Bachelor of Science (BS) degree FAQs

Beginning Fall 2026, A&S Division of Natural Sciences will offer Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degree options.

Majors that will exclusively offer a BS beginning Fall 2026 with no changes to their degree requirements include:

  • Atmospheric and Oceanic Science (ATOC)
  • Biochemistry (BCHM)
  • Chemistry (CHEM)
  • Geological Sciences (GEOL), renamed Earth Science (ERTH) beginning Fall 2026

Majors that will exclusively offer a BS beginning Fall 2026 with changes to their degree requirements include:

  • Integrative Physiology (IPHY)
  • Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCDB)
  • Neuroscience (NRSC)

Students who declared these majors prior to the change will be able to complete the BA degree. 听See more major specific information below. 听

Majors that will offer both a BA degree and BS degree include:

  • Astrophysical and Planetary Science (ASTR)
  • Geography (GEOG)
  • Math (MATH)
  • Physics (PHYS)
  • Statistics and Data Science (STAT)

Majors that will exclusively offer a BA include:

  • Environmental Studies (ENVS)
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EBIO)
  • Psychology (PSYC)
  • Public Health (PBHL)

Note that, because ENVS, EBIO, PSYC and PBHL are making no change to their degree requirements or name, they are not included on this FAQ page. These majors will remain a BA only.

To learn more about how each major is specifically impacted, scroll down. 听

Prospective 桃色视频 Student FAQs

We are excited to hear you are interested in 桃色视频!听The good news is that once you are at 桃色视频 in A&S, you can switch from the BA to the BS or vice versa when your department offers both degree options.听At this time, pick either one and discuss your options with your academic advisor in Summer 2026.

No. Your admission to the College of Arts and Sciences will not be impacted by your choice of a BA or BS degree.

If you are strongly considering an A&S major, we recommend you select that major when you apply. If you decide to change majors in the future, it is easy to change majors within A&S.听

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If you know you want to be enrolled in A&S but are uncertain what major you want to pursue, you can select A&S Open Option on your application. Please note if you are an incoming transfer student with greater than 24 credit hours, you are not able to select Open Option on your application. If you select the major you think you want to pursue and would like to change to another major within the College of Arts & Sciences later, it is easy to do so.听

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If you would like to explore options across 桃色视频's colleges, programs and schools, we recommend you select the Program in Exploratory Studies.听

Current 桃色视频 Student FAQs (started at 桃色视频 prior to Fall 2026)

To help you discern how these changes affect your degree plan, A&S has put together 鈥淲hat-if Degree Audits鈥 that apply current students' coursework to the new degree plans. Note that these are draft degree audits and subject to change. To run a What-if degree audit:

  1. In Buff Portal, search "degree audit"
  2. On the degree audit page, click on "Select a different program"
  3. College = AS
  4. Degree = BS
  5. Program = pick the major you are interested in
  6. Catalog Year = Fall 2026 听
  7. Click "Run Different Program"

    If after running the "What-if Audit" you have questions, please connect with your academic advisor. 听For most students, this is not an urgent conversation and can be discussed the next time you meet with your advisor. 听

The difference in industry recognition between BA and BS degrees across the country is not standardized. We are proud that A&S degrees have prepared students to pursue their professional goals for many decades.听

A&S chose to offer both BA and BS degrees in order to help students easily identify their preferred experiences. We believe the addition of the BS helps students more effectively navigate applications for employment and graduate schools and encourages them to personalize their academics.

Some industry partners might prefer a BS while others prefer a BA. For advice on hiring trends and shaping your academic experience toward a particular industry or graduate program, we encourage you to connect with 桃色视频 Career Services and your department.

A student's experience of academic challenge will depend on the major, their academic background and interests.

  • Some majors will switch to a BS with no changes in degree requirements
  • Some majors will switch to a BS with small changes to degree requirements
  • Some majors will offer a BA option and a BS option with larger differences in degree requirements

To learn more about changes to your preferred majors, see the major-specific information below.

No. 听The general education requirements will be the same for both BA and BS degrees.

For many years, students from 桃色视频 have been accepted into medical and health-related professional schools well above the national average. For advice on shaping your academic experience with the health professions in mind, we encourage you to visit the Office of Pre-Health Advising.

