To earn a bachelor's degree (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science), a student must:
- Complete thirty-two full academic courses (equal to 128 semester hours), plus two physical education credits;
- Meet the general distribution requirements of the college before the beginning of the senior year;
- Complete an academic major;
- Attain a grade point average of at least 2.00 on all academic work at Sewanee;
- Spend at least four semesters in residence, including the final two semesters;
- Earn a minimum of sixty-four semester hours of credit at Sewanee;
- Pass a minimum academic load of three courses per semester (as well as seven during the upperclass years).
During the first two years, a student's courses are generally be selected from the list of prescribed courses. During the last two years, a student's courses are usually selected from those offered in a major field of study but also include ample electives.
The college offers a broad undergraduate education in the arts and sciences rather than a highly specialized education. Therefore, undergraduates are required to complete nineteen full academic courses (seventy-six semester hours) outside the major field. Students may take as many courses in the major field as opportunity allows but must additionally complete nineteen outside of that field. To facilitate this, no major is allowed to require more than eleven courses in the major field. During the final year, each student is required to pass a comprehensive examination in the major field before graduation.
The General Distribution Requirements for a Bachelor's Degree
1. Language and Literature
a. English 101
b. Two writing-intensive courses
c. A foreign language at the third-year level or above
The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by the completion of two language courses through the second-year level.
2. Mathematics and Natural Science
a. One course in mathematics (courses in computer science and Math 204 do not count toward this requirement)
b. Two courses in the sciences, one of which must be a laboratory course
In psychology, 100, 255, 353, and 357 are laboratory science courses; courses at the 200 level (except Psyc 205, 250, and 255) are non-laboratory science courses.
In forestry, all courses except forestry 201 and 319 may be counted toward this requirement.
In biology, all courses except biology 109 and 119 may be counted toward this requirement.
3. Social Science
a. History 100
b. One course in anthropology, economics*, or political science
Economics 215, 216 do not fulfill this requirement.
4. Religion and Philosophy
a. One course in either religion or philosophy*
In philosophy, any course at the 100 or 200 levels (except Philosophy 201, Logic) satisfies this requirement.
5. Arts
a. One course in the arts (art, art history, music*, or theatre)
Two half-courses in theatre or the specific combination of Music 102 and 103 can be used in fulfillment of this requirement, but quarter-courses cannot.
6. Physical Education
a. Two semesters of physical education
Additional Requirements for a Bachelor of Science
To earn a Bachelor of Science degree, a student must satisfy all requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree. In addition, a candidate for this degree must be a major in the department of biology, chemistry, forestry and geology, mathematics and computer science, physics, or psychology. Majors in the interdiscipinary areas of biochemistry, environmental studies (chemistry), environmental studies (natural resources), and environmental studies (ecology and biodiversity) may also be candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Science. A total of four courses must be presented outside the major field from biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, computer science, physics or those courses in psychology and forestry designated under 2.b. Of four courses at least two must be laboratory courses in biology, chemistry, forestry, geology, physics, or psychology. The four courses must be taken at Sewanee and cannot be taken on a pass/fail basis.
Additional Requirements for a Second Bachelor's Degree
A University of the South graduate who wishes to take a second bachelor's degree must complete at least eight additional courses while enrolled as a regular full-time student in the college for two additional semesters.
Additional Degree Policies
1. The faculty requires a student to have completed all general distribution courses before the beginning of the student's last two semesters with exceptions, including physical education, being made only by petition to the Degrees Committee. A student must request and receive Degrees Committee approval to meet any general distribution requirement, including physical education, during the student’s final year before receiving a degree.
2. Students may not receive credit hours for the same numbered course taken twice, unless there is a specific designation indicating that the course may be repeated for credit (e.g., as for 444 courses).
3. Without specific approval from the Office of the Dean of the College, a student may not complete a general distribution requirement with an Independent Study (444) course or courses. The only exception is Physical Education in which 444 does count.
4. General distribution courses shall be taken and passed in the College of Arts and Sciences by all except transfer students. Only coursework taken by these students prior to admission to the college may be evaluated as possible substitutions for prescribed courses. Further exceptions may be considered by the Office of the Dean upon the written recommendation of the department chair concerned.
