McMicken College of Arts & SciencesUniversity of Cincinnati

New A&S College Requirements
(effective fall 2009)

The requirements listed immediately below are common to all potential graduates of the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences, whether they are pursuing the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree.

University & College Degree Requirements

To graduate from McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, a student must:

  • Earn at least 180 credits.
  • Attain at least a 2.0 grade point average for all courses taken at the University of Cincinnati.
  • Be in good academic standing, that is, not on either academic or disciplinary probation or suspension.
  • Be matriculated in the college for at least the last full academic year (the three quarter preceding graduation). While matriculated in the college:
    • Attain at least a 2.0 average for all courses taken;
    • Attain at least a 2.0 average for all courses counted toward satisfaction of the field of concentration requirements;
    • Earn at least 18 credits toward satisfaction of the field of concentration requirements from the controlling A&S department(s);
    • Earn at least 27 additional credits from courses taught by McMicken College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Satisfy all requirements (courses, credits, and otherwise) for completion of the field of concentration established by the controlling A&S department(s).
  • Satisfy all of the college core requirements listed below.
  • File formal application for the degree at the college office no later than six weeks prior to the beginning of the quarter in which graduation is anticipated.
  • Satisfy the University's General Education requirements.
^ Top

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science

Course requirements are of three types, and together comprise the 180 quarter credits required for a degree: college core requirements, field of concentration (major) requirements, and free electives. College core courses must be chosen following the A&S core requirement checklist. Field of concentration courses must be chosen from offerings of McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, with such exceptions as have been provided by the Curriculum Committee of the faculty or by the individual departments of the college. Free electives may be chosen from throughout the university. In general, completion of all of these requirements will also meet the University's General Education requirements as well.

^ Top

College Core Requirements

The departments of the college and the Curriculum Committee of the faculty designate courses appropriate for application to the college core requirements in alignment with the University's General Education program. Lists of these requirements are available and are provided to students on the college website and in the college office.

Because English composition, mathematics, natural sciences, and foreign languages tend to be yearlong sequences, students are urged to begin these requirements in their freshman year if possible and to complete them as early as possible. A student's major will also help to decide which courses, from the area of concentration as well as from the college core requirements, are most appropriate for the first two years.

The purpose of the college core requirements and their alignment with the General Education requirements and Breadth of Knowledge (BoK) codes is to provide breadth of study. For that reason, students may count each course in only one area from among those listed below, with the exception of the Social and Ethical Issues (SE) requirement:

  • English Composition - 9 credits: All students, prior to beginning English Composition, are given a diagnostic writing examination to determine whether developmental work in composition is required prior to enrollment in English Composition or, on the other hand, whether they may be placed in Advanced Freshman English. Students generally take two quarters of English Composition during their freshman year and one quarter during their sophomore year.
  • Foreign Language - 15-18 credits: All students are placed at the appropriate level in the introductory or intermediate sequence for any languages previously studied during high school. Enrollment for credit or audit in courses below the placement level is not permitted.

    Students who place out of foreign language must still meet the General Education Diversity and Culture (DC) requirement with 3 credit hours that may also count toward another requirement for the degree.

    Enrollment in other foreign languages at the appropriately identified level is permitted.

    Students for whom the language requirement is not waived through placement enter at the appropriate level in a language previously studied, or begin a new language, and attain the required level of competence in either of two ways:

    • Complete a one-year, 15-credit sequence (earning five credits each quarter) in French, German, Greek, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Spanish, or Swahili.
    • Complete a two-year, 18-credit sequence in Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, or American Sign Language.
  • Natural Science (NS code) - 9 credits, 6 credits of which must be from A&S. Some majors require specific science sequences to fulfill this requirement.
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR code) - 9 credits, 6 credits of which must be from A&S. Some majors require specific math sequences to fulfill this requirement.
  • Historical Perspectives (HP code) - 9 credits, 6 credits of which must be from A&S including 3 credits of which must be from "HIST" designated courses.
  • Social Sciences (SS code) - 9 credits, 6 credits of which must be from A&S. Some majors require specific courses to fulfill this requirement.
  • Humanities, Literature, and Fine Arts (HU/LT/FA codes) - 9 credits, 6 credits of which must be from A&S, 3 credits of which must be coded HU, and 3 credits of which must be coded LT. The 3 remaining credits can be coded HU, LT, or FA.
  • Social and Ethical Issues (SE code) - 3 credits which may be counted toward another requirement for the degree, but are also SE coded.
^ Top

Field of Concentration Requirements

Requirements in the field of concentration are determined by the academic departments or faculty committees overseeing particular programs. While the faculty of the college has established a minimum number of credits required in two general types of degree programs, additional credits may be required by particular majors. This is especially true in the sciences, which often include cognate courses from other disciplines. Credits that have been applied toward the college core requirements may not be applied toward the minimum credits required in the field of concentration.

  • Minimum credits required for Bachelor of Arts:
    54 credits
  • Minimum credits required for Bachelor of Science:
    54 credits
^ Top

Free Electives

Free electives may be chosen by the student from anywhere in the University. Once the college core requirements and field of concentration requirements have been met, free electives can be used to bring the total credits to the minimum of 180. Students are strongly encouraged to utilize these free electives to add a second major, a minor, or a certificate to their educational portfolios.

A complete checklist of college core requirement specifics, as well as a summary description of each field of concentration, is available in 102 McMicken Hall, on the A&S website, and on the university's academic programs website. More detailed descriptions of the fields of concentration are available in the academic departments and on the departmental websites.

^ Top

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies - Individualized

  • At least one-third of the credits obtained must be for courses at the 300 level or above.
  • No more than 60 of the accumulated credits to be applied toward the degree may be from one department.
  • Two-thirds of the credits obtained must be in courses taught in McMicken College of Arts and Sciences or for which there are equivalents in the college.
  • The student must formally enter the BIS program with at least one academic year of full-time study remaining prior to graduation.
  • A faculty committee is designated to determine the curricular design of each BIS individualized degree program in conjunction with the student.
^ Top

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies - Track

The pre-designated interdisciplinary track is Family Studies. See your advisor for degree requirements.

^ Top

Major Requirements

Requirements in the field of concentration (or "major") are determined by the academic departments or faculty committees overseeing particular programs. While the faculty of the college has established a minimum number of credits required in two general types of majors, additional credits may be required of particular majors. This is especially true in the sciences, which often include cognate courses from other disciplines. Credits that have been applied toward the college requirements may not be applied toward the minimum credits required in the field of concentration. View a listing of requirements for each major on the A&S website. Please contact the College Office at 556-5860 or your adviser for more information.

^ Top

Degrees with Distinction

In determining the eligibility of students for graduation with various distinctions, the college recognizes the previous work of its many transfer students. Even though a new grade point average begins upon enrollment in the college, the various distinctions below take into account grades received in other institutions and other divisions of the University of Cincinnati.

Candidates for the degree of BA or BS who have shown ability throughout their baccalaureate studies may be awarded the degree cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude. Students who have shown exceptional distinction in the field of concentration may be awarded the degree with Honors or High Honors. A student enrolled in the University Honors Program is eligible to receive the degree with College Honors or High College Honors. Ohio Delta of Phi Beta Kappa awards its key to those graduates deemed the most representative of academic excellence.

^ Top
photo