The Bachelor of Arts curriculum consists of the Pathways general education curriculum, the major, and elective credits for a total of 120 credits. Included in this total are 9-11 credits of additional requirements (see below), which constitute the pre-Weissman Core. A total of at least 120 credits and a minimum C (2.0) average – cumulative, in the major, and in the minor (if completed)– are required for graduation. A minimum of ninety (90) credits must be in arts and sciences courses.
At least 60 percent of the credits in the major must be taken at Baruch. Transfer students must meet all degree requirements and take a minimum of at least 30 credits at Baruch.
PRE-WEISSMAN CORE
The three courses forming the Pre-Weissman Core must be completed before a student is allowed to declare a major in the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences.
Communication Skills (3 credits)
COM 1010 Speech Communication
Foreign Language: two courses (6-8 credits)
Students who have studied a foreign language in high school for fewer than three years must take one year of language as follows:
- If only one year of a language was taken in high school, the student must take two semesters of elementary or intermediate language.
- If two years of a language were taken in high school, the student must take two semesters of intermediate or advanced language or take two semesters of a new language on the elementary level.
Students who have studied a foreign language in high school for three years must choose one of the following options:
- Continue the language on an intermediate or advanced level for one semester and take one literature course in the target language
- Continue the language on an intermediate or advanced level for two semesters
- Start a new language on the elementary level for two semesters
Students who have studied a foreign language in high school for 31⁄2 or more years must choose one of the following options:
- Take 6 credits of literature in the target language
- Continue the high school language on the advanced level for two semesters
- Take one semester of advanced foreign language and one literature course in the target language
- Take two semesters of a new language.
Students have the option of taking a placement exam to ensure that they are placed at the correct level.
Declaring a Liberal Arts Major
To officially declare a major in the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, a student must be registered at Baruch College, must complete the Pre-Weissman Core and must have established an overall GPA of at least 2.0. A minimum of 60% of the credits in the major must be completed at Baruch College.
Major/Specialization Forms
Every student who wishes to purse a major in the Weissman School must complete a Major/Specialization Form, ideally before the end of the junior year. The form is completed in consultation with a faculty advisor in the major department. Once the major form is signed by the faculty advisor, the department submits it to the Office of the Associate Dean for school approval.
Double Majors
Weissman School of Arts and Sciences students wishing to complete double majors must file two separate major/specialization forms, each with the appropriate department advisor's signature. The Office of the Associate Dean then approves the two major forms. Please note that both majors must be in Weissman departments.
A double major will appear on a student's transcript only if the courses listed on both forms are completed at the time of graduation. Students who want to combine courses from two disciplines into a single major should consider the Arts and Sciences ad hoc major option. Students who want to combine a discipline at Baruch College with another at a different senior college should consider the CUNY BA option.
Students who have entered Baruch in spring 2015 or later, and who complete two majors, are waived from College Option requirements other than Great Works of Literature (ENG/CMP 2800 or ENG/CMP 2850).