College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Degree Programs
A Bachelor of Arts (120 hours) will be conferred upon students who fulfill degree requirements with majors in anthropology, classical studies, criminology and law, East Asian languages and literatures, economics, English, French and Francophone Studies, German, history, international studies, Jewish studies, linguistics, philosophy, political science, Portuguese, religion, Russian, sociology, Spanish, sustainability studies and women's studies.
A Bachelor of Science (120 hours) will be conferred upon students who fulfill degree requirements with majors in biology, botany, chemistry, computer science, marine sciences, microbiology and cell science, psychology and zoology.
A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science will be conferred upon those students who fulfill the requirements for the degree with majors in astronomy, geography, geology, mathematics, physics, statistics or interdisciplinary studies. Students should consult the undergraduate coordinator in their major department to discuss the appropriate curriculum for either degree.
Admission
First-Year Students
First-year students select a major and enter the college when they enroll at UF. Students selecting a CLAS major should start planning their major early in their UF careers by speaking with a general adviser in the Academic Advising Center (AAC), 100 Farrior Hall, and a department adviser in their major's department.
Three temporary enrollment categories are provided to facilitate exploration of academic options for students who are unsure about a choice of major: Exploring Humanities and Letters, Exploring Social and Behavioral Science, or Exploring Sciences and/or Engineering. Students select the exploratory category that most closely fits their academic interests.
The advisers in the AAC can help students select an appropriate program of study. Students are enrolled in exploratory registration categories for the first three fall/spring terms only (not counting summer terms). Students must be admitted to a major before registering for their fourth term.
Transfer Students
Detailed information about transfer admission requirements is available for each CLAS major.
Transfer students are expected to graduate from the major into which they were admitted. An appeal to change majors after transferring is unlikely to be approved.
Students who wish to transfer directly to UF from a college in Florida’s college system (formerly the state's community college system) must have completed the A.A. degree. Limited space makes admission competitive; students who meet minimum admission requirements are not guaranteed admission.
Admitted students who do not enroll in the term to which they have been admitted must submit a new application by the deadline to be considered for a future term.
Space in the college is limited for applicants transferring from other Florida state universities, four-year private or out-of-state institutions. Such students will be held to a higher standard for admission.
Once admitted, transfer students are required to attend orientation (Transfer Preview) and are responsible for meeting with their department and an adviser in the AAC to ensure that their transfer credits are evaluated properly and that they understand the requirements to complete their UF degrees.
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Change of Major
Changing Majors in Terms 1-4: Students who want to change to a CLAS major in terms 1-4 must meet with an adviser in the AAC. For a student who entered UF as a Summer B/Fall freshman, his or her real tracking term is based on the number of fall/spring semesters in which he or she has enrolled for 10 or more credits. For a student who entered UF as an Innovation Academy freshman, his or her real tracking term is based on the number of spring/summer semesters in which he or she has enrolled for 10 or more credits. Full-term withdrawals and study abroad are not included as a tracking term.
Students who do not meet the critical-tracking criteria for their real tracking term may be permitted to change majors, provided they
- can get on track in a reasonable number of terms
- demonstrate potential for success in the major (successful completion of major and major-related courses without excessive Ws, grades less than C or multiple repeats)
- meet all other CLAS progression standards.
Changing Majors in Term 5: Students who want to change to a CLAS major in term 5 must
- meet the critical-tracking criteria (pre-professional GPA and minimum cumulative UF GPA) listed for semester five for the major
- meet all other CLAS progression standards for the desired major
- demonstrate potential for success in the major (successful completion of major and major-related courses without excessive Ws, grades less than C or multiple repeats)
- provide clear and purposeful reasons for which the change of major is appropriate, and
- be able to graduate in a timely fashion.
Generally, students who transfer into CLAS as juniors will not be able to change majors.
Changing Majors in Term 6 or Later: The further along a student is, the harder it can be to be eligible to change majors and progress and graduate in a timely fashion. Students wishing to change to a CLAS major in term 6 or later should meet with an adviser in the AAC. Students must
- meet the critical-tracking criteria (pre-professional GPA and minimum cumulative UF GPA) listed for semester five for the major
- meet all other CLAS progression standards for the desired major
- demonstrate potential for success in the major (successful completion of major and major-related courses without excessive Ws, grades less than C or multiple repeats)
- provide clear and purposeful reasons for which the change of major is appropriate, and
- be able to graduate in a timely fashion.
