- Communication: the ability to formulate and adapt messages to a variety of audiences through written, verbal, and nonverbal processes.
- Computation: the ability to complete basic algebraic manipulations and achieve mathematical literacy.
- Human Relations: the ability to analyze social problems and structure, ethical norms of professions and society, human behavior, or human values systems.
- Computer Literacy: the ability to utilize a modern computing system including web applications and an office productivity suite to research, develop and produce information in a 21st century society.
- Professional Competency: To ensure all graduates the opportunity to apply specialized skills in a professional environment, it is recommended student complete a program-related internship, field experience, clinical experience, capstone project, or professional certification activity.
Associates of Arts and Associates of Science
A total of 60 credits is required for graduation with the Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees. The minimum grade average for graduation is 2.00 in courses taken on the traditional letter grade (A-F) basis. To receive the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degrees, the student must successfully complete all of the lower-division general education requirements for a baccalaureate degree with the exception of the the language requirement.
Baccalaureate Degrees
A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation with a baccalaureate degree in most academic programs offered at the University of Montana. A greater number is required in some specific programs; students should consult the appropriate catalog section for their program of interest and discuss their plans with an academic advisor.
Students may elect to earn more than one degree or major at the baccalaureate level. Available options include a double major or a dual degree:
- A double major is awarded as one degree with one diploma that may list two or more majors. The graduating student with multiple majors must fulfill the curricular requirements for two or more majors as well as all other requirements for graduation. The two majors must be within a single classification of baccalaureate degree (e.g. Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, etc.). Students may also fulfill requirements for two majors across degree classes. In such cases the student must declare a primary major that determines the type of degree awarded that will be printed on the student's diploma and transcript. The secondary major shall be annotated on the student transcript as completed; however, a second degree is not awarded.
- Dual degrees (or multiple degrees) are awarded as separate degrees with two (or multiple) diplomas (e.g. Bachelor Science and a Bachelor of Arts). The student must fulfill all of the program requirements for each of the separate baccalaureate degrees and must comply with the credit residency requirements for degrees and certificates for each degree. Multiple degrees may be earned concurrently or at different times, but all dual degree graduates must complete a minimum of 150 credits by completing an additional 30 credits for each subsequent baccalaureate degree. However, note that academic residency requirements apply differently for University of Montana graduates versus non-graduates seeking dual or subsequent degrees, so the requirements may differ.
General education requirements need only be met once for either a double major or dual degree.
All majors, minors, degrees, and certificates earned from the University of Montana-Missoula shall be clearly and specifically listed on official transcripts under a single degree or as separate dual/multiple degrees, as appropriate.
Credits Required for a Major
Students in a bachelor degree program must complete a minimum of 30 credits in their major. Most majors require more.
Students may elect to earn a single degree with more than one major. Students may complete a double major (two majors) or any number of majors. All requirements for the majors must be completed even though students will receive a single degree such as a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Psychology and Sociology. It is only necessary to complete the total credit requirement for a single bachelor degree.
Courses completed to satisfy the requirements of a major also may be applied toward the General Education Requirements if they appear on the list of approved courses at the time they are taken.
Credit Limitations in a Major
A maximum of 60 credits in the student's major may be counted toward the baccalaureate degree, except some options in Integrative Physiology and Education, majors in Computer Science, Journalism, Law and majors in the College of Business, College of the Arts and Media, College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences, and the College of Forestry and Conservation are allowed more. Students with combined majors, as opposed to two majors, are allowed to apply 75 credits in the major.
Major Concentrations
Groups of courses have been identified which lead to a specialization within one major or between two or more majors. These specializations are called concentrations. The names of approved concentrations will be recorded on the permanent records of those students who have satisfactorily completed the requirements as given in the catalog governing their graduation. A student desiring a particular concentration must satisfy the requirements of the major offering it. If one concentration is offered within two or more majors, the student must satisfy the requirements of only one.
Only courses listed within the supporting major count toward the 60 credit limitation in the major. Courses in other fields do not count toward the maximum of 60 credits in the major even though they may be required or elected for the concentration.
If one major has two or more concentrations, a student may satisfy the requirements for more than one concentration so long as the maximum credit limitations are observed.
Minor Requirements
Baccalaureate students may elect to complete one or more minors in fields outside their majors. Minors may be in fields unrelated to students' majors or they may be complementary or supportive of majors. A student may not take a minor in the same field of study as their major.
A student will not be required to satisfy the requirements of a minor in order to graduate unless that minor is required by the student's major department or school.
Courses completed to satisfy the requirements of a minor also may be applied toward the General Education Requirement if they appear on the list of approved courses at the time they are taken.
Credits Required for a Minor
To complete a minor, students must earn at least 18 credits in an approved minor listed in this catalog and complete a baccalaureate degree.
Students possessing a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university may earn a minor if they have been accepted by the University as an undergraduate degree-seeking student and are earning an additional baccalaureate degree at the University of Montana-Missoula. In addition to meeting minor requirements, students must earn from the University of Montana-Missoula a minimum of 9 credits in the minor field and 15 credits overall.
Upper-Division Credit Requirement
All students must complete a minimum of 39 credits in courses numbered 300 and above to meet graduation requirements for the first baccalaureate degree. Upper-division credits transferred from other four-year institutions do count toward the 39-credit requirement.
Lower-division transfer courses accepted as substitutions for upper-division courses required for a particular major do not count toward the 39 upper-division credit requirement.
