General Degree Requirements

Academic Affairs

Churchill 130

541-552-6114

541-552-6213 (Academic Advising, Student Affairs)

University Studies

In the 2006—2007 academic year, SOU launched the University Studies program. University Studies is an updated, streamlined curriculum that reflects several years of development aimed to create a more vital, focused, and enriched general education program. University Studies reflects a new statewide Oregon University System initiative to shape courses to meet defined student-learning outcomes. University Studies also reflects the new Oregon Transfer Module, designed to simplify transfers among the state’s institutions of higher education. SOU’s first-year experience general education program, University Seminar, has also been reorganized to offer students the option of selecting an area of concentration while learning in a cohort setting. Students enrolled in either the Arts and Sciences Programs or the Professional Programs are required to fulfill University Studies requirements.

Arts and Sciences Programs

At SOU, the arts and sciences are centered in the College of Arts and Sciences. Two types of degree programs are available. For subject matter degrees, the major field of study is concentrated within one academic program. In the case of interdisciplinary degrees, the major work is drawn from two or more fields of study from different programs.

Professional Programs

SOU professional programs are centered in three areas: Business, Education, and Social Sciences (in the College of Arts and Sciences). The professional degree programs emphasize in-depth coursework within these schools and also draw upon the Arts and Sciences programs for supporting coursework and a strong student-learning, outcomes-focused, and general education component. A wide variety of emphases are available within the professional programs. Please refer to the back cover of this catalog and to the appropriate academic section.

Program Planning

Students should consider the following when planning a degree program:

1. Core Curriculum. The SOU core curriculum has three parts: a) University Studies requirements, b) special requirements for the bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (BS) degree, and c) upper division writing and capstone experience requirements in each major. The University Studies requirements are related to specific writing, speech, and quantitative skills set in the context of critical thinking. These requirements are met by completing the University Seminar sequence or its equivalent and by selecting approved Explorations, Quantitative Reasoning, and Integration courses. The University Studies requirements include approximately 64 credits of coursework. The special requirements for the BA or BS degree are listed under BA/BS Requirements. The upper division requirements for writing, research, and the capstone experience vary according to the major (see the appropriate section in the catalog for a particular major).
2. Academic Progress. Students planning to complete the bachelor’s degree in four years should take at least 15 to 16 credits a term each year.
3. Class Schedule. Available online, the class schedule lists the classes available each quarter.
4. Course Content. For specific course information, consult the course description in this catalog or request a syllabus from the department or instructor offering the course. Texts for a course may be reviewed in the University Bookstore.
5. Special Course Scheduling Considerations. Many language and science course sequences begin fall quarter and cannot be entered midyear. Some courses have laboratory work that must be taken concurrently with the lecture component of the course. Students intending a major with a science specialty should consult departmental advisors early on about supporting coursework requirements in mathematics and science.
6. Approval of Registration. Students with a declared premajor or major must obtain approval of the proposed schedule from their advisor before registration. Undeclared students and students majoring in interdisciplinary studies must obtain this registration approval from the Academic Advising Office in Stevenson Union 134.

Placement Exams

The appropriate SOU placement level is determined by placement exams in foreign languages and mathematics. For more information on these exams, see the mathematics section of this catalog. Contact the Foreign Languages and Literatures program for foreign languages.

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

1. Minimum term credits: 180.
2. Completion of the core curriculum requirements. See the following section, Core Curriculum Requirements.
3. Work in upper division courses: Minimum of 60 credits.
4. Satisfaction of the departmental requirements for a major. This must be certified by the department chair.
5. Work in residence: Minimum 45 credits of last 60; last 15 on campus.
6. Registration is blocked for any student who has completed 91 credits and does not have a declared major on file in the Enrollment Services Center.
7. Students pursuing a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree must complete the special requirements for these degrees. See BA/BS Requirements.
8. Grade Point Average: Minimum 2.0 in the major, minor, and overall. Some departments have a higher minimum GPA requirement for their majors and minors (see requirements for the major and minors in the departmental listing).
9. Restrictions:
   1. Courses numbered below 100 that are taken after fall term 1982 do not apply toward graduation requirements.
      
      Note: Courses numbered 0—49 taken prior to fall term 1982 are not applicable toward graduation requirements; 50—99 are applicable toward graduation as electives only.
       
   2. Open course numbers limitation:
      
      1. 199, 299, 399, 401, 403, 405, and 407 courses are limited to 45 credits in the overall program.
      2. 409 practicum courses are limited to 15 credits a prefix (e.g., WR, SPAN, ANTH), and 30 credits for the overall program.
      3. Courses that were taken as open-numbered courses but subsequently became regularly scheduled (non-open-numbered) courses should not be counted in the credit limits on open-numbered courses.
   3. Correspondence study: Maximum 24 credits.
   4. Extension study: Maximum 60 credits (including the above).
   5. Prior learning experience: Maximum 90 credits approved.
   6. Maximum 12 credits of PE 180 allowed for graduation

BA/BS Requirements

Requirements for the BA and BS do not apply to students completing the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA).