Earning a Second Bachelor’s Degree

Students who have already earned a bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution may apply for admissions to a program leading to a second degree of the same level, provided students:

• Choose a major field that is demonstrably different in curricula and objectives from that of the first degree. 
• Meet the requirements for acceptance into selected fields (i.e., portfolio review for BFA admission). 
• Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in their original bachelor’s degree.  Certain programs may require higher GPAs and prerequisite coursework. Students should check with the appropriate department for more information.
• Provide official transcripts from all the schools they attended. A maximum of 90 credits will be transferable from the first degree. The emphasis in determining transferable credits is to fulfill general education requirements. Credits taken at two-year or four-year schools after the first degree was awarded may be considered in the 90 transferable-credit maximum. 
• Submit official score reports via the College Board or IB programs. Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and CLEP exams that meet the minimum score requirements may be counted toward transferrable credits.

Additional Information:

• Units gained through Credit for Prior Learning options cannot be used by second bachelor’s students unless they were earned at Lesley University. These units will be counted among the 90 transferrable credits.
• New credits toward a second bachelor’s degree must be residential credits. Once admitted, students may not take coursework at another institution and transfer it back to Lesley University.  
• Semester honors and/or Latin honors are awarded to eligible second bachelor's degree students who meet the published criteria.
• Dual-degree programs are not offered to second bachelor’s students. Students are not eligible to apply for a dual-degree program at Lesley University
• General Education foundation requirements, including Collaborations and Applications, will be waived for second bachelor's students.
• Academic standards must be met by second bachelor’s students. Students who fail to maintain all minimum academic standards will be subject to academic review. 
• Major department requirements from the catalog under which second bachelor’s students were officially admitted must all be met. Students have ten (10) years to graduate under that catalog.