Undergraduate Programs and Degrees
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General Considerations
The University of Puget Sound, as an academic community, is dedicated to the pursuit and exchange of ideas, emphasizing the mission and educational goals of the University. It promotes the growth of individuals in their personal and professional aspects, fostering both critical thinking and self-reflection. The University’s curriculum aims to provide a comprehensive liberal arts education, which includes specialization in a field, development of writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills, cultivation of creativity, understanding of contemporary issues, and an expanded view of human cultures and histories. This education equips individuals to confidently engage with ideas, face career challenges, and navigate the complexities of modern life. The curricular requirements are the foundational minimum of a liberal education, with advisors encouraging students to build on the essentials of the curriculum and to explore and broaden their knowledge through diverse fields of study.
Educational Goals for the University
A student completing the undergraduate curriculum will be able to
think critically and creatively;
communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing;
develop and apply knowledge both independently and collaboratively;
and will have developed
familiarity with diverse fields of knowledge and the ability to draw connections among them;
a solid grounding in the field of the student’s choosing;
understanding of self, others, and influence in the world; and
an informed and thoughtful sense of justice and a commitment to ethical action.
Curriculum Overview
Graduation Requirements & Curriculum Statement — Overview
Details on the first three of these requirements follow this overview. To receive the baccalaureate degree from the University of Puget Sound, a student must do the following:
Complete University Core Requirements. Specific courses satisfying core requirements are listed on Puget Sound’s website and in the Bulletin. Specific courses applicable to the core will fulfill core requirements only during the semester(s) that they are officially listed in a Bulletin as fulfilling core. Courses taken credit/no credit will not fulfill core requirements.
Two first-year seminars: one Connections course at the 100-level and one Critical Conversations Seminar (CCS) in writing and speaking,
Experiential Learning core,
Knowledge, Identity, and Power core (two KNOW courses; at least one at the 300-400 level),
Two Connections classes above the 100-level, and
Language requirement
Complete the Divisional Requirement, which requires a one-unit* academic course in each Division. Courses taken credit/no credit will not fulfill Divisional requirements. To satisfy the Divisional Requirement, students must have:
Satisfied the Arts & Humanities Division Requirement,
Satisfied the Social Science & History Division Requirement, and
Satisfied the Natural Science & Math Division Requirement
Complete the requirements for a Major field of study. Additional majors and/or minors are options for the student. Courses taken credit/no credit will not fulfill major requirements.
Earn a minimum of 32 units. The 32 units may include up to 4 academic units graded credit/no credit, up to 2 units in activity courses, and up to 4 units of independent study (see regulations regarding grading options, transfer credit, and activity credit in the Academic & Administrative Policies section).
A minimum of 16 units must be earned in residence at the University of Puget Sound. Residence requirements also exist in core, majors, minors, and graduation honors. (See also the section on study abroad.) Credit from approved study abroad programs is considered to be in residence credit.
A minimum of 6 of the last 8 units must be earned in residence at the University of Puget Sound. Credit from approved study abroad programs is considered to be residence credit.
Complete all incomplete or in-progress grades. All coursework must be finished by the last day of the graduation term.
Maintain a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 2.00 in all graded courses taken at Puget Sound, including transfer courses, and in the major(s) and the minor(s), if a minor is elected.
File an application for graduation with the Office of the Registrar. Applications are due in the Fall term for graduation at the end of the next Spring, Summer, or Fall terms.
*0.67 unit minimum for transfer students.