Understanding the Undergraduate Curriculum
Miami University offers multiple types of baccalaureate degrees. It also offers several microcredentials, certificates, and associate degrees, such as Associate in Arts, Associate of Applied Business, Associate of Applied Science, and Associate of Technical Study.
The Miami Plan
Miami University was founded in 1809 on the belief that a liberal education provides the best possible experience for life in a changing world. “Liberal,” from the Latin liberalis, means “free” - the kind of education that free and democratic citizens should attain. Miami’s emphasis on global and innovative liberal education is referred to as the Miami Plan (MP). All students entering Miami in Fall 2023 or later will participate in new MP requirements. Miami Plan courses overlap with required courses for most majors, as well as with unique requirements for CAS and other divisions. Likewise, your electives, minors, or co-majors will include a range of MP courses. Thus, the MP is integral to, not separate from, any course of study at Miami.
The Miami Plan enhances specialized studies in any major or professional field and provides contexts for exploring social, academic, political, and professional choices. The MP empowers you to creatively transform the future with the tools to question assumptions, design solutions, exchange views with others, and become better global citizens. The overall MP experience develops transferable skills in “Four Pillars” that embody the values and mission of a Miami education:
- Civic-Mindedness and Social Engagement
- Critical and Integrative Thinking
- Collaboration and Innovation
- Communication and Expression
The three main components of the MP are Perspectives Areas, Signature Inquiries, and Knowledge in Action. These are described below:
These courses broaden students' intellectual skills by equipping them to examine issues from the perspectives of different academic disciplines and interdisciplinary departments and to engage with different cultural perspectives. The Global Citizenship Perspectives Area sets Miami's liberal education experience apart from programs at other universities in that students will be prepared to bring new perspectives to problems addressed in their future professional and civic lives.
Perspectives Area 1: Formal Reasoning and Communication (9 hours)
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Mathematics and Formal Reasoning (3 hours)
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Composition (3 hours)
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Advanced Writing (3 hours)
Perspectives Area 2: Science and Society (12 hours minimum)
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Social Sciences (6 hours)
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Natural Sciences (6 hours minimum; must include one laboratory course).
Perspectives Area 3: Arts and Humanities (6 hours)
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Creative Arts (3 hours)
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Humanities (3 hours)
Perspectives Area 4: Global Citizenship (12 hours)
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (3 hours)
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Intercultural Consciousness (3-6 hours)
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Global Inquiry (3-6 hours)
These courses encourage faculty and students working in different academic disciplines and interdisciplinary departments to connect with one another in addressing today’s urgent needs and providing understanding and solutions. This area requires 9 credit hours minimum from 3 different departments/programs that can "double dip" with the Perspectives Areas requirement. You may take your courses from multiple Signature Inquiry topic areas that include:
- Sustainability and Resilience
- Power, Justice, and Social Change
- Technology, Information, and Society
- Creativity, Storytelling, and Design
- Global Health and Wellness
Throughout your education, but especially as you approach graduation, you are encouraged to look to the horizons of your future in the world. At Miami, you will participate in experiential learning and, as culmination of your Miami education, a Miami Senior Capstone course. These experiences place a special emphasis on applying knowledge and skills you have gained during your time at Miami to settings beyond Miami.
- Experiential Learning (0+ hours): The EL requirement carries no specific credit hour minimum and can be fulfilled by coursework, service learning, independent study, internships, student teaching, performance or portfolio projects.
- Senior Capstone (3 hours): The SC requirement is met by completing 3 hours in an approved Senior Capstone course during your senior year (minimum of 93 hours registered or earned to enroll).
For more information regarding the Miami Plan, please visit the Office of Liberal Education website.
Divisional Requirements
Miami University has six different academic divisions:
- College of Arts & Science
- College of Creative Arts
- College of Education, Health, and Society
- College of Engineering & Computing
- Farmer School of Business
- College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science
The College of Arts & Science and the Farmer School of Business have additional course requirements for students who pursue majors in their division. For more information, see the sections on these two divisions in this guidebook.