Students in term 6 or later must also submit a program plan identifying the courses they intend to complete for the new major as well as a statement explaining their educational goals. The department offering the desired major must support the student’s admission to the major. Students may pursue only the major to which they have been admitted and they must follow the approved program plan.
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Progression to Graduation
Every student is expected to make satisfactory progress toward graduation each semester. Students who fail to make satisfactory progress may be required to seek advisement, be denied further registration or mandated to meet specific conditions in order to continue in the major and/or CLAS.
Critical Tracking for CLAS Majors: Students in terms 1-5 are required to meet the critical-tracking criteria for their majors in each of the first five terms. The critical-tracking criteria are listed for each CLAS major. CLAS counts all attempts of critical-tracking courses when calculating the pre-professional GPA for a major. For more information about tracking, refer to Tracking Progress Toward a Degree.
Additional Progression Standards: All CLAS students must meet these standards or they may be denied further registration:
- Maintain a minimum overall UF cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
- College Probation: Students who have an overall UF cumulative grade point average under 2.0 are placed on college probation and are required to meet with an adviser to discuss their academic progress.
- Achieve a minimum 2.0 GPA on all coursework each semester.
- Successfully complete (with a minimum grade of C) at least one course in the major each term during the junior and senior years until major course requirements are completed. Students can pursue only the major to which they have been admitted.
- Earn a minimum grade of C within two attempts (including drops/withdrawals) in each course in the major. Certain majors may require grades higher than C in specific courses. Students must meet major requirements.
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for courses required in the major.
- Withdraw from the university no more than twice while enrolled in this college.
- Graduate in a timely fashion (see "Timely Graduation" below).
- Any student who has completed all of the academic requirements for the degree, but who has not obtained the degree, may be denied further registration in the college. Students who completed degree requirements early may be considered for further registration provided they outline an approved program of study.
Each semester, the university emails students informing them of their registration appointment for the next term. Upon receipt of this email, students should consult their record to determine if they have any registration holds and to review their degree audit on ISIS. The degree audit outlines the requirements for the degree and indicates whether or not a student has met each requirement. Students should use their degree audit to plan a program of satisfactory progress each term.
It is recommended that students begin work on the foreign language requirement during the first two years, unless the major department indicates otherwise.
Timely Graduation - CLAS majors are expected to graduate in a "timely fashion," defined as eight full-time fall/spring semesters for students admitted as summer b/fall freshmen, eight full-time spring/summer semesters for students admitted as Innovation Academy freshmen, and four fall/spring semesters for students admitted as junior transfers. Due to the sequencing of course requirements, some AA transfer students may be unable to complete their degree requirements in the four allotted terms. Those students should see an adviser in the AAC to determine an appropriate academic plan to complete their degrees.
Students who cannot meet their degree requirements within a timely fashion are expected to enroll in summer terms to complete their degree requirements. Additional study is permitted only with the approval of an adviser in the CLAS Academic Advising Center or the College Appeals Committee, and is usually limited to fulfillment of unmet degree requirements.
CLAS understands that while many beginning UF freshmen students (including HS/AA students) come in with significant credit from accelerated mechanisms and could meet the minimum requirements for the degree in 2-3 years, simply meeting the minimum academic requirements for the degree does not necessarily signify that the student is well-prepared to achieve his or her educational goals. Because of this, CLAS will allow a student to enroll in up to eight full-time semesters provided the student demonstrates an educational plan that will enhance the achievement of those academic goals, consistent with CLAS policies. Students in this situation should consult with an adviser in the AAC.
Academic plans are considered independent of students’ interest in qualifying for/utilizing financial aid, Florida Pre-Paid or scholarships such as Bright Futures. Students need to discuss their financial aid/scholarship situation with Student Financial Affairs in 107 Criser Hall. Students also should be aware of their excess hours status.
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Registration Policies
Normal Course Loads: CLAS students normally enroll in 12-18 credit hours per term (a minimum of 12 hours is considered full-time). A CLAS academic adviser in the AAC (Farrior Hall) must approve loads above 18 hours. Students who wish to enroll for fewer than 12 hours should discuss their plan and academic standing with a CLAS academic adviser in the AAC.
Adding Courses: Students may add courses any time during drop/add. Additional coursework may be added after the drop/add period but prior to the published drop deadline with appropriate department and college approval.
Dropping Courses: Students may drop courses during drop/add without penalty. After the drop/add period, a course may be dropped until the published drop deadline. The drop policy is explained in the Academic Regulations section. All such drops are subject to the following restrictions for students admitted Summer B 2002 or later:
- Two unrestricted drops are permitted before attempting 60 hours at UF.
