A strong curriculum focusing on business, people and technology provides students with many options for shaping an academic program that fits their unique skills, interests and career goals. Students may pursue a bachelor of science, a bachelor of arts, or a combined bachelor's/master’s program of studies. All bachelor’s degrees require course work totaling between 121 and 123 credit hours. Degree requirements vary by major and degree type. Course and graduation requirements are listed in the sections that follow.
GENERAL EDUCATION CORE CURRICULUM (47 CREDIT HOURS) A strong arts and sciences curriculum is key to the success of all programs at Bentley. Specific requirements are referred to as the General Education Core. There are 16 courses totaling 47 credit hours of general education course requirements.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FS 111 | First Year Seminar 1 | 1 |
| IT 101 | Information Technology and Computer System Concepts | 3 |
| EC 111 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| EC 112 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| PH 101 | Problems of Philosophy | 3 |
| Expository Writing I (fulfilled with one of the following): | 3 | |
| Expository Writing I: Critical Thinking and Writing | ||
| Expository Writing I: Critical Thinking and Writing with Lab | ||
| Expository Writing I: Critical Thinking and Writing | ||
| Expository Writing I: Critical Thinking and Writing with Lab | ||
| Expository Writing II (fulfilled with one of the following): | 3 | |
| Expository Writing II: Advanced Inquiry in Writing | ||
| Expository Writing II: Advanced Inquiry in Writing with Lab | ||
| Expository Writing II: Advanced Inquiry in Writing | ||
| Expository Writing II: Advanced Inquiry in Writing with Lab | ||
| Literature (fulfilled with any course in LIT, CIN, EMS, or MLCH 403, MLFR 304, MLIT 304, MLIT 305, MLSP 306, MLSP 307, MLSP 404, or MLSP 405. Certain topics/titles of MLCH 402 or MLSP 301 may also apply.) | 3 | |
| Mathematical Sciences I (fulfilled with one of the following): | 3 | |
| Applied Calculus for Business I | ||
| Applied Calculus for Business I with Lab | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| Mathematical Sciences II (fulfