Summary of Degree Requirements | General Electives | Exceptions to Degree Requirements | Catalog Rights and Exclusions | Physical Education

Summary of Degree Requirements

The College awards the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and/or Bachelor of Science (B.S) degree to qualified students who are recommended by the faculty. In order to qualify for the degree, students must complete the following:

  1. All Core requirements, including the Language Competence milestone
  2. All requirements for completion of at least one major program
  3. A total of 4200 units of credit (i.e., 42 100-unit quarter courses). This number may be reached in part by examination credit. For students matriculating in Autumn 2017 or later, of the 4200 units, 3800 units of credit must be earned by course enrollment. Course enrollments may include faculty-led and direct enrollment study abroad programs affiliated with the College, as well as approved transfer credit.
  4. An overall GPA of 1.75 and a GPA of 2.0 in all declared majors and minors
  5. Fulfillment of the residency requirement: A student must be "in residence" at the University of Chicago for the equivalent of at least six quarters (excluding summers) and must successfully complete a minimum of 1800 units of credit by enrollment in UChicago courses. Additionally, at least half of the requirements for any majors or minors must be completed in residence. NOTE: Certain faculty-led study abroad programs affiliated with the College (e.g., the Civilization Studies programs) may be used to meet this requirement.
  6. Completion of an application to graduate on time for the quarter in which the degree is to be received
  7. Payment of all outstanding bills and return of all equipment and library books

Students should check in with their academic adviser regularly, be aware of their degree requirements as articulated throughout the Catalog, and monitor their progress in My Planner each quarter to ensure they have met all degree requirements by their quarter of graduation. 

General Electives

The number of courses required for a major primarily determines the number of general electives required for an individual student. A student needs at least 42 100-unit courses to graduate: 15-16 courses toward general education (i.e., Core) requirements and 26-27 more split between the major and electives. Major programs that specify 13 courses require 13-14 electives; 12-course majors require 14-15 electives, and so on.

Additionally, the amount of examination credit (e.g., AP credit) may also impact the number of electives earned by course enrollment required. For students matriculating in Autumn 2017 or later, of the 4200 units required to graduate, at least 3800 units must be completed through course enrollment (i.e., not credit by examination). For example, a student who earns 100 units by examination credit will reduce the amount of elective credit via course enrollment needed by 100 units, a student with 200 units from examination credit reduces their need for elective credit by 200 units, etc., up to a maximum of 400 units. Examination credit beyond 400 units can still be helpful to the student in meeting other degree requirements, but will not count further towards the 4200-unit total.

Elective courses may be taken in any subject matter or discipline, including the same discipline as the student's major. They provide students the opportunity to shape their studies toward their distinctive curiosities and interests. At their broadest, they provide an opportunity to explore freely across the richness of opportunities for learning at the University of Chicago. Some students may choose to use groups of electives to pursue minors or additional majors. These options, though suitable ways to formalize students' interests outside their major, should not be undertaken in the mistaken belief that they necessarily enhance a student's transcript. Courses taken as electives should not displace courses in, and should not displace attention to, the student's general education program and primary major.

Credit for language courses is not used toward Core requirements, though credit for certain language courses will result in fulfillment of the Language Competence Core requirement. Credit for language courses will be used as elective credit, unless a major requires or permits the courses to count toward its requirements. Language back credit is treated as examination credit and will count toward the 400-unit limit described above.

Exceptions to Degree Requirements

Exceptions to degree requirements and other policies outlined in the College Catalog are handled in the following ways:

Students should consult with their academic adviser or other contact relevant to the request for guidance prior to submitting the appropriate form or petition.

Catalog Rights and Exclusions

While students fulfill requirements that are in place during their initial enrollment in the College as degree-seeking undergraduates by default, they may be permitted to follow newer variations in Core, major, or minor requirements should those requirements take effect while the student continues to be a degree-seeking undergraduate. However, the student must still be able to complete their studies within their allotted quarters of enrollment and should confirm with their academic adviser and program contact for any exceptions.

Students who take a leave of absence or are placed on suspension risk not being awarded completion of their original majors or minors should those programs of study have been discontinued during their absence. For more information on the requirements for students who entered the College between 1995 and 2023, refer to the appropriate archived editions of the College Course Catalog. Students should direct questions about their degree requirements to their academic adviser.

Physical Education

Physical education is not required for an undergraduate degree. However, students are encouraged to pursue physical fitness as part of their College experience. For further information on fitness opportunities, visit athletics.uchicago.edu.