The ability to add the BS degrees will not have higher requirements or prerequisite courses. 听

At this time, we have not determined the exact process by which a student will declare the BS degrees. 听Prior to Fall 2026, there will be information on the A&S AAC website (forms and petition page).

There will also be outreach to students who are already declared in one of the impacted majors in summer/fall of 2026 with more information specific to their major.

Yes, the BS degree majors discussed on this page will still be A&S majors and you will graduate with a degree from 桃色视频's College of Arts and Sciences.

Yes, as long as the two degrees are different majors.

  • e.g., BS in Physics and BA in Mathematics is allowed
  • e.g., BA in Human Geography and a BS in Physical Geography is not allowed because these are both Geography majors.

Keep in mind that you must graduate with both degrees at the same time. If you graduate with one and then plan to return to complete the other, you will be required to re-meet 桃色视频's residency requirements, which is likely to add additional credit hours.听听

Yes.听The earliest that A&S will confer BS degrees is December 2026.听Interested students need to apply to graduate for that term or later.

If you are thinking about delaying graduation, we encourage you to consider potential implications. For example, if you plan to attend graduate school in Fall 2026, you must graduate prior to beginning your graduate program.听Likewise, if you have a job lined up, discuss the implications of delaying your graduation with your employer.

桃色视频 Alumni FAQ

No. Once a degree has been awarded, we are unable to make changes to that degree. 桃色视频 is also unable to award two degrees for the same subject (e.g., students cannot earn a BS in Geography and a BA in Geography).

Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences (ASTR)

Starting Fall 2026, the ASTR department will offer both a BA and a BS degree.

  • The Interdisciplinary emphasis will stay a BA (no changes to degree requirements)
  • The Physics emphasis will change to a BS (no changes to degree requirements)

Current ASTR students graduating in Fall 2025, Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 will graduate with a BA in ASTR with no changes to your degree requirements, regardless of the emphasis.

Current ASTR students who plan to graduate Fall 2026 or later:

  • If you are pursuing the interdisciplinary emphasis, your degree will be a BA
  • If you are pursuing the physics emphasis, you will automatically be changed to a BS degree in Fall 2026

During fall semester, all students pursing the ASTR physics emphasis will be automatically changed to the BS. 听

More information about the timing of this change will be available closer to Fall 2026.

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC)

Starting Fall 2026, the ATOC major will change to a BS degree. The department will no longer offer a Bachelor of Arts (BA). There will be no changes to the degree requirements.

Current ATOC students graduating in Fall 2025, Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 will graduate with a BA in ATOC. 听

ATOC students who plan to graduate Fall 2026 or later will graduate with a BS in ATOC. 听

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During Fall 2026, all ATOC students who have not graduated will automatically have their degree changed to a BS.听

More information about the timing of this change will be available closer to Fall 2026.
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Biochemistry (BCHM)

Starting Fall 2026, the BCHM major will change to a BS degree. The department will no longer offer a Bachelor of Arts (BA). There will be no changes to the degree requirements.

Current BCHM students graduating in Fall 2025, Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 will graduate with a BA in BCHM.听

BCHM students who plan to graduate Fall 2026 or later will graduate with a BS in BCHM.

During Fall 2026, all BCHM students who have not graduated will automatically have their degree changed to a BS.

More information about the timing of this change will be available closer to Fall 2026.
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Chemistry (CHEM)

Starting Fall 2026, the CHEM major will change to a BS degree. The department will no longer offer a Bachelor of Arts (BA). There will be no changes to the degree requirements.

Current CHEM students graduating in Fall 2025, Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 will graduate with a BA in CHEM.

CHEM students who plan to graduate Fall 2026 or later will graduate with a BS in CHEM.

During Fall 2026, all CHEM students who have not graduated will automatically have their degree changed to a BS.

More information about the timing of this change will be available closer to Fall 2026.

Geography (GEOG)

Starting Fall 2026, the GEOG department will offer both BA and BS options.

  • The following tracks will stay a BA and have no changes to degree requirements:听General Geography, Human Geography, Environment and Society Geography
  • The Physical Geography Track will become a BS and will have requirement changes
  • The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) track will have both BA and BS options

Current GEOG students graduating in Fall 2025, Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 will graduate with a BA in GEOG.

