Campus Center, 4th Floor
UMass Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
registrar@umb.edu
Second Degree/Previous Degree
Announcements
A student is considered to be seeking a second baccalaureate degree if the student has previously earned a baccalaureate degree at a college or university accredited by one of the United States’ regional accrediting bodies. To obtain a second baccalaureate degree at UMass Boston, a student is required to complete the requirements of the declared major, complete at least thirty credits in residence and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. (Note that students whose first baccalaureate degree is from UMass Boston may be subject to additional restrictions. Students whose degree is from another school must have a total of 120/123 credits to graduate.)(passed governance 11/2013)
Students whose first degree is from UMass Boston can apply for a second undergraduate degree using the Second Degree application.
Students whose first degree is from another school should file an admissions application. For information on applying and financial aid please check the Admissions web page.
Advising Policies and Guidelines for Second Degree Students
Internal Second Degree Students
(Students whose first degree was from UMass Boston)
- All general education requirements will be waived, which includes:
- Verbal Reasoning & Expression (English 101 & 102)
- Critical Analysis (first year and intermediate seminar)
- Writing Proficiency Requirement
- Distribution courses
- Diversity courses
- Elementary Language Proficiency
- Quantitative Reasoning Requirement
- Students must complete an additional 30 total credits (including major credits) in residence and must earn a minimum 2.0 GPA.
- Second degree students may not repeat any course.
- Students must follow all university and major rules regarding repeats, pass-fail courses, GPA, and transfer credits in their second degree.
- If a student’s first degree was a BA, s/he is not eligible to complete a BS degree in that same major.
- Students must follow all course sequencing rules.
- Students are not eligible to complete a second degree in any program for which they have completed a previous minor.
- Some academic departments and colleges will require specific courses.
- Depending on the major/college, some course requirements cannot be waived.
- Students may not take 100G or 200G level courses
Notes:
The College of Nursing & Health Sciences requires a statistics course and EHS 320 and 260 to fulfill the diversity requirements. The College of Management requires Econ 101, 102, and Math 134.
External Second Degree Students:
(Students whose first degree was from an institution other than UMass Boston.)
- All general education requirements will be waived, which includes:
- Verbal Reasoning & Expression (English 101 & 102)
- Critical Analysis (first year and intermediate seminar)
- Writing Proficiency Requirement
- Distribution courses
- Diversity courses
- Elementary Language Proficiency
- Quantitative Reasoning Requirement
- Students must complete all major requirements of their new college and major. They must complete 120 credits (or 123 credits) which include a minimum of 30 credits in residence. They must earn a minimum 2.0 GPA.
- Students must follow all university and major rules regarding repeats, pass-fail courses, GPA, and transfer credits in their second degree.
- Students must follow all course sequencing rules.
- Depending on the major/college, some course requirements cannot be waived.
Notes:
- The number of credits that a student must complete depends upon which college they are in. College of Liberal Arts, College of Science & Mathematics, and the College of College of Management all require 120 credits. The College of Nursing & Health Sciences requires 123 credits.
- The College of Nursing & Health Sciences requires a statistics course, EHS 320, and 260 to fulfill the diversity requirements. The College of Management requires Econ 101, 102, and Math 134.
All students should meet regularly with their major advisor and check their degree audit for academic progress.
Campus Center, 4th Floor
UMass Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
registrar@umb.edu