Declaring a Major or Minor

Each candidate for graduation must select a major. We strongly recommend that you, the student, make this selection by the end of your sophomore (2nd) year.

Majors

Selecting your major and choosing an emphasis or minor allows you to focus your degree to meet your goals. Select a major with an emphasis or a minor, and select elective courses for a degree plan that gives you tools for success.

Majors are classified in two ways:

Single – If you are a student majoring in a single area of study you must complete all the courses specified by that area in addition to the General Degree Requirements.
Multiple – If you are a student desiring a degree with a concentration in more than one area of study you must fulfill the General Degree Requirements and the requirements of each major field selected. The permanent records will reflect each major area.

Note on cohort degrees: Because of the nature of the accelerated cohort degree completion curriculum, students may select only a single major.

Declaring a Major

We strongly recommend that you, the student, make this selection by the end of your sophomore (2nd) year. A decision makes it easier for you and your Student Coach to strategize for your junior and senior (3rd and 4th) year degree plan. You should should officially declare a major field of concentration by the time you have completed 60 credit hours.

Prerequisite for the Accelerated Major

Bellevue University offers accelerated degree completion programs for working adult students who have completed an associate degree or a minimum of 60 semester hours of transferable credit from regionally accredited institutions of higher education. Prior to beginning the cohort-based major, the student must:.

Possess an associate degree or 60 semester hours completed with a grade of “C-” or higher from an accredited institution of higher learning. Copies of transcripts or diplomas must be submitted for assessment. Student copies are acceptable for preliminary evaluation; however, official transcripts are required and should be ordered as soon as possible.
Currently be employed in a work setting where the academic content of the major can be applied.
Possess three years of significant work experience relevant to the major.
Submit an Application for Admission, completed, signed, and accompanied by the $50 processing fee.

Note: Specific majors may have additional requirements.

Students meeting these qualifications will be granted full admittance. Applicants not meeting the qualifications for full academic acceptance will be considered by the Admissions and Standards Committee, which may approve exceptions on an individual basis. All applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision.

Minors

Selection of a minor is not a graduation requirement. You must complete 9 credit hours in-residence in order to have the minor posted to a Bellevue University Transcript.

Declaring a Minor

Bellevue University makes the academic minor available to enrich an undergraduate student’s educational focus. A minor is a recognized group of courses in a specific discipline that enhances general learning, complements the student’s major, or improves the prospects for employment. Selection of a minor should be arranged in consultation with a faculty advisor from the appropriate area of study.

Minors typically require between 18 and 24 credit hours to complete. All minors require a minimum GPA of 2.5 and 9 upper-division credit hours and 3 courses (9 credit hours) in-residence at Bellevue University. 6 of the residence credit hours must be upper-level courses. Students in accelerated bachelor’s degree completion programs are not permitted to choose minors.

Emphases

At the undergraduate level, emphases provide an area of focus and a choice of options for more in-depth study within a bachelor’s degree program. Emphases are generally 9 to 12 credit hours (less than the requirements of a minor) and are designed to provide students with choices in a disciplinary area of interest. You should consult with your Student Coach in order to effectively design a degree plan that integrates one or more emphasis in your degree program.

Certificates

Certificates are awarded for completion of a set of courses that define a specialization that is generally recognized in the workplace. A certificate is not an academic award, but rather an acknowledgement or recognition of student learning in a content domain. The courses will be included on your student transcript, and upon request, on a printed certificate of completion.

List of available Bellevue University Certificates of Completion

List of Bellevue University Stand-alone Certificate Programs