General degree framework
The following is a generalized overview of the typical components and requirements of a liberal arts degree.
Degree framework for bachelor's degrees
The College of Liberal Arts offers programs leading to the following bachelor's degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - most majors
- Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (B.A. in C.J.)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
- Bachelor of Music (B.M.)
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
- Secondary Education: Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Arts in Education (B.A./B.A. in Ed.) - PackTeach dual degree programs
1. University graduation requirements (“the numbers”)
Some programs may have requirements greater than the typical minimums listed below. Please check course catalog for accuracy.
The total units requirement encompasses all units earned in undergraduate coursework taken in pursuit of a bachelor's degree. All coursework completed at the university, all coursework transferred from other institutions, and up to 60 examination/test credits are counted towards this total. This factors in all coursework on record, even if the coursework is not applicable to your degree plan.
The upper-division Units requirement counts all units earned in courses numbered at the 300- or 400-level (typically junior- or senior-level work). All upper-division coursework taken at UNR and all transfer coursework of similar quality, whether applied towards a specific course requirement or taken as general electives, are counted toward this requirement.
The University Residency requirement is a subset of upper-division requirements that seeks completion of upper-division units in residence at the University. Upper-division courses taken online through the University and coursework completed through USAC specialty programs are included in this figure. Transfer coursework and test credit is NOT counted towards the residency requirement.
The Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated using all coursework that was taken for a letter grade from all institutions attended. All courses on your academic record are factored into this GPA calculation, even those that are not used to satisfy any specific course requirements.
The University Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated using all coursework that was taken for a letter grade at the University. All University courses on your academic record are factored into this GPA calculation, even those that are not used to satisfy any specific course requirements.
When a student’s University GPA falls below 2.00, they are placed on the Academic Recovery program. Students on Academic Recovery will have an advising hold. They will need to complete academic recovery modules in WebCampus and meet with an academic advisor to discuss their progress and any potential academic actions that may help in improving their GPA.
For each major declared, you must meet these minimums:
- Major GPA: 2.00
- GPA in all letter-graded coursework applied to the major requirements.
- Major Residency Units: 15
- Upper-division units taken in residence at the University within the major requirements.
For each minor declared, you typically must meet these minimums:
- Minor GPA: 2.00
- GPA in all letter-graded coursework applied to the minor requirements.
- Upper-Division Units: 9
- Upper-division units applied to the minor requirements.
- Minor Residency Units: 6
- Upper-division units taken in residence at the University within the minor requirements.
2. Course requirements
For each degree plan, there are six sections of course requirements. Some of these requirements are not applicable to every degree plan.
Comprises Core Objectives (“COs”) 1–8 of the Silver Core Curriculum, and contains foundational courses in English composition, mathematics, sciences, humanities, social sciences, fine arts and constitution. See the Core Curriculum chapter of the General Catalog for more information.
Incoming students with a transferrable associate’s degree or completion of an out-of-state general education component should discuss these requirements with a College Advisor.
Comprises Core Objectives (“COs”) 9–14 of the Core Curriculum and contains advanced areas of general instruction, such as diversity and equity, and ethics. See the Core Curriculum chapter of the General Catalog for more information.
- World language requirement: Up to 14 units of study in a single language sequence, or can be satisfied through other methods. See world language requirements for more information.
- Breadth requirement: Six units of coursework in liberal arts fields. See breadth requirements for a detailed explanation.
Your primary field of study, representing the main area of concentration of your undergraduate studies. Each degree plan specifies a combination of required courses, distribution requirements (selecting one or more courses from various groupings) and major electives — typically 30 to 42 units of major coursework, although some major plans require significantly more units.
Most liberal arts majors require completing a minor program of at least 18 units in a different area of study. Review minor requirements for additional information on minor selection and related policies.
General electives are classes taken that are not counted towards any specific course requirement in the degree plan. A student may need general electives if, after fulfilling all other specific course requirements (I. through V.), additional coursework is still necessary to reach any of the unit minimums under the University graduation requirements.
3. Degree requirements and academic progress
Students are strongly encouraged to become familiar with their degree plan. While academic advisors can assist in navigating curriculum and course selection, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to be aware of academic requirements and policies, select appropriate classes and to monitor their progress towards graduation.
The University General Course Catalog
The General Course Catalog is the University’s repository of all official academic policies, course descriptions and academic program requirements. A new General Catalog is published for each academic year.
Every major and minor program offered at the University has an entry in the General Catalog. Each major program’s listing in the Catalog includes a description, graduation requirements and more specific information for the various levels of course requirements described above. Also included is a recommended schedule, which is a suggested course sequence that students can use as a guide to complete their degree plan within four years. Minor program listings in the Catalog simply show the course requirements of the minor program.
When a student chooses their major or minor, they are typically declared under the program requirements of the then-current edition of the General Catalog. The student’s graduation requirements on that plan will not change — even if new requirements are introduced in a later catalog — unless the student and an advisor agree to a change of “catalog year” within the bounds of University policy. A student who changes their major or minor (or a specialization/emphasis within said major or minor) after originally declaring may be subject to the requirements of the General Catalog in effect at the time of new plan declaration.
Note: The catalog website automatically loads the current General Catalog, but also houses several archived versions. Be sure you are searching in the right catalog year for the requirements that apply to your academic plan.
Track your academic progress with the Academic Advising Report (AAR)
Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with their Academic Advising Report or “AAR” in their MyNevada student account (also known as the “Academic Progress” or “Academic Requirements” page). The AAR is the official University record of a student’s progress towards degree completion, based on the requirements of the General Catalog in effect at the time each major and minor plan was declared. This page will show each graduation or course requirement and how the student’s coursework has been used to satisfy those requirements. See the MyNevada Help page "Understanding your Academic Advising Report" for how to find and read your AAR on MyNevada.
It is important students review the information on their AAR carefully and regularly, to ensure their course selections are fulfilling degree requirements. Sometimes, an AAR will need manual adjusting to ensure courses satisfy requirements in the most effective manner — if you have questions about how a course has been applied on your AAR, please ask an academic advisor.
Note: In the event of a discrepancy between the requirements on the AAR and requirements listed in the General Catalog, the General Catalog usually prevails.
Contact the CLA Student Center
Please schedule an appointment with an advisor if you have questions about degree requirements.