Major and Minor Requirements
For most degree programs, students select one major and one minor OR two major fields of study. Under option one, the major and minor may not be in the same discipline. Specific requirements for majors and minors are listed at the beginning of the course descriptions for the departments of instruction.
Some departments offer concentrations or specializations that may be employed to complete the minor requirement but may be open only to students who have completed particular major fields of study. A student should consult the catalog or his or her faculty advisor regarding the viability of selecting a concentration or specialization to fulfill the minor requirement.
Students must declare the major(s) and minor fields selected upon the completion of 60 credit hours. Courses in which grades below “C-” have been earned are not acceptable toward either a major or minor.
Double Major
Coursework taken for one major may not count toward a second major.
Minor
A minor area of study must be comprised of no fewer than 15 semester hours. Coursework taken for the minor may not count for any other major or minor. This does not apply to Biology majors seeking a Chemistry minor, since some graduate and professional programs suggest this combination. This also does not apply to Pre-Law majors seeking a Philosophy minor since many law schools seek this combination.
Interdisciplinary Studies
Interdisciplinary Major
In lieu of a specific program listed in the catalog, a student may elect a student-designed interdisciplinary major. Such programs of study composed of courses selected from the curricula of two or more departments of instruction may require no fewer than 50 semester hours and no more than 63 semester hours; 42 hours must be at upper-level designation. Interdisciplinary majors do not require completion of a minor field of study. A total of at least 75 credit hours must be taken at PBA, inclusive of the courses in the interdisciplinary major.
The proposal must be approved prior to the end of the student’s first semester as a junior. A grade point average of 3.0 or higher and a narrative justification for the inclusion of courses from two or more departments of instruction are required.
Interdisciplinary Minor
Also, in lieu of a minor in a specific program listed in the catalog, a student may elect a student-designed Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies. Such a minor will be composed of courses from at least two different departments. The following regulations apply:
- In order to allow both breadth and depth, such a minor requires a minimum of 20 credit hours.
- A Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies must be created and approved in advance of taking the majority of the courses, so that it is a planned coherent program of study and not just a collection of courses gathered together at the last minute. In the process of designing the minor, the student must submit a rationale for the minor along with the list of courses to be taken.
- To assure coherency, relevancy, and academic integrity, the student must obtain, at a minimum, the approval of the student’s advisor, major department, and Dean of the School in which the student’s major resides. If deemed necessary by the Dean, he/she may request input from other departments and schools.
Procedure for Gaining Approval
The student must complete an Interdisciplinary Studies Request form available on myPBA or in the Office of the Registrar. The student and department representative(s) develop the proposed curriculum for the Interdisciplinary Major or Minor. Upon approval of the departments represented and the Dean(s) of the School(s), the student must submit the request form with the proposed interdisciplinary curriculum to the Office of the Registrar. The Registrar determines whether the plan conforms to graduation requirements. After receiving approval from the Office of the Registrar, the student may submit the proposed plan to the Office of the Provost for final approval.
Selection of Catalog for Determining Degree Requirements
An undergraduate student in attendance at Palm Beach Atlantic University may elect to meet the graduation requirements in effect at Palm Beach Atlantic University either at the time the student began attending (catalog at first registration), when he/she officially changes his/her major and submits a Declaration or Change of Major/Minor form to the Office of the Registrar, or the requirements outlined at the year of graduation (current catalog). Students may elect a newly-created major at any point in their attendance at Palm Beach Atlantic University. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the Office of the Registrar of changes to his/ her degree program or catalog year via the Declaration or Change of Major/Minor form. The catalog year for a minor will be determined by the student’s academic advisor and noted on the Declaration/Change in Major or Minor form submitted to the Registrar.
Students enrolled prior to the 2008-2009 academic year requesting a change of major will be permitted to graduate under the pre-2008 General Education Program (formerly Unified Studies Program).
Substitutions for discontinued courses may be authorized or required by the major department or appropriate school. A student has seven years from the date of his or her first registration at Palm Beach Atlantic University to complete his or her degree under the catalog in effect at the date of first registration. Students who continue in attendance beyond the seventh year may elect to meet the graduation requirements of the catalog in effect in the eighth year of attendance or the catalog in effect at the year of graduation.
“In attendance” is defined as enrollment in at least 12 credit hours for one semester within a 12-month period. An approved leave of absence shall not be considered an interruption in attendance. If a student is not in attendance for more than two consecutive semesters and, then, re-enters the university, the student is subject to the graduation requirements at the time of re-entering. |