F.A.Q.

Q. Do I need to declare a major? When and where?
The sooner you declare a major, the sooner you will be assigned a Faculty Advisor in the program of study you have selected. You declare your major in the College Office.

Q. How do I change my major within the College?
Go to the College Office and fill out a “Change of Major/Minor” form.

Q. How do I change colleges?
Contact the College Office of your intended major. You will need a 2.0 GPA and possible other requirements to transfer from one college to another.

Q. Must I declare a minor?
Consult the Undergraduate Policies, Programs, and Courses. If a minor is required for a given major, the statement “minor also required” appears. Intercollegiate Minor: You may earn a minor that is offered in another College without having to earn a degree from that College. Such minors must be regularly offered as minors in the other College, and all course requirements must be completed as stated in the Undergraduate Policies, Programs, and Courses. You declare your minor in your College Office.

Q. How many hours are needed for graduation?
A minimum of 122 credit hours is required for graduation. At least 40 hours of the total 122 hours must be completed at the 300/400 level, and the last 30 hours must be completed at BGSU. Apply for graduation by the end of the second week of the semester in which you plan to graduate.

Q. How can I declare a double major, dual degree, or an intra-college dual degree?
Double Major: The student who wishes to earn a double major within the College of Arts & Sciences must complete the requirements for both majors. This involves completing the degree requirements for one degree, the requirements for a major, and – instead of a minor – completing the requirements for a second major. The two majors must be offered in the same degree (for example, a double major in Psychology and Sociology). A particular major may not be available to a student as a second major in those cases where the courses in the first major overlap with courses in the second major by more than 6 hours. Substitutions to course requirements for a major are the jurisdiction of the program offering the major.
Dual Degrees: This involves the completion of two undergraduate degrees from two different colleges, when two majors are desired but cannot be obtained from a single college. You must secure the permission of the Deans of both colleges before the end of your junior year, meet with an advisor in both college offices, complete the degree requirements of both collegiate degrees, as well as earn a minimum of 20 hours beyond the 122 hours required for one degree. If you earn dual degrees, you will need a major in each, but you will not need a minor. Courses used from a major in your second college may not be used for a major in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Intra-College Degrees: If you pursue two different degrees within the College of Arts & Sciences you must meet with an academic advisor and obtain permission from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In addition, requirements for a major and minor in each degree must be completed independently. Courses counted toward a major or minor (or concentration) for the first degree cannot apply toward the major or minor in the second degree. At least 32 hours beyond the hours required for a single degree must be earned

Q. What is a Junior Audit?
A Junior Audit is required for graduation. The audit is a review of the courses you have completed and are currently taking. You initiate the Junior Audit during your junior year (60-90 credit hours) by completing your major checksheet and submitting it to your Faculty Advisor for review and a signature. The audit is then forwarded to the College Office for review by a College Advisor. A detailed letter will be prepared that informs you exactly what requirements you must complete to earn your degree.

Q. What penalty is there for taking English 112 late in my program at BGSU?
If you take English 112 after you have reached junior standing (60 credit hours); three credit hours are added to the 122 hours needed for graduation. If you take English 112 after you have reached senior standing (90 credit hours); four credit hours are added to the 122 hours needed for graduation.

Q. What happens if I take a 100 level course as a senior?
If a senior takes a course numbered 100-199 (except foreign language or computer science); an additional hour will be added to the 122 hours needed for graduation.

Q. How do I drop or add a course?
During the fall and spring semesters, a student may enroll in a course within seven calendar days from the beginning of classes; fourteen calendar days are allowed for a student to change the grading option or to drop a course with no record on the transcript. During summer term, students may enroll in courses during the first three calendar days of a given session; five calendar days are allowed for a student to change the grading option or drop a course with no record on the transcript. This should be done online at MyBGSU. After these dates exceptions may be granted only by the dean of the student’s college by completing a Schedule Change Form. For information about withdrawing from a course after the drop date, refer to “Grading Policies” in the Undergraduate Catalog. Students should check their class schedule to ensure changes have been processed.

