Secondary Majors and Concurrent and Second Baccalaureate Degrees

Secondary Majors

Secondary majors offer the opportunity to earn one baccalaureate degree in one program supplemented by a rich intellectual experience in a second field of specialization outside that primary program.  The “secondary major” offers the option of studying two subjects from two different degree programs while earning a baccalaureate degree in the first major without the requirement of earning a second baccalaureate degree in the secondary major.

Specifically, this option allows a student from one degree program to earn a secondary major from a participating department within a different program by fulfilling the requirements (normally 40–45 quarter hours) set forth by that participating department but without requiring students to complete additional courses that comprise that other program’s core curriculum.  Through the secondary major option, upon graduation, a student earns one baccalaureate degree from DU (through the fulfillment of all requirements from the student’s primary degree program).  Although that student will not be awarded a second degree, the student’s transcript will reflect that he or she earned a secondary major in that second area of study.

As an illustration, if a BS in computer science student wishes to earn a secondary major in philosophy, he or she will need to satisfy all of the requirements of both the BS degree in computer science and the secondary major in philosophy.  The student will graduate with a “BS in Computer Science.” The transcript will note that the student earned a BS degree in Computer Science with a Secondary Major in Philosophy.

A current list of secondary majors may be found under the Degrees and Programs of Study section.

Concurrent Baccalaureate Degree

Students who wish to pursue two separate undergraduate degrees simultaneously should request an approval form from the Center for Academic and Career Development. A concurrent degree is different than a double major where the majors are within the same degree. Students must work with advisors in both degree areas to establish an academic plan for completing requirements for both degrees. Students should submit the form and their academic plan to the registrar’s office for final approval.

A student who wants to pursue concurrent undergraduate degrees must complete the following:

• a minimum of 228 quarter hours (Note: Certain degrees may require additional hours.)
• all University requirements for both degrees (Common Curriculum requirements need only be completed once, but any unique requirements for each degree program must be met)
• major and minor requirements as defined by the appropriate departments and schools
• academic good standing at the time of graduation (GPA of 2.0 or higher as required by the degree programs)

Second Baccalaureate Degree

A student with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university who wants to earn a second bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver must meet normal admission requirements and complete the following:

• residence requirement of at least 45 quarter hours (one year of full-time study)
• major and minor requirements as defined by the appropriate departments and schools
• undergraduate degree requirements
• academic good standing (GPA of 2.0 or higher) at the time of graduation (Note: The accounting program requires a higher GPA.)

• At least 50 percent of the required credits for the major and the minor must be completed at the University of Denver.

Courses taken for the first degree may apply as part of the University of Denver undergraduate requirements for the second degree. Courses previously taken and now being applied to the major or minor are allowed with permission of the chair of the appropriate department. In general, courses used for a minor in the first degree may be built on for a major in the second degree. However, the major in the first degree cannot count as a minor for the second.

Possession of a bachelor’s degree does not automatically fulfill the common degree requirements as defined by the University.