The Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest academic unit within the University of Pittsburgh, with more than 11,000 students and over 1,000 faculty from around the world. The Dietrich School offers a competitive liberal arts education within the setting of a comprehensive research university and a dynamic urban setting.

The Dietrich School instructional programs provide a liberal arts curriculum designed to prepare students for the world of work, research, professional schools, and graduate programs. This education helps students cultivate the skills and knowledge that provide a foundation for lifelong learning, and educates students so that they can become perceptive, reflective, and intellectually self-conscious citizens of the world. The main elements of the Dietrich School general education are: an acquaintance with great works of art, literature, and philosophy; an understanding of social institutions and processes; a sense of history and familiarity with the richness and variety of human cultural achievements; an awareness of the main ideas of contemporary natural science and mathematics; and engagement with languages and cultures other than one’s own.

Dietrich School Undergraduate Web site

Please visit www.asundergrad.pitt.edu for detailed information on:

• Dietrich School majors, minors, and certificates
• Dietrich School general education requirements
• Academic resources, services, and opportunities
• Additional policies and procedures for current Dietrich School students

Contact Information

University of Pittsburgh
Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
Office of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies
140 Thackeray Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-624-6480
Fax: 412-624-8265
studentrecords@as.pitt.edu

Dietrich School Undergraduate Calendar

www.asundergrad.pitt.edu/academic-calendar

Admission through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid

The following students are admitted to Dietrich School by the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. Please visit https://admissions.pitt.edu for more information.

• First-year students (see Pittsburgh campus First-Year Student Admissions for general admissions information).
• Transfer students who have previously enrolled at a college or university other than the University of Pittsburgh. These include former University of Pittsburgh students who have since earned college credits at another institution and now wish to return to the Dietrich School.
• Continuing education students: Adults who wish to begin or continue to work toward an undergraduate degree by taking a full- or part-time course load should apply as new or transfer students through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
• Students who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree from an institution other than the University of Pittsburgh and now wish to earn a second undergraduate degree.
• International students should refer to admission guidelines on the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid Web site.

Transfer Students/Transfer Credits

Previous course work for transfer students is evaluated by the Dietrich School Office of Student Records with respect to general education requirements. Before initial registration, transfer students receive an Undergraduate Degree Requirement Evaluation indicating which requirements they have satisfied and which ones must be completed in order to complete their degree in the Dietrich School.

Courses from other colleges and universities are evaluated according to the following guidelines:

• Courses must be passed with a grade of C or better and must be earned at an institution accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association. Courses that have reasonable counterparts at the University are eligible for transfer. When requested, students are responsible for supplying descriptions for courses taken elsewhere.
• A maximum of 60 credits can be accepted from accredited community colleges and two-year junior colleges. A maximum of 90 credits can be accepted from accredited four-year institutions. All students must earn their final 30 credits toward a Dietrich School degree and at least half of the credits for their majors, minors, and/or certificates while enrolled as a Dietrich School student.
• The number of transfer credits granted for a given course cannot exceed the number awarded on the transcript of the original school or the number earned for the corresponding course in the Dietrich School. Credits earned on the quarter system will be converted into semester credits. A quarter credit is equal to two-thirds of a semester credit (e.g., five quarter-system credits equal three semester credits, and three quarter-system credits equal two semester credits).
• The Dietrich School accepts credits, but not grades, for transfer. Consequently, any courses that are accepted for transfer will be used as credit toward graduation, but will not be calculated into the student’s GPA at the University of Pittsburgh.
• Transfer credits do not apply towards University honors.

Please contact the Dietrich School Office of Student Records at 412-624-6480 for information about transfer credit evaluation. Please note: All transfer credits may be subject to re-evaluation when a student transfers from one school to another within the University of Pittsburgh.

Admission through the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

The following students must apply directly to the Dietrich School for admission.

