Academic Catalog

BLS Degree Graduation Requirements

These are reminder lists for students seeking a Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) degree.

For additional details and other requirements, consult the academic policies and curriculum requirements specified in the Undergraduate Academic Catalog. Contact the Bachelor of Liberal Studies Office (540-654-2050) for additional information or for responses to questions. The final responsibility for meeting specific requirements for a degree rests entirely with the student.

Requirements For Students Matriculating Fall 2008 Through Summer 2020

  1. A Degree Application (with correct completion and diploma dates) filed in the Office of the Registrar one year prior to the anticipated graduation date.
  2. Senior graduation check completed the semester before the planned semester of graduation.
  3. An officially declared and successfully completed Major Program.
  4. BLS Committee approval of a special major (and any later changes in the major) as evidenced by an approved degree plan and appropriate follow-up paperwork.
  5. At least 120 valid credits earned.
  6. At least a 2.00 grade-point average in the Major Program (UMW coursework) and at least a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average for all UMW coursework.
  7. Successful completion of all General Education Distribution Area requirements:
    1. Quantitative Reasoning: 3 credits
    2. Natural Science: 4 credits
    3. Quantitative Reasoning or Natural Science: 3 credits
    4. Human Experience and Society: 6 credits
    5. Global Inquiry: 3 credits
    6. Arts, Literature & Performance: 6 credits
  8. Successful completion of the Across-the-Curriculum Requirements:
    1. Writing Intensive: 9 credits
    2. Speaking Intensive: 3 credits
  9. No more than 20% pass/fail courses in all, provided the courses are not transfer courses or general education/major courses.
  10. Pass/fail courses used only as electives.
  11. No more than 6 credits in PHYD.
  12. No more than 8 credits in theater practicum, THEA 390 Theatre Practicum .
  13. No more than 8 credits in debate practicum, COMM 481 Policy Debate Practicum, COMM 482 Public Debate Practicum
  14. No more than 7 repeated courses (for courses in which the original grade was C-, D+, D, F, or FA). Only 2 repeats per semester.
  15. At least 30 resident credits at UMW.
  16. At least 15 major credits at UMW.
  17. No more than 30 credits for a Life/Work Portfolio submitted within one year of successfully completing BLST 101 Portfolio Development and before the maximum of 90 transfer credits reached.
  18. No more than 30 credits total in alternative credit testing (i.e., DANTES, CLEP, etc.).
  19. No more than 30 military-based credits.
  20. No more than 12 credits (combined total) in internship and supervised teaching.
  21. No more than 12 credits of individual instruction in music counted in the required 120 credits, and no more than 10 credits in music ensemble courses (orchestra, chorus, ensemble).

Requirements For Students Matriculating Fall 2020 And Beyond

  1. A Degree Application (with correct completion and diploma dates) filed in the Office of the Registrar one year prior to the anticipated graduation date.
  2. Senior graduation check completed the semester before the planned semester of graduation.
  3. An officially declared and successfully completed Major Program.
  4. BLS Committee approval of a special major (and any later changes in the major) as evidenced by an approved degree plan and appropriate follow-up paperwork.
  5. At least 120 valid credits earned.
  6. At least a 2.00 grade-point average in the Major Program (UMW coursework) and at least a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average for all UMW coursework.
  7. Completion of one Writing Intensive (WI) course and one Speaking Intensive (SI) course taken in the major.
  8. Successful completion of all General Education requirements:
    1. FOUNDATIONS
      1. Three courses designated Writing Intensive (WI) in addition to the one course required in the major
      2. One course designated Speaking Intensive (SI) in addition to the one course required in the major
    2. METHODS OF INVESTIGATION
      1. Arts and Literature - one course
      2. Humanities - one course
      3. Natural Science - one course that includes a laboratory
      4. Quantitative Reasoning - one course
      5. Social Science - one course
      6. Three additional courses from at least two different methods of investigation
    3. CONNECTIONS
      1. Digital Intensive - one course designated Digital Intensive (DI) that is not being used to satisfy any of the Methods of Investigation requirements.
      2. Diverse and Global Perspectives - one course designated Diverse and Global Perspective (DGP) that is not being used to satisfy any of the Methods of Investigation requirements.
  9. No more than 20% pass/fail courses in all, provided the courses are not transfer courses or general education/major courses.
  10. Pass/fail courses used only as electives.
  11. No more than 6 credits in PHYD.
  12. No more than 8 credits in theater practicum, THEA 390 Theatre Practicum .
  13. No more than 8 credits in debate practicum (COMM 481 Policy Debate PracticumCOMM 482 Public Debate Practicum).
  14. No more than 7 repeated courses (for courses in which the original grade was C-, D+, D, F, or FA). Only 2 repeats per semester.
  15. At least 30 resident credits at UMW.
  16. At least 15 major credits at UMW.
  17. No more than 30 credits for a life/work portfolio submitted within one year of successfully completing BLST 101 Portfolio Development and before the maximum of 90 transfer credits reached.
  18. No more than 30 credits total in alternative credit testing (i.e., DANTES, CLEP, etc.).
  19. No more than 30 military-based credits.
  20. No more than 12 credits (combined total) in internship and supervised teaching.
  21. No more than 12 credits of individual instruction in music counted in the required 120 credits, and no more than 10 credits in music ensemble courses (orchestra, chorus, ensemble).