Bachelor of Science Degree

College of Arts and Sciences

Each student must complete the degree requirements listed below, preferably in the freshman and sophomore years, and must satisfy the requirements for a major and minor area of specialization as outlined. We recommend that every student take English in the first year. If known, the major or minor should be started in the first year, but selection of the major may be deferred as late as the middle of the sophomore year. Certain majors and programs require course sequences. These sequences should be started in the freshman year. Major courses may not be taken "S/U."

A bachelor of science degree is only available in biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, geology, mathematics, microbiology, neuroscience, physics, psychology, scientific and technical communication, or statistics. The student also completes a minor area of specialization as outlined below.

Degree Requirements

Group I - English Composition
Students are required to complete GSW 1120 or demonstrate by examination that they have proficiency in written expression equivalent to that attained by the student who completes that course. (A penalty is imposed if GSW 1120 is not completed within the first 60 hours.)

Group II - Foreign Languages
Each student is required to demonstrate proficiency in a language and language area by one of the options listed below:

  • Graduating from a high school where all instruction was conducted in a language other than English;
  • Demonstrating proficiency in language on the 2020 course level;
  • Having completed four years of one language in high school (student must have completed the fourth full year, for example, Spanish IV, and received credit for these courses);
  • Having completed one of the departmental options listed below (12-14 hours minimum in same language area or fewer by advanced placement).

Note: Foreign language courses numbered 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020, 2120 apply to Group II, not Group V.

German, Russian, East Asian Languages (Chinese, Japanese)

  • Completion of GERM 1010 and 1020 plus a minimum of six additional hours from: GERM 1170, 1180, 2010, 2020, 2170, 2180, 2310, 2600, 3150, 3160, 3310, 3600, 4150;
  • Completion of CHIN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020;
  • Completion of JAPN 1010, 1020, plus a minimum of six additional hours from: JAPN 2010, 2020, 2150, 2160, 3120, and 4150;
  • Completion of RUSN 1010 and 1020 plus a minimum of six additional hours from: RUSN 2010, 2020, 2150, 2160, 3130, and/or 3120, 4150.

Romance and Classical Studies (French, Greek, Italian, Latin, Spanish)

  • Option I:
    • FREN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020;
    • GRK 1010 and 1020 and six additional hours from GRK 2010, 2020, CLCV 2410, 2420, 2450
    • ITAL 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020;
    • LAT 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020;
    • SPAN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020.
  • Option II: (one of the following)
    • FREN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2120;
    • LAT 1010, 1020 and two of LAT 2010, CLCV 2410, 2420, 2450;
    • SPAN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2120
    • American Sign Language: EDIS 3240, 3250, 3260, 3270

Course 2020 is required for admission to 3000-level courses. Credit toward a degree is not granted for foreign language courses which duplicate more than two units of high school study.

Group III - Mathematics, Computation, and Natural Sciences
A student is required to complete a minimum of 45 hours of credit, including:

  • A major in biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, geology, mathematics, microbiology, neuroscience, physics, psychology, or statistics;
  • A minimum proficiency in mathematics equivalent to MATH 1310*;
  • A laboratory sequence in one of the sciences. (A list of approved courses is printed in the College of Arts and Sciences Handbook.)

Certain science courses numbered 1000 do not apply toward a student's degree requirements if credit has been granted for the introductory course in the same science. See individual departmental listings in the course descriptions for specific instructions.

* See MATH course descriptions for placement in MATH 1280/1300/1310/1340 & 1350 or the Department of Mathematics and Statistics for placement test. MATH 1310 or equivalent satisfies the quantitative literacy requirement.

Group IV - Social Sciences
Each student is required to complete two courses in one or more of these areas in addition to the BG Perspective program. A list of courses approved for social science Group IV requirement is printed in the College of Arts and Sciences Handbook.

Group V - Arts and Humanities
Each student is required to complete one course in literature (American, English or foreign), one course in the fine arts, and two additional courses from the arts and humanities list of courses in addition to foreign language courses numbered 2010, 2020, 2120, which apply to Group II, not Group V. Two of these four courses must also be from the BG Perspective list of courses. A list of courses approved for the BG Perspective program and arts and humanities Group V requirement is printed in the College of Arts and Sciences Handbook.

Bachelor of Science: Majors and minors
By the beginning of the second year, most students select a major and minor area of study. The number of hours required for a major or minor varies with departmental requirements but is at least 32 hours in the major and 20 hours in the minor, except as indicated below. Courses taken for majors or minors may not be elected to be taken "S/U." In arranging courses in the minor field, a student should consult the department concerned.

These outlines represent the usual sequence, but may be modified upon departmental approval to meet individual needs. If educational objectives cannot be met by one of the departmental majors or minors, the student 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 approved, the student is obligated to complete the program as planned unless changes are approved by the Office of the Dean. The degree (B.S.) requirements remain the same.

Updated: 12/01/2017 10:21PM