- Two unrestricted drops are permitted for CLAS students after attempting 60 hours at UF or after transferring to UF with 60 hours or an AA from a public institution in Florida.
- Students wishing to drop courses beyond the two unrestricted drops may petition the CLAS petitions committee. The petition must include a personal statement explaining an extenuating circumstance that prevents completion of the course(s). Documentation supporting the personal statement must also be included. Please examine the general petition form in the AAC for guidelines and for documentation.
- Students who wish to drop a course after the drop deadline can complete a college petition to do so until the last day of classes (fall and spring semesters only). Students must include substantial documentation of an extenuating circumstance (usually severe medical condition) that occured after the drop deadline and that prevents completion of the course(s). Students should first discuss their options with the instructor of the class before submitting a petition.
Students should discuss with an academic adviser how a dropped course will affect their academic standing and should also discuss with a financial aid adviser how it will affect their financial aid and/or scholarships. Students may be required to pay back scholarship monies when they drop a course.
Withdrawing: Students who want to drop all courses for any current term must contact the Office of the University Registrar in Criser Hall before the withdrawal deadline. Dropping the entire load constitutes withdrawal from the university and must be handled by the established withdrawal procedures and deadlines.
Courses dropped via full term withdrawal do not count toward a student's number of unrestricted drops. Students must discuss with an academic adviser how the withdrawal will affect their academic standing and discuss with a financial aid adviser how it will affect their financial aid. Students wanting to withdraw from all courses after the withdrawal deadline can submit a college petition before the last day of classes and consistent with the guidelines listed in the Dropping Courses section above.
Petitions: Students who have an extenuating circumstance that prevents them from adhering to a college regulation may petition for a waiver. The CLAS petitions committee considers petitions weekly on a case-by-case basis. All petitions must include a statement explaining the hardship and documentation supporting the claim. Information is available at 100 Farrior Hall; instructions are on the general petition form.
Registration in Graduate Courses: Advanced undergraduate students with excellent academic records can register for graduate courses (5000 level and above) with permission of the department adviser. Students will be charged graduate-level fees for enrolling in graduate courses. Refer to the information on combined bachelor’s/master’s programs.
Flexible Learning: Students wishing to take distance learning courses that require registration through the Division of Continuing Education must obtain approval from an academic adviser in the AAC. The student must have a cumulative 2.0 UF GPA. CLAS students may register for only two flexible learning courses in a given semester, and they may apply only two courses/six credits (whichever is greater) toward any certificate or bachelor’s degree. However, in some situations students may be able to petition for additional flexible learning hours. Please meet with an adviser in the AAC for additional information.
Transient Study (UF Students Attending Other Schools): Normally, UF students are not permitted to register at another institution for a course or its equivalent that is offered at UF. Students may submit a transient form via FLVC.org to request permission to enroll at another institution and have the credits apply to their UF degrees. More information on transient study.
To be eligible for transient work, students must:
- have a minimum 2.0 UF GPA
- be on-track for the current major
- not break the residency requirement (Students MUST complete their last 30 hours continuously at UF.)
Students who have already transferred 60 credits from a community college to UF must speak with an adviser to discuss if and how additional community/state college credits may apply toward their degree.
If approved for transient enrollment elsewhere, students may still need to have courses approved for the fulfillment of any specific requirement. Courses intended to meet major or minor requirements are subject to the approval of the appropriate department. Courses whose numbers are not consistent with the common course numbering system need to be reviewed and approved by an AAC adviser to meet general education or basic distribution requirements.
Writing and math requirements are posted based on how the course is coded at the institution where the course is taken. Students should not assume they will receive the same writing and/or math credit from another institution that they would if they took the course(s) at UF. All writing and math requirement questions should be directed to the Office of the University Registrar.
Students must ensure that a final transcript is sent to UF after completion of the course(s). Grades for courses taken elsewhere will not be calculated into the UF GPA but may be considered as part of the preprofessional GPA used by critical tracking. Grades in courses taken elsewhere do appear on the UF transcript.
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Supplemental Academic Programs
In addition to the major, CLAS offers other ways for students to pursue their academic interests. Students may opt to pursue a minor, certificate, double major, dual degree, second major or combined bachelor's/master's program.
The college must approve supplemental programs of study. In considering applications for supplemental programs, CLAS will consider the following:
- whether the student meets the minimum requirements for consideration for the program
- the student’s goals and whether the student has demonstrated the potential for success in the program
- whether completing the supplemental program will allow the student to graduate in a timely fashion
- space availability in the desired program.
