Undergraduate Degree Components

Supplement to OAR 583-030-0035(8)

Liberal Education

Fields of study within the liberal arts and sciences, or simply "liberal arts," are called "disciplines" and are conventionally divided into three areas of knowledge: humanities, social studies, and natural science. A common classification of the liberal disciplines follows.

• Humanities: Language, literature, philosophy, religious thought; fine arts (not emphasizing performance skills)

• Social studies or sciences: Anthropology, cultural geography, general history, religious history and culture, economics, political science, general psychology, sociology

• Natural sciences: Biology, biological psychology, chemistry, physics, geology and physical geography, mathematics

The liberal disciplines do not include professional and vocational courses, such as agriculture and forestry (or wildlife management), architecture and design, business and public administration, communications (journalism), computer technology, education, engineering and related technologies, health professions, home economics, law, library science, military science, parks and leisure studies, physical education and recreation, protective services, or religious services.

The liberal disciplines do not include artistic performance or physical activity courses.

And the disciplines do not include practical and general information courses such as personal health, career planning, human relations, public speaking, writing, elementary mathematics, and computer fundamentals.

General Education

"General education" is a term that includes not only liberal education but other courses outside a student's major field, especially in mathematics, computer orientation, writing, and speaking. A bachelor's degree requires one academic year of general education. Two-year degrees require less.

Degrees with arts or science titles have more liberal arts requirements than do professional degrees, in which much of the general education may be non-liberal. All degrees require some English composition.

Major Field

A bachelor's degree requires study in a major field for one academic year. Thus, the major must include 30 semester hours or more, with 20 hours in the upper division and 15 of upper-division hours taught by the resident faculty. A dual major simply doubles these numbers. (To convert to quarter-system hours, multiply by 1.5.)

An interdisciplinary major is permitted in the liberal arts only. It requires 60 semester hours (40 upper division, 30 of those in residence) in either three or four disciplines, with at least 15 hours in each discipline and at least 9 upper-division hours in each, of which 6 must be in residence.

A school may offer a major or an interdisciplinary option in any field in which it has more than one fully qualified teacher if at least one teaches full time.

Bachelor of Arts

An arts degree, the B.A. requires competency in a foreign language and one academic year in the humanities, i.e., 30 semester hours, of which 12 can be in foreign languages. The language competency requirement is equivalent to the 12 hours, the second-year level, and ESL students can satisfy it with 12 hours of English language and literature.

As general education outside the major, the B.A. requires 24 semester hours in the liberal arts and sciences, with at least 6 hours in each of the three areas. The B.A. also requires 6 semester hours in English composition or state-approved equivalent, to total one academic year of general education. (Note: the 6-12 hours meeting this distribution requirement in humanities do count toward the 30-hour humanities total for the degree.)

Bachelor of Science

A science degree, the B.S. requires one academic year in the social or natural sciences, i.e., 30 semester hours, of which 12 can be in mathematics and state-approved computer courses.

As general education outside the major, the B.S. requires 24 semester hours in the liberal arts and sciences, with at least 6 hours in each of the three areas. The B.S. also requires 6 semester hours in English composition or state-approved equivalent, to total one academic year of general education. (Note: the 12-18 hours meeting this distribution requirement in natural and social sciences do count toward the 30-hour science total for the degree.)

Bachelor, Professional

As general education outside the major, the professional bachelor's degree requires 24 semester hours in the liberal arts and sciences, with at least 6 hours in each of the three liberal areas. The degree also requires 6 hours in English composition or state-approved equivalent, to total one academic year of general education.

Bachelor, Technical

As general education outside the major, the technical bachelor's degree requires 24 semester hours in the liberal arts and sciences, or in non-vocational courses closely related to them, with at least 3 hours in each of the three areas and a total of at least 9 in the two areas most unrelated to the major. The degree also requires 6 hours in English composition or state-approved equivalent, to total one academic year of general education.

Associate of Arts

A full-transfer degree, the A.A. requires two academic years applicable to B.A. or B.S. study and fulfilling baccalaureate liberal arts requirements. A major is optional. Thus, the A.A. requires 24 semester hours in the liberal arts and sciences, with at least 6 hours in each of the three areas. The degree also requires 6 hours in English composition or state-approved equivalent, to total one academic year of general education.

Associate of Science

A limited-transfer degree, the A.S. requires a major and two academic years applicable to professional or technical baccalaureate study. The A.S. degree requires 24 semester hours in the liberal arts and sciences, or in non-vocational courses closely related to them, with at least 6 hours in each of the three areas. The degree also requires 6 hours in English composition or state-approved equivalent, to total one academic year of general education.

Associate, Professional or Technical

A terminal degree, the professional or technical associate's degree requires a major and 6 semester hours in English composition or state-approved equivalent. (Degree title examples: Associate of Applied Arts, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Technology, Associate of Occupational Studies, Associate of Business, Associate of Religion.)