Degree Requirements

32 Academic Units are required for Graduation. Courses can meet multiple requirements based on the attributes they carry but can generally only count toward one requirement. 1 unit equals 4 credits.

PE Courses and Co-Curricular Courses do not carry academic credit. Some majors and minors may require participation in non-credit brown bags, colloquia, or lectures.

Grades of 2.0 or better are required for all course requirements. Courses with grades between 1.0 and 1.7 count toward Residency and as electives toward the 32 units for graduation.

Degree Requirements

1. Emily Balch Seminar
   The Emily Balch Seminar (EMLY B001) must be completed in the first semester with a grade of 2.0 or better.
2. Quantitative Requirement
   Successful completion of the Quantitative Readiness assessment or QUAN B001, AND one unit to meet the Quantitative and Mathematical Reasoning requirement (QM).
3. Power, Inequity, and Justice Requirement
   One unit in a course designated PIJ. PIJ courses can double count toward an Approach to Inquiry
4. Approaches to Inquiry Requirement
   Before the start of the senior year, each student must have completed, with grades of 2.0 or higher, one unit in each of the following Approaches to Inquiry:
   1. Scientific Investigation (SI) - understanding the natural world by testing hypotheses against observational evidence.
   2. Critical Interpretation (CI) - critically interpreting works such as texts, objects, artistic creations, and performances,
      through a process of close reading.
   3. Cross Cultural Analysis (CC) - analyzing the variety of societal systems and patterns of behavior across space.
   4. Inquiry into the Past (IP) - inquiring into the development and transformation of human experience over time.
5. Foreign Language Requirement
   Before the start of the senior year, each student must complete, with a grade of 2.0 or higher, two units of foreign language. Courses that fulfill this requirement must be taught in the foreign language; they cannot be taught in translation. Students may fulfill the requirement by completing two sequential semester-long courses in one language, either at the elementary level or at the intermediate level.
6. Major Subject Sequence Requirement.
   Students declare a major in the Sophomore year before completing 16 units. Majors average from 11-13 courses. Some majors include non-course requirements.  Students may declare a major at Bryn Mawr or Haverford. 
7. Residency Requirement
   Students must complete at least 6 full-time semesters and earn a minimum of 24 units at Bryn Mawr. Courses taken at Haverford, Swarthmore, and Penn during the academic year are included in those 24 units.
8. Physical Education Requirement
   The physical education (PE) requirement has three parts:
   • Successful completion of the THRIVE seminar in the first semester
   • Swim proficiency
   • 3 credits of PE electives
9. Elective units of work to complete an undergraduate program.

Thirty-two units of work are required for the A.B. degree.

These must include:

• One Emily Balch Seminar.
• One unit to meet the Quantitative and Mathematical Reasoning Requirement [QM] (preceded by the successful completion of the Quantitative Readiness Assessment or Quantitative Readiness Seminar)
• Two units to satisfy the Foreign Language Requirement
  • Before the start of the senior year, each student must complete, with a grade of 2.0 or higher, two units of foreign language. Courses that fulfill this requirement must be taught in the foreign language; they cannot be taught in translation. Students may fulfill the requirement by completing two sequential semester-long courses in one language, either at the elementary level or at the intermediate level.
• Four units to meet the Distribution Requirement.
  • Before the start of the senior year, each student must have completed, with grades of 2.0 or higher, one unit in each of the following Approaches to Inquiry:
    • Scientific Investigation (SI)
    • Critical Interpretation (CI)
    • Cross Cultural Analysis (CC)
    • Inquiry into the Past (IP)
  • Although some courses may be classified as representing more than one Approach to Inquiry, a student may use any given course to satisfy only one of the four Approaches.
    Only one course within the major department may be used to satisfy both the distribution requirement and the requirements of the major. No more than one course in any given department may be used to satisfy distribution requirements.
• A major subject sequence.
• Elective units of work to complete an undergraduate program.

In addition, all students must complete six credits of physical education, including wellness, successfully complete a swim proficiency requirement and meet the residency requirement.

• Students interested in submatriculating, should first talk with the program advisor listed here as early possible.
• Students can not submatriculate until they have a declared major in their sophomore year, and some programs do not allow submatriculation until the junior year.
• Once you have decided and are eligible, please complete this form as you are applying.
• Once you are accepted, we will also need a copy of your program acceptance letter. It must include your intended start date.

Students entering 3+2 program or other sequence enrollment programs should check in with the Registrar’s Office about the process for your program and graduation.

More information about Bryn Mawr's A.B./B.S. dual degrees can be found here.

For students submatriculating into a Penn program, additional information for concurrent enrollment can be found here:

• BMC Undergrads can only enroll in Penn graduate courses if they are officially submatriculated into a graduate program.
• BMC Undergrads take all courses during the academic year through the Quaker Consortium.  Under the QC students pay their home institution for all courses taken.  Students would not be billed by Penn until they graduate from BMC and fully matriculate into the Penn grad program.
• Once submatriculated, Bryn Mawr students may not take courses outside of their submatriculation curriculum. 
• To register for your Penn courses each semester, a screenshot from the student’s Path@Penn “course details" screen which includes the full name and course number and a checkmark confirming that you're registered. 
• Once the student is a senior in their final term, we must get confirmation from Penn course faculty that they will be able to meet the senior grade deadline so that the student may graduate on time. 
• As a reminder, Bryn Mawr students must follow all Bryn Mawr student rules, and as always, the Honor Code applies.  Any questions about policies should be directed to the Bryn Mawr Registrar’s Office.

If you are interested in completing a bachelor's degree and master's degree in a shortened timeline, Bryn Mawr offers a number of opportunities through its Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research and its Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. 

Learn more about the A.B./M.A.

Learn more about the A.B./M.S.S.