, and dental students for the B.S. with a major in microbiology. 

No more than 30 credit hours from the student's professional program may be applied to the UA degree. Only in the special circumstances of early admittance to dental or veterinary school will the requirement for 18 of the last 30 units in residence be waived. 

In order to preserve the integrity of the UA degree, the student's major department will be responsible for evaluating the transfer credits for applicability to degree requirements.  Because the DDS and DVM require that the student have a B.S. prior to the professional degree being awarded, the graduate credits will be allowed to transfer prior to completion of the professional degree.

The following conditions must be met in order for the student to be eligible for degree candidacy:

• complete a minimum of 90 units of the requisite 120 prior to matriculating into the professional school.
• complete a minimum of 60 units of University Credit (courses in residence).
• complete all requirements for the degree: foundation and general education requirements, pre-major, major, and University requirements.
• complete a minimum of 12 upper-division credits that satisfy pre-major or major department science requirements in residence at the UA.

Rationale for the exception: 

Although rare, the exceptional pre-veterinary and pre-dental undergraduate may be admitted to a professional program prior to completion of the UA degree requirements. The professional schools generally require the completion of a baccalaureate degree prior to awarding the professional degree (DVM, DDS). WICHE institutions such as Washington State University and non-WICHE schools such as Cornell University require and facilitate the completion of the B.S. degree requirements for those students who are admitted early. While mechanisms vary across institutions, the impetus behind the development of such programs has been, in part, to acknowledge the undergraduate work completed as well as the achievement of early acceptance and the rigor of professional study. The approved exemption is based on the fact that the UA does not offer the DVM and DDS professional programs, but does offer appropriate baccalaureate programs for pre-veterinary and pre-dental students.

Procedure for students who meet the conditions stated above:

This exemption allows the College to award the B.S. degree with a major in microbiology or veterinary science to former UA students after they have completed and transferred at least 30 units from their professional program to the UA. Once the department has approved the application of transfer coursework toward the B.S. degree, the student should file an Application for Degree Candidacy with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Graduation Services advisor. The Graduation Services advisor will audit the degree check to ensure that all foundations, general education, pre-major, major, and University degree requirements have been met, in accordance with the UA Catalog that the student had followed prior to admission to the professional school. The degree will be awarded at the earliest University graduation date following completion of all course work required for the degree.