Components of Degree - Office of the Registrar

Degree

Component

Definition

Transcriptable (displayed on transcript)

Requirement/Eligibility

Relationship to other degree components

Min. Credits

Liberal Studies/

General Education

A set of courses designed to address a range of learning outcomes

No

Required for all students

Courses may be double counted if they are also part of the student’s major or minor.

30-40

Major

A primary field of study names as a specific degree program.

Yes

Required for all students.  Some majors have specific admissions and retention requirements

Courses may not be double counted toward a second major or a minor.  Total credits required for the major must be met, even if specific courses are transferred in for less credit.

32

Concentration (sometime called track)

A set of disciplinary or interdisciplinary courses within a major

Yes

Required for students in a major which includes a concentration or track

For majors that provide multiple paths to completion.  Not optional – majors with a concentration must declare a concentration (no non-concentration path)

12

Minor

A secondary field of study.

Optional unless required by the student's primary (major) program of study.

Yes

Required by some, but not all, majors

Some minors are tied to specific majors.  Most are not.  Courses may not be double counted toward a second minor or a major. Total credits required for the minor must be met, even if specific courses are transferred in for less credit.

16

Other Required

A set of related disciplinary or interdisciplinary courses

No

Required by some, but not all, majors

Complimentary to the major; may be double-counted within second major or minor.   Usually comprised of courses from academic departments outside of the major department.

None