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Find the official policies that govern our student and academic community.
Stanford University awards B.A. and B.S. degrees to students who complete at least 180 units, fulfill general education and major requirements, and meet residency requirements. Students may also pursue a B.A.S. (two non-overlapping majors leading to different degree types) or dual B.A. and B.S. degrees, which require at least 225 units. The university generally does not grant second bachelor’s degrees except in limited cases for Stanford graduates seeking a different degree type.
Stanford University confers the degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or the degree of Bachelor of Science (B.S.) on those candidates who have been recommended by the Committee on Undergraduate Standards and Policy (C-USP), who have applied in advance for conferral of the degree, and who have fulfilled the following requirements:
A minimum of 180 units of allowable university work. (Units above the allowable limits for activity courses and for courses taken on a satisfactory/no credit (S/NC) and credit/no credit (C/NC) basis cannot be counted towards the 180-unit minimum.)
All applicable General Education Requirements.
Curricular requirements of at least one major department or program and the recommendation of the department(s).
Students admitted as frosh—A minimum of 135 units (including the last quarter in residence) at Stanford. In special cases, students who have earned at least 135 units in resident work may petition for a waiver of the last quarter-in-residence requirement for up to 15 units.
Students admitted as transfers—A minimum of 90 units (including the last quarter in residence) at Stanford. In special cases, students who have earned at least 90 units in resident work may petition for a waiver of the last quarter-in-residence requirement for up to 15 units.
Stanford confers the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree on candidates who fulfill these requirements in the Doerr School of Sustainability and the School of Engineering. The School of Humanities and Sciences confers both the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree.
If a degree program offers both the B.A. and B.S. degrees in the same discipline, students may not pursue both degree options and must select either the B.A. or B.S. degree.
Students who complete the requirements for two or more majors, which ordinarily would lead to the same degree (B.A. or B.S.), should review the Undergraduate Majors page of the Bulletin to ensure that they have an understanding of the requirements for multiple or secondary majors.
The university confers the degree of Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A.S.) on candidates who have completed the following:
With no overlapping courses, the curricular requirements of two majors which ordinarily would lead to different bachelor's degrees (that is, a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science).
These students must have applied in advance for graduation with the B.A.S. degree instead of the B.A. or B.S. degree, as recommended by the Committee on Undergraduate Standards and Policy (C-USP),
Fulfilled a minimum of 180 units of University work described in point 1 of the "Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.)" section.
The requirements of each major according to the Multiple opens in a new tabMajors opens in a new tabsection of Undergraduate Majors and the Undergraduate Double Counting Policy.
All applicable General Education Requirements.
Students admitted as frosh—A minimum of 180 units (including the last quarter in residence) at Stanford. In special cases, students who have earned at least 180 units in resident work may petition for a waiver of the last quarter-in-residence requirement for up to 15 units.
Students admitted as transfers—A minimum of 135 units (including the last quarter in residence) at Stanford. In special cases, students who have earned at least 135 units in resident work may petition for a waiver of the last quarter-in-residence requirement.
Students who cannot meet the requirements for both majors without overlapping courses are not eligible for the B.A.S., but may apply to have a secondary major recorded on their transcripts. (See the Undergraduate Majors page)
For degree programs that offer both the B.A. and B.S. degrees in the same discipline, students cannot pursue a B.A.S. in the same degree program, and must select either the B.A. or B.S. degree.
A Stanford undergraduate may work concurrently toward both a B.A. and a B.S. degree. To qualify for both degrees, a student must complete:
A minimum of 225 units of University work. Units above the allowable limits for activity courses and for courses taken on a satisfactory/no credit and credit/no credit basis cannot be counted towards the 225 unit minimum.
The requirements of each major without applying any course towards the requirements of more than one major, in accordance with the Undergraduate Double Counting Policy.
All applicable General Education Requirements.
The curricular requirements of two majors (one of which leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree and the other to a Bachelor of Science degree).
Students admitted as frosh—A minimum of 180 units (including the last quarter in residence) at Stanford. In special cases, students who have earned at least 180 units in resident work may petition for a waiver of the last quarter-in-residence requirement for up to 15 units.
Students admitted as transfers—A minimum of 135 units (including the last quarter in residence) at Stanford. In special cases, students who have earned at least 135 units in resident work may petition for a waiver of the last quarter-in-residence requirement.
A student interested in dual bachelor's degrees should declare them in Axess no later than two quarters in advance of completing the program.
If a degree program offers both the B.A. and B.S. degrees in the same discipline, students cannot pursue a Dual Degree in the same degree program, and must select either the B.A. or B.S. degree.
Students who do not meet the higher unit and residence requirements of the dual degree option may be eligible instead for the B.A.S. degree as described above.
Stanford does not award a second Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree to an individual who already holds a Bachelor of Arts, nor a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree to an individual who already holds a Bachelor of Science. Nor does Stanford award a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree to the holder of either a B.A. or B.S.
The holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford may apply to the C-USP Subcommittee on Academic Progress (S-AP) for admission to candidacy for a Bachelor of Science degree. Likewise, the holder of a Bachelor of Science degree from Stanford may apply for candidacy for a Bachelor of Arts degree. A recommendation of the major department for the second bachelor's degree must accompany the application.
A holder of a B.A. or B.S. degree from Stanford may not apply for the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree, although a student may propose a request for special consideration. The C-USP Subcommittee on Academic Progress (S-AP) determines whether the application for a second bachelor’s degree may be approved and/or the conditions a student must meet in order to be allowed to earn one. The office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, via the office of Academic Advising, reviews these requests.
A student approved for a second bachelor’s program may enroll as an undergraduate and is subject to the current rules and regulations affecting undergraduates; however, a student may also be subject to rules in effect either at the time of conferral of the first degree or at the time of original matriculation. Requirements for a second Stanford bachelor's degree are the same as those described above for dual bachelor's degrees.
Approvals or denials of applications under this section are at the discretion of the University.
Stanford admits a diverse, highly qualified undergraduate class from around the world based on intellectual vitality, achievement, and potential, without quotas or preference for background, while maintaining need-blind admissions (for U.S.
Stanford’s General Education Requirements form a core part of the undergraduate experience, fostering broad intellectual and social competencies while giving students flexibility to explore interests, develop critical skills, and connect their
A major is intended to allow students to study a particular subject in great depth. Students must declare their major by the end of their sophomore year.
Students completing a bachelor's degree may declare one or more minors in addition to their major. Minors must be officially declared by the deadline for the student's application to graduate.
To meet Stanford’s standards for satisfactory academic progress and graduation, undergraduates must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA and steady unit completion, typically 180 units over four years, with quarterly and multi-quarter minimum unit thresholds.
