DEGREE

Academic degree or level is being completed. The academic degree can be written out or abbreviated. (e.g. Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, B.S., B.M., M.A, etc.) 

MAJOR

A major is the primary academic field of study offered in an academic discipline. A major generally consists of between 36 and 48 units that are unduplicated in the Core Curriculum/General Education. A major has an academic evaluation (degree audit) and appears on the academic transcript and on the diploma (e.g. Sociology, Mathematics, Psychology, etc.). 

DECLARING AN ACADEMIC MAJOR

All undergraduate students must declare an academic major no later than the end of their third full term of work. Students may be aided in this determination by consulting with departments of interest or the academic advisor for undeclared majors. Formal declaration of a major or a change of major is made by filing a Change or Declaration of Major form found on the Office of the Registrar website. 

MAJOR CORE

A major core is the specific curriculum within an academic discipline that all majors are required to take and is generally between 24 and 36 units. In cases where a concentration is offered, the major core is the larger of the two groupings of curricular requirements.

CONCENTRATION  

A concentration is a curriculum that concentrates on a particular recognized sub-field of study within an academic major. A concentration, if offered, is taken in conjunction with the major core and is embedded within the major unit count. A concentration has an academic evaluation (degree audit) and appears on the transcript but not on the diploma. A concentration is generally between 12 and 24 units. 

EMPAHSIS

A stand-alone curriculum that emphasizes a limited number of distinct courses (which may or may not be in one academic discipline) which are not sufficient in depth or scope to qualify as a concentration or a minor. Emphases are generally between 9-15 units. An emphasis has no academic evaluation (degree audit) and does not appear on the academic transcript or on the diploma.  

MINOR

A minor is a grouping of classes around a specific subject matter, typically between 18-30 credits. A minor cannot be taken independently and must be pursued in a substantially different discipline than the student’s major, unless the minor is interdisciplinary in nature. Additionally, at least 28 credits of the major must be distinct from the minor, and in the case of a second minor, the second minor must have 9 unique credits that do not overlap with the first minor. A minor has an academic evaluation (degree audit) and appears on the academic transcript, but not on the diploma.

DECLARING AN ACADEMIC MINOR

Undergraduate students are encouraged to declare academic minors early for academic advising and degree audit purposes. Academic minors not declared at time of submission of the Application for Intent to Graduate form, will not be reviewed in the final degree audit for degree completion. Academic minors may be declared in the Office of the Registrar.

CERTIFICATES

A certificate is defined as a set of classes grouped around a particular subject matter, typically between 12-28 credits. It can be combined with an academic major/degree program and may be offered as a stand-alone option for individuals, including working professionals, wishing to expand their knowledge in a particular subject area. A certificate may have an academic evaluation (degree audit) but does not appear on the academic transcript or on the diploma.