Every student at Ohio State completes courses in General Education (GE). Although these GE courses are meant to provide a broad baseline of learning, often times the courses supplement the student’s major or program. The requirements vary depending on whether you are pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Bachelor of Science degree or a Professional Program in the Arts. If you are not sure which curriculum you are following, ask your advisor.
The university is implementing a new General Education program that will be followed by students whose first enrollment term is Autumn 2022 or later. GE requirements for current students (that is, students who first enrolled prior to Autumn 2022) will not change, and they will continue to complete the GE program that was in effect when they first enrolled — now called the Legacy GE. When searching and registering for classes, students can find Legacy GE classes by using the search filter "General Education – Legacy."
In addition to the GE, you will complete general college and major requirements and elective course work to reach a minimum of 121 credit hours.
Remedial courses (courses at the 10XX level or below, and English 1109) and credit hours earned in repeated course work do not count toward the 121 hour minimum requirement for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. Note that you can take both "versions" of cross-listed courses (e.g., Comparative Studies 2670/Philosophy 2860); however, since the two versions are in fact the same course, only one may count toward your minimum degree hours.
The number of hours required to complete a Bachelor's degree with a given major will depend on your program and goals.
You may need to plan a program of more than 121 credit hours if you wish to complete specific professional or studio training, are preparing for graduate study in certain disciplines, or have multidisciplinary goals.
If the combination of course work for the GE, prerequisites, and your major program totals fewer than 121 hours, you have many options for the remaining hours, called electives. With your elective hours, you could pursue a second major, a minor, or a combination degree program; select a set of courses on a specific topic; engage in an undergraduate research experience; do internships; or study abroad. You are urged to meet with an academic advisor to work out a plan that best fits your needs and interests. In no case shall the number of hours required for graduation be fewer than 121.
You may count a maximum of 10 hours of non-Arts and Sciences and non-Arts and Sciences-approved course work toward your degree. Of the 10 hours, no more than 4 may be from physical activities courses taught in Education: Physical Activity and Educational Services (EDU PAES); physical activities courses include all 1100 level EDU PAES courses except for 1102, 1103, 1122, and 1137. A maximum of 8 hours of technical credit may be counted toward the 10 hours of non-Arts and Sciences and non-Arts and Sciences-approved course work; however, the combination of EDU PAES, technical, and other non-Arts and Sciences credit hours may not exceed 10.
Upper-division courses are defined as all Arts and Sciences courses at the 3000-level or above, Philosophy 2500, all courses taught by departments in mathematical and physical sciences (Astronomy, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science and Engineering, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics) at the 2000-level and above (except for Earth Sciences 2911 and any courses numbered 2194), and world language courses taught in the language at the 2000-level. Note that Gen Ed 4001, the reflection seminar, does not count as an Upper-division course. Your 39 upper- division hours may come from hours earned for the GE, the major, the minor (if applicable), and electives.
Regular course enrollment at Ohio State and in the College of Arts and Sciences in your final semester.