Undergraduate students must declare and complete the requirements for at least one major in order to receive a bachelor’s degree from Rice University. This declaration is required during or before the spring semester of their second year. More information about - when and how to declare a major, minor, and/or university certificate can be found on the Office of the Registrar (OTR) website, and relevant deadlines are listed on the Academic Calendar.
Students should consult with the Office of Academic Advising (OAA) regarding their course of study and for more information regarding how to contact a faculty advisor with specific questions about the academic program of the student’s interest (major, minor, and/or certificate). Additionally, Rice’s official curriculum is listed on the General Announcements (GA) each academic year.
In order to graduate from Rice University, all undergraduate students must also fulfill university requirements, including Writing and Communication, Distribution, Analyzing Diversity (AD), and Lifetime Physical Activity Program (LPAP) requirements. Students should regularly consult with their advisors and the Course Schedule and Catalog when registering for coursework via ESTHER.
In certain instances, and with appropriate approvals, credit earned through Advanced Placement (AP) / International Baccalaureate (IB) / A-Levels and/or transfer credit from other institutions may apply toward a student’s Rice degree.
Throughout the course of their studies, students can track progress towards fulfilling degree requirements by using Degree Works, the university’s degree audit system. In their final year, each undergraduate must file an Application for Degree to indicate that they intend to complete all degree requirements by the expected graduation date.
Related links can be found here:
- Academic Calendar
- Advanced Placement (AP) Credit
- A-Level Credit
- Commencement
- Course Schedule and Catalog
- Degree Application
- Degree Works
- Degree Works Instructions
- Degree Works FAQs
- Degree Works Official Certifiers
- ESTHER
- General Announcements (GA)
- Graduation
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit
- Office of Academic Advising (OAA)
- Office of the Registrar (OTR)
- Registration for Courses
- Transfer Credit