Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

College of Education and Human Development Requirements for Bachelor of Arts


​Course reuse: 

Students must fulfill the course requirements for all declared programs. Courses may be reused between programs with the following restrictions:

  • For students who elect a double major where the majors are in different schools/colleges, no more than two courses at the 300-level or above may be used toward the fulfillment of both majors.
  • For students who elect a minor where the major and minor are in different schools/colleges, no more than one course at the 300-level or above may be used toward the fulfillment of both the major and the minor.

General Education


See General Education  for an overview for the curriculum including how to search for courses that meet general education categories .

Verbal Reasoning and Expression


Composition I is waived if a student transfers in Composition II.
Both courses are waived for students matriculating with 90 or more transfer credits.

Students in the Honors College  will fulfill this requirement with Honors English 101 or 102.

Critical Analysis


  • First Year Seminar
  • Intermediate Seminar

Students matriculating with 30 or more transfer credits do not have to complete a first year seminar.
Students matriculating with 90 or more transfer credits do not have to complete either requirement.

Students in the Honors College  will fulfill the first year seminar requirement with HONORS 101 - Honors First-year Seminar  and HONORS 210G - Honors Intermediate Seminar .

Writing Proficiency


Students must complete either a portfolio or a timed written exam. This requirement should be completed when a student has earned between 60 and 75 credits.

See Writing Proficiency  for more information.

Quantitative Reasoning


Quantitative Reasoning will be met by satisfying one of the following:

  • Successful completion of either MATH 114QR  or MATH 115  or any other Mathematics course  with a course number higher than 115.
  • Successful completion of any Mathematics Distribution course with MATH 114QR  or MATH 115  as a prerequisite.
  • Demonstration of proficiency at the level of MATH 114QR  or MATH 115  through Advanced Placement or CLEP tests. [AP and CLEP give college credit.]
  • Placement into MATH 125  or higher through a University-approved Math Placement Test taken in a proctored setting.

Distribution Areas


  • One Arts (AR)
  • One Humanities (HU)
  • One Arts (AR) or Humanities (HU)
  • Three Social and Behavioral Science (SB)
  • One Natural Sciences (NS)
  • Two Natural Sciences (NS) or Math/Technology (MT)
  • Two World Languages (WL) or World Cultures (WC) or one intensive language course

Elementary Language Proficiency


The elementary language proficiency requirement can be fulfilled by meeting one of the following:

  • Completing or transferring in a college foreign language course at the 102 level or higher. If a student completes or transfers in two semesters of the same language (such as 101 and 102), the student will also meet the two-course World Culture (WC)/World Language (WL) requirement.
  • Completing up to level three of the same foreign language in high school.
  • Completing at least one year of secondary or post-secondary education in a non-English-speaking school or university.
  • Scoring three or higher on an AP exam in a foreign language, or scoring 50 or higher on a CLEP exam in a foreign language.
  • Demonstrating proficiency to the appropriate language department or, if the language is not taught at UMass Boston, to the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Diversity Areas


  • One United States Diversity
  • One International Diversity

Students matriculating with 60 or more transfer credits may complete this requirement with one diversity course in either area.