A Bachelor’s
degree is a four year degree awarded to students upon completion of an
accredited program. The diploma
they earn is known as a Bachelor’s degree. Students interested in this field
sometimes question the requirements placed on them in the program. The actual
requirements vary depending on the state or institution, but there are many
requirements all students must complete to earn their degree.
The first
requirement is the successful completion of a specified number of credit hours.
This is slightly tricky as some schools work on a quarter system and others use
a semester system. Quarters are generally longer, and the courses have more
weight. It’s usually around 120 or 130 credit hours that are required, with each
course equaling 3-4 credit hours. A full-time course load results in four years
of studying.
Students are also required to take specific classes within
their major. This includes both lower level classes as well as upper level
courses. For example, a student studying history begins by taking courses on the
history ofNorth America and other, more general
courses. As they advance in their program, they take classes with a specific
slant, such as the history of women in Europe
or the history of Native American people. The majority of their required courses
will relate to their major.
Electives are another requirement for
students in a Bachelor’s degree program. Electives are those classes students
take outside their basic requirements and their required work inside their
major. These are generally viewed as fun courses that don’t necessarily require
a lot of work or effort. Students may opt to take creative classes such as drama
or pottery.
Students in a Bachelor’s program also take some basic
requirements according to the rules of their schools. Most schools now require
students to take specific courses in different areas to make them well-rounded.
Students take courses such as English and Math, but also take more advanced
courses. Most liberal arts schools require all students take classes in History,
Philosophy and Religion, as well as show proficiency in a foreign language.
There are a large number of schools that now require all of their
students to meet certain GPA requirements to graduate with a college diploma .
This is usually a 2.0 or C average, though some schools lower the GPA
requirement. This typically stays with the student throughout their educational
career, with their advisor following their progress. If they dip below their
required GPA, they fall on academic probation. If they continue to stay below
this number, they may lose their spot in the school.
Today, there are
some schools that now require their students to complete an activity requirement
as well. This is still fairly new though, and not all schools require it. The
student takes a course in physical activity such as Yoga or Scuba Diving. The
student can also pass the requirement by joining a physical activity club such
as the hiking club or by joining one of the school’s sports teams. The
requirements for a Bachelor’s degree often include these things, but really vary
from school to school.