Degree and Certificates

Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.)

Bachelor of Arts degrees are awarded to students who fulfill all requirements of a major/concentration in an academic discipline at a minimum of 30 credits. In addition to the major and the Liberal Education Program, there will be at least 27 credits of electives which may be used at the student's choice for a second major, one or two minors, a concentration, or for free electives. This degree program provides a broad and flexible liberal arts background and prepares a student to enter a variety of careers.

Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S. or similar)

Bachelor of Science degrees are awarded to students who fulfill all requirements of a major/concentration in an academic discipline, that is in greater depth than the B.A. degree program. In addition to the major and the Liberal Education Program, programs may require a sequence of cognate courses in a field or fields related to their chosen major. An internship or other professional application is also required. A minimum of 12 credits will be reserved to the student for free electives. This program therefore guarantees depth in the major and related fields and prepares a student for entry into specific career possibilities. Departments may require students to apply to the B.S. degree program for formal acceptance to the major/concentration. Students may be denied acceptance if either academic or personal qualifications are unsuited for a particular area, as determined by the department. When fixed quotas exist in an area, it is sometimes necessary to deny acceptance even though students may meet minimal standards.

Certificates

Southern offers undergraduate certificates and post-baccalaureate certificates; post-baccalaureate certificates are undergraduate programs of study requiring a bachelor's degree for admittance. All certificate programs offer a defined set of courses that focus on an academic specialty to update or expand skillsets though they do not lead to a degree. Students must enroll in the certificate program prior to completing the last required course to be eligible for the certificate; certificates are not retroactively awarded to students who were not enrolled prior to completion. Courses used to satisfy a degree may be used to satisfy the requirements of a certificate.