The college system can be endlessly confusing. Whether attempting a transfer or simply trying to decide how many classes to take this semester, one of the most common questions we get from students is:
Completing a bachelor’s degree is a major milestone in life and opens doors to expanded career opportunities. But how many credits exactly are needed to graduate with this coveted diploma? Let’s take a closer look at credit requirements and other key details for earning a bachelor’s degree.
What Is a Bachelor’s Degree?
A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded upon completion of a program typically lasting four years. It is often the first degree earned at colleges and universities.
Some key features of bachelor’s degrees:
- Undergraduate degree earned after high school
- Full-time students complete in 4 years usually
- Requires general education and electives
- Includes courses for your major area of study
- Culminates in final project, thesis, or capstone
- 120 credits generally needed to graduate
Common types of bachelor’s degrees include Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). The degree title depends on the major field of study.
Why Earn a Bachelor’s Degree?
There are many excellent reasons to obtain a bachelor’s degree:
- Pursue interests and passions in depth
- Develop knowledge and skills for career success
- Qualify for higher paying jobs and promotions
- Gain intellectual and personal growth
- Meet educational prerequisites for graduate school
- Stand out in the job market with credential
A bachelor’s degree gives you an edge over the 84% of American adults who do not hold a 4-year college degree.
Credit Hour System
College courses are measured using the credit hour system Credits represent the amount of time required to complete a course,
Here is how college credit hours generally work
- 1 credit = 1 hour of instruction per week
- Most courses are 3-4 credits for a semester
- Lab and studio classes may be 5+ credits
- Full-time status is 12+ credits per semester
- 120 credits needed for bachelor’s degree
So for a typical 3-credit course you’ll have three hours of class time plus homework and studying each week. Over a 15-week semester that equals around 45 hours spent on that one class.
Credits earned are cumulative over your college career and count towards graduation.
Average Credit Requirement
The standard credit requirement to earn a bachelor’s degree at most colleges and universities is 120 semester credit hours. This generally breaks down as:
- 30-40 credits in core / general education courses
- 40-60 credits in major-related courses
- 20-30 credits in electives / minor courses
So while the exact requirements vary by school and major, you can expect around 40 college courses averaging 3 credits each.
For full-time students taking 15 credits per semester, this works out to 8 semesters or 4 years to reach 120 credits for the bachelor’s degree.
Variations by Major
While 120 credits is typical, some majors and programs require additional credits due to:
- Extensive major coursework
- Labs, clinicals, fieldwork
- Required internships or projects
- Strict accreditation standards
For example, engineering and sciences often require around 130 credits while fine arts can need 140+ credits.
If pursuing a double major or minor, you may also end up exceeding 120 credits. It’s a good idea to review your degree plan closely.
Earning Credits Faster
There are a few potential ways to accelerate earning your 120 credits:
- AP/IB credits from high school coursework
- Dual enrollment to earn college credits early
- CLEP/DSST exams to test out of requirements
- Summer courses to add extra credits
- Heavy course loads above 15 credits per semester
- Year-round enrollment with summer semester
But caution – taking too heavy a course load can be extremely demanding and lead to lower grades if you overdo it. Make sure to pace yourself.
Typical Bachelor’s Timeline
The standard timeline to complete a bachelor’s degree looks something like this:
- Year 1: General education and electives, begin major intro courses
- Year 2: Declare major, focus on major requirements and electives
- Year 3: Upper level major courses, consider study abroad
- Year 4: Advanced major courses, capstone project, internship
However, many students take longer than four years due to factors like switching majors, part-time enrollment, financial issues, health problems, or family responsibilities. Don’t fret if it takes you a little longer – focus on steady progress.
What If I’m Short of Credits?
If you’re nearing graduation but find yourself just shy of the required 120 credits, you have solutions:
- Take an extra semester of courses to reach credits needed
- Enroll in winter or summer classes to add credits
- Seek independent study, research, or internship credits
- Review transfer credits to see if any apply toward degree
- Submit petition or waiver request for exception
Avoid shortcuts like repeating easy courses as that can backfire on your transcript. Meet with your academic advisor to make a solid plan.
Key Considerations for Earning Your Degree
To stay on track for that bachelor’s degree, be sure to:
- Meet with your advisor each semester to audit progress
- Complete required credits and courses for your major
- Check in on your total credits earned toward graduation
- Take appropriate levels of classes as you advance
- Maintain grades needed to satisfy major requirements
- Read catalog for all academic policies and procedures
With tenacity and smart planning, you’ll be graduating with your bachelor’s degree and 120 credits before you know it!
Frequently Asked Questions About Bachelor’s Degree Credits
Here are some quick answers to common questions on credit requirements:
How many classes is a bachelor’s degree?
A bachelor’s degree typically requires around 40 college-level courses to reach 120 credits.
Can you graduate with less than 120 credits?
It’s rare but some schools may allow graduating with fewer credits if you petition. But don’t bank on it.
What if I have more than 120 credits?
It’s very common to exceed 120 credits with extra electives or a second major. No problem as long as you satisfied all requirements.
Do summer classes count?
Yes, credits from summer semester are added to your overall totals just like fall and spring terms.
How much extra time if I fail a class?
If you fail a required 3-credit course, you’ll likely need to retake it in a future semester, adding time toward your degree.
Can I test out of required credits?
You may be able to earn credits for knowledge demonstrated on exams like AP, CLEP, or DSST. Check with your advisor.
Earning Your Bachelor’s Degree
While the road may have some twists and turns, putting in the time and effort to complete your 120 credit hours pays off with an invaluable bachelor’s degree that can launch your career and open up a world of possibilities. Stay focused on your goals and you’ll be walking across that stage before you know it!
What kinds of courses will get me a bachelorâs degree?
As I mentioned before, you canât just sign up for whatever course tickles your fancy and expect it to fit into your degree. A bachelorâs degree is a highly-structured form of study. Most colleges want to ensure their students have a good foundation in the liberal arts (your basic math, history, science, and writing courses) while also digging deeply into whatever major youâve chosen to study. That adds up to a fairly specific arrangement of courses in order to qualify for graduation.
Almost any college you choose will split your bachelorâs degree into 3 basic sections:
How many credits do I need for a bachelorâs degree?
The simple answer: you must complete 120 college credits to earn a bachelorâs degree. Thatâs about 40 classes, which most people assume you can complete in 4 years.
But itâs more complicated than that.
You canât just register for 40 random courses and expect to walk away with a bachelorâs degree. The kinds of credit you take is very important. Thatâs what enables you to actually qualify for graduation. And thatâs what weâll be talking about in this post.
Letâs start with the basics.
