General Requirements for a Baccalaureate Degree
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.),
Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.), Bachelor of Music Education (B.Mus.Ed.)
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.00 and
a 2.25 grade point average in one’s major. The major GPA includes
all courses required in the major and all electives taken for the major.
- A minimum of 122 semester credit hours. Of these,
the following must be taken in programs that meet Bethel residency requirements
(see Office of the Registrar or Office of Off-Campus Programs/International
Studies):
- at least 28 of the last 35 credits,
- at least half of the credits
used to meet the requirements of the major,
- a Contemporary Christian
Issues course, and
- a minimum of three semester credit hours
in General Education Bible and theology courses.
- At least three interim sessions (minimum of
3 credits per interim). Students are strongly encouraged to take an interim
course each of their first three years, so as to retain maximum flexibility
for completing all requirements in the senior year.
- A minimum of 51-52 credits of General Education,
distributed as indicated on the charts on the following pages.
- Artistic Experience: One activity in the arts,
in addition to the course GES125 Introduction to the Creative Arts. Options
are available in music, art, theatre, and the writing of poetry and fiction,
including participation in a music performance group or theatrical production.
Options for credit are indicated by an A in
course numbers. A list of noncredit options is maintained by the registrar.
- Cross-cultural: Students must have a significant,
off-campus cross-cultural experience. This requirement can be met by
participating in an approved, non-credit experience or by taking a course.
Options for credit are indicated by a Z in
course numbers.
- Completion of the requirements of a major (listed
by department in this catalog).
- A minimum of 37 credits at the upper-division
level (300 and 400).
- Demonstration of basic competencies in:
- Writing: One
course is designated in each major, in addition to the required College
Writing course and a writing emphasis in Comparative Systems and Contemporary
Christian Issues courses.
- Speaking: One
upper-division course is designated in each major, in addition to required
speaking assignments in the Nature of Persons and Contemporary Christian
Issues courses.
- Computing: As
Bethel faculty increase the applications of computing to regular courses
in each major, student knowledge of basic uses in their fields will
be required. Elective computer literacy courses and noncredit workshops
on general skills are available regularly. Students are encouraged
to bring their personal computers with them to campus.
- Completion of
departmental and institutional assessment activities.
- Upon completion of program, participation in
commencement ceremonies is expected.