01 November 2005

Degree Requirements and Internet Sites for Choosing Majors

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

Most bachelor’s degrees consist of 120 credits (180 if on a quarter system). Margaret Schatzman of Educational Credential Evaluation Services in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has developed the following credit descriptions.

Undergraduate students enrolled full-time would generally be engaged in a minimum of 15 semester hours of credit per term, i.e., 30 credits per year.

Freshman (1st year): 1 to 30 credits
Sophomore (2nd year): 31 to 60 credits
Junior (3rd year): 61 to 90 credits
Senior (4th year): 91 to 120 credits

Theory Course

One credit is equal to 50 minutes of contact (time spent in class) per week for one semester (15 weeks). Most undergraduate theory courses carry three or four credits each. Therefore, students should expect to be in class three times per week for 50 minutes each for a three-credit course. Most undergraduate students take five courses for a total of 15 credits. So, students should expect to be in classes about 15 hours per week. Preparation time, which can include reading, homework, library research, and preparing for quizzes and tests, is in addition to the class contact time.

Laboratory, Practical, or Studio (Art, Drawing, Painting, etc.) Course

One credit is equal to two to four 50 minutes of contact (class or lab time) per week for one semester. In other words, students should expect to be in lab, practical, or studio courses two to four times more per credit than for a theory course. Outside preparation and work is either not required or at a minimum. For example, for a two-credit lab course, students should expect to be in the lab at least twice a week for a minimum of two 50-minute credit hours at each meeting.

Web Sites of Interest

These are a few of the many U.S. university sites that provide useful information to prospective undergraduate students.

The University of California at Berkeley

[http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/choosingmajor/intro.html] defines what a major is, describes how to prepare for and declare a major by the end of the second year, explores some myths about majors and career directions, and provides tips on setting personal goals.

The University of Minnesota [http://ucs1.ucs.umn.edu/www/majorworkbook.html] has an online workbook that includes an inventory of interests, skills, values, and personal characteristic “types” developed by Dr. John Holland, that can help students better understand their own “type” and what majors might work best.

Oklahoma State University [http://home.okstate.edu/homepages.nsf/toc/chp15_1] has developed a “College Prep 101” resource that includes extensive advice on what students should do before they begin college and what they need to know after they start their studies. It includes a section on choosing a major.

Pennsylvania State University

[http://www.psu.edu/dus/md/mdmisper.htm] discusses common misperceptions about majors; e.g., how picking a major and a career are not same thing and how choosing one major does not mean giving up all others.

University of Pennsylvania [http://www.college.upenn.edu/curriculum/major_factors.html] provides a checklist to help students identify their interests, motivations, and goals.