Double Dipping: Fastest Route to Degree Completion

What is it?

Double Dipping – one course fulfilling more than one requirement.

For example: PHIL 330 fulfills 3 hours in the Ethics requirement and 3 hours in the Upper Level requirement. Six hours of requirements have been completed by one 3 hour course.

Degree Audit adds the remaining needed credit from each section to calculate the Total Remaining Required Credits for the Degree Program. In most cases, the audit does not take into consideration double dipping.

Degree Audit generally reflects the worst case scenario of how many credits will be needed for that specific degree so as to take into account if a student is unable or chooses not to select courses that can apply to multiple areas. Advisors can help determine when and how to choose courses that can apply to multiple areas so as to reduce the total remaining required credits for the degree program.

Whether or not you take advantage of the double dipping option, all degrees require a minimum number of credits. All associate degrees require a minimum of 60 semester hours. Baccalaureate degrees require a minimum of 120 semester hours. All masters degrees require a minimum of 36 semester hours.

How to maximize course selection:

Double dipping rarely impacts associate degrees and is not an option within the very specific masters degrees. To determine the maximum amount of double dipping a student can do within a baccalaureate degree and still complete a minimum of 120 hours, you or your advisor can compare the Remaining Credits for the Degree Program against the Remaining Credits for the Overall Credits.

The Overall Credits are tracking to the minimum requirement of 120 semester hours.

So, if for example, the Degree Program Remaining Credits is 60 and the Overall Remaining Credits is 30, the student can only double dip up to 30 credits – because they have to complete at least 30 credits to reach 120.

If the Degree Program Remaining Credits is 15 and the Overall Remaining Credits is 15, then there is no advantage in double dipping because the student has to complete a minimum of 15 hours to reach 120.

Remember, your advisor can help you to maximize your course selection in terms of your career or advanced degree goals, completing multiple degrees or minors and the most efficient route to degree completion.