Degree Requirements

Requirements for a bachelor’s degree from UMass Boston include the number of credit hours of coursework, your grade point average, and residency (minimum credits earned at UMass Boston).

Together, the elements of a UMass Boston program–General Education courses, the major, electives–constitute a strong liberal arts education.

A UMass Boston education produces college graduates knowledgeable in a broad range of subjects. But it does not allow a graduate’s competency to stop there. Lifelong success will also demand skills to cope with rapid changes in all facets of human existence: technology, lifestyle, industry, the environment, biomedical sciences, and on and on.

Graduates have to be prepared to process the deluge of information — and handle the disruption — that always accompanies change. And they need to possess the skills and attitudes that will allow them to function in a global community. This includes learning why and how to depend more and more on one another to succeed together.

When you graduate, you’ll receive either a bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (BS) degree. Requirements vary somewhat between the two. Also, how you fulfill your course requirements depends on placement testing, the credits you transfer, which college you’re enrolled in, the major you choose, and other choices you make.

Click on the college name below for summaries of course requirements.

College of Liberal Arts (CLA)

College of Science & Mathematics (CSM)

College of Management (CM)

College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS)

College of Public and Community Service (CPCS)

Continuing Students: If you’ve been absent from the university for four or more consecutive semesters, you’ll need to meet the requirements and policies in effect upon your return. Your degree audit report will allow you to view your progress toward meeting your requirements.