J - General Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees

Candidates for undergraduate degrees must fulfill the following requirements. (See the College of Graduate Studies section for the requirements for graduate degrees. See the College of Law section for the requirements for the degree of Juris Doctor.)

J-1. Credit Requirements

J-1-a. Minimum Credits for Baccalaureate Degrees

Students must have earned a minimum of 120 credits to be granted a baccalaureate degree and a minimum of 60 credits to be granted an associate degree from the University of Idaho. Some programs require a higher minimum. For the minimum number of credits required in each degree program, see the major curricula of the various degree-granting units in the individual departmental section.

J-1-b. Minimum Upper-Division Credits for Baccalaureate Degrees

A minimum of 36 credits in upper-division courses (numbered 3000 or above) is required for a baccalaureate degree.

J-1-c. Up to 6 credits of institutional coursework numbered 400 or higher, with a grade of B or higher, used towards a baccalaureate degree may also be used towards a graduate degree with the approval of the student’s major professor.

J-2. Residency Requirements

A baccalaureate student must earn a minimum of 30 upper-division credits in U of I courses.  An associate student must earn a minimum of 15 credits in U of I courses. No credits awarded for alternative credit opportunities (see regulation I) or non-U of I sponsored independent study courses can be counted among these U of I credits. Study abroad and student exchange credits may be counted toward this requirement with prior approval by the student's academic department and dean.

J-3. General Education Curriculum and Learning Outcomes

This section is pending changes and will be finalized by July 1st, 2025.

First-year baccalaureate and associate degree-seeking students (see Admissions Status) are to complete the University of Idaho General Education curriculum. A university education is a preparation both for living and for making a living. It offers an opportunity not only to lay the foundations of a career, but also to develop the mind to its highest potential, to cultivate the imagination as well as the power to reason, and to gain the intellectual curiosity that makes education a life-long enterprise. See the University Learning Outcomes for more information.

A student working toward a baccalaureate or associate degree must complete the necessary coursework in the seven categories described below (J-3-a through J-3-h). This requirement is to be satisfied by earning a total of 36 credits and meeting the minimum number of credits specified for each category. (Transfer students have two options for fulfilling this requirement; these are described under "General Education Requirements for Transfer Students" in the Undergraduate Admission section of this catalog). University of Idaho general education courses accepted as transferable as general education courses to other Idaho state-funded institutions are listed as General Education Matriculated - (GEM) courses in the General Catalog. Courses that fulfill requirements in each category are reviewed each year and the list is updated in the Spring. Students and advisors are encouraged to check the list when it is published in the spring to be aware of any additional courses that have been added to meet specific requirements. Courses that are approved to satisfy a general education requirement can be used to satisfy those requirements even if the course is completed prior to being approved as a general education course.

Note: Remedial courses may not be used to satisfy any of this requirement. Degree-seeking students must be enrolled in ENGL 1101, ENGL 1101P, or ENGL 1102 in their first semester in residence and in each subsequent semester until they have passed ENGL 1102. They must also be enrolled in MATH 1080 or in a course that meets the general education requirement in mathematics, statistics, or computer science in their first year in residence and in each subsequent semester until the general education requirement in mathematics, statistics, or computer science has been satisfied.

J-4. Grade Requirements

To qualify for an undergraduate degree, a candidate must have a U of I grade-point average of 2.00 or better. See exceptions under E-4 and E-5.

J-5. Credit Limitations

A candidate may count toward an undergraduate degree no more than:

J-5-a. Thirty credits earned in Experiential Learning and Technical Competency for a baccalaureate degree and fifteen credits for an associate degree (see regulation I-2-b and I-2-c).

J-5-b. Twelve credits earned under the pass-fail option for a baccalaureate degree and six credits for an associate degree (see regulation B-11).

J-5-c. Zero credits in remedial-level courses.

J-5-d. Zero credits earned in Professional Development courses.

J-6. Assignment of Curricular Requirements (Catalog Issue)

In addition to fulfilling the general university requirements for degrees, candidates for baccalaureate or associate degrees must satisfy the particular requirements specified for their curricula. The pertinent requirements are those contained in the most recent U of I catalog issue that was in effect at the time of, or subsequent to, the candidate's initial enrollment as a degree-seeking student at U of I. The earliest catalog issue available to students readmitted as a degree-seeking student at the U of I is the most recent catalog at the time of re-enrollment. A catalog issue is valid for a maximum of seven years from its effective date. The effective date of a catalog issue is the first Monday following spring graduation.

J-7. Concurrent and Subsequent Baccalaureate Degrees

J-7-a. Concurrent Degrees

A student may concurrently pursue degrees in one or more colleges. For exceptions to this rule, see General Studies. In addition to the university requirements, students must fulfill the departmental and college requirements for all degrees. 

J-7-b. Subsequent Degrees

Students who have earned a baccalaureate degree and who wish to complete the requirements for a subsequent degree must earn at least 15 credits as an undergraduate student after completion of the previous baccalaureate degree, and they must fulfill the university, departmental, and college requirements for the second degree. For exceptions to this regulation, see General Studies.

J-8. Degree with Double Major

Students may complete two different majors (curricula) offered under a particular baccalaureate degree and have both majors shown on their academic records and diplomas, e.g., Bachelor of Arts with majors in history and political science. In addition to the university requirements, students must fulfill the departmental and college requirements for all majors. Each of the majors must lead to the same degree. When majors leading to different degrees are involved, see the requirements applicable to the awarding of a concurrent baccalaureate degree (J-7-a).

J-9. Academic Minors

J-9-a. Academic Minors

An academic minor is a prescribed course of study consisting of 18 or more credits which supplements an undergraduate major at the University of Idaho. For descriptions of minor curricula, see the programs of the degree-granting units in the individual departmental section. In the following paragraphs of J-9, "minor" denotes "academic minor," which is to be distinguished from "teaching minor"; for information on the latter, see the Department of Curriculum and Instruction section.

J-9-b. Multiple Minors

A baccalaureate degree seeking student may pursue one or more minors in addition to a major by filing with the registrar a declaration of intention to do so. Completion of a minor is required only if specified by the degree-granting unit, but any minor completed is recorded on the student's academic record.

J-9-c. Transfer Credit

Transfer credits may be applied to a minor; however, at least 9 credits of those completing the minor’s requirements must be in U of I courses. Similar to the residency requirements for a baccalaureate degree in J-2, no credits awarded for non-U of I sponsored independent study courses, bypassed courses (see I-2-d), credit by examination (see I-1-a, I-1-c, or I-2-a), College Level Examination Program (CLEP – see I-2-b), or experiential learning (see I-2-b) can be counted among these 9 U of I credits. Study abroad and student exchange credits may be counted toward this requirement with prior approval by the student’s academic department and dean.

J-9-d. Minor-Only

A student may complete an undergraduate minor even though they have already earned a baccalaureate degree at the University of Idaho. If the sole objective is to complete an undergraduate minor, the student should declare a “Minor-Only” curriculum in the department offering the minor. Students who declare a minor-only curriculum are not eligible for financial aid funds (see the Student Financial Aid Services section).