Requirements for the B.A. Degree in the College of Letters and Science

General Requirements for Graduation

Each student working toward a baccalaureate degree from the college must satisfactorily complete 128 semester credits (unless a higher number is specified in the particular curriculum), including at least 36 credits in courses numbered 300 and above, the all-university requirements (see regulation J-3), and the college and departmental requirements for the degree sought. The college requirements applicable to the B.A. and B.S. degrees are listed below. The requirements for the various professional degrees (i.e., B.F.A., B.Mus., B.N.S., and B.Tech.) are listed by academic unit below. The college B.A. and B.S. requirements do not apply to these professional degrees.

College Requirements for the B.A. and B.S. Degrees

Objectives. The college requirements for the B.A. and B.S. degrees are designed to ensure a broad, liberal education through the attainment of the following objectives:

  1. Proficiency in written and spoken English.
  2. Appreciation of great literature, music, and art.
  3. Knowledge of human development, the growth of social and economic institutions, and an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of the individual citizen.
  4. Perspective of American culture in the world at large.
  5. Sense of historical perspective.
  6. Acquaintance with moral, ethical, and aesthetic values.
  7. Familiarity with scientific thought and method.
  8. Ability to use and interpret basic mathematical concepts.
  9. Understanding of ecology.
  10. A continuing attitude of intellectual curiosity.

Requirements for the B.A. Degree

Humanities--6 credits (two courses) in addition to the minimum university-wide core requirements.

Social Sciences--3 credits (one course) in addition to the minimum university-wide core requirements.

Foreign Language--0-16 credits (zero-four courses), i.e., competence in one foreign language equivalent to that gained by the completion of four semesters of college courses (through the intermediate level). This requirement may be satisfied by the completion of either of the following options:

  1. 16 credits or four high-school units in one foreign language.
  2. 12 credits in one foreign language, and one three-credit course in literature translated from the same language. The 12 credits may be satisfied by three high-school units in one foreign language.

Courses satisfying the humanities requirement are those dealing with the arts, literature, and philosophy. Courses satisfying the social sciences requirement are those dealing with a person's social condition including social relations, institutions, history, and participation in an organized community. Mathematics and statistics requirements can be met by taking courses in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Likewise, the natural science requirements can be met by taking courses in the life sciences and the physical sciences.

Special topic, workshop, seminar, and directed study courses are generally not applicable. However, individual departments can, at their discretion, certify one of these nonregular courses as meeting Letters and Science B.A. or B.S. requirements in an appropriate category.

Progress in Satisfying These Requirements. Students who wish to graduate by the end of four years of college work should take a program that results in substantial progress toward the fulfillment of the preceding requirements by the end of the sophomore year. In particular, students seeking the B.A. degree should take courses in fulfillment of the foreign-language requirement as early as possible. If they cannot do this during the first semester, they should immediately take a course that can be used in partial fulfillment of the science-mathematics requirement.

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