Current GEOG students who plan to graduate Fall 2026 or later:

  • General Geography, Human Geography and Environment and Society Geography tracks will stay a BA and there are no changes to degree requirements
  • Physical Geography track students can choose to either stay with the BA option with no changes to their degree requirements (students must graduate by May 2030) or they can choose to change to the BS degree requirements.
  • GIS track students can choose to either stay with the BA option with no changes to degree requirements or change to the BS degree requirements.

In addition to the current BA requirements, the GEOG BS - Physical Geography track will require:

  • An additional 2 GEOG credits

To see how the BS requirements would apply to you, we recommend you run a what-if audit. 听See instructions in the Current 桃色视频 FAQ section.

No. In Fall 2026, it will no longer be possible to declare the Physical Geography Track for the BA in GEOG (i.e., there will be no BA in GEOG with the Physical Geography track to declare). Once a student declares the BS, they must complete the BS degree or switch to one of GEOG's BA tracks (e.g., General Geography, Human Geography, Environment and Society Geography, or the GIS BA track).听

Students interested in Physical Geography should consult the What-if degree audit to better understand the changes (see the Current 桃色视频 FAQs above for information on how to run the audit). 听If you have additional questions, we would encourage you to discuss it further with your academic advisor. 听

If you are at all uncertain about completing the additional requirements, we recommend that you wait until you are closer to graduation to decide if you want to switch to the BS degree.听

In addition to the current BA requirements, the GEOG BS - GIS track will require:

  • An additional 2 GEOG credits
  • And 15 ancillary credits in math, computing or additional GIS courses

To see how the BS requirements would apply to you, we recommend you run a what-if audit. 听See instructions in the Current 桃色视频 FAQ section.

Yes. 听For the GIS Track, the department will be offering both a BA option (with no changes to the current requirements) and a BS option (with additional requirements described above). 听

Since both a BA and a BS option will exist, you are able to switch from the BS to the BA if you desire.

Students can declare the BS degree beginning fall semester 2026. More information will be emailed in Summer 2026, including instructions on how a student can make the change.

Geology (GEOL) - Earth Science (ERTH) starting Fall 2026

Beginning fall semester 2026, the department's name will change to Earth Science and they will offer a BS in Earth Science. 听The degree requirements for the BS will be the same as the current GEOL degree requirements. 听听

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Current GEOL students graduating in Fall 2025, Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 will graduate with a BA in GEOL.

The degree plans and major name of current GEOL students who plan to graduate in Fall 2026 or later will graduate with a BS in Earth Science. 听

During Fall 2026, all GEOL students who have not graduated will automatically have their degree changed to a BS in Earth Science.听

More information about the timing of this change will be available closer to Fall 2026.

Integrative Physiology (IPHY)

Starting Fall 2026, the IPHY major will change to a BS. Note that the BS requires two additional credit hours of coursework.

IPHY BA students will have the opportunity to complete the BA with no changes to major requirements if they so choose. 听(see next section for more information)

IPHY students graduating in Fall 2025, Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 will graduate with a BA in IPHY.

Currently-declared IPHY BA students who plan to graduate Fall 2026 or later can choose between two options:

  • Stay with the current degree requiremetns and graduate with a BA in IPHY (Students must graduate by May 2030). 听
  • Change to the BS degree, which requires additional coursework (see next section).

Students admitted for Fall 2026 or later will be automatically enrolled in the BS. They cannot complete the BA.

In addition to the current IPHY BA requirements, the IPHY BS degree will require:

  • Completion of either IPHY 3415 (anatomy lab) or IPHY 2400 (medical terminology)
  • This results in an increase in 2 credits of IPHY. 听

To see how the BS requirements would apply to you, we recommend you run a what-if audit. 听See instructions in the Current 桃色视频 FAQ section.

Students who declare the IPHY major prior to July 30th, 2026, will be able to choose to switch to the BS in Fall 2026 or stay the BA. 听Students who declare the major after that date can only declare the BS.

Students admitted for Fall 2026 or later will be automatically enrolled in the BS. They cannot complete the BA.