Transfers from Other University of Pittsburgh Schools at the Pittsburgh campus

To transfer to the Dietrich School from another school at the Pittsburgh campus, students should request that the other Pittsburgh campus school send their records to the Dietrich School. The Dietrich School will review the student records and send letters of acceptance to students who are eligible to transfer into the Dietrich School. To qualify, students must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 and have completed their basic skills requirements in composition and algebra according to Dietrich School guidelines. In addition, students enrolled in the College of General Studies (CGS) must earn at least 12 credits through CGS before applying for transfer to the Dietrich School.

Upon acceptance into the Dietrich School, students will receive evaluations of their previous course work, acknowledging the courses that have fulfilled Dietrich School skills and general education requirements. To graduate with a degree from the Dietrich School, students are required to earn their last 30 credits while enrolled in the Dietrich School and to earn at least half of the credits for their majors, minors, and certificates while enrolled in the Dietrich School.

Relocation from University of Pittsburgh Regional Campuses

1. For students seeking guaranteed relocation who have earned credits only from one of the regional campuses, the normal requirement is for completion of 45 credits at the specific regional campus, with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
2. For students seeking guaranteed relocation who have earned 30 or more credits at the specific regional campus and a total of 45 credits overall, a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all courses is required.
3. For students seeking relocation who have between 15 and 30 credits at the specific regional campus and a total of 45 credits overall, a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required in all courses, and the normal requirements of the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences for external transfer students must be met. For these students, relocation is not guaranteed. Students must complete at least 15 credits at the regional campus to transfer to the Pittsburgh campus.
4. All students must complete the Algebra and Composition skills requirements before relocating from a regional campus.

Students Seeking a Second University of Pittsburgh Degree

Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in any University of Pittsburgh school or campus and wish to earn a second undergraduate degree in the Dietrich School should apply directly to the Dietrich School. Applicants should note the following:

• Course work for the second degree will continue to be recorded on the original University of Pittsburgh undergraduate transcript.
• All appropriate course work from the first degree will apply to the second degree.
• Students must earn a minimum of 30 new credits. No coursework repeated from the first degree will count toward the second degree.
• At least half of the credits for the second major toward the second degree must be earned while enrolled in the Dietrich School.
• The cumulative GPA and credit total will be based on all credits from the first degree and all new course work taken that applies to the second degree.

Students Seeking Reinstatement

The following students must apply for reinstatement through the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.

• Dietrich School students who have not enrolled for three consecutive terms (one calendar year);
• Dietrich School students who have completed their suspension periods and wish to continue their studies; and
• Students who last attended another school at the Pittsburgh campus but have not enrolled in classes for three consecutive terms (one calendar year), have not attended another institution, and wish to be admitted to the Dietrich School.

Students who are returning after completing their suspension period will be reinstated on probation.

The deadline for reinstatement is August 15 for the fall term, December 15 for the spring term, and one week before the beginning of classes in the summer term or summer session. Students who last attended another University of Pittsburgh school on the Pittsburgh campus or who attended a regional campus must meet the admissions requirements for transfer to the Dietrich School. Students’ academic standing upon reinstatement will continue to be that attained at the end of their last term in residence.

Students who are reinstated for a particular term but do not enroll for that term must apply for reinstatement again if they wish to attend for a later term. Students who have been away from the University for two or more years will be subject to the requirements of the school and of their major at the time of their reinstatement, rather than those in place at the time of their last attendance.

Post-baccalaureate Students

Students who have completed an undergraduate degree and wish to take additional undergraduate courses on a non degree-seeking basis may apply directly to the College of General Studies.

Academic Integrity

As members of the University of Pittsburgh community, Dietrich School students are expected to meet their obligation to exhibit honesty and to respect the ethical standards of the University community and of their chosen field of study in carrying out academic assignments. Dietrich School students are therefore expected to familiarize themselves with the published rules and regulations governing academic integrity. For specific information, see the Academic Integrity Code.

The Dietrich School maintains an Academic Integrity Board, consisting of both faculty and students, for adjudication of grievances from faculty about student behavior and from students about faculty behavior. 

