Majors, Minors and Certificates

Please see General Degree Requirements here .

• Majors, Minors and Certificates by Department  
• Majors, Minors and Certificates Listed Alphabetically  
• Majors, Minors and Certificates by Campus Location   

Patterns of Study in Depth

In addition to fulfilling general education requirements, candidates for the various baccalaureate degrees must demonstrate that they have pursued an in-depth course of study in a specialized area of knowledge as prescribed by the faculty in that area. There are four patterns of study in depth: a major with one or more minors; a professional major; an interdisciplinary major; and an applied studies specialization.

Major/Minor

In the major/minor pattern, depth is obtained by taking a prescribed sequence of courses (including 15 to 17 advanced hours) in a first discipline (the major) and a lesser sequence of courses (usually including 6 to 12 advanced hours) in a related discipline (the minor). For some specializations, a second minor may be required or permitted in a third discipline or in an interdisciplinary field. For secondary education certification, the major is selected from the approved teaching field and the minor is in Education. The requirements for minor fields are determined by the faculty in those fields.

Majors in this pattern are:

Art
Biology
Biomathematics
Chemistry
Chemical
Biology
Communication Arts (Mass Communication)
Communication Disorders
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Drama
English
History
Kinesiology
Mathematics
Multidisciplinary Studies
Comparative Mexican American Studies
Political Science
Psychology
Theology and Spiritual Action
Sacred Music
Sociology
Spanish

Minors may only be selected from disciplines offering minors at OLLU with the exception of Military Science (courses taken through St. Mary’s ROTC program)

For students interested in pre-law, a major in political science: pre-law and legal process, philosophy, English or business would be appropriate; for pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-optometry and pre-veterinary, a major in biology, biomathematics, chemistry or chemical biology, should be chosen.

Minors Offered at OLLU

In selecting minors, students should refer to their major to see which minors are appropriate for that major. Not all academic programs require a minor; refer to the individual academic program to determine if a major requires a minor.

Minors may only be selected from disciplines offering minors at OLLU with the exception of Military Science (courses taken through St. Mary’s ROTC program)

For students enrolled in the ROTC Military Science program at St. Mary’s University, a Military Science minor (15 hrs./6 advanced) is available.

OLLU approved minors are:

College of Arts and Sciences
Art
Biology
Chemistry
Communication Arts (Mass Communication)
Comparative of Mexican American Studies
Drama
English
History
Kinesiology
Mathematics
Military Science
Philosophy
Political Science
Theology and Spiritual Action
Spanish

School of Business and Leadership
Business
Computer Information Systems and Security
Economics
Finance and Accounting
Organizational Leadership

School of Professional Studies
Anthropology
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Child Studies
Educational Studies
Forensic Science
Psychology
Sociology
Social Welfare and Social Justice

Professional Majors

In the professional major, the student takes advanced work in a professional discipline along with other supporting courses which may be prescribed to produce desired professional competences. The requirements for professional majors are often determined or strongly influenced by professional associations and accrediting agencies. Professional majors may be pursued in the following areas:

Applied Studies Specialization

In-depth study occurs at the beginning of the degree program in the Bachelor of Applied Studies degree, in which lower-level technological training is combined with an advanced level academic field or interdisciplinary sequence. Since technological training is not offered at Our Lady of the Lake University, this degree option is limited to students who have completed, prior to admission to OLLU, 18 to 30 hours of credit in a technological specialization from transfer courses, life/work experience, or credit by examination. An academic concentration of 36 hours (of which at least 15 must be advanced) may be taken in individualized programs with the following emphasis:

Business
Computer Information Systems and Security

Pre-professional Programs

Pre-medical, Pre-dental, Pre-optometry, Pre-pharmaceutical and Pre- veterinary

The admission requirements of medical and dental schools are to some extent standardized by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Association of American Dental Schools. Ordinarily the requirements for medical, dental, optometry and veterinary schools are met by taking a major in biology or chemistry. Students who enroll for these pre-professional programs should present the academic adviser with a catalog of the chosen professional school so that undergraduate courses may conform to the requirements of the professional school. Students should consult the Health Professions adviser for specific information.

Pre-law

Admission to law school depends greatly on attaining a high score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Also of importance is the law school’s evaluation of the applicant’s transcript for academic quality and consonance with the guidelines of the Association of American Law Schools. This association advises that for success in the profession of law one needs critical understanding of human institutions, disciplined and creative thinking, and superior verbal comprehension and expression. The pre-law student is advised to follow a program leading to a baccalaureate degree with emphasis in political science, philosophy and English. Courses in history, logic, speech and accounting are also strongly recommended.

Pre-nursing

The admission requirements for entering a school of nursing are to some extent standardized by  the Board of Nursing Examiners. Ordinarily two years of college can be taken before transferring to a school of nursing. School of Nursing requirements include the following credits: English, six hours; chemistry, six hours; biology, six hours; psychology, three hours; sociology, three hours. Students who enroll in the pre-nursing program should present the adviser with a catalog of the chosen school of nursing so that the pre-nursing program may be made to correspond with the exact admission requirements of the nursing school.

Other Allied Health Pre-professional Preparation

The admission requirements for entering schools of physical therapy and occupational therapy are made by the respective schools. The Health Careers adviser will assist students in choosing the needed preparatory courses for admission.

Certificate Programs

In addition to degree programs, in-depth study specializing in one of the following areas can earn a certificate:

Criminology and Criminal Justice
Comparative Mexican American Studies
Violence Prevention and Intervention