Supplemental programs are
optional and meeting the minimum requirements for consideration does
not guarantee approval to pursue the program.
Minors and Their Requirements
The minor provides a traditional, well-accepted way to recognize that a student has completed a significant body of work outside the major. A minor shall consist of no fewer than 15 semester hours of coursework, earned with minimum grades of C. At least three courses (none can be individual work) of no fewer than three credits each must be at the 3000 level or above. Of the total credits, no more than three may be individual work. Students should consult an adviser in the appropriate department for the requirements for each minor.
A minor may not inherently overlap with the student's major (e.g., a history major may not declare a history minor, even if the student takes additional history credits beyond what is required for the major). In addition, students must complete a minimum of six credits of coursework exclusive to the minor that cannot count toward the student's major(s) or other minor(s).
View the AAC website regarding minors to review a list of majors/minors that will not be approved due to overlap. This list is not all-inclusive, for each minor application an AAC adviser will review whether your intended major/minor combination is acceptable.
To be eligible for a minor, students must
- have an established UF minimum GPA of 2.0 (some minors require a higher GPA, see catalog description of the minor).
- be on-track for their major
- have at least 45 hours earned
- be able to complete the minor in a timely fashion and thus able to graduate on time
- complete a minimum of six credits exclusive to the minor; i.e., credits that cannot count toward major(s) or other minor(s).
CLAS students should make a written application for admission to the minor in 100 Farrior Hall after earning 45 hours and are encouraged to do so before the end of their junior year. Applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements for the minor. Students are limited to three minors.
Students may use 3000-level courses in the minor to fulfill the college elective requirement. Students should plan the minor so that the courses will count for the minor and as 3000-level electives outside their major.
Approval to pursue a minor does not guarantee the student will be granted the minor upon graduation. To have the minor certified upon graduation, the student must complete at least 6 credits exclusive to the minor without overlap with the student's major(s) or other minors and meet all other requirements for the minor.
A minor will be awarded when the academic unit offering the minor certifies that the applicant has completed the requirements. Such award(s) will be noted on the UF transcript. Students must be certified for the minor at the same time that they complete the bachelor’s degree.
Certificates
Students can obtain a certificate in arts in healthcare, Asian-American studies, ceramics, dance in healing, East-Central European studies, European Union studies, international relations, Jewish studies, Latin American studies, music performance, political campaigning, public affairs, retailing leadership, Russian and East European studies and teaching English as a second language. Students should consult an adviser in the appropriate department for the requirements for each certificate.
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Double Major, Dual Degree and Second Major
Students who are interested in studying two disciplines may pursue a double major or a dual degree. The two disciplines may not extensively overlap. Each double major/dual degree application will be reviewed to ensure that the student will complete a minimum of 15 credits of coursework exclusive to each major that will not count toward the other major or any minors. The AAC website lists double majors/dual degree combinations that will not be approved because of extensive overlap. This list is not all-inclusive, so students should consult an AAC adviser to verify that the intended major/degree combination is acceptable.
Approval to pursue a double major/dual degree does not guarantee the student will be granted both upon graduation. To be certified to receive the majors/degrees, all requirements must be met for each and at least 15 credits exclusive to each major (not applying to the other major or any minors) must have been completed. To earn a double major, dual degree or second major, a student must be certified for and graduate from all undergraduate programs of study at the same time.
Double Major: To complete two majors for which the degree is the same (both Bachelor of Arts or both Bachelor of Science), students must first be approved to pursue a double major. Courses used for one major can fulfill College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ electives for the other major, and vice versa.
A student completing two majors that have the same degree, B.A. or B.S., will receive a single degree. The diploma and transcript will identify the degree and the two majors.
Dual Degree: To complete two majors for which the degree is different (a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science; or one major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and another in another college), students must first be approved to pursue dual degrees.
A student completing two CLAS majors that have different degrees, or major and college requirements in two different colleges, will receive two degrees. The student will receive two diplomas, each with the appropriate major listed, and the transcript will identify each degree and major.
Second Major: Students completing a degree in another college may complete a second major in CLAS rather than a dual degree. Second major students need only complete the major requirements for the second major. They do not need to complete the CLAS degree requirements in addition to major requirements.
A student completing major and college requirements in one college and major requirements only in CLAS will receive a degree from the first college. The transcript will identify the degree from the first college and the majors from both colleges.
