Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Arts

The specific requirements of individual majors leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree vary widely. No department may specify more than 80 semester hours (required courses, prerequisites, and related laboratories included) for the Bachelor of Arts.

In addition to meeting the degree requirements for all bachelor’s degrees, to qualify for the Bachelor of Arts, students in all fields except architecture must complete at least 60 hours in course work outside the major, and students in architecture must complete at least 36 hours in course work outside
the major.

Bachelor of Science in the Wiess School of Natural Sciences

The Bachelor of Science degree is offered in astrophysics, biochemistry and cell biology, chemistry, chemical physics, earth science, ecology and evolutionary biology, and physics. The specific degree requirements vary from field to field and differ from those of the Bachelor of Arts in that there are greater technical requirements. No department may specify more than 80 semester hours (required courses, prerequisites, and related laboratories included) for the Bachelor of Science. To earn a BS degree in one of these fields, students must complete at least 60 hours in course work outside the major.

Bachelor of Science Degrees in Engineering

• Chemical Engineering (BSChE)
• Civil Engineering (BSCE)
• Computer Science (BSCS)
• Electrical Engineering (BSEE)
• Materials Science (BSMS)
• Mechanical Engineering (BSME)
• Bioengineering (BSB)

The Bachelor of Science degree in a given engineering field is distinct from the Bachelor of Arts degree in that it must meet greater technical requirements. In establishing a departmental major for the degree of bachelor of science in electrical engineering, materials science, and mechanical engineering, the department may specify no more than 92 semester hours (required courses, prerequisites, and related laboratories included).

In establishing the departmental major for the BS in chemical engineering, the department may specify no more than 100 semester hours (required courses, prerequisites, and related laboratories included). The bioengineering department specifies 94 semester hours for the BS degree (required courses, prerequisites, and related laboratories included). The civil and environmental engineering department specifies 93 semester hours for the BS degree (required courses, prerequisites, and related laboratories included). To earn a BS degree, students must meet the following minimum semester hour requirements in course work:

• All majors except chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, and computer science—a total of at least 134 hours
• Chemical engineering majors—a total of at least 132 hours, depending on area, up to 137 hours
• Mechanical engineering and civil engineering—132 hours total
• Computer science majors—a total of at least 128 hours

The programs leading to BS degrees in Bioengineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org. 

Other Bachelor’s Degrees

The professional Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) degree requires a fifth year of study and a one-year preceptorship. The Bachelor of Music (BMus) degree requires advanced courses in performance and ensemble in addition to the core music curriculum.