Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science
- Complete a minimum of 120 credit hours with a minimum of 45 credit hours chosen from junior- and senior-level courses.
- Complete FILA general education requirements. (Students completing a transfer-oriented associate degree prior to transfer will be exempt from all FILA general education requirements except FILA-350EW and FILA-450.)
- Complete course requirements for the major.
- Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a minimum GPA of 2.0 in courses required for the major.
- Complete a minimum of 33 credit hours with 30 of the last 33 credit hours of academic work in residence at Bridgewater College or at a College-approved study abroad program. In addition, complete at least 9 credit hours of the major at Bridgewater College.
It is the responsibility of the student to enroll in the appropriate courses to meet degree requirements.
Requirements in the Major Field
A departmental major consists of not less than 32 credit hours and not more than 54 credit hours, with no more than 48 credit hours within a specific academic discipline. Prerequisite and supporting courses are included in this total, with the exception of prerequisite courses to entry-level courses in the major. At least 9 credit hours of the major must be completed at Bridgewater.
During the sophomore year, a program of courses in the major department and related courses that make up the Plan of Major is developed for each student by the student and his or her academic advisor for the major. A copy of this plan must be approved by the registrar and filed in the office of the registrar. Any changes in the proposed plan of the major must likewise have the approval of both the student's advisor for the major and the registrar and be recorded in the office of the registrar.
Each student must earn at least a 2.0 grade point average in courses constituting the major. Suitable majors from which the student may choose are listed in this academic catalog.
Each student will designate a primary major in order to determine the degree received and establish a single primary academic advisor. A student who wishes to achieve a major in two fields must recognize the possibility that more than four academic years may be required to complete such a program. A student who pursues two major fields must complete the requirements for both programs. No more than two major fields will be denoted on a student's permanent academic record.
Requirements for an Academic Concentration
A concentration is a curricular design that offers the student an option to consolidate electives within a major and/or from the additional uncommitted electives that are a normal part of the undergraduate program in order to gain additional depth in the chosen field of study.
A concentration consists of at least 18 but no more than 24 credit hours. Courses taken as electives within a major may count towards both fulfilment of the major and fulfilment of the concentration. In order to be eligible for admission to a concentration, a student must have declared the major upon which the concentration is built. Other requirements, such as enrollment in a specific degree program, may also apply. All courses will be chosen from the list of courses approved for the program and in consultation with the student’s academic advisor. A copy of the program must be approved by the registrar and filed in the office of the registrar.
To complete the requirements for the concentration, a student must earn at least a 2.0 in the credits comprising the concentration. The satisfactory completion of a concentration within a major will be noted on the student’s official grade transcript. Students may complete no more than 2 concentrations. At least six credits of the concentration must be completed at Bridgewater.
Requirements for a Minor
A minor consists of not less than 18 and no more than 27 credit hours specified by the academic department or interdisciplinary program offering the minor. At least six credits of the minor must be completed at Bridgewater.
A program of courses comprising the minor is developed by the student and his or her academic advisor for the minor. A copy of the program must be approved by the Registrar and filed in the office of the Registrar. Any changes in the proposed plan of the minor must likewise have the approval of both the student’s minor advisor and the Registrar, and these changes must be recorded in the office of the Registrar.
To complete the requirements for a minor, a student must earn at least a 2.0 GPA in the credits comprising the minor. The satisfactory completion of a minor will be noted on the student’s official grade transcript. Students may complete no more than 2 minors.
Elective Courses
Elective courses should be selected with care to fulfill needs to enter graduate school, for licensure to teach or for other special purposes. Students interested in teaching in the public schools should read the requirements for teacher licensure and confer with the chair of the teacher education program no later than the end of the freshman year.
Academic Advising
Students are assigned a faculty advisor upon matriculation at the College. The primary responsibilities of the academic advisor are to develop a mentoring relationship with their students, to help students with course planning appropriate to their interests and needs, to assist students in connecting their overall educational plan to career and life goals, to encourage students to take advantage of campus opportunities and resources, and to nurture students' self reliance and independent decision making.
In addition to the individual academic advisor, the College also provides an Academic Advising Center which provides a variety of resources and programs for student development, especially for those who have not yet decided on a major. There are also many other campus advising and counseling resources on campus, including the Academic Support Center, Health Services, the Counseling Center, the Center for Diversity Education and Advocacy, and the Center for Career Development.