2023-2024 Catalog > Degree Requirements and Academic Regulations > Major/Minor Regulations

Major/Minor Regulations

A major must consist of at least nine and no more than 15 semester courses (typically 36 to 60 credit hours), unless otherwise dictated by the standards of a professional society or as part of a cooperative program with another institution. At least six of these courses must be at the 200 level or higher, with at least two at the 300 level or higher. Only a certain number of courses may be counted in common between the requirements for two separate majors:

• If the total number of combined semester courses for the two majors is fewer than 24, three courses may be counted in common.
• If the total number of combined semester courses for the two majors is at least 24 and fewer than 30, four courses may be counted in common.
• If the total number of combined semester courses for the two majors is 30 or more, five courses may be counted in common. If more than the designated three, four or five courses in common are required between the two majors, then an equivalent number of courses need to be added as electives.

A minor must consist of at least five semester courses, at least three of which must be at the 200 level or higher. Only one course may be counted in common toward the requirements for a major and a minor or toward the requirements for two separate minors. A student may not receive credit for more than three minors.

The College offers both department-based and interdepartmental majors. Interdepartmental majors generally include a required core comprised of at least one introductory course specific to the major and a capstone experience (individual study, honors study, seminar, colloquium or internship) in which the analytical skills and subject matter from prior courses are employed and tested.

Certain majors provide students the option of selecting a specific track or concentration. A concentration is noted explicitly on a student’s transcript, whereas a track is not.