Grading Policies

Letter Grade Option

The Dietrich School adheres to the following University letter grade system without exception.

S/NC Grade Option

The Dietrich School offers both a standard letter-grade option and the Satisfactory/No-Credit (S/NC) option for students enrolled in most Dietrich School courses. Under the S/NC option, a student who does satisfactory work (a grade of C or better) in a course receives the grade of S. If the student’s work is not satisfactory (a grade of C- or lower), the grade of NC (no credit) is given. Courses for which an S is earned are counted toward graduation but are not computed in the GPA. Courses for which an NC is earned are not counted toward graduation or the GPA, since the NC designates that no credit has been earned.

Students can select the S/NC grade option when enrolling for a course. After the end of the add/drop period, a student must complete a Grade Option/Audit Request form and submit it to the Office of Student Records by the Grade Option deadline noted each term on the Dietrich School undergraduate calendar.

Note: There are some formal limitations to a student’s choice of grading systems; he or she should check with an academic advisor before deciding to take a course S/NC.

Audit (N Grade)

To audit a course, a student must register for and pay tuition for the course. A Grade Option/Audit Request form must be submitted for undergraduate courses by the grade option change deadline noted each term on the Dietrich School undergraduate calendar. The instructor for the course must sign the Grade Option/Audit Request form before the form can be processed. Completed forms must be submitted to the Office of Student Records. Students who audit a course are given an N grade, which means that the course is counted neither towards graduation nor the GPA. A student typically chooses to audit a course for personal enrichment.

G Grades

At the discretion of an instructor, a G grade may be awarded when students who have been attending a course and making regular progress are prevented from completing the course due to extenuating personal circumstances. Students who are assigned a G grade are required to complete course requirements no later than one year after the term or session in which the course was taken, or by an earlier deadline established by the instructor. After that year, the grade will automatically change to NG; an NG grade cannot be changed, and the credits will no longer appear as “in progress.” The student will be required to re-register for the course if it is needed to fulfill requirements for graduation. The Dietrich School encourages students with G grades to work with their instructors to complete the requirements for the course as soon as possible.

Academic Honors

Outstanding students in the Dietrich School are recognized for their academic achievement in several ways.

Dean’s List

After grades are posted for the fall and spring term, Dietrich School students whose academic performance indicate outstanding achievement are recognized on the Dean’s List. To be placed on the Dean’s List, a student must have earned at least 12 letter grade credits (not including courses taken on the Satisfactory/No-Credit option) with a term GPA of at least 3.50 and no grade lower than a C.

University Honors

Those members of a Dietrich School graduating class who have attained an outstanding scholastic record and have completed at least 60 letter-graded credits at the University of Pittsburgh are graduated with honors. All coursework completed at the University for a letter grade is calculated in the grade point average. University honors are awarded in the following levels of distinction according to grade point average at graduation:

• Summa Cum Laude: 3.75
• Magna Cum Laude: 3.50
• Cum Laude: 3.25

Departmental Honors

Many departments offer an honors major. Successful completion of the honors major, as well as normal graduation requirements, lead to the awarding of the bachelor’s degree with departmental honors. For detailed information, contact the departmental advisor or visit the department’s Web site.

Academic Standing

The Dietrich School is committed to the success of its students and has guidelines in place to connect students with the appropriate resources at the earliest sign of academic difficulty. A student’s academic standing is comprised of three factors: term GPA, cumulative GPA, and progress toward a degree. Students in the Dietrich School are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA and term GPA of 2.00 or above for each term of enrollment. In addition, full-time students are expected to successfully complete a minimum of 12 credits during each term of enrollment. Part-time students are expected to successfully complete a minimum of 3 credits during each term of enrollment.

Academic Alert is a marker designed to notify students who show signs, early on and throughout their academic career, of jeopardizing successful progress toward the completion of their undergraduate degree. This may be due to their inability to maintain a satisfactory GPA and/or failing to fulfill the algebra or composition requirement within the first two terms of full-time enrollment. Students who receive two consecutive Academic Alerts will be placed on Academic Probation.

