Undergraduate Policies

The following are degree options outside of the standard undergraduate or graduate degree programs:

Combined Degree Program

A Combined Degree program is reserved for fields in which the master’s degree is the required credential for a professional license. Students are admitted as freshmen to a Combined Degree program (B.S./M.S.). This pathway may shorten the time to the graduate degree. Undergraduate students must maintain the program’s academic progression criteria to remain in the Combined Degree program and to retain admission to the graduate program.

"2+" Option

A “2+” undergraduate pathway is for students completing pre-professional requirements on the East Falls campus in preparation for admission to professional programs on the Center City campus.

"4+" Option "sub-matriculation"

A “4+” Option is an accelerated pathway to a graduate degree. Undergraduate students may apply to a designated graduate program and begin graduate coursework, i.e., sub matriculate into the graduate program. The graduate degree is completed after the baccalaureate, in additional semesters depending upon the graduate curriculum.

Double Degree/Second Baccalaureate Degree

Students who have received one baccalaureate degree from Thomas Jefferson University and who wish to seek a second such degree in another curriculum are required to complete all the additional course requirements and fulfill a second residence requirement of a minimum of 33 credits. At least 12 credits must be in the new major. Students interested in this possibility should consult with their faculty advisor for further information.

Double Degree/Second Baccalaureate Degree (Continuing & Professional Studies)

Students who want to earn a second Bachelor degree after previously earning a Bachelor degree at any other institution or any other academic unit at Thomas Jefferson University, must fulfill Continuing and Professional Studies residency requirements of: 33 overall University credits; with specifically 12 credits in the major, 9 credits within the General Education Core, and 9 credits within the Continuing Professional Studies Core. Students interested in this possibility should consult with their academic advisor for further information.

Double Major

Students wishing to earn a double major must do so by completing all requirements for the “primary” major and all required courses in the “secondary” major. Only students of demonstrated ability, i.e. 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher, will be approved for double-major status.

The equivalent of at least ten (10) courses must be unique to each major. This minimum course requirement may mean that students have to take advanced electives in one program in addition to the listed core requirements in order to establish the uniqueness of each intellectual discipline and to assure the intellectual integrity of each. At least four courses (12 cr) of upper-level work must be completed in residence at Thomas Jefferson University in each major. The same course(s) may not be used to satisfy residency requirements in both majors.

Students wishing to pursue a double major should discuss their options first with their faculty advisor and then with a faculty advisor from the “secondary” major. The double-major option must be declared/approved once a student has reached junior standing (60 cr.) and at least one calendar year prior to the student’s anticipated graduation date.

Students must submit the “Approval of Double Major” form to the Office of the University Registrar so the student’s transcript and degree audit will record completion of the two majors’ degree requirements. The form, available online from Academic Success Center, lists required courses for the “secondary” major. A list of required courses for the “secondary” major, approved by both advisors, must be added to the advising file for pre-certification purposes.

Students may not utilize credits allocated to an option, concentration or designated elective in the “primary” major to satisfy requirements for the “secondary” major and vice versa. Students may utilize credits allocated to a minor or to free electives in the “primary” major to satisfy requirements for the “secondary” major. Students selecting a double major will be exempt from any mandatory minor requirements that would otherwise apply.

Students completing a double major will receive one degree and one diploma. If the two completed majors bear different degree designations (e.g., BSE, BArch, BS), during the precertification process, the student will have the option to select the degree designation that will appear on the transcript and diploma.

A student with a double major may graduate upon completion of all requirements for both majors as described above, or s/he may default to a single major by submission of written notification to the Registrar’s Office and the student’s certifying officer. If a student defaults to a single-major option, the student may then graduate upon completion of all requirements for that one major but may not continue at the University for completion of the second major.

In some cases, the combined requirements of the two majors will necessitate the completion of a greater total number of credits than either major taken separately, and depending on the term-to-term load, the student will most likely incur additional tuition charges according to the standard University policy for course overloads. There is no guarantee that the double major will be funded by the student’s financial aid and/or scholarships. (Students should review all approved academic plans with the Financial Aid Office to establish what courses will be funded.) Completing more than one major will not necessarily improve the chances of admission to a graduate program or increase prospects in career goals. Furthermore, individuals with more than one major can significantly reduce opportunities to explore more wide-ranging elective coursework, internships, study abroad and areas of personal interest.

Dual Degree Program

Dual Degree program is designed to offer an accelerated pathway to the two degrees at the same level. The two degrees may be completed concurrently or consecutively.