General Degree Requirements

General Degree Requirements for all Bachelor's Degrees

The bachelor’s degree programs require students to study one field in depth (the major) and to complete general education requirements or a core curriculum as appropriate to the major field and degree program selected. There is overlap among general education requirements, which allows students flexibility in the choice of majors and degree programs.

The BA is available in more than 40 fields in the humanities and arts, the social and behavioral sciences, and the natural sciences and mathematics. The BS in Engineering is available in 12 major fields. The BS in Management is available in two major fields. In addition, BS programs are offered in accounting, the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, statistics, nutrition, art education, music education, and nursing.

The Bachelor of Music (BM) degree is offered by the Cleveland Institute of Music through a joint program with Case Western Reserve University.

‌Every candidate for a baccalaureate degree from the university must:

1. complete the requirements of the Seminar Approach to General Education and Scholarship (SAGES), as described below;
2. complete two semesters of physical education through a combination of half- and/or full-semester physical education courses, as described below;
3. complete the requirements of the major field of study, as described in the relevant sections of the General Bulletin;
4. complete the general education requirements of the school and degree program in which the student's major field of study falls, as described in the relevant section of this chapter of the General Bulletin (Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Management, Nursing);
5. complete a course of studies with a cumulative grade point average of no less than 2.000 for work taken at Case Western Reserve University; and
6. earn in residence at Case Western Reserve University a minimum of 60 semester hours, of which at least 15 must be earned after the student has earned a total of 105 semester hours.

SAGES

The Seminar Approach to General Education and Scholarship (SAGES) provides a foundation in critical thinking, written and oral communication, the use of information, quantitative reasoning, engagement with ethical issues and diversity, and exposure to experimental and theoretical approaches to understanding human culture and behavior, scientific knowledge, and methods of research. For more information, visit the SAGES Requirements page.

Physical Education

All students must complete two full semesters of Physical Education activity courses at zero credit-hours. Students may choose from half-semester and full-semester course offerings. If possible, a student should begin meeting this requirement in the first semester and complete it early in their undergraduate years.

Requirements for Specific Degrees

Students are expected to complete a bachelor's degree in a timely fashion and will ordinarily be subject to the degree requirements in place at the time of matriculation at Case Western Reserve University, although they may chose to update their requirements to those included in a later General Bulletin.

If a student extends study toward a bachelor's degree beyond 10 years after first matriculating as an undergraduate student, the major department(s) will review the student's academic record and may update major requirements. Also, if the student has not already completed the applicable general education requirements in place at the time of matriculation, the appropriate dean in the school offering the major will also review the student's academic record and may update general education requirements.

Double Majors, Secondary Majors, and Dual Undergraduate Degrees

Only one major is required for a student to satisfy degree requirements, and most students complete their degrees having met the requirements for a single major. However, some students wish to complete more than one major in order to address their interests and academic goals. Several opportunities exist for a student to complete more than one major.

A student may double major in two (or more) Arts and Sciences majors for the BA, or two (or more) Engineering majors for the BS in Engineering degree, or two (or more) Management majors for the BS in Management degree. No additional credit-hours beyond those ordinarily required for the specific degree are required, but students may need additional credit-hours to meet all requirements of the two (or more) majors. Students pursuing multiple majors within a single degree will receive one diploma corresponding to the degree earned and each major will be noted on the diploma and the transcript.

A student whose interests span majors that fall under two different degree programs (the BA program and a BS program or two different BS programs) may complete one degree program, including its general education requirements, and the requirements for the two (or more) majors. The major for which the student does not complete the associated general education requirements will be designated as a secondary major. If the field chosen as a secondary major has different requirements for the BA and BS, the requirements to complete the secondary major are those associated with the BA. No additional credit-hours beyond those ordinarily required for the degree for which the student completed general education requirements are required, though students may need additional credit-hours to complete all requirements of the two (or more) majors. The student will receive one diploma corresponding to the degree for which the student completed general education requirements, and that degree will be recorded on the transcript. Each major will be noted on the diploma and the transcript, but the secondary major will be designated in that way.

To qualify for two (or more) undergraduate degrees, i.e., a BA and a BS, or two BS, as a dual degree student, a student must satisfy all requirements for each degree, including each degree’s associated general education requirements, and complete for each additional degree thirty credit-hours of study beyond the hours required for the first degree. Students who seek a dual-degree program that involves the BM degree must meet Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve admission requirements, and must seek approval of both the Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University.