Degree Requirements

A Batten University degree requires 128 credits — the equivalent of four courses per semester for four years. But a degree isn't just a credit count. It's a structured plan built around three components that work together to give you both depth and breadth as a thinker, communicator, and professional.

A Degree in Three Parts

Think of your 128 credits as roughly divided into thirds. Here’s what each third is doing for you.

Part One

General Education

Courses every Batten student takes, regardless of major. They build the foundation — writing, critical thinking, breadth across disciplines — that makes everything else possible.

~42 credits

Part Two

Your Major

The deep dive. You choose a field, and your major coursework takes you from introductory concepts all the way to advanced, specialized knowledge in that discipline.

~42 credits

Part Three

Electives

The rest is yours. Explore freely, pursue a minor, add a second major, or dig deeper into areas that connect to your goals. This is where you shape your degree around your curiosity.

~44 credits

General Education Requirements

These are the courses every Batten student takes. They’re not filler — they’re the common academic experience that connects students across majors and builds the skills every employer and graduate school is looking for.

English Composition

ENG 105: The Art of Writing. An argumentative writing course built around critical thinking, research, and communicating clearly. You need a C or better to satisfy the requirement.

4 credits — First Year

Foreign Language Proficiency

You need to demonstrate competency in a language other than English. Depending on your background, you may already satisfy this — or you may need to complete up to three courses in a language sequence.

0 – 12 credits

Batten Seminars

Three seminar courses (WES 100, 200, and 300) taken across your time here. Each builds on the last, taking you from critical inquiry as a first-year to participating as a scholar by your junior or senior year.

12 credits

Breadth Requirement

Six courses spread across the arts, humanities, social sciences, professional studies, math, and natural sciences. The goal: you leave Batten with real exposure to disciplines beyond your major.

24 credits

The Batten Seminar Sequence

These aren’t lectures. They’re discussion-driven seminars on topics chosen by faculty — the same three-course thread runs through your entire degree, building academic skills and habits of mind from your first semester to your last.

WES 100 — Introduction to Critical Inquiry

First year. You learn to identify problems, question assumptions, consider multiple perspectives, and articulate your own thinking. Heavy on reading, writing, and discussion.

WES 200 — Engagement in Intellectual Discourse

Builds on Seminar I. You engage ideas with more nuance and pursue scholarly research at a deeper level, understanding the liberal arts as a critical, engaged practice.

WES 300 — Participation in Intellectual Discourse

The capstone of the sequence. You operate as a scholar — developing your own perspectives, engaging with other viewpoints, and understanding what it means to create knowledge.

Breadth Requirement by School

You’ll take one or two courses from each of Batten’s schools. These must come from six different department codes and from outside your major — so you’re actually branching out, not just checking boxes.

Goode School of Arts & Humanities

One course in the Creative Arts
One upper-level course in the Humanities (300-level or above)

Brock School of Mathematics & Natural Sciences

One course in the Mathematical Sciences
One course in the Natural Sciences with a lab component

Birdsong School of Social Sciences

One course from the Birdsong School

Watts School of Professional Studies

One course from the Birdsong or Watts School

For the full list of approved breadth courses, see the General Education section.

Choosing Your Major

You don’t have to walk in the door with your major figured out. Most students start undeclared — that’s completely normal. You have until you’ve completed 54 credit hours (roughly the end of sophomore year) to declare.

Once you declare, you’ll complete a Declaration of Major Form and be assigned a faculty advisor in your field. Your major advisor guides your course selection and ultimately certifies that you’ve met all requirements before you graduate.

You can also add a minor (20–28 credits in a related area), a second minor, or even a second major. Talk to your advisor about what makes sense for your goals.

Explore Majors & Minors

Good to Know

You can change your major at any time by filing a new declaration form.
No more than 64 credits in a single discipline can count toward graduation.
A minor requires a 2.0 GPA in all courses in that field, and at least 12 hours taken at Batten.
Minor hours cannot heavily overlap your major — at most 8 shared credits.
Your faculty advisor certifies your major completion before you can graduate.

Make It Your Own

The third of your degree that isn’t general education or your major is yours to shape. Electives are your opportunity to explore freely across the full curriculum — take courses that connect to your career goals, follow your curiosity, or pursue a path you didn’t expect.

With your advisor’s guidance, electives can also be used strategically. Students often use this space to:

Complete a minor in a complementary field
Take courses that strengthen a specific career path
Explore a subject they’ve always been curious about
Build toward a second major if your schedule allows

Certificate programs are also available through Batten in specialized areas. These don’t appear on your transcript but provide documented expertise in a focused subject.

Staying on Track

The 4×4 system is straightforward: four courses, four credits each, every semester. But staying on track also means knowing the rules, hitting the checkpoints, and understanding what’s expected of you at each stage.

4×4 The System

Four four-credit courses per semester, eight semesters, equals 128 credits. January and summer sessions are available if you need to catch up or get ahead.

2.0 GPA Requirement

You need at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA and a 2.0 in your major. Some majors require higher — check with your advisor.

54 Credits to Declare

You must declare your major by the time you hit 54 credit hours. Don’t wait until the last minute — your advisor can help you choose.

32 Final Credits Here

Your last 32 credits must be completed in residence at Batten, along with at least 16 credits in your major field.

Other Requirements to Know

Oral CommunicationYou must meet your major’s oral communication standards before you can graduate. Each program defines what this looks like.
Application for GraduationFile through WebAdvisor in advance. The deadlines are: by end of spring semester for May graduation, before the start of fall for December or August graduation.
Two-Thirds Traditionally GradedOf your 128 credits, at least two-thirds must be in traditionally graded courses — not pass/fail or CR/NC.
Your ResponsibilityAdvisors guide you, but meeting all graduation requirements is ultimately on you. Use WebAdvisor regularly to track your progress.

Explore Academics

General Education Full details on every Gen Ed requirement Majors & Minors Every program Batten offers Academic Catalog Official requirements, policies, and course listings New & Transfer Student Advising How advising works and what to expect Understanding Your Schedule How to read your first schedule and what placements mean Registrar Forms, transcripts, AP credit, and official records

Questions About Your Degree?

Your Academic Advisor is your first stop. Whether you’re trying to figure out what to take your first semester or planning your path to graduation, they’re here to help.

Schedule an Advising Appointment Center for Student Success

University Advising
Clarke Hall — Center for Student Success
studentsuccess@batten.edu