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University of Richmond

Degree Requirements

For a complete description of academic requirements, see the online undergraduate catalog.

I. General Education Requirements    

First-Year Core Course
CORE 101 & CORE 102 = 2 units*

Communication Skills
Expository writing (COM1) = 1 unit **                                          
Second language (COM 2)  = up to 4 units**  
Oral communication = non-credit***

Fields of Study
Historical studies (FSHT) = 1 unit
Literary studies (FSLT) = 1 unit
Natural science (FSNB/FSNC/FSNP) = 1 unit
Social analysis (FSSA) = 1 unit
Symbolic reasoning (FSSR) = 1 unit
Visual and performing arts (FSVP) = 1 unit          

Total: up to 13 units

*Students transferring from another college or university with 6.86 units or more of credit are exempt from the CORE requirement.
** May be satisfied by a demonstration of proficiency upon entrance to the University without carrying credit (language courses carry variable credit).
***Described in University of Richmond undergraduate catalog.

II. Wellness Requirement    

In keeping with the University’s objective of fostering knowledge and personal wellness, every undergraduate at the University of Richmond is required to complete a three-part series on wellness. The wellness series covers 1) an alcohol awareness program called URAWARE and 2) a choice of two mini-workshops on health and wellness topics such as nutrition, sexual health, and fitness, called the Plus2 program. The URAWARE component, Wellness 085, is to be taken and satisfactorily completed during your first semester at Richmond.

The Plus2 component, two Wellness 090 classes, is strongly urged to be satisfactorily completed before your third year. Students who have not satisfactorily completed WELL 085 by registration for the spring semester of their second year will have an administrative hold put on their record and will not be able to register until they have made arrangements to take the class.

  • URAWARE (WELL 085): non-credit
  • Plus2 (WELL 090, two topics of choice): non-credit

III. Library and Information Skills Workshops

Students must complete two Library and Information Skills Workshops, Library 100 and 101, during fall and spring of their first year. These are hand-on workshops in using the Richmond library catalog, indexes and other online resources, and the print collection. Students who have not satisfactorily completed both LIB 100 and 101 by registration for the fall semester of their third year will have an administrative hold put on their record and will not be able to register until they have made arrangements to take the class/classes.

  • LIB 100: non-credit
  • LIB 101: non-credit

IV. Completion of a Major

All undergraduate degrees at the University of Richmond require satisfactory completion of one major. Multiple majors and/or minors also may be pursued, and upon completion will be recorded on your permanent academic record.

A major is a field of academic study chosen as an area of specialization. A major is chosen in an approved subject area and will include courses in that subject area along with any prerequisites to those required courses. Some majors also include designated courses outside their subject area. Interdisciplinary programs will include courses from a number of different subject areas. Majors require between 9 and 19 units, counting all courses both inside and outside the subject area, including all prerequisites for those courses.

V. Curriculum and Achievement

Undergraduate degree candidates must earn a cumulative grade point average of not less than 2.00 on all coursework attempted.

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Science in Business Administration must complete 35 units.

VI. Additional Degree Requirements

Richmond has a 28-unit residency requirement. (Students transferring from another college or university, see transfer students--credit basics.) That is, to earn a Richmond degree a minimum of 28 units must be taken at the University of Richmond or through Richmond-approved exchange, study abroad, visiting away, and off-campus programs. This can also include courses taken through approved dual degree and cross-registration programs. Further, a minimum of 17.5 units must be taken on Richmond's campus.

  • Application for degree and attendance at Commencement
  • Completion of financial and administrative obligations