Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences

College Requirements

Admission

The Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences admits current University students who are not already in the college if they have satisfied the following criteria:

  • Completed a minimum of 30 semester credit hours
  • Completed at least 6 credits of English Composition for the general education requirement
  • Completed at least 3 credits of mathematics or statistics applicable to the general education requirement
  • Have a minimum grade-point average of 2.00 in all work attempted in the major field, including transfer work until 30 UA credits are earned (excluding Political Science which requires 2.2)
  • Have a minimum grade-point average of 2.00 in all University work, including transfer work until 30 UA credits are earned (excluding Political Science, English, and Sociology which require 2.2; excluding The LeBron James Family Foundation School of Education which requires 2.5; and excluding Communication which requires 2.1)
  • Music students must test into at least Theory I Placement and audition into at least 100 Applied Instruction; Dance students must successfully audition
  • Received approval of the Dean of the College

Transfer Students

Students transferring into the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences from universities other than The University of Akron must satisfy the same Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences admission requirements as University of Akron students.

A student transferring to the School of Art from another institution must submit a portfolio of work for approval before admission. A student transferring from another college or institution into the music program must complete a placement examination and perform an audition. A student transferring from another college or institution into the Dance program must perform an audition.

Other Admission

Students accepted into the Williams Honors College as arts and sciences majors are automatically admitted into the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences. Incoming freshmen with appropriate credentials may receive direct admission to the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences upon application.

Baccalaureate Degrees

Requirements for the bachelor’s degree include:

  • Completion of the General Education requirement
  • Completion of requirements in a major field of study in the college. A major consists of a specified number of credits in addition to the required General Education and, in the case of most Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, foreign language courses/proficiency. The exact requirements for each major are found in the respective curriculum guide
  • All degrees require a minimum of 40 credits of:
    • 300/400-level courses in the student's major department, except workshops
    • 300/400-level courses outside the student's major department, except workshops
    • Courses outside the major department as specified and approved by the student’s major advisor and the department chair or school director (permission should be obtained prior to enrollment), except workshops
    • For programs with restrictive external accreditation requirements, 200 level courses within the major may be identified as constituting advanced work by the student's advisor and department chair or school director (permission should be obtained prior to enrollment)
  • Demonstration of ability to use English and, in the case of most Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, another language:
    • For English, this ability will be shown by the completion of the General Education sequence for English Composition
    • For the other language, this ability will be shown by completion of the first or second year (102 or 202 at UA) of a foreign language at the University level, depending upon the degree requirements. A student may place at any point in the language sequence so this is not a credit hour requirement but rather a course completion requirement. Students who place above the required highest level must take one course to demonstrate proficiency. Demonstration of equivalent competence gained through non-academic “life experience” may be allowed through a test approved by the Department of Modern Languages contingent upon the availability of an appropriate test. The Department of Modern Languages does not offer credit by examination. Native speakers of a language other than English may be exempted from the foreign language requirement upon providing evidence of competence in the four basic language skills (speaking, reading, writing and listening comprehension) at a level equivalent to or higher than successful completion of the second year of instruction in the language at the University level. No credit is granted for exemption from the foreign language requirement. Sign Language is acceptable toward the foreign language requirement. You must complete the five courses listed below (totaling 14 credits) in the sign language sequence to satisfy the requirement:
      SLPA 222Survey of Deaf Culture in America2
      SLPA 201
      & SLPA 202      		American Sign Language III
      and American Sign Language IV      		6
      SLPA 101
      & SLPA 102      		American Sign Language I
      and American Sign Language II      		6
  • Students in the Schools of Art and Music may apply not more than two credits of physical education activities to their degree; students in the School of Communication and in Theatre programs may apply not more than two credits of physical education activities, eight credits of applied music or four credits of music organizations to their degree; students in Dance programs may apply not more than two credits of physical education activities and 12 credits of dance organizations to their degree
  • Attaining a minimum grade-point average of 2.00 for all courses in the major Department/School at The University of Akron, unless otherwise required by the major Department/School
  • Fulfilling the University requirements for a baccalaureate degree

Any student who wishes to receive a second baccalaureate degree must complete 30 credits of coursework in addition to the credits necessary for the first degree; 15 of the 30 credits must be in 300/400-level courses or other approved courses.

Degrees Awarded

  • Arts Division: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Ceramics, Dance, Graphic Design, Jewelry & Metalsmithing, Photography, Painting/Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture), Bachelor of Music
  • Education Division: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science
  • Humanities Division: Bachelor of Arts
  • Natural Sciences Division: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science
  • Social Sciences Division: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice Technology
  • Interdisciplinary Studies: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies

Interdisciplinary, Divisional and Partner Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies

This degree meets the needs of students who have a multidisciplinary academic goal. It expands opportunities for non-traditional students to complete their degrees at The University of Akron by allowing them to combine courses in a structured manner from various colleges to design a program suited to their needs.

Divisional Majors

Biomedical Science

This divisional major provides for a broad background in science suited to students who intend to pursue careers or further education in a health science area. It is an appropriate major for those preparing for admission to professional programs in medicine, dentistry or veterinary science or for those desiring a Liberal Arts degree with a general emphasis in science. Additional coursework may be necessary for those planning graduate studies in a particular science discipline.

Humanities

This divisional major is appropriate for those desiring a Liberal Arts degree with a general emphasis in the humanities. The humanities division consists of the Departments of English, Modern Languages and Philosophy. These disciplines and the disciplines of anthropology, classical studies, history and the creative and dramatic arts (art, music, theatre arts) are included in a prescribed manner in this divisional degree.

Social Sciences

This divisional major is appropriate for those desiring a Liberal Arts degree with a general emphasis in the social sciences. The social sciences divisional degree tracks consist of coursework from the Departments of Economics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. Students may select one of two specialized tracks:

  • Social Sciences — PPE Track: The Social Sciences division PPE track consists of courses from the departments of Philosophy, Political Science and Economics.
  • Social Sciences — PSP Track: The Social Sciences division PSP track (Understanding Ourselves and Others) consists of courses from the departments of Philosophy, Sociology, and Psychology.

Early Assurance Pathway Program

The Early Assurance Pathway program is a partnership wherein current UA students apply for provisional admission to NEOMED in their sophomore year of college. Each year NEOMED will admit up to 35 UA students into the program.

Phase 1 is the undergraduate portion of the partnership. UA students may pursue any of UA’s degree programs; however, it is recommended that students pursue the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science under the Biology department. This coursework meets the NEOMED admission requirements and focuses chiefly on studies in the humanities, social studies, and all basic premedical sciences to prepare students for the medical school curriculum. After students apply to NEOMED in their sophomore year and are provisionally admitted to the Early Assurance Pathway program, they complete their UA degree requirements, maintain the required grade point averages, achieve the required scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and meet all other standards of readiness for medical education during their junior and senior years before being promoted directly to NEOMED for Phase 2 of the program.

Phase 2 consists of a four-year medical school course of study, at the NEOMED campus and at selected clinical campuses, leading to the M.D. degree.

Early Acceptance Program (EAP)

The Early Acceptance Program (EAP) is a four-year undergraduate program of study at The University of Akron leading to Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) with a reserved seat in their College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, or School of Pharmacy.  

Each year LECOM can admit up to five UA students into their College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, or School of Pharmacy. Students can apply in their senior year of high school or before the start of their third year at The University of Akron. Phase 1 is the undergraduate curriculum at UA. UA students may pursue any of UA’s degree programs, but it is recommended that students pursue the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science under the Biology department. Phase 2 is the is medical, dental, or pharmacy school at LECOM.

More information about the program can be found on the Pre-Health Partnerships information page.