Additional Degree Requirements

Dual Degrees

A dual degree is two unique degree types that a student has elected to pursue at one time (e.g., B.S. in Mathematics and B.S.B.A/ in Business Administration). The requirements for both degrees must be satisfied.  {ARN Manual}

Minors, Secondary Majors, and Certificates

Major

A program of courses that meets the requirements for a degree in a field of study. Major (discipline): “A subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization… characterized by the majority of courses required at the junior/senior level, generally from a specific academic department.” The subject or subject areas upon which a student chooses to place principal academic emphasis. {ARN Manual}

Double Major

A double major is two majors in the same degree type being pursued by a student at one time (e.g., B.S. in Mathematics and B.S. in Geography). The requirements for both degrees must be satisfied. {ARN Manual}

Secondary Majors

An interdisciplinary major that must be completed along with a primary major course of study. A secondary field of specialization is an interdisciplinary program of study that is completed in addition to a major. These programs are administered by a director and a supervisory committee of faculty representing the various academic departments offering courses for the secondary major. Secondary majors cannot be earned outside of the completion of the primary major. {ARN Manual}

Undergraduate Academic Minors

A systematic program of study in an area of emphasis outside a student’s major. A program of study with a minor emphasis in a field of specialization outside a student’s major field of study. Minors are offered by academic departments and administered by a director, who is a faculty member of the academic department that offers the minor.  For additional information, please refer to the University Handbook, Section F160. 

Effective Spring 2026:

F160 Undergraduate minors are a sequence of related courses that, upon completion, provide a student with limited competency in a designated field of study. Minor programs of study are optional and are offered only at the undergraduate level.  

General Requirements: 

• A minor program will require completion of at least fifteen (15) designated credit hours of required coursework outside of the major.  

• Courses forming a minor may be used to satisfy the general requirements of a major curriculum, including free electives.  

• No more than six hours of transfer courses may be used for the minor. 

• A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 is required on courses applied to a minor.  

Students who have declared an approved minor and completed all requirements for it will receive official recognition for that emphasis upon completion of the degree requirements in the major field of study and the minor field of study, the minor will be recorded on the students’ academic record (official transcript) at the time of the degree posting. 

A higher cumulative grade point average or minimum course grade of “C” or higher may be specified.  

• Apart from “credit for prior learning,” all courses applied to the minor must have letter grades. 

Undergraduate Academic Credit Certificates

F170 A program of courses that emphasizes a focused specialty area of study as part of or beyond the requirements for the B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. degrees. It is designed to increase the knowledge and skills of individuals, such as to enhance their employability and opportunities for promotions and salary benefits.   For additional information, please refer to the University Handbook, Section F170.