Academic Programs

Dallas Baptist University offers a wide variety of majors and programs which reflect the comprehensive nature of the liberal arts curriculum. Major programs of study require specific course work to ensure the depth of knowledge and breadth of understanding necessary to build a foundation for future vocational, occupational, and educational goals. The following pages feature descriptions of the majors, minors, and pre-professional programs offered by DBU through its seven colleges and one school. 

Major Field of Study

Students select a primary field of study in which they concentrate the larger portion of the learning experience during the junior and senior years. The requirements for a major in each academic field are outlined in the Academic Programs section of this catalog. Within their major, students complete a sequence of at least 24 required credit hours of which 12 credit hours must be upper level. Requirements vary with the major selected. A minimum 2.0-grade point average or above must be earned in the major field of study. DBU requires a minimum institutional cumulative, major, and minor GPA of 2.0.

Minimum GPA Required for Graduation from Dallas Baptist University

DBU requires a minimum institutional cumulative, major, and minor GPA of 2.0.

Students who have not yet decided on an academic program offered by DBU have the option of entering under an Undecided Program. Undergraduate students at DBU are allowed to remain in the Undecided Program until they have earned 29 credit hours (including any transfer hours), at which time a degree-seeking program and major must be chosen in order to receive Financial Aid.

Dallas Baptist University offers a variety of disciplines in which students may major. Additional disciplines are offered to support these various majors. Majors leading to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Music, degrees include: 

 The major leading to a Bachelor of Musical Arts degree includes:

                Interdisciplinary Studies (Worship Emphasis)

The major leading to a Bachelor of Music Education degree includes:

                EC-Grade 12 Music Education Teacher Certification (Choral)

Majors leading to a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences or Bachelor of Business Studies degree include, but are not limited to the following:  

Concentration

Students may have the opportunity for intensive study within their majors or minors. A concentration generally requires a minimum of 12 credit hours, although requirements vary with the concentration selected.

Maximum Hours in Discipline

It is recommended that credit toward graduation be given for no more than 42 credit hours in the major field of study or any one discipline in the BA or BS degrees.

Double Major

A student may secure a degree with a double major by fulfilling all course requirements as stated in this catalog for both majors, as long as both majors fall within the same degree. If both majors share common course requirements, there must be a minimum of 18 hours distinctive to the second major, separate and apart from the first major. (The student must determine which is to be the first major and which is to be the second major). Nine of the 18 hours must be upper-level and nine of the 18 must be in residence. A minimum of 12 hours of residency is required in any major. A minimum GPA of 2.0 must be achieved in both majors. DBU requires a minimum institutional cumulative, major, and minor GPA of 2.0.

University Honors Program

To be recognized as a University Honors Program graduate at DBU, a student must have successfully completed 24 hours in honors classes, including 12 hours in Perspectives courses. Honors Perspectives courses (HNRS 2301, HNRS 2302, HNRS 3301, HNRS 3302, HNRS 3303, HNRS 3304, HNRS 3313, HNRS 4303) fulfill the general education course requirements for History and/or English in all majors and are equivalent to HIST 1301, HIST 1302, HIST 2301, HIST 2302, ENGL 2301, or ENGL 2302.

University Honors Program students may take no more than six honors hours per semester, without the UHP Director’s approval. Honors students are encouraged to take Honors Developing the Christian Mind (DCM 2301HR) in the spring.

All students must also regularly enroll in Honors Enrichment courses and complete an Honors Portfolio (HNRS 4001) before completing the senior thesis or project. Freshmen register for HNRS 1001 both Fall and Spring; sophomores register for HNRS 2001 (Fall) and HNRS 2002 (Spring); juniors register for HNRS 3001 (Fall) and HNRS 3002 (Spring); and seniors register for HNRS 4001 during the senior year (offered Fall, Spring, and Summer).

The Honors Thesis or senior project is typically taken in the senior year under a professor in the student’s major and on a topic appropriate for their major. Students are required to complete a minimum of 3 credit hours of Honors Thesis or senior project.  Most honors students, after locating a supervisor within the student’s major, will first enroll in HNRS 4180HR in order to conduct initial research, and then the following semester enroll in HNRS 4280HR in order to complete and defend the honors thesis (if necessary, students may receive approval to enroll in HNRS 4380HR). Education students can complete the senior project while enrolled in EDUC 4608. Music students can complete the senior project by enrolling with approval in an Independent Study honors section of MUSI 4189 plus 2 additional credit hours of an Independent Study honors section of Applied Music. Business students can complete the senior project by enrolling with approval in an Independent Study honors section of MANA 4320. 

The Optional Academic Minor  

A student’s program of study must include courses in General Studies and the academic major and may also include electives and an optional minor. A student may minor in any department of the University that offers the required number and level of courses. DBU also offers a few select minors in which there is not a major. A carefully chosen minor provides substantial grounding in a field other than that of the student’s major and adds breadth and depth to the educational experience.

The number of hours required for a minor at Dallas Baptist University will be no less than 15 credit hours in one subject matter area. Of the total required hours, there must be a minimum of 9 hours distinctive to the minor, separate and apart from general studies and major core hours. A minimum GPA of 2.0 or above must be earned in the minor field of study. At least 6 upper-level hours in the minor program must be completed at Dallas Baptist University. The amount of upper-level credit hours is determined by the appropriate college. Several minor programs require additional hours and specific course work (For specific information, refer to the college offering the minor program). The student should consult his/her advisor regarding declaration of a minor. DBU requires a minimum institutional cumulative, major, and minor GPA of 2.0.