University Requirements for all Bachelor's Degrees

Students must satisfy all applicable university degree requirements and all requirements established by the program faculty. Programs may impose more stringent requirements than those listed here.

  • Admission. Candidates must have been officially admitted into degree-seeking status.
  • Residency. At least one-fourth of the total credits applied to the degree must be completed at Mason and include at least 12 upper-level credits (courses numbered 300 or above) in the major program. A maximum of 18 credits earned in non-degree status at Mason can be applied toward a bachelor’s degree.
  • Credit Hours. Students must complete at least 120 credits that count toward graduation and fulfill all degree requirements. A few programs require more than the minimum 120 credits.
  • Quality. Candidates must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher, and must meet all higher standards for grades allowable in majors, minors, or certificates. The Mason cumulative GPA does not include transfer courses.
  • Upper Level. Students seeking a bachelor’s degree must apply at least 45 credits of upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above) toward graduation requirements.
  • University General Education. Candidates must complete general education requirements as described for their catalog year. This includes satisfying the requirement of two semesters of English composition (ENGH 101 and ENGH 302) with a grade of C or better.
  • College/Department General Education. Students must satisfy additional general education requirements for specific degree programs, as described in the college section of the catalog.
  • Writing-Intensive Course Requirement. As part of the university’s commitment to student writers in all undergraduate programs, at least one upper-division course in each major has been designated as fulfilling the “writing-intensive” (WI) requirement.
  • Major. Students must satisfy all requirements for their major and degree program, as described in the college section of the catalog, and as detailed in the degree evaluation for their catalog year.

See the Academic Policies chapter of the University Catalog for all other university requirements and policies, including those involving second bachelor's degrees, credit for more than one undergraduate major (double majors), and academic standing.

This information is from the Academic Policies chapter of the University Catalog 2013-2014. The catalog is the official statement of all university policies.