Students are placed on Academic Probation after earning a GPA between a 1.50 and a 1.99 over two consecutive terms or have one semester at or below a 1.49 cumulative GPA. Students may also be placed on Academic Probation if they fail to make progress toward their degree (e.g. failing to earn any academic credits).

Students currently on Academic Probation who earn a term GPA below a 2.00 or fail to make progress toward their degree will be subject to Academic Suspension. After being suspended, students are not eligible to re-enroll for one calendar year. Following suspension, students are required to apply for reinstatement at the Dietrich School Undergraduate Dean’s Office. Students returning from academic suspension are reinstated on academic probation and are required to develop an academic success plan upon their return. These reinstated students’ records are reviewed after each subsequent term of enrollment.

Students who have been reinstated from Academic Suspension must earn at least a 2.00 GPA for each term that they enroll until they have achieved a cumulative GPA of a 2.0 or above. If a student fails to earn a 2.00 term GPA, they are subject to Academic Dismissal from the University. Dismissed students are not eligible for reinstatement.

Probation and Eligibility for Financial Aid

The Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (OAFA) monitors financial aid eligibility. Students on probation should contact OAFA at 412-624-7488 for more information.

Credit Policies

The following section details the Dietrich School’s rules regarding allowable credits and courses for students earning a degree in the Dietrich School.

Advanced Placement (AP) Credits

See the AP credit section of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid Web site.

Summer Courses Taken Elsewhere

Dietrich School students in good academic standing (cumulative GPA of at least 2.00) may attend a summer or special session of another accredited institution in order to supplement their program, provided they receive prior approval from the Dietrich School Office of Student Records. Students must submit a completed summer course approval form (available on the Student Records Web site), as well as the relevant course descriptions to the Office of Student Records. Students may not repeat any course taken at the University of Pittsburgh (passed or failed) at another institution. A maximum of two courses (no more than 8 credits) may be taken in a single period of enrollment elsewhere. 

Credit by Examination

In rare circumstances, credit by examination may be offered. Contact the Office of Students Records (studentrecords@as.pitt.edu or 412-624-6480) with questions.

Departmental Credits

No more than 60 credits may be taken in one department, and normally no more than 40 in a single department are considered desirable in a well-balanced program.

Repeating a Course/Duplication of Course Content 

If a student repeats a course, they must complete a course repeat form and submit it to the Office of Student Records. Please note the following.

• The original grade remains on the transcript, but is not counted in the calculation of the GPA.
• Any grade earned in the repeated course will be factored into the GPA, even if it is lower than the original grade.
• The repeated course does not increase the number of credits counted toward meeting degree requirements unless an F is replaced by a passing grade.
• W, R, N, or NC grades reported for the repeated course will not be identified as a course repeat, thus the original grade earned will continue to be counted in the GPA. Incomplete (G) grades will not be identified as repeated courses until the course work is completed.
• No sequential course may be repeated for credit after a higher numbered course in that sequence has been passed with a C or higher grade.
• No course can be repeated at any other institution.
• Students may repeat a course no more than two times.

Students may not earn duplicate credit for courses that substantially duplicate the content of courses taken previously. For example, duplicate credit cannot be earned for the following:

• Both a regular version of a course and an honors version of that course.
• Courses that are cross listed with a course the student has already taken.
• Courses taken under a newly assigned course number if already taken under an old course number.
• Certain specific courses that duplicate material.

Students with questions about repeating courses or duplicating course content should consult with their academic advisors.

English Language Institute Courses

LING 0007 , LING 0008 , and LING 0009  courses count toward the degree but are not counted toward a linguistics major.

Enrollment in Graduate Courses

Undergraduate Dietrich School students who demonstrate exemplary competencies and proficiencies may take advantage of the rich variety of graduate courses offered by the Dietrich School. Credits earned in graduate courses may count toward the degree. Students should consult with both their academic advisor and instructor of a course before registering.

