Double Major Proposal Texas Southern University Adopted by the Board…

Double Major Proposal
Texas Southern University

Adopted by the Board of Regents on August 4, 2006


I. Introduction
        Although only one undergraduate major is required for graduation, students may
        take advantage of the diverse educational opportunities available at the University
        to complete multiple undergraduate majors. Multiple majors may be completed in
        the following ways:

       A. Concurrently pursuing Single Baccalaureate Degree with Multiple
          Majors

           A student may complete more than one major by completing one type of
           baccalaureate degree (e.g., a Bachelor of Arts) and electing to concurrently
           pursue multiple majors of that type degree.


       B. Concurrently Pursuing Multiple Baccalaureate Degrees of Different Types

           A student may complete more than one major by completing one type of
           baccalaureate degree (e.g., a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science) and
           electing to pursue multiple majors with different degree types.

       C. Additional Baccalaureate Degrees and Majors After Graduation

       A student may complete more than one major by completing additional majors
       after receiving a baccalaureate degree by completing additional requirements for
       other undergraduate degrees and majors.

II. Double Majoring at Texas Southern University

   A. Texas Southern University has a policy that permits students to obtain a second
      undergraduate degree and a major. The University's "Second Baccalaureate
      Degree" Policy states that:
      "A student who received a bachelor's degree from Texas Southern University or
      another accredited college or University may Enroll in a Program leading to a
      second degree at the same level provided [1] the major field is different than that
      of the first degree, and [2] the appropriate application for admission or re-
      admission is filed an approved . No honors are awarded for a second
      baccalaureate degree. Students seeking a second baccalaureate degree after
      receiving the first degree must [1] complete a minimum of thirty (30) semester
      hours beyond those applied to the first or previous degree , excluding transfer
      credits and substitutions and in accordance with requirements; [2] meet all
       requirements for earning the second degree, where o course applied toward the
       first degree may be applied toward the second degree, except for university core
       requirements; [3] be in residence for a minimum of two (2) semesters as a full-
       time student if the first or previous degree was not earned at Texas Southern
       University; and [4] achieve a cumulative minimum grade point average of 2.00
       for all hours attempted for the degree. " (2005-2007 Texas Southern University
       Undergraduate Bulletin, p.36)

   A. Texas Southern University does not have a written policy on double majors.

   B. The "Second Baccalaureate Degree" policy is applied to the "concurrent pursuit
      of a double major" at the baccalaureate level as follows:

               Students seeking a double major at the baccalaureate level must meet all
               requirements for earning the second major, where no course applied
               toward the first major may be applied toward the second major, except for
               the core curriculum requirements.

   D. There is presently no provision for "double majors" to be recorded on either the
transcript or the diploma.

III. Proposed Double Major Policy and Related Administrative Procedures

     A. Proposed Double Major Policy

             1. A student may complete one type of baccalaureate degree (e.g., Bachelor
                of Arts of Bachelor of Science) with two majors. All requirements for a
                single degree and two majors must be completed. Courses common to
                both majors (i.e., undergraduate core curriculum requirements and
                common requirements of the majors) may be counted toward the
                requirements of each major. Courses required in one major may be used
                as electives in the other major.

             2. A student may concurrently pursue two majors with degrees of different
                types (e.g., a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science). All
                requirements for both degrees and both majors must be completed.
                Courses common to both degree programs (undergraduate core
                curriculum requirements) may be counted toward the requirements for
                each degree. Courses required in the major of one degree program may
                be used as electives in the major of the other degree program.

             3. Change "Second Baccalaureate Degree" Policy

               From:
                     "Students seeking a second baccalaureate degree after receiving the
               first must... (2) meet all requirements for earning the second degree where
               no course applied toward the first degree may be applied toward the
               second degree, except for university core requirements...



               To:
                 "Students seeking a second baccalaureate degree after receiving the first
               degree must... (2) meet all requirements for earning second degree where
               only the university core requirements and elective courses applied toward
               the major of the first degree may be applied toward the major of the first
               degree may be applied toward the major of the second degree...

For each of the proposals, total credit hours as well as courses required for graduation are
reduced for courses applied to both majors.

     B. Administrative Procedures

             1. Declaring a Double Major

               Students are assigned a single major upon admission to the University
               based on information provided in the application for admission, e.g.,
               mathematics. Students may declare a double major when the admission
               requirements of the second major have been met by completing a change-
               of-major form to incorporate both majors. In case a student has an
               undeclared major, the student must file a declaration of major form that
               will indicate the two majors.

               Students must identify on of the two majors as the primary major on either
               the change-of-major form or declaration of major form. The primary
               major determines (a) the student's academic home of record, (b) the minor
               to be completed, (c) the school/college to receive fees, and (d) graduation-
               related decisions.

               Students should generally apply for the change to a double major during
               the second semester for the sophomore year to allow time to complete
               course for both majors and degrees without significant impact on
               graduation.

             2. Graduating with a Double Major

                       a. Students completing a double major should plan to graduate
                          from the two programs simultaneously.

                       b. Students must satisfy the college/school and major degree
                          requirements for the primary major in effect at the time of
                          admission into the primary major, and the requirements for the
            second major in effect at the time of admission into the second
            major

        c. For degree programs requiring a minor, the minor must be
           completed for the primary major only.

        d. For one degree with a double major, one graduation application
           is filled out and signed by both advisors. For double degrees,
           two separate graduation applications must be submitted.

        e. Students pursuing a double major who complete all degree
           requirements for one major but not the other may graduate with
           a single major by executing a change-of-major form to change
           from "double-"to" single-major" status.

        f. The baccalaureate double major candidate for graduation will
           only participate in the graduation with graduates of the primary
           major, not with graduates of both majors

3. Recording Degrees and Majors on Transcripts and Diplomas

 On the transcript, a double major with the same type degree would read,
 for example, "Bachelor of Science (Accounting; Finance)" or Bachelor of
 Business Administration (Finance; Accounting)". The student will receive
 one diploma that reads "Bachelor of Business Administration. "Majors
 will not be posted on diplomas.

 For double degrees, students will receive two diplomas. In such cases, the
 transcript will read, for example, "Bachelor of Business Administration
 (Finance)" and "Bachelor of Science (Mathematics)". The diplomas will
 read "Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance)" and "Bachelor of
 Science (Mathematics)".