Q. How do I withdraw from the University?
You must obtain permission from the Dean of Arts & Sciences. A withdrawal form must be completed and you must meet with an Academic Advisor. A student who withdraws with permission from the University will have all courses from the semester dropped and no grades recorded, except for courses previously dropped with a “WF.” A readmission restriction will be imposed for students who withdraw during the last five weeks of the semester. A student is not permitted to withdraw during the final exam period of the fall or spring semesters, or during the last two days of any summer session. You will not be allowed to drop your last class online through MyBGSU. Refer to the “Withdraw from the University” section in the Undergraduate Policies, Programs, and Courses

Q. What happens if I get a “D” or “F” in a course?
The grade of D is a passing grade. You may elect to retake the course. Some departments require a C or better to advance in a sequence. There are certain rules that must be fulfilled in retaking the course. Refer to the “Retaking a Course” section in the Undergraduate Policies, Programs, and Courses for further information.

Q. If I receive an “F” in a course, may I repeat that course at another university?
The Undergraduate Policies, Programs, and Courses states: “If a student receives a grade of D, F, I or WF in a course and then receives credit for that course by successful completion of a similar course at another institution, the credit hours and quality points for the first registration will continue to be used in computing the student’s GPA.” Therefore, you don’t have to take the course over at BGSU, but your GPA will not change. Credits are transferable, but not grades.

Q. Is it possible to receive a “WF” in a course for which I have registered S/U?
Yes. If you stop attending the course without following proper procedures to drop the course or to withdraw from the University, your instructor may assign you a WF. A WF is calculated as an F in your GPA. The grade of “WF” may also be assigned in the following four circumstances:

1. If a student is failing at the time of withdrawal from a course prior to the WP deadline;
2. If a student withdraws after the WP deadline has passed;
3. If a student stops attending but does not process an official withdrawal;
4. If a student has never attended class but does not officially withdraw from it.

Q. How do I remove an Incomplete?
The instructor of the course has to remove the Incomplete. If the work is completed prior to the deadline (March 1-Fall; August 1-Spring; November 1-Summer) the instructor needs to send a Removal of Incomplete to the Office of Registration and Records. If the coursework is not completed by the deadline, the instructor needs to send an Extension of Incomplete to the College Office. This step is followed by a Removal of Incomplete sent to the College Office when the coursework is completed.

Q. What do I need to do before the “WP” deadline?
CHECK YOUR SCHEDULE ON MyBGSU! Check for specific classes, making sure you are registered for the section you are attending (M001, M002, etc.). Check your grading option and number of hours. All corrections must be made before the WP deadline.

Q. What courses may I take S/U (commonly called pass/fail)?
You may take up to 16 credit hours S/U. You may not take any classes required for your major or minor S/U. The 16 hours does not include those courses which are only offered S/U such as Eng111. To receive an S in a course you must attain a C or better to constitute a passing grade.

Q. May I take a course at a local college during the summer and transfer the credits to BGSU?
Yes. Prior to doing so, check with the Transfer Credit Evaluation Office within the Office of Registration and Records for information about the proper procedure to follow. Remember, if you are within your last 30 hours at BGSU these credits must be earned at BGSU.

Q. Are there any scholarships available through the College of Arts and Sciences?
A variety of scholarships are available. The Office of Student Financial Aid publishes a guidebook each spring. The College Office has an application process that occurs each year during the month of January. Most academic departments have scholarships available to majors. Check with the department secretary.

Q. How do I obtain permission to register for more than 18 hours?
Permission for any overload must be obtained from the College Office. Course registration in excess of 18 hours may carry extra fees. Consult the Bursar’s Office for specific charges.

Q. Will a 1-hour course fulfill a group degree requirement?
Only courses listed as approved can be used to fulfill a group degree requirement in the College of Arts and Sciences. No 1-hour courses, independent study courses or workshops are included in these lists of approved courses.

Q. Can I appeal this?
You can file an appeal by visiting the College Office and filling out an appeal form. If you want to improve the chances of your appeal being granted, state precisely and succinctly what you want and write clearly and briefly why you think your appeal should be approved. Attach any relevant supporting information, but do not overwhelm the Appeals Board with paper. The Appeals Board will try to give you a prompt answer. Please remember that an appeal is not granted until it’s granted: do not presume that it will be. An appeal by its nature is a variance from the rule, and there must be good reason for granting it.

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