The Bachelor of Arts curriculum consists of the Pathways general education curriculum, the major (at least 24 credits), and elective credits for a total of 120 credits. Included in this total are 9-11 credits of additional requirements (see below), which constitute the Weissman Core. A minimum of ninety (90) credits must be in arts and sciences courses and a minimum C (2.00) average – cumulative, and in the major, are required for graduation.

There is no GPA requirement for College Option courses, but in order to graduate with the liberal arts minor, a student must have a grade point average of at least 2.00 in the three courses that make up his or her minor. The liberal arts minor cannot be within the same area of study as the major. This is also true for students who are required to complete part of the minor for the College Option. The same course cannot be applied to both a student’s major and minor.

At least 60 percent of the credits in the major must be taken at Baruch. Transfer students must meet all degree requirements and take a minimum of 30 credits at Baruch.

WEISSMAN CORE

The three courses forming the Weissman Core are required for all students completing a BA or BS degree within the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences.

Communication Skills (3 credits)

COM 1010 Speech Communication

Foreign Language: two courses (6-8 credits of the same language)

Students may not use proficiency and/or exemption exams to satisfy this requirement. Baruch College does not award any credits based on the Jerusalem Exam.

Placement Information:
Students should review the guidelines below, and see a faculty advisor in the Department of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature to confirm proper placement if they intend to continue a language to which they have prior exposure.  Students have the option of taking a placement exam to ensure that they are placed at the correct level.

Please consult the Department of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature for assistance

Students who entered Baruch before Fall 2013 follow the Baruch Common Core.

These students must also complete the following requirements for the BA degree:

Tier I: Communication and Quantitative Skills

Foreign Language: two courses (6-8 credits)

Please see above for placement options

Tier II: Natural Sciences (4 credits in addition to the 4 credits of the common core)

This second laboratory science course must be in a different area from the one taken to fulfill the common core requirement. For this purpose, ENV and BIO courses are considered to be in the same area.

Cultural Studies (3 credits)

One course must be chosen from ONE of the following areas:

Asian and Asian American Studies (AAS)

Black Studies (BLS)

Jewish Studies (JWS)

Latin American Studies (LACS)

Latino Studies (LTS)

Non-Arts and Sciences Courses in Bachelor of Arts Degree

The Bachelor of Arts degree requires that 75 percent (90 out of 120) of the credits toward the degree will be designated arts and sciences courses. Students may include up to 30 elective credits of non-arts and sciences courses.

Double Majors

Students in the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences who wish to complete double majors within the arts and sciences disciplines must file two separate major/specialization forms. Check here.

Second Degrees

Students may earn a second baccalaureate degree provided that they complete 30 additional credits at Baruch, that they meet all the requirements for the Baruch BA degree, and that they choose an entirely new major. None of the courses in the second major can have previously been applied to the major.