To earn a bachelor's degree, a student typically needs to complete around 120 college credits. This usually translates to about 40 courses over a four-year period, with most classes being worth about 3 credits each
. The 120 credits generally include a combination of:
- General education courses
- Major-specific courses (often 30-67 credits)
- Electives to reach the total credit requirement
- Upper-division courses (usually 45 credits at the 300 level or above)
- Other integrative requirements such as writing-intensive courses and global/community citizenship credits, depending on the institution
Some degree programs, such as engineering or education, may require more than 120 credits, sometimes exceeding 140 credits
. Additionally, universities may have residency requirements, meaning a certain number of credits must be earned directly through that institution
. In summary, the standard requirement for a bachelor's degree is at least 120 credits, but this can vary slightly depending on the major and university policies