Second Bachelor’s Degree

Policy statement

In certain cases, the College of Arts and Sciences may admit bachelor's degree holders or students currently pursuing a bachelor's degree at IU Bloomington to candidacy for a second bachelor's degree. Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements. Candidates for second degrees must complete all degree requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences and the major(s) that they are pursuing except as otherwise noted below.

There are two types of second degrees: concurrent and sequential. A concurrent degree is one earned simultaneously with a first degree at IU Bloomington. A sequential degree is one earned subsequent to a first degree (earned at IUB or elsewhere).

1. Concurrent Second Degree.
   1. First degree in the College of Arts and Sciences. This section applies to students whose first (primary) degree is in the College of Arts and Sciences.
      1. Students should meet with a College academic advisor that advises for the intended second degree program to discuss the requirements and degree completion timeline.
      2. If, after meeting with an appropriate academic advisor, the student affirms their desire to pursue the second degree, the academic advisor will submit on behalf of the student a request to add the degree.
      3.  Certain combinations are not permitted. These restrictions are listed with each credential and/or in this policy. Students may not pursue another bachelor’s degree concurrently with the Bachelor of Liberal Studies.
      4. The Unique Hour policy applies.
   2. First degree in an IUB professional school. This section applies to students whose first (primary) degree is not in the College of Arts and Sciences.
      1. To be eligible for admission to the College’s concurrent second degree program, students must:
         1. have completed at least one graded semester as a degree seeking student on the Bloomington campus;
         2. have been admitted to a degree granting school at IUB before applying to the second degree program;
         3. have completed the College’s CASE Foundations: English Composition requirement;
         4. have earned at least a 2.000 cumulative College of Arts and Sciences grade point average (CGPA);
         5. have earned at least a 2.000 GPA in the major of the first degree and in the major of the proposed second degree (0.000 allowed in the major of the first degree and in the major or concentration of the proposed second degree if no course work in the major has yet been completed at IU); and
         6. be in good academic standing according to the policies in place in the degree-granting unit through which the student’s first bachelor’s degree is offered.
      2. Students should meet with a College academic advisor that advises for the intended second degree program to discuss the requirements and degree completion timeline.
      3. If, after meeting with an appropriate academic advisor and confirming their eligibility, the student affirms their desire to pursue the second degree, the student must complete the Concurrent Second Bachelor's Degree Application for Students Currently Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in a Degree-Granting Unit Outside of the College.
      4. Certain combinations are not permitted. These restrictions are listed with each credential and/or in this policy.
         1. Jacobs School of Music students may not pursue a College second degree in the same major as the outside field on the BSOF.
         2. Students may not pursue another bachelor’s degree concurrently with the Bachelor of Liberal Studies.
         3. The second degree must, in the view of the College, be substantially different than the first degree and as well as any certificates and minors being pursued.
      5. The modifications listed below are made for students whose first degree is in an IUB professional school so long as the student graduates with the first and second bachelor’s degree simultaneously.
         1. The College Residency requirement (degree level) is modified so that students must complete at least 36 hours inside the College of Arts and Sciences on the Indiana University Bloomington campus or in an IU-administered or IU co- sponsored overseas study program at any point in their studied (not necessarily after the 60th hour).
         2. The College of Arts and Sciences Credit Hours requirement (100 hours) is waived.
         3. The College Breadth requirement (B.A. degrees only) in the major is waived.
         4. If there is substantial overlap between the major of the first degree and the second degree inside the College, the student is required to complete at least 27 unique hours toward the major of the second degree. (This is a modification of the Unique Hours policy.)
      6. Students must submit a separate graduation application for each degree; this is the mechanism for ensuring that all degrees are awarded at the same time.
      7. Students who drop the first degree and still want to graduate with a bachelor’s degree awarded by the College must complete all requirements associated with the College degree as they are outlined in the College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin that corresponds with their requirement term.
2. Sequential Second Degree.
   1. To be eligible for admission to the College’s sequential second degree program, the student must:
      1. Have completed bachelor’s degree at an accredited institution;
      2. Seek a sequential second degree major that is substantively different from the major or concentration of any previously earned degree;
      3. Have earned a minimum 2.500 College GPA in courses previously taken that are applicable to the major of the sequential second degree;
      4. Have earned a minimum 2.500 cumulative College GPA in all previous college/university-level coursework; and
      5. Have completed prior to the time of application a course that would fulfill the CASE Foundations: English Composition requirement.
      6. Be able to demonstrate Students a compelling rationale for pursuing a second bachelor's degree and evidence of their commitment to completing the second degree if admitted. Students who currently hold a bachelor's degree and wish to further their education in the same field of study as their first degree or in a closely related field should consider working toward admission to a graduate program instead of pursuing a second bachelor's degree.
   2.  Eligible students interested in pursuing a sequential second degree must contact the College at colldeg2@iu.edu to request application information. The application deadlines are listed on the deadlines page for the intended term of enrollment.
   3. Students admitted to the sequential second degree program will follow the requirements in effect at the approved start date for the program.
   4. Students must complete at least 36 credit hours of College of Arts and Sciences coursework through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program after the student’s start date in the program.
      1. At least 18 of these credit hours must be in the major area.
      2. Courses taken after graduating with the first bachelor’s degree but prior to the start date for the sequential second degree program may only count towards the program by special advance permission of the College.
   5. A second bachelor’s degree may not be pursued simultaneously with a graduate degree.
   6. A change in major for the second degree requires special permission of the College’s Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and is not granted automatically.
   7. Students dismissed from the College’s sequential second degree program cannot be considered for reinstatement. (Dismissal is final.)
   8. Additional restrictions may apply to sequential degree students as deemed appropriate by the College’s Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.