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Degree Requirements

A.B./B.S.

The basic requirements for a Bachelor of Arts (AB) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts are:

  1. Completion of 120 units of course work, of which 108 must be LS&A courses, with an average of at least "C" (GPA2.000).
  2. Completion of the following writing, language, quantitative reasoning, race and ethnicity, and area distribution requirements:
    1. Introductory Composition and the Junior/Senior Writing Requirement. See page 21. (Neither Advanced Standing nor Advanced Placement credit can be applied toward this requirement.)
    2. Quantitative Reasoning Requirement. See page 22. (AP credit can not be applied toward this requirement.)
    3. Race and Ethnicity (R&E) Requirement. See page 22. (AP credit can not be applied toward this requirement. Credits transferred from another college or university do not meet the requirement, except by successful petition to the Academic Standards Board.)
    4. Fourth-term proficiency in a language other than English. See page 23.
    5. Area Distribution Requirements. See page 24. (AP credit can not be applied toward this requirement.)
  3. Completion of the requirements for a concentration (major) program in LS&A with an average of at least "C" (GPA2.000). Some concentrations have additional grade requirements.
  4. Complete an optional minor program, if desired.
  5. Complete elective credits sufficient to reach the 120-credit minimum.
  6. To earn the Bachelor of Science degree, you must complete 60 units of approved courses (B.S.) in natural science, physical science, and/or mathematics.

Bachelor in General Studies

Some students may want to consider the Bachelor in General Studies (BGS) degree as an alternative to the Bachelor of Arts (AB) or the Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees, particularly if they are not interested in concentrating their studies in a specific area. The BGS degree program, seeking primarily to attract students with interdisciplinary interests, is more flexible and potentially less structured than either the AB or BS programs. It gives qualified students greater freedom and responsibility for their educational choice and, if used responsibly, can afford a liberal arts education in the truest sense.

There are no foreign language or distribution requirements in the BGS program. BGS students do need to fulfill the college writing, quantitative reasoning, and race & ethnicity requirements. The primary requirement is 60 credits of upper-level course work (defined as study in courses numbered 300 and above at the University of Michigan), with no more than 20 credits of that upper-level work in one division. For further information on the BGS program, see the LS&A Bulletin.

Along with the advantages of the BGS program, however, there are some disadvantages for certain students. These should be carefully assessed by students who will need a considerable number of credits of lower-level course work, such as pre-medical or pre-dental students.

The basic requirements for a Bachelor in General Studies (BGS) degree in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts are:

  1. Completion of 120 semester credit-hours of course work, of these 100 must be LS&A courses, with an average of at least at least "C" (GPA2.000).
  2. Completion of the Introductory Compo
    sition and Junior/Senior Writing Requirement. See page 21. (Neither Advanced Standing nor Advanced Placement credit can be applied toward this requirement.)
  3. Quantitative Reasoning Requirement. See page 22. (AP credit can not be applied toward this requirement.)
  4. Race and Ethnicity (R&E) Requirement. See page 22. (AP credit can not be applied toward this requirement. Credits transferred from another college or university do not meet the requirement, except by successful petition to the Academic Standards Board.)
  5. Completion of 60 credits of courses numbered 300 or higher with an average of at least "C" (GPA2.000). No more than 20 units may be elected from any one division (e.g., French, Cultural Anthropology, or Classical Archaeology can be applied toward the 60 units).

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