Programs A-Z

Program Definitions

Accelerated Bachelors/Masters

Programs in which students share limited credits between their undergraduate and graduate degrees to allow completion of both degrees. Such programs are also known as 4+1 Bachelor’s/Master’s programs, 5 Year Programs, 5-year dual degree programs, or Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s programs.  

Certificate

An organized program of study that requires a minimum of 8 credit hours. Certificates exist at three levels: bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, and graduate.  Graduate certificate students must have earned a bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s certificates are comprised of courses ranging from 100-300 level. Post-baccalaureate certificates are comprised of courses between 100-400 level and graduate certificates must be comprised entirely of courses at the 400 level or above.

Concentration

A concentration is a more focused area of study most typically within an undergraduate major. The minimum credit hour requirement for a concentration is 9 hours.

Double Major

Undergraduate students may complete more than one Bachelor of Arts major, more than one Bachelor of Science major and more than one Bachelor of Business Administration major from the same school within 120 hours. Students must complete the Core requirements and the requirements of all academic majors.  One diploma is issued. 

Dual Degree

Loyola offers dual degree programs leading to two master’s degrees (e.g., MDiv/MSW) or to a graduate and first professional degree (e.g., MA/JD). The requirements for each of these dual degree programs vary. Two separate diplomas are issued when students complete two distinct degrees from different schools within Loyola University Chicago.

Endorsement

The endorsement is an ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education) credential. The courses in these programs allow the student a professional pathway to career paths in education.

Major

That component of the undergraduate curriculum consisting of a set of courses selected and sequenced to provide students with the opportunity for extensive and in-depth study of a discipline or interdisciplinary field of study. Requirements for the major may also include integrating elements or experiences, such as a senior thesis or capstone course. The minimum number of hours required for a major is 30 credit hours. A major is required for all bachelor’s degrees.

Minor

At the undergraduate level, a prescribed grouping of courses in a school, department, or interdisciplinary program, more than 50% of which are usually in upper division courses. The minimum number of hours required for a minor is 18 credits. A minor is not required.  At the graduate level, see entry for “specialization.”

Pre-Major Coursework

At the Associate Degree level, a minimum of 6 credit hours that may constitute credit toward a defined major in a future bachelor’s degree.

Track/Specialization

An integrated, coherent set of courses that define a limited topic or field of study, used most often at the graduate level as part of an academic degree program. Specializations may be prescribed by a department/program or constructed by students in consultation with an advisor. A minimum of 9 credit hours in the program of which it is a part, with the remaining hours taken in common by all students in the program.  

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