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.)
  • Secondary Education: Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Arts in Education (B.A./B.A. in Ed.) - “PackTeach” dual degree programs
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
  • Bachelor of Music (B.M.)
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

General degree framework

The following is a generalized overview of the typical components and requirements of a liberal arts degree.

1. University graduation requirements (“the numbers”)

Some programs may have requirements greater than the typical minimums listed below. Please check course catalog for accuracy.

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.

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.