Degree Requirements
A MacMurray education consists of three interrelated parts: general education, major, and electives.
The general education component ensures that each student receives a broad liberal education and develops skills in writing, speaking, and critical reading, and in reflective and analytical thinking. General education courses are not concentrated in the first two years but continue throughout the four years, interacting with courses in the major.
A major prepares students for specific careers.
Electives, completing the 120 semester hours for a bachelor’s degree, provide opportunities for students to pursue interests outside their majors and to learn more about areas associated with their major fields.
As schedules permit, students may add minors and second, or even third, majors.
Bachelor’s Degrees
A bachelor’s degree program at MacMurray can be one of four kinds: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Bachelor of Social Work. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is the degree awarded to students who major in Nursing, and the Bachelor of Social Work is the degree awarded to students who major in Social Work. All other majors lead to either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science, at the student’s choice.
At MacMurray, the only difference between Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science is a second language. The B.A. requires a second language, the B.S. does not. (See below.)
Hours
For all bachelor’s degrees, students must complete 120 semester hours, including general education requirements, major requirements, and electives. With the assistance and approval of a faculty advisor, each student plans a program of studies that will satisfy these requirements.
Grade Point Average
A student must earn a cumulative grade point average of not less than 2.00 (C on a 4 -point scale) in courses taken at MacMurray to qualify for graduation. Students are also required to attain a grade point average of at least 2.00 for all courses required in the general education program, including a minimum grade of C in the three Rhetoric courses, and in courses required for the major and minor. Majors in Biology, Education, Nursing, and Social Work require a 2.50 grade point average.
Bachelor of Arts
The Bachelor of Arts degree requires:
- 120 semester hours
- General education program
- Major
- A second language, 6 or 12 hours as needed (or demonstrated proficiency)
Second Language for the B.A. Degree
MacMurray offers American Sign Language and Spanish. Either must be completed through the second college year (ASLA 250, or SPAN 200 plus one 300-level Spanish course) for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
Students entering MacMurray with a language background from high school may take a proficiency test for the elementary level of the language they have previously studied and may need to complete only the intermediate language at MacMurray.
Students may also qualify for the Bachelor of Arts degree by taking other languages through the second-year level at other colleges. Through the Central Illinois Foreign Language and International Studies Consortium, MacMurray students may take language courses at Illinois College or the University of Illinois – Springfield. Permission of the College Registrar is required.
Bachelor of Science
- 120 semester hours
- General education program
- Major
The requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree are the same as those for the Bachelor of Arts degree, except that there is no second language requirement.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- 120 semester hours
- General education program
- Nursing Major
The requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing are the same as those for the Bachelor of Science degree but with a major in Nursing. Nursing majors may have minors as well as second majors in other fields.
Bachelor of Social Work
- 120 semester hours
- General education program
- Social Work Major
The requirements for the Bachelor of Social Work are the same as those for the Bachelor of Science degree but with a major in Social Work. Social Work majors may have minors as well as second majors in other fields.
Associate Degrees
MacMurray also offers associate degrees in two fields: Associate of Arts in Interpreter Training, and Associate of Science in Criminal Justice. Both degrees require:
- 60 semester hours
- General education program consisting of:
- MacMurray 101
- Rhetoric 101, 102, and 103
- Math 125
- One course from the Issues of Community and Conflict sequence or Cultural Studies 300
- Writing proficiency exam (students are eligible to take it after successful completion of 48 hours)
- Department requirements (see the department listings)
