THE MAJOR IN THE BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE AND IN THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE

Academic Senate Policy Recommendation S84-82

As its meeting of February 7, 1984, the Academic Senate revised the following policy for the Major in the Bachelor of Arts Degree and in the Bachelor of Science Degree. The original policy was approved by the Academic Senate on December 8, 1981.

DEFINITION

The Bachelor of Arts degree is universally considered to represent a broad liberal arts education which prepares students to function as useful and responsible citizens in a variety of roles. It is less specialized than the Bachelor of Science degree, yet contains a depth component which permits advanced study in the many disciplines. It is less career-specific than most professional degrees, but provides an important foundation of skills and knowledge useful in many, if not most, careers.

Because the Bachelor of Arts degree serves a variety of purposes—academic, personal, citizenship, career preparation—the Bachelor of Arts degree must reflect a balance among three components: the major, or depth, component; the general education, or breadth, component; and electives chosen to fit the individual student’s background, preferences and needs. The elective component may be used, depending on the individual’s particular circumstances, to add strength to the major, to complement the general education, to explore or develop personal or career interests, or to qualify for advanced study in the major or an associated field.

The Bachelor of Science degree, like the Bachelor of Arts, prepares student to function as useful and responsible citizens in a variety of roles. Because Bachelor of Science degree major programs are typically more specialized and career-specific than most Bachelor of Arts degree majors, the number of required units in Bachelor of Science major programs is typically larger than in Bachelor of Arts degree majors, sometimes in response to the requirements of accrediting agencies. Bachelor of Science degree major programs are often systematically and extensively data-oriented, more so than is typical of many Bachelor of Arts major programs. Many Bachelor of Science major programs, like some Bachelor of Arts major programs, include practical applications (such as field study, field work, practica, or internships) and/or laboratory activity (research, experimentation, investigation). In addition, most Bachelor of Science degree major programs involve a high level of interdependence and interrelationship of component required courses and consequently incorporate a pattern of sequential studies.

UNIT LIMITS

Because the Bachelor of Arts degree involves a broad base of study, it must reserve to the student a substantial opportunity to study in related fields. For this reason, the Bachelor of Arts degree major does not normally exceed 45 units. Major which exceed 45 units must present a justification for excess units before the Educational Policies Council. An exemption will be granted only if one of the following is established: (a) the need of an interdisciplinary program to have a number of required courses in various departments other than the department or program offering the degree; (b) the need of a program to require a number of prerequisites in other departments; or (c) the needs of a program in meeting accreditation requirements. It is expected the justification will give detailed explanation of the need for an exemption. The EPC may recommend that an exemption from the 45-unit limit be granted or that the degree title be changed.

Because the student must be able to complete all university requirements for graduation (including the major program, general education, English 114 and the state statutory requirement) without exceeding degree unit totals, the Bachelor of Science degree major program cannot exceed 70 units in a 124-unit degree, or 78 units in a 132-unit degree, or 86 units in a 140-unit degree. In counting the units in any major, all prerequisites will be included. Up to 12 units may be counted toward both general education requirements and a major degree program requirement, and these 12 units will not be included in the unit total.

*****Not to be considered policy until approved by the President*****