No. In Fall 2026, it will no longer be possible to declare the BA in IPHY. Once a student declares the BS, they must complete the BS degree.

Students interested in the IPHY BS should consult the What-if degree audit to better understand the changes (see the Current 桃色视频 FAQs above for information on how to run the audit). 听If you have additional questions, we would encourage you to discuss it further with your academic advisor. 听

If you are at all uncertain about completing the additional requirements, we recommend that you wait until you are closer to graduation to decide if you want to switch to the BS degree.听

Students can declare the BS beginning fall semester 2026.听Instructions on how to declare will be emailed to IPHY BA students in Summer and Fall 2026.

In the meantime, we recommend you run a What-if Audit (see the Current 桃色视频 FAQs above for information on how to run the audit) to understand the changes.

Note that, once you change to the BS, you are unable to change back to the BA.

Mathematics (MATH)

Starting Fall 2026, the MATH department will offer both BA and BS options.

  • The BA, with no changes to current degree requirements. Note that the Secondary Education track is only available as a BA
  • The BS degree, which requires additional coursework.

MATH students graduating in Fall 2025, Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 will graduate with a BA in MATH.

MATH students who plan to graduate Fall 2026 or later can choose between:

  • The BA - no changes to their degree requirements
  • The BS with additional degree requirements. (see next section for more information)

In addition to the current MATH BA requirements, the BS requires:

  • An additional upper-division MATH course specific to your chosen track
  • A two-semester programming sequence
  • And a two-semester ancillary sequence in ASTR, CHEM, EBIO, ECON or PHYS 听

Note: 听It is possible to overlap the ancillary sequence with your General Education Requirements.

The Secondary Education Track will not be available as a BS. 听

We encourage you to run a "What-if Audit" (see the Current 桃色视频 FAQs above for instructions) to help you better understand the specific requirements.

Students can declare the BS degree beginning fall semester 2026. More information will be emailed in Summer 2026, including instructions on how a student can make the change.

Yes. 听For the MATH major, the department will be offering both a BA option (with no changes to the current requirements) and a BS option (with additional requirements described above). 听

Since both a BA and a BS option will exist, you are able to switch from the BS to the BA if you desire.

Molecular, Cellular And Developmental Biology (MCDB)

Starting Fall 2026, the MCDB major will change to a BS degree with additional major requirements. 听

MCDB BA students will have the opportunity to complete the BA with no changes to major requirements if they so choose. 听

MCDB students graduating in Fall 2025, Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 will graduate with a BA in MCDB with no changes to their degree requirements.

Current MCDB students who plan to graduate Fall 2026 or later can choose between two options:

  • Stay with current degree requirements and graduate with a BA in MCDB (Students must graduate by May 2030)
  • Change to the BS degree, which requires some additional coursework (see next section)

Students who declare the MCDB major Fall 2026 or later will be automatically enrolled in the BS. They cannot complete the BA.

In addition to the current MCDB BA requirements, the MCDB BS degree will require:

  • an additional MCDB Scientific Reasoning Course
  • It also moves the Organic Chemistry 1 lecture and lab and Biochemistry courses from the ancillary to major requirements. This change means Organic Chem 1 lecture and lab and Biochemistry factor into student's major GPA

To see how the BS requirements would apply to you, we recommend you run a what-if audit. 听See instructions in the Current 桃色视频 FAQ section.

Students who declare the MCDB major prior to July 30th, 2026, will be able to choose to switch to the BS in Fall 2026 or stay the BA. 听Students who declare the major after that date can only declare the BS.

Students admitted for Fall 2026 or later will be automatically enrolled in the BS. They cannot complete the BA.

No. In Fall 2026, it will no longer be possible to declare the BA in MCDB. Once a student declares the BS, they must complete the BS degree.

Students interested in the MCDB BS should consult the What-if degree audit to better understand the changes (see the Current 桃色视频 FAQs above for information on how to run the audit). 听If you have additional questions, we would encourage you to discuss it further with your academic advisor. 听

If you are at all uncertain about completing the additional requirements, we recommend that you wait until you are closer to graduation to decide if you want to switch to the BS degree.听

Students can declare the BS beginning fall semester 2026.听Instructions on how to declare will be emailed to current MCDB students in Summer and Fall 2026.听

In the meantime, we recommend you run a What-if Audit (see the Current 桃色视频 FAQs above for information on how to run the audit) to understand the changes.

