2026-2027 Academic Catalog

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

All undergraduate degrees at James Madison University are designed to be completed in four years.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

To meet requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree, students must meet both a philosophy and foreign language requirement. If a student uses a course to satisfy a General Education requirement, they may not also use that same course to satisfy a Bachelor of Arts Degree requirement. See the Registrar's website for more information.

General Education requirement 141
Foreign language requirement 20-12
Philosophy requirement 33
Major requirements and university electives62-76
Total Credits120
1

The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some General Education requirements may be fulfilled by requirements within a student's major.

2

The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student's chosen language (typically 232), or by placing out of that language through the Department of World Languages and Cultures placement test.

3

Any PHIL course except PHIL 120 or PHIL 150, provided that course has not been applied towards General Education requirements. Consult the list of courses satisfying Bachelor of Arts degree requirements on the Registrar's website.

Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)

General Education requirement 141
B.B.A. core courses45-46
Major requirements and university electives24-46
Total Credits120
1

The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some General Education requirements may be fulfilled by requirements within a student's major.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)

General Education requirement 141
Core program – art courses24
Art emphasis courses54
Electives1
Total Credits120
1

The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some General Education requirements may be fulfilled by requirements within a student's major.

Bachelor of Individualized Study (B.I.S.)

General Education requirement 141
Major requirements30
Electives49
Total Credits120
1

The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some General Education requirements may be fulfilled by requirements within a student's major.

Bachelor of Music (B.M.)

General Education requirement 141
Core music program courses30
Major concentration courses and electives43-59
Total Credits120-128
1

The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some General Education requirements may be fulfilled by requirements within a student's major.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

To meet requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree, students must meet both a scientific literacy and quantitative requirement. If a student uses a course to satisfy a General Education requirement, they may not also use that same course to satisfy a Bachelor of Science Degree requirement. See the Registrar's website for more information.

General Education requirement 141
Quantitative requirement 23
Scientific literacy requirement 23-4
Major requirements and electives73-77
Total Credits120
1

The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some General Education requirements may be fulfilled by requirements within a student's major.

2

In addition to General Education. Consult the list of courses satisfying Bachelor of Science degree requirements on the Registrar's website.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)

General Education requirement 141
Prerequisites, nursing major requirements and electives79
Total Credits120
1

The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some General Education requirements may be fulfilled by requirements within a student's major.

Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.)

General Education requirement 141
Core program – social work courses44
Social work electives6
Electives29
Total Credits120
1

The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some General Education requirements may be fulfilled by requirements within a student's major.