Independent Study, Undergraduate Research, Internships, and Undergraduate Teaching

Dietrich School students may earn up to 24 credits of independent study, undergraduate research, internships, and undergraduate teaching as part of the 120 credits required for a degree. Ordinarily, no more than six credits may be earned in any term in a single undergraduate research experience or internship. Under certain conditions, students in good standing may register for a block of 15 credits of independent study. These credits are to be earned for work done within one academic term. A student may register for a 15-credit independent study term only once during his or her college career. This needs to be approved by an assistant dean prior to registration.

Learning Agreement forms for independent study, undergraduate research, and internships, as well as specific information about eligibility, procedures, and guidelines, are available from the academic department through which the activity will be conducted.

International Baccalaureate

The Dietrich School recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher-Level Examinations and may grant advanced standing and/or credit for various fields for scores on the Higher-Level Examinations, which range from five to seven. Advanced standing is determined individually by subject according to departmental policy. Students should send the results of their IB examinations directly to the Office of Student Records. No credit will be given for Subsidiary-Level Examinations.

Lower-Level or Sequential Courses

Credit cannot be earned for courses taken after more advanced course work in the same field has been successfully passed with a C or higher. For example, credit cannot be earned for an algebra course taken after the successful completion of a calculus course.

Normal Credit Load

A normal credit load is 12 to 18 credits per academic term (e.g. fall and spring). Students should complete a minimum of 15 credits per term in order to graduate within four years.

Any term in excess of 18 credits requires the recommendation of the student’s academic advisor and approval from an assistant dean. Call 412-624-6480 to make an appointment with an assistant dean. Students who enroll for more than 18 credits in a term will be charged additional tuition per credit.

Physical Education

Students are not required to take any courses in physical education (PEDC), but they may do so. Up to four credits of courses offered by the School of Education’s Department of Health, Physical, and Recreation Education may be counted toward a Dietrich School degree.

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

The Dietrich School will grant up to 16 credits (up to four of those credits used in lieu of PEDC coursework) earned in aerospace science (Air Force ROTC), military science (Army  ROTC), or naval science (Navy ROTC - through cross registration at Carnegie Mellon University) toward a Dietrich School degree.

Statute of Limitations

All of the credits required for a degree, whether earned in residence or transferred from another institution, must have been earned within 12 years prior to the date on which the degree is awarded. However, when given evidence that the previous courses still provide adequate preparation for courses yet to be taken and still represent a reasonable part of the total academic program, this limitation may be waived. In such cases, the waiver is for a specific period during which the program must be completed.

Online Courses

Students may count a maximum of 24 credits of online coursework completed at Pitt toward their degree. First-year students may not take online courses in their first term. For students who begin in the summer or fall, they may not take online courses until the spring. For students who begin in the spring, they may not take online courses until the summer.

Adding and Dropping Courses

Generally, students enrolled in the Dietrich School are not required to have their academic advisor’s approval before adding or dropping a course. However, Student Support Services (SSS) students and student athletes must see their academic advisor before processing an add/drop. Additionally, all first-year students are strongly urged to consult their academic advisor before adding or dropping a course.

Withdrawing from Courses

Withdrawing from one or more courses may impact a student’s financial aid status. Withdrawal from a course must be done by the withdrawal deadline, which is posted in the Dietrich School undergraduate calendar and on the Office of the University Registrar’s Web site.

Bachelor Degree Requirements

The following sections describe the general requirements for all majors offered by the Dietrich School.

Graduation

Students must apply for graduation by the posted deadline on the Dietrich School undergraduate calendar and/or the Office of Student Records Web site. Students must meet with their academic advisor to ensure all major requirements will be met during their final term at the University.  Students must earn at least 120 degree credits with a minimum 2.00 GPA. In addition, students must achieve a 2.00 GPA both in the major and in the minor or certificate. Within the 120 credits, students must fulfill the Dietrich School’s curriculum requirements, which include General Education Requirements and requirements for a major, minor, or certificate (see General Education Requirements, and Requirements for Major sections below). Furthermore, students must earn at least half of the credits for their major(s), minor(s), and certificates(s) and the final 30 credits toward the Dietrich School degree while enrolled as a Dietrich School student.