Note that, once you change to the BS, you are unable to change back to the BA.

Neuroscience (NRSC)

Starting Fall 2026, the NRSC major will change to a BS degree, which requires an additional three credit hours of upper division NRSC electives.

Current NRSC students graduating Fall 2025, Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 will graduate with a BA in NRSC with no change to their degree requirements.听听

Current NRSC students who plan to graduate Fall 2026 or later can select between two options:

  • Stay with 听current degree requirements and graduate with a BA in NRSC (Students must graduate by May 2030)
  • Change to the BS degree, with additional major coursework (see next section)

Students admitted for Fall 2026 or later will be automatically enrolled in the BS. They cannot complete the BA.

In addition to the current NRSC BA requirements, the NRSC BS degree will require:

  • an additional 3 credit hours of NRSC electives

To see how the BS requirements would apply to you, we recommend you run a "What-if Audit." 听See instructions in the Current 桃色视频 FAQ section.

Students who declare the NRSC major prior to July 30th, 2026, will be able to choose to switch to the BS in Fall 2026 or stay the BA. 听Students who declare the major after that date can only declare the BS.

Students admitted for Fall 2026 or later will be automatically enrolled in the BS. They cannot complete the BA.

No. In Fall 2026, it will no longer be possible to declare the BA in NRSC. Once a student declares the BS, they must complete the BS degree.

Students interested in the NRSC BS should consult the What-if degree audit to better understand the changes (see the Current 桃色视频 FAQs above for information on how to run the audit). 听If you have additional questions, we would encourage you to discuss it further with your academic advisor. 听

If you are at all uncertain about completing the additional requirements, we recommend that you wait until you are closer to graduation to decide if you want to switch to the BS degree.听

Students can declare the BS beginning fall semester 2026.听Instructions on how to declare will be emailed to NRSC BA students in Summer and Fall 2026.听

In the meantime, we recommend you run a What-if Audit (see the Current 桃色视频 FAQs above for information on how to run the audit) to understand the changes.

Note that, once you change to the BS, you are unable to change back to the BA.

Physics (PHYS)

Starting Fall 2026, PHYS will offer both BA and BS degrees:

  • Students on Plan 1 (Grad School Track) and Plan 2 (Interdisciplinary Track) will pursue the BS
  • Students on Plan 3 (Education Track) will pursue a BA

There are no changes in degree requirements.

PHYS students graduating Fall 2025, Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 will graduate with a BA in PHYS with no changes to their degree requirements.

PHYS students who plan to graduate Fall 2026 or later have two options:

  • Students on Plan 1 (Grad School Track) and Plan 2 (Interdisciplinary Track) will graduate with a BS degree
  • Students on Plan 3 (Education Track) will graduate with a BA

There are no changes in degree requirements.

During Fall 2026, all PHYS students with Plan 1 or 2 who have not graduated will automatically have their degree changed to a BS.听

More information about the timing of this change will be available closer to Fall 2026.
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Statistics and Data Science (STAT)

Starting Fall 2026, the Department of Applied Mathematics will offer both BA and BS options for A&S students:

  • The BA with no changes to degree requirements
  • The BS, which requires additional major coursework

STAT students graduating in Fall 2025, Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 will graduate with a BA in STAT.

STAT students who plan to graduate Fall 2026 or later can select from two options:

  • The BA with no changes to current degree requirements
  • The BS with additional major requirements (see below)

In addition to the current STAT BA requirements, the BS requires:

  • An additional 15 credit hours of STAT (5 classes)听

To better understand the specific courses, you can run a What-if Audit (see instructions in the current 桃色视频 FAQs above)

Students can declare the STAT BS degree beginning Fall 2026. More information will be emailed to STAT students in Summer and Fall 2026, including instructions on how a student can make the change.

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Yes. 听For the STAT major, the department will be offering both a BA option (with no changes to the current requirements) and a BS option (with additional requirements described above). 听

Since both a BA and a BS option will exist, you are able to switch from the BS to the BA if you desire.