How to Read a Degree Requirements Table

Courses with a UF (University Foundations) prefix introduce a diversity of intellectual pursuits, encourage a critical stance toward learning, and equip you with university-level analytic and communication skills.

This two semester, six-credit sequence provides an introduction to the university’s expectations about academic writing and research. The program is coordinated by the English Department’s First-Year Writing Program. You will be placed in appropriate courses based on test scores.

You must successfully complete a Foundations of Oral Communication (FC) course. FC courses focus on on Oral Communication, providing an introduction to the university’s expectations for effective speaking and listening.

All students are required to take a number of Foundations of the Discipline (FM, FN, FA, FH and FS) courses. These courses are offered by academic departments and designed to expose non-majors to the distinctive methods and perspectives of a disciplinary cluster. The distribution requirements for Foundations of the Discipline courses reflect the belief of the faculty and the Idaho State Board of Education that a major purpose of undergraduate education is to prepare graduates to fulfill the responsibilities of a citizen and to understand and appreciate diverse approaches to information and values. Some departments and programs require specific Foundations of the Discipline courses.

You must successfully complete a Finishing Foundations (FF) capstone course designated by your major department. Finishing Foundations courses range from 1-3 credits and are meant to be taken close to graduation; they are designed to bridge academic knowledge with applications expected by graduates. They emphasize Critical Inquiry, Written and Oral Communication, plus Teamwork and/or Innovation. They are identified with FF in the course description.

Each table will display courses specific to that major. Some will be shown as a single course requirement, or as groups. A group will show a list of courses which are all required, or courses from which you must choose one or more.

All baccalaureate degrees require at least 40 credit hours of upper- division courses. This is not an additional 40 credits, but of the 120 total required for a baccalaureate degree, 40 credits must be 300 level or higher. Some majors fulfill this automatically, but this major does not. So, you may need to take additional upper-division courses chosen from any discipline.

You must complete at least 120 credits for any baccalaureate degree. A few majors fulfill this automatically, but for this most majors you will need to take some additional electives. For restrictions on these elective credits, more information can be found at Catalog: Credit Limitations.