General Education Requirements

The Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences is committed to providing the best possible education for its undergraduate students. This education is best served through a clear and innovative curriculum that provides students with the knowledge, analytical skills, disciplinary understanding, intellectual curiosity, and creative opportunities that will allow them to engage and adapt in an increasingly diverse and rapidly changing world. Diversity and inclusion are part of the core mission of our school and the university and are key matters for our students and society. Of allied importance is the understanding of complex global issues and different cultures.

All students graduating from the Dietrich School must satisfy general education requirements detailed below. Students select from a range of approved courses to meet these requirements.

A. Writing

Written communication is central to almost all disciplines and professions. Developing writing proficiency is a lifelong process, and it is especially important that undergraduate education accelerates and directs that process toward the achievement of writing skills that will provide a base appropriate for professional or graduate education or for professional employment. The school requires that all students complete the following writing courses during their undergraduate career.

1. Composition

Students must complete the composition requirement, ENGCMP 0200 Seminar in Composition or its equivalent, with a minimum grade of C- by the end of their first year of study. Part-time students should complete the requirement within their first 30 credits. Transfer students must complete this requirement within their first 15 credits.

Students may be required to complete ENGCMP 0150 Workshop in Composition (or its equivalent) prior to enrolling in ENGCMP 0200. Students may be exempt from the composition requirement with a score of 5 on the AP English: Language and Composition or AP English: Literature and Composition exam.

2. Two Writing-Intensive Courses

Writing intensive courses (W-Courses) are designed to teach writing within a discipline through writing assignments that are distributed across the entire term. In these courses, students will produce at least 20-24 pages of written work. A significant portion of this work should be substantially revised in response to instructor feedback and class discussion.

All students must complete two courses that are designated as W-Courses. Students must satisfy one element of this requirement within their major field of study. W-Courses may also be courses that fulfill other General Education Requirements.

B. Algebra and Quantitative and Formal Reasoning

1. Algebra

Students must complete the algebra requirement, MATH 0031 College Algebra or its equivalent, with a minimum grade of C- by the end of their first year of study. Part-time students should complete the requirement within their first 30 credits. Transfer students must complete this requirement within their first 15 credits. Students will be exempt from the algebra requirement with a 620 or above Math SAT score or a 27 or above Math ACT score, or with completion of a high school course in Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, or Calculus with a grade of B or higher.

2. Quantitative and Formal Reasoning

All students are required to take and pass with a minimum grade of C- at least one course in university-level mathematics (other than trigonometry) for which algebra is a prerequisite, or an approved course in statistics or mathematical or formal logic in a department of the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.

C. Language

A Sequence of Two Courses in a Second Language

All students are required to complete with a minimum grade of C- two terms of university-level study in a second language other than English. Exemptions will be granted to students who can demonstrate elementary proficiency in a second language through one of the following:

1. Having completed three years of high school study of a second language with a grade of B or better in each course;
2. Passing a special proficiency examination;
3. Transferring credits for two terms or more of approved university-level instruction in a second language with grades of C or better;
4. Having a native language other than English.

D. Diversity

Diversity courses focus centrally and intensively on issues of diversity, and do so in a manner that promotes understanding of difference. They provide students with analytical skills with which to understand structural inequities and the knowledge to be able to participate more effectively in our increasingly diverse and multicultural society. The courses may address, though not be limited to, such issues as race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, religious difference, ability difference, and/or economic disparity.

All students must complete one course that is designated as a Diversity course but may take this course within their major field of study. Diversity courses may also be courses that fulfill other General Education Requirements.

