General Science, B.S.

Current Xavier students majoring in any discipline within Biology, Chemistry or Physics & Engineering are ideally suited to switch.

To be eligible, you must have completed at least 60 credit hours and receive approval from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Because the major accepts foundational science sequences and provides 25–41 free elective credits, nearly all of your previously earned credits will count directly toward your degree so you can stay on track for graduation.

To earn a B.S. in General Science, students complete a balanced blend of core requirements, foundational science sequences, upper-level electives, and customizable free electives:

• University Core Curriculum: Complete Xavier's foundational liberal arts core.
• Foundational Natural and Physical Sciences: Two full introductory course sequences in foundational natural and physical sciences.
• Science Electives (14–24 Credit Hours): Customizable science coursework selected across BIOL, CHEM, CSCI, ENGR, MATH and PHYS.
• Free Electives (25–41 Credit Hours): Broad room to apply previously earned credits or explore additional areas of interest.

Eligibility Note:

The General Science major is available to students who have completed at least 60 credit hours and have received approval from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

To fulfill the 14-24 credit hours required for science electives, courses must meet two basic criteria:

1. Subject Area Rule

Any course offered under the following subject prefixes counts toward the elective requirement:

• BIOL (Biology)
• CHEM (Chemistry)
• CSCI (Computer Science)
• ENGR (Engineering)
• MATH (Mathematics)
• PHYS (Physics)

2. The "No Double-Counting" Rule

A course cannot count as an elective if you are already using it to satisfy a primary degree requirement. Specifically, you cannot double-count:

• Your Math Requirement: Whichever single course you pick among MATH 140, 156, 169, or 180 to satisfy your math core. (Note: Unselected math courses from this group can be taken as electives).
• Your Two Foundational Science Sequences: The exact 8-credit course pairs/sequences you select from Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Computer Science to meet your foundational requirement.

Students must have at least 60 completed credit hours and must also have approval from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences to switch to the B.S. in General Science major. 

To begin the process, contact Jonathan Morris, Program Director, at morrisd3@xavier.edu.