Portland-State-University 2019-2020 Bulletin

4. Requirements for Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science Degrees

Courses taken to satisfy BA/BS requirements may also be used to meet any other requirements if they conform to the regular qualification for those requirements.

  • For the Bachelor of Arts degree: Students must complete 28 credits to include a minimum of 12 credits in the arts and letters academic distribution area, with a minimum of 4 credits in the area of fine and performing arts; a minimum of 12 credits in the science and/or social science distribution areas, with a minimum of 4 credits in the science distribution area; and 4 credits in a second language numbered 203 or higher (conducted in the target language). See second language requirements listed below.
    • Second language requirement: The B.A. language requirement is not defined in credits, but in terms of competence: for graduation, a student must demonstrate competence equivalent to that normally attained after two years of college study. Students with no previous knowledge of a second language are advised to complete two years in a language.
    • Students who already possess sufficient competence (or who wish to prepare themselves outside of formal classes) may meet the B.A. language requirement in any of the following ways: (1) Completion in any second language of 203 or its equivalent with a passing grade; (2) completion in any second language of a course that has 203 or higher as a prerequisite; (3) Demonstration of proficiency in a second language equivalent to that attained after two years of college study. There are three ways to demonstrate equivalency proficiency: a) in French, German, or Spanish, by passing the CLEP examination with a score high enough for second-year level credit (see http://www.pdx.edu/admissions/college-level-exam-program; b) in other languages regularly taught by the Department of World Languages and Literatures, by passing a departmental examination with a score high enough for second-year level credit; c) in any language for which the Department of World Languages and Literatures has a qualified tester, by passing a non-credit departmental examination. English satisfies the B.A. language requirement for students whose official transcripts demonstrate that their secondary education was completed in a language other than English. Such students may not enroll in first- or second-year courses in the language in which they received their secondary education.
  • For the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree: Students must complete the specific program as prescribed by the department.
  • For the Bachelor of Music degree: Students must complete the specific program as prescribed by the Department of Music.
  • For the Bachelor of Science degree: Students must complete 28 credits to include a minimum of 12 credits in the Science academic distribution area (excluding mathematical sciences/statistics) a minimum of 12 credits in the Arts and Letters and/or the Social Sciences distribution areas, and 4 credits in mathematical sciences/statistics. A minimum of 8 of the 12 credits in the Science distribution area must be in coursework with its integrated or associated laboratory or field work. Unless otherwise specified, only courses within the Science distribution area that have an explicit indication of lab or field work as part of the catalog description will satisfy the B.S. degree requirement for lab/field work.

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