Earning Multiple Degrees
Multiple Degrees from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Multiple Degrees from CLAS and another UI College
Returning to CLAS for Successive Degrees
Multiple Baccalaureate Degrees from Different Institutions
Multiple Degrees from CLAS
A student may earn more than one baccalaureate degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. For example, a student may earn a BS in biology and a BA in English or a BA in mathematics and a BM in music. The degrees may be earned concurrently or successively.
A student, however, is never awarded two different baccalaureate degrees with the same major; for example, a student may not earn both a BA and a BS in psychology. Likewise, the BLS is not awarded concurrently with another degree.
In order to earn additional baccalaureate degrees from CLAS, the student must fulfill all requirements for each degree, including those for all majors and for the General Education Program. The student must also fulfill the CLAS and UI residence requirements.
Please Note: As of December 2006, University of Iowa students are no longer required to earn 30 extra semester hours in order to be awarded two undergraduate degrees.
Multiple Degrees from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and another UI College
A student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may earn an additional University of Iowa baccalaureate degree from another UI college concurrently. A student, for example, may earn a BS from CLAS while earning a BBA from the Tippie College of Business. A student earning baccalaureate degrees from two colleges is generally referred to as participating in the "combined degree program."
In order to earn additional baccalaureate degrees from different colleges, the student must be admitted to those colleges. All requirements for the additional degrees must be satisfied, including the requirements for the majors and for the appropriate General Education Programs of both colleges. Students also must satisfy the residence requirements of The University of Iowa and of the colleges.
Additional information is available in the cooperating colleges' student services offices. Students seeking additional degrees from different UI undergraduate colleges are urged to review all requirements with college advisors or staff as soon as possible.
Please Note: As of December 2006, University of Iowa students are no longer required to earn 30 extra semester hours in order to be awarded undergraduate degrees from different colleges.
Returning to CLAS for Successive Baccalaureate Degrees
A student who has been awarded a baccalaureate degree (or degrees) from The University of Iowa may return for an additional baccalaureate degree (or degrees) if the degree is different from the one previously earned. For example, a student who has received a BA degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may return and earn a BS, BM, or BFA. (A student may not earn a second BA degree. Instead, that student may return and complete a second major. For more information on earning a second major, please see Returning to Earn Additional Majors.)
A student with a baccalaureate degree from another UI college also may return and earn an additional baccalaureate degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as long as the degrees are not identical. If a BBA, a BSN or a BSE has been earned, for example, the student may return to earn a BA, BS, or a BFA from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Likewise, a student may not earn two different baccalaureate degrees with the same major, such as a BA in psychology and BS in psychology. Instead, the student must choose another major for the additional baccalaureate degree.
In order to earn the additional baccalaureate degree, all requirements for the degree must be completed, including the General Education and the CLAS and UI residence requirements. Please Note: BA, BS, BFA, BM, or BLS degrees awarded by The University of Iowa after August 1994 satisfy all requirements of the current General Education Program. A student who graduated with these degrees before August 1994 has satisfied all areas of the General Education Program except for the current foreign language component which must be completed.
A student interested in returning to earn an additional baccalaureate degree from CLAS must apply for admission to The University of Iowa and to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Please note: A student may not be enrolled in a graduate or professional program while earning a baccalaureate degree. Concurrent enrollment is not allowed.
Multiple Baccalaureate Degrees from Different Institutions
A student with a baccalaureate degree (or degrees) from another college or university may apply for admission to The University of Iowa to earn an additional baccalaureate degree (or degrees) from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The student must apply for admission to The University of Iowa and to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; the department in which the student wishes to study will review the student's application and supporting documents and recommend an admission decision.
In order to earn the additional baccalaureate degree, all requirements for the major and the degree must be fulfilled, including the General Education and the CLAS and UI residence requirements. Please note: A student having earned a BA or BS degree in the liberal arts and sciences from another institution is considered to have completed all UI General Education Program requirements except for the foreign language requirement. If a student has not earned such a degree, all General Education requirements are evaluated separately for course equivalency.
Please note: A student may not be enrolled in a graduate or professional program while earning a baccalaureate degree. Concurrent enrollment is not allowed.