Bachelor of Arts Degree

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College of Arts and Sciences

Each student must complete the degree requirements listed below, as well as those for a major and minor area of specialization. We recommend that every student focus on BG Perspective courses in the first year, beginning with the University Writing Program and Quantitative Literacy in the first semester, along with the Arts and Sciences World Languages and Cultures requirement. The Arts and Sciences Multidisciplinary Component should be started no later than the beginning of the second year. If known, the major should be started in the first year, but selecting a major may be deferred until the middle of the second year. Some majors and programs include required sequences of courses. These sequences should be started in the first year, if possible.

(University degree requirements and the BG Perspective curriculum are explained elsewhere in the catalog.)

College of Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements

World Languages and Cultures. Fulfilling the Arts and Sciences World Languages and Cultures requirement means acquiring fundamental skills for today’s citizens and professionals; linguistic and intercultural competence, global awareness, and the ability to understand diverse perspectives and experiences. Graduates will be more competitive in the workplace and more connected in their communities by obtaining the transferable skills that World Languages and Cultures courses foster. By successfully completing the requirement, students advance their ability to:

Identify the role that language and culture play in the formation of identities and worldviews- both their own and those of others- in national and international contexts.
Communicate and collaborate effectively with people whose backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences differ from their own.
Build connections across linguistic and cultural boundaries in their personal and professional lives.

Completing the Arts and Sciences World Languages and Cultures requirements also equips students to pursue advanced levels of linguistic and intercultural competence through upper-division coursework, co-curricular opportunities, and immersive experiential learning both on campus and abroad. Students who purse advanced learning can develop the bilingual dexterity and deep cultural sensitivity that will empower them as global citizens and strengthen their ability to collaborate, contribute, and lead in the diverse workplaces of today’s professions.

Each student completes the world languages and culture requirement by one of the options listed below:

Graduating from high school where all instruction was conducted in a language other than English;
Demonstrating proficiency in the language on the 2020 course level;
Having completed four years of one language in high school (students must have completed the fourth full year, for example, Spanish IV, and received credit for those courses);
Having completed one of the departmental options listed below (12-14 hours minimum in the same language and culture area, or fewer by previously earned language credit (advanced Placement, College Credit Plus, transfer hours, etc.) or by placement exam scores).

The courses in the different language and culture areas are offered regularly on campus, and there are also opportunities to take courses abroad. Consult the Department of World Languages and Cultures regarding education abroad course offerings.

American Sign Language

Arabic

Chinese

Plus Six Additional Hours From:

French

And Either

German

Plus Six Additional Hours From:

Greek

Plus Six Additional Hours From:

Italian

Plus Three Additional Hours From:

Japanese

Plus Six Additional Hours From:

Latin

Plus Six Additional Hours From:

Russian

Plus Six Additional Hours From:

Spanish

And Either

Additional Requirements

Completion of 2020 or comparable proficiency is required for admission to 3000-level language courses.

Lab Science. One course. If approved for BGP, this course may also count in the appropriate BGP domain. It may fulfill a major requirement as well.

Arts and Sciences Multidisciplinary Component. The Arts and Sciences Multidisciplinary Component is grounded in the conviction that acquiring proficiency in multiple modes of thought and communication, referred to as habits of mind, is the defining characteristic of a liberal arts education. This four-course component will enhance students’ ability to see things from multiple perspectives, solve problems both analytically and creatively, and communicate effectively both within and across cultural boundaries.

As a college anchored in the tradition of liberal arts and sciences, we believe that acquiring multiple habits of mind is valuable both in its own right and as a way to promote lifelong learning. As the largest college in a comprehensive regional institution serving the state and nation, we also believe that the intellectual and personal growth that students achieve in a 21st-century arts and sciences degree program is crucial to success in the global age, regardless of one’s professional path.

Specifically, courses in the liberal arts and sciences emphasize

Critical contemplation of theoretically-grounded ideas and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake.
Learning via inquiry, in which students test their assumptions by exploring bases of knowledge, recent research findings, or bodies of creative expression.
Advancement of general intellectual capacities, such as verbal, quantitative, and visual literacy, interpretive judgement, and critical self-reflection.
Development of broadly applicable competencies, such as precise analysis, evidence-based argumentation, creative problem-solving, and effective communication.
Engagement with experiences and perspectives that differ from one’s own.

Students are strongly encouraged to work with their college advisers and faculty mentors to maximize the potential of the Arts and Sciences Multidisciplinary Component. The four courses selected for this component may be closely related to the major, sample the diverse domains of the arts and humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, or be interdisciplinary in nature.

Each course must have a different prefix,
At least two courses must be at 3000- or 4000-level, and
Courses applied to the Arts and Sciences Multidisciplinary Component may not be used to fulfill other Arts and Sciences degree requirements, nor may they be used to fulfill major, minor, BGP or other program requirements.

A list of eligible courses is printed in the College of Arts and Sciences Handbook and tracked by the Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS).

Bachelor of Arts: major and minor. In the second year, most students select a major and minor. The number of hours required for a major or minor varies with departmental requirements, but at least 32 hours are required in the major and 20 hours in the minor, except as indicated below. Outlines listed for each major represent the usual course choices but may be modified upon departmental approval to meet individual needs. Courses taken to satisfy major or minor requirements may not be taken “S/U.” In arranging courses in the minor field, a student should consult the department concerned.

If education objectives cannot be met by one of the departmental majors or minors, students may create an Individualized Planned Program in consultation with a faculty advisor or advisors. A student who has earned at least 30 hours of credit and who needs at least 30 hours to complete the program may petition the College for an Individualized Planned Program by presenting a statement of rationale as well as a detailed list of courses to be taken. Once the program is approved, the student is obligated to complete it as planned, unless changes are approved by the Office of the Dean. The Arts and Sciences degree requirements remain the same.