Students applying for a double major, dual degree or second major must:
- already be admitted to one of the majors and have between 45 and 96 hours (not including AICE, AP, CLEP, IB, dual enrollment, or overseas study credit).
- meet the minimum UF GPA (specified below) required to pursue a CLAS double major or dual degree (determined in part by whether the major is overenrolled).
- have a 3.5 GPA when both majors are in LS and BOTH majors are overenrolled.
- have a 3.0 GPA for two majors/degrees and no more than one is an overenrolled LS major.
- meet all critical tracking term 5 requirements for all CLAS majors, before submitting the application. If one of the majors is outside CLAS, applicants must get approval from the appropriate college for that major.
- meet all other CLAS progression standards for both majors and demonstrate potential for success in both majors (successful completion of major and major-related courses without excessive Ws, grades less than C or multiple repeats);
- be able to complete the degree in a timely fashion (typically eight fall/spring semesters for students who entered UF as SummerB/Fall freshmen, eight spring/summer semesters for students who entered UF as Innovation Academy freshmen, and four fall/spring semesters for students who entered UF as transfer students). Additional study is permitted only with approval of a CLAS AAC adviser or the college appeals committee.
- have clear and purposeful reasons for which the double major or dual degree is appropriate.
Students should obtain an online application for a double major, dual degree or second major. Students must submit a program plan identifying the courses they intend to complete for both majors, as well as a statement explaining their educational goals. Once approved, students must follow the program plan outlined in their application or the approval for the supplemental program of study will be voided. Students can pursue a double major, dual degree or second major only if approved in advance by the college.
Triple Majors/Degrees
Students who are interested in studying three disciplines may choose to pursue triple majors/degrees. The three disciplines may not extensively overlap. Each triple major/degree application will be reviewed to ensure that the student will complete a minimum of 15 credits of coursework exclusive to each major that will not count toward the other major or any minors. View the triple majors/degrees page for a list of major combinations that will not be approved due to extensive overlap.
Approval to pursue triple majors/degrees does not guarantee the student will be granted all majors/degrees upon graduation. To be certified to receive the majors/degrees, all requirements must be met for each and at least 15 credits exclusive to each major (not applying to the other majors or any minors) must have been completed. To earn triple majors/degrees, a student must be certified for and graduate from all undergraduate programs of study at the same time.
Students applying for triple majors/degrees must:
- have selected at least one CLAS major that is considered under-enrolled if all three majors are in CLAS.
- already be admitted to one of the majors and have between 45 and 96 hours (not including AICE, AP, CLEP, IB, dual enrollment or overseas study credit).
- have a minimum 3.5 UF GPA required if two of the LS majors are overenrolled.
- have a minimum 3.0 UF GPA if no more than one of the majors is an overenrolled LS major.
- meet all critical-tracking term 5 requirements for all CLAS majors, before submitting the application. If one of the majors is outside CLAS, applicants must get approval from the appropriate college for that major.
- meet all other CLAS progression standards for all majors and demonstrate potential for success in all majors (successful completion of major and major-related courses without excessive W’s, grades less than C or multiple repeats).
- be able to complete the degree in a timely fashion (typically eight fall/spring semesters for students who entered UF as freshmen, eight spring/summer semesters for students who entered UF as Innovation Academy freshmen, and four fall/spring semesters for students who entered UF as transfer students). Additional study is permitted only with approval of a CLAS AAC adviser.
- Have clear and purposeful reasons for which the triple majors/degrees are appropriate.
Students must submit a program plan identifying the courses they intend to complete for all majors, as well as a statement explaining their educational goals. Once approved, students must follow the program plan outlined in their application or the approval for the supplemental program of study will be voided. Students can pursue triple majors/degrees only if approved in advance by the college.
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Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs
Combined bachelor's/master's programs allow students to complete two degrees more quickly. Outstanding advanced undergraduate students can apply for admission to this program. CLAS offers combined-degree programs in botany, computer science, criminology, French, geography, geology, history, linguistics, mathematics, physics, political science, Portuguese, religion, Russian, sociology, Spanish, statistics and women's studies.
Students on financial aid should check with that office. In general, students on financial aid should retain their undergraduate status as long as possible. The program requires admission to the Graduate School.
Nondegree Registration
CLAS has limited space for nondegree students. Nondegree registrations are reviewed on a case-by-case basis for students enrolling for teacher certification, for UF employees using the Employee Education Program and for transient students who are place-bound in Gainesville (provided the courses are not offered at another local institution). Students who wish to take courses for any other reason are encouraged to pursue them at other institutions.
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