Credit Residency Requirements for Degrees and Certificates
University of Montana credit is defined as credit earned in any course which has been approved to be listed in the University of Montana-Missoula catalog and which has been approved for offering by the Department Chair and Dean of the school or college in which the course is taught. University of Montana-Missoula credit may be offered at any University of Montana campus location.
Credit Residency Requirements for Certificates, Associates of Applied Science, and Associate of Science in Nursing Degrees
A minimum of 51% of the required number of credits must be earned from the University of Montana-Missoula.
Credit Residency Requirements for the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degrees
A minimum of 30 credits of the required 60 credits must be earned from the University of Montana-Missoula.
Credit Residency Requirements for the First Baccalaureate Degree
A first baccalaureate degree is defined as any baccalaureate degree earned by a student who has not previously earned a baccalaureate degree from the University of Montana-Missoula. The requirements listed below also apply to any student who previously earned a baccalaureate degree at another institution and now is seeking a baccalaureate degree from the University of Montana-Missoula.
- A minimum of 30 credits of the required 120 (or more) credits must be earned from the University of Montana-Missoula.
- A minimum of 30 credits of the required 120 (or more) credits must be earned in study on the University of Montana-Missoula campus.
- Of the last 45 credits required for the degree, at least 30 of these must be earned from the University of Montana- Missoula. Students attending elsewhere on a university-approved exchange may be exempt from this requirement with the prior written approval of their major department Chair or Dean.
Credit Residency Requirements for Second and Subsequent Baccalaureate Degrees
In regard to residency requirements, a second baccalaureate degree is defined as any baccalaureate degree earned by a student who previously had earned a baccalaureate degree from the University of Montana-Missoula; they have met first degree residency requirements and need only do so once. Students seeking a second baccalaureate degree or dual degree from the University of Montana must complete all academic requirements for each degree (first and subsequent) and earn a minimum of 150 credits by completing an additional 30 credits for each subsequent baccalaureate degree. For students who have met first degree residency requirements, a minimum of 20 credits of the required additional 30 credits must be earned in study on the University of Montana-Missoula campus.
Students attending the University of Montana who are not University of Montana graduates, but already have a baccalaureate degree from another institution must meet University of Montana residency Requirements for the first baccalaureate degree (see above) for the subsequent degree that they are now seeking. This will require at least 30 additional credits of coursework to be earned from the University of Montana-Missoula campus with 30 of the last 45 credits earned from University of Montana-Missoula. Students attending elsewhere on a university-approved exchange may be exempt from this requirement with the prior written approval of their major department Chair or Dean.
Credit Maximums
The amount of credit which may be counted toward the minimum credit requirements for the baccalaureate (B.A., B.S., B.F.A., etc.), Associate of Science (A.S.), and Associate of Arts (A.A.) degrees is limited in certain areas as follows:
| Category | For Bachelor Degree | For AA or AS Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Career skills | 0 | 0 |
| Study skills courses (e.g. AASC 101, C&I 160) | 2 | 2 |
| Activity/skills courses (including physical education and esports, e.g. DANC 325, ACT 101-ACT 287, ACTV, MSL 106 and MSL 203, MART 100, and MART 189) | 4 | 4 |
| Military Science Leadership Courses (contracted students may present 24 credits) | 12 | 12 |
| Music performance (MUSI 102A, MUSI 123A, MUSI 135A, MUSI 136A, MUSI 235, MUSI 236, MUSI 218) | 6 | 6 |
| Ensemble music (MUSI 112A, MUSI 114A, MUSI 110A, MUSI 131A and MUSI 122A) | 8 | 8 |
| Credit/No Credit courses | 18 | 18 |
| Internship credits in courses numbered 198/298/398/498 | 6 | 6 |
Credits attempted in these areas which are beyond the maximum applicable will remain on the student's permanent record, but cannot be used toward graduation.
Minimum Grade Requirement
Courses taken to satisfy general education requirements, the requirements of a major or a minor, or the requirements for a certificate must be taken in the traditional (A-F) grade mode when available and completed with a grade of C- or better (or CR in cases where credit/no credit is the only available grade mode). Some programs may require higher grades for some or all required courses. Specific information regarding individual program requirements can be found in individual program entries.
Grade Point Average Requirement
A minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation.
Graduation with Honors
Graduates may be awarded honors with their certificates, associates, and baccalaureate degrees based on their cumulative University of Montana-Missoula (UM) institutional grade point average (GPA).
Consistent with Board of Regents policy, the UM institutional GPA shall be computed by dividing the sum of grade points earned by the total credits carried, except that neither the credits nor the grade points shall be counted for:
- Non-credit, remedial, developmental, or other sub college-level courses as represented below the 100-level;
- Courses taken on a credit/no credit basis (pass/fail, etc.), or
- Transferred coursework.
To be eligible for graduation with honors, at least 50% of the credits required for the certificate or degree must be credits eligible to count towards the student's UM GPA.
Graduation cum laude (with honors), magna cum laude (high honors) or summa cum laude (highest honors):
Each semester the registrar shall distribute a list of graduation candidates with a UM GPA that meets or exceeds 3.40. Faculty Senate shall award honors as:
1. Cum laude (Honors): All undergraduate students shall graduate cum laude (with honors) when their cumulative UM GPA meets or exceeds 3.40.
2. Magna cum laude (High Honors): Departments and programs may stipulate additional requirements and then recommend students for graduation magna cum laude (high honors) when the cumulative UM GPA meets or exceeds 3.70.
3. Summa cum laude (Highest Honors): Departments and programs may stipulate additional requirements and then recommend students for graduation summa cum laude (with highest honors) when their UM GPA meets or exceeds 3.90.