Major Requirements
A major is a cohesive combination of courses including introductory, intermediate, and advanced coursework that designates a student’s primary area of undergraduate study. Majors may include required or optional concentrations. A major typically carries a minimum of 36 credit hours. Majors are designated on University transcripts when your degree is awarded.
You do not necessarily need to choose a major when you begin at Miami. If you are undecided about your major, you can either choose a division in which you believe you will end up selecting a major (e.g., College of Education, Health, and Society; College of Engineering and Computing or, College of Liberal Arts and Applied Sciences), or if you are not certain about an academic division, you can be generally undecided, in which case you will start your Miami experience in the Office of Exploratory Studies (Oxford) or the Regional Academic Advising Office (Miami Regionals), where you will receive guidance from your student success navigator or professional advisor. Your student success navigator or professional advisor will assist you in selecting courses that fulfill Miami Plan requirements while exploring your interests, so you can complete your degree in a timely fashion. Note, however, that some majors require four successive years and should be started in the first semester. Your student success navigator or professional advisor can assist you with your academic plan.
To declare a major after taking classes for a semester or more, visit the department of the major you wish to declare. Your new program information will be submitted by the department, which will update your academic record. From this point, you will work with your departmental academic advisor to stay on track for completing your major.
Co-Major and Minor Requirements
Co-majors are designed to provide a complementary perspective to a student’s primary major and require at least 30 credit hours. Students receive the degree designation of their primary major with the co-major listed on the transcript. A co-major is usually declared after declaring your primary major in one of Miami’s academic divisions.A minor is a second field of study taken along with a major, which is designed to widen your primary area of interest or increase your career opportunities. Completing a minor is optional. Most minors require fewer hours than majors; all require at least 18 credit hours in a specified program. Minors may be offered within one department or across several departments.
Minors are offered in many fields of study. A list of minors is in the “Understanding the Undergraduate Curriculum” chapter of this guidebook.
To earn a minor, fulfill these minimum requirements (some minors require more):
- Notify the minor advisor that you want to enroll in the minor and have the minor added to your academic record. Some minors have entry restrictions or requirements.
- Complete all coursework in the minor with a minimum 2.00 grade point average (GPA). Some minors require a higher GPA.
- Take each course for your minor for a grade, not for credit/no-credit, unless exceptions are stated.
- Complete a bachelor’s degree, which is required to complete a minor.
You may choose more than one minor. All completed minors are noted on your academic record. Courses used to satisfy the requirements for one minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for another minor or major. Not all major programs allow students to record certain minors, and some minors are open only to certain majors. Check with your advisor for more information.
Electives
Elective courses are taken beyond the major, divisional, and Miami Plan requirements to complete the credit hours necessary for a degree. The number of electives varies by program. Electives are an excellent way for you to try out a possible major or minor, explore a side interest or hobby, or step out of your typical comfort zone to learn something new!
Other University Requirements
For the Bachelor’s degree:
- Complete 124 total semester credit hours
- Make sure that at least 30 of these semester hours are from Miami University (any campus), including 12 of the final 30 hours
- Maintain at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA
For associate degree programs in specialized areas offered through the regional campuses:
- Complete at least 62 total semester credit hours
- Make sure at least 15 of these semester hours are taken in residence through the regional campuses, including a minimum of 9 of the last 20 credit hours
For the associate in arts degree:
- Make sure to complete minimum of 30 semester credit hours in residence through the Oxford and/or the regional campuses, including a minimum of 9 of the last 20 credit
- Only one area of concentration is awarded within the Associate in Arts degree
Living Learning Community Courses
A Living Learning Community (LLC) is a group of students who live together in a residence hall that is closely tied to an academic major, university program, or initiative. Through partnerships with a variety of departments, faculty, and staff, students have access to activities that tie directly into the theme of their LLC. In an LLC, you are co-enrolled into one or more classes, which further supports your transition and academic success at Miami University. Programming is closely aligned with the community theme and often includes faculty and staff partners, to assist in community building, academic success, cultural competency, and intrapersonal development.
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