The College of Arts and Sciences offers two undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science. To earn either, a student must:

• Complete 32 full academic courses (equal to 128 semester hours), plus two physical education credits;
• Earn one PE credit by the end of the first year and an additional one by the end of the sophomore year¹;
• Meet the general education requirements of the College before the beginning of the senior year²;
• Of the 32 academic full courses (128 semester hours) presented for a bachelor’s degree, no more than 13 full courses (52 semester hours) may be presented in any single subject. Students and their advisors are strongly encouraged to develop a program of study for the junior and senior year that reflects breadth of involvement in disciplines beyond their principal academic interest;
• Complete a major program of study (see below);
• 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 64 semester hours of credit at Sewanee.
• Additionally, a student must satisfy all financial obligations to the University. The University will neither confer a degree nor provide transcripts to any student or former student who has unsatisfied financial obligations to the University.

During the first two years, many of the student’s courses are options listed within prescribed categories of general education. 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 highly specialized training. Toward this end, and to fulfill the aims suggested by the fourth item listed above, no major is allowed to require more than 11 courses in the major field. In keeping with our liberal arts tradition and values, we recognize that our unique intellectual experience depends upon immersive engagement in the greater Sewanee academic community. Accordingly, degree-seeking students are required to engage in full-time residential study, and spend the final two semesters in residence (that is, not on a study-away program).  It is in these final semesters that students are best situated to benefit from faculty mentoring, to pursue advanced research and study, to engage with their peers, and to contribute to the intellectual vitality of the University. During the final year, each student is required to pass a comprehensive examination in the major field before graduation. A student who at the time of the comprehensive examination does not have at least a 2.00 grade point average is not allowed to take the exam until the grade point average has been raised to that required level.

Degree-Specific Major Requirements

A candidate for the Bachelor of Arts degree must, in addition to satisfying all requirements for an undergraduate degree listed above, complete the requirements for one of the following major programs of study: American Studies, Anthropology, Art, Art History, Asian Studies, Classical Languages, Creative Writing, Economics, English, Environment and Sustainability, Environmental Arts and Humanities, Finance, French and French Studies, German and German Studies, Greek, History, International and Global Studies, Latin, Medieval and Early Modern Studies, Music, Philosophy, Politics, Religious Studies, Russian, Spanish, Special (Student-Initiated), Theatre, or Women's and Gender Studies.

A candidate for the Bachelor of Science degree must, in addition to satisfying all requirements for an undergraduate degree listed above, complete the requirements for one of the following major programs of study: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Data Science, Forestry, Geology, Mathematics, Natural Resources and the Environment, Neuroscience, Physics, or Psychology.

Only one degree will be conferred upon a student who completes two or more major programs of study. When a student has, at the time of graduation, completed the requirements for two or more major programs of study, and when the completed programs of study satisfy both the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree and the Bachelor of Science degree, they may choose which of the two degrees they prefer. A student upon whom the University has already conferred the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree who subsequently satisfies the requirements for an additional major will not receive a second bachelor's degree and a different degree will not be substituted for the one previously conferred.  

¹

Exceptions may be made by petition to the College Standards Committee. A student must request and receive College Standards Committee approval to meet any general education requirement outside the time frame specified.

²

Typically, general education courses are taken and passed in the College of Arts and Sciences. Transfer students’ coursework taken prior to admission to the College may be evaluated as possible substitutions for prescribed courses. Matriculated students may use coursework taken as part of a Sewanee-taught or Sewanee-approved study-abroad/study-away program to satisfy up to a maximum of two general education requirements.