E. Division Requirements in the Humanities and Arts, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences

Each student is required to take nine courses in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences distributed as below. Such courses allow students to pursue their own interests while they explore diverse views of a broad range of human cultures, modes of thought, and bodies of knowledge. The courses that fulfill these requirements are truly courses in the disciplines that draw on the unique resources of a research university.

1. A Course in Literature

By studying a range of literary and other texts in this course, students will be introduced to the techniques and methods of textual analysis and will develop critical perspectives on a variety of forms of cultural expression.

2. A Course in the Arts

This course introduces students to modes of analysis appropriate to music, theatre, or the visual and plastic arts. It may take the form of a survey, the study of a genre or period, or may focus on a particular artist.

3. A Course in Creative Work

In this course students are expected to produce some form of creative work, and they will also be trained in the techniques and modes of its production. The course could be situated in theatre, studio arts, writing, visual arts (including photography, film), music, and dance; or it may be a course that engages in innovative or original work in relation to written, oral, or visual material, new media, social media, and other contemporary forms of communication and representation.

4. A Course in Philosophical Thinking or Ethics

This course will emphasize close and critical reading of theories about knowledge, reality, humanity, and values. Courses could focus on human nature; scientific reasoning; theories of cognition and consciousness; human/social rights; competing systems of belief; morality; concepts of freedom; theories of justice; social obligations/constraints; or ethics, including applied or professional ethics.

5. A Social Science Course

A course that treats topics considered of significant importance in the social or behavioral sciences (including social psychology). Courses will introduce students to the subject matter and methodology of a particular discipline and will involve them in the modes of investigation, analysis, and judgment characteristically applied by practitioners.

6. A Course in Historical Analysis

In this course, students will develop skills and methods by which to understand significant cultural, social, economic, or political accounts of the past. The course may focus on pivotal moments of change, or important transitions over longer periods of time. Courses could explore developments in science, technology, literature, or art, and the ideas around them, or examine critical historical shifts by analyzing various data or cultural forms.

7. Three Courses in the Natural Sciences

These will be courses that introduce students to scientific principles and concepts rather than offering a simple codification of facts in a discipline or a history of a discipline. The courses may be interdisciplinary, and no more than two courses may have the same primary departmental sponsor.

F. Global Awareness and Cultural Understanding

Each student must complete three courses in global awareness and cultural understanding distributed as below.

1. A Course in Global Issues

This course will examine significant issues that are global in scale. Courses could address, for example: globalization; the global and cultural impact of climate change/sustainability; the effects of and resistances to colonialism; or worldwide issues related to health, gender, ethnicity, race, technology, labor, law, or the economy.

2. A Course in a Specific Geographic Region

This course will be an in-depth study and analysis of a particular region or locality outside of the United States.

3. A Course in Cross-Cultural Awareness

This course, through cross-cultural perspective, will promote knowledge of and reflection upon the cultures of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, or the indigenous peoples of the world past and present. Students will develop an understanding of cultures, traditions, and societies that differ substantially from those that prevail in North America and Europe.

Overlapping Credit Within the Dietrich School

Up to eight credits may be overlapped between any two majors, two certificates, and/or a major and certificate. Up to eight credits may be overlapped between a major and minor and/or certificate and minor. Up to four credits may be overlapped between two minors.

The academic advisement report (AAR) will not be able to catch excessive overlap; advisors and students will need to continue to monitor overlapping credits.

Requirements for the Major

All students are required to complete a major of their choice, in addition to general education requirements, in order to graduate from the Dietrich School. The Dietrich School offers over 55 majors in 30 departments. Some departments offer more than one major. Each department specifies the particular courses needed to fulfill its major(s). 

Students must complete the major with a 2.00 GPA, and half of the credits earned for the major must be earned at the University of Pittsburgh main campus.

Students declare their major by filling out an Academic Plan Change Form. Students normally declare their major during their fourth term of full-time study.

Note: Transfer students receive an evaluation of their previous course work indicating the equivalent University of Pittsburgh courses for which transfer credits have been awarded. Equivalent Dietrich School courses will meet requirements for the major where appropriate. Students who believe that a previous course not equivalent to a Dietrich School course should meet a requirement for a major may petition the department to review that course.

Minors and Certificates

Minors and certificates are earned in addition to a major. Students must complete minors and certificates with a 2.00 GPA, and half of the credits earned for the minor or certificate must be earned at the University of Pittsburgh main campus. Students may overlap a courses to fulfill requirements between a major, a minor, and/or a certificate in the following manner. Students who complete an approved minor or certificate will have it listed on their transcript, provided that the minor or certificate is indicated on the application for graduation.

Special Academic Opportunities

Dietrich School students may choose to pursue a variety of academic programs leading to multiple majors, majors within more than one department, or majors that either prepare students for or offer advanced admission to graduate or professional programs at the University of Pittsburgh.

Double and Triple Majors

Students can declare a double or triple major, but will usually earn only one degree. If one major leads to the BA degree and another to the BS degree, students must decide when applying for graduation which degree they wish to receive.

Double Degrees

Dietrich School students may choose to simultaneously pursue more than one undergraduate degree, either within the Dietrich School (i.e., both a BA and a BS) or in another undergraduate school of the University. In general, earning two degrees requires a minimum of 150 credits and the completion of the curriculum requirements of both schools.

Combined Degree Options

These intensive programs give Dietrich School students the opportunity to complete their undergraduate degree while beginning their first year of a graduate or professional program. To qualify, students must:

• Complete 96 or more Dietrich School credits,
• Satisfy all of the general education requirements, and
• Be accepted into a graduate or professional school at the University of Pittsburgh.

Preparation for Professional Programs of Study

Students interested in spending their junior and senior years in the University of Pittsburgh’s professional schools of Social Work, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, or Pharmacy normally spend two years in the Dietrich School taking necessary prerequisite courses and electives in preparation for professional study. Although first-year students are accepted directly into the schools of Engineering, Nursing, Computing and Information, and the College of Business Administration (CBA), it is possible for students who begin in the Dietrich School to transfer into those schools after one or two years. 

Preparation for Graduate Professional Studies

Although the Dietrich School does not offer specific majors in pre-law, pre-medicine, pre-dental medicine, or education, it is possible for students in the Dietrich School to complete all the necessary prerequisites for entry into these graduate professional schools while fulfilling their Dietrich School degree requirements. 

Accelerated Law Admissions Program (ALAP)

The Accelerated Law Admissions Program (ALAP), open to any student enrolled in the Dietrich School, grants admission to the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Law to those students who meet the ALAP’s requirements. Students who enter the program complete their undergraduate major in three years, applying for admission to the School of Law during their junior year, and then go on to law school for another three years.

Students interested in the program are encouraged to declare a major early at the end of the first year in order to allow them to complete their undergraduate Dietrich School major(s) by the end of their third year. Also, interested students are encouraged to take summer classes during their second year in order to reduce the credits to be completed in their third year. The requirements for the ALAP are as follows:

• Students must complete 102 credits by the end of their junior year, as well as their general education and major requirements. 
• Students must take three writing-designated courses (rather than two) beyond the freshman writing requirement.
• Students must take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) by the fall of their junior year. This would include the June, October, or December test.

Acceptance into the program is competitive, and only those students with above-average grades and competitive LSAT scores should apply.

Five-Year Program

• BS in statistics and an MA or MS in applied statistics: This program is intended to give outstanding students interested in statistics the opportunity to progress quickly toward their educational objectives. Contact the Department of Statistics for details.

Study Abroad

Dietrich School students are encouraged to add an international dimension to their undergraduate education through study abroad. Credit may be earned toward the Dietrich School degree through participation in one of several University of Pittsburgh programs or consortia-sponsored programs. Students may study in virtually any part of the world in these programs or others sponsored by most American or international institutions.

Visit the Global Experiences Web site at www.abroad.pitt.edu for more information.

Dietrich School Faculty

Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Faculty  

Programs and Course Offerings