To qualify for a degree from the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, a student must complete a minimum 120 credits with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C). A minimum of 60 credits towards degree must be completed in residence.

Writing Requirements (FYWR, ULWR)

Students fulfill the First-Year Writing Requirement (FYWR) by taking an approved 4 credit course. Transfer credit can be used to fulfill the First-Year Writing Requirement. 

Students complete the Upper-level Writing Requirement (ULWR) by taking one approved course. Most students fulfill ULWR with a course for their major.  ULWR cannot be fulfilled by transfer credit.

Quantitative Reasoning (QR)

Students fulfill Quantitative Reasoning by

• passing one course of three or more credits designated for full QR credit (QR/1); or
• passing two courses (at least one of which must be of three or more credits) designated for half QR credit (QR/2)

Courses transferred from another college or university do not generally automatically carry count for QR credit, except in the following circumstances:

• Transfer credit of at least three credits for PHYSICS 125, 126, 140, 240 or a statistics (except business statistics) course receive QR/1 credit; or
• QR is considered fulfilled for all science, math, and computer science majors who transfer in all the prerequisites for the major

Students may petition the Academic Standards Board to be allowed to satisfy the QR requirement with a class that was taken at another institution.

Race and Ethnicity (RE)

Students fulfill the Race and Ethnicity requirement by passing one course designated for RE credit. 

Credits transferred from another college or university do not meet the Race and Ethnicity requirement. Students may petition the Academic Standards Board to be allowed to satisfy the RE requirement with a class that was taken at another institution.

Language Requirement (LR)

Students fulfill the Language Requirement by achieving Fourth-term proficiency in a language other than English in one of the following ways:

• Certified proficiency on a University of Michigan reading and/or listening placement exam.
• Credit for a University of Michigan fourth-term language course with a grade of C- or better.
  • Transfer credit equivalent to a fourth-term language class fulfills the language requirement. 

Area Distribution (NS, SS, HU, MSA, CE)

Students fulfill distribution by completing 30 credits outside their major, distributed as follows:

• 7 credits in each of the following three areas: Natural Science (NS), Social Science (SS), and Humanities (HU) for a total of 21 credits.
• 3 additional credits in three of the following five areas: (NS), (SS), (HU), Mathematical and Symbolic Analysis (MSA), and Creative Expression (CE) for a total of 9 credits.

Transfer credit can fulfill area distribution.

Bachelor in General Studies students are not required to fulfill Area Distribution.

Major

Each A.B.or B.S. student must complete the requirements for a major. No more than 60 credits in any one department may be counted toward the 120 for the degree. Bachelor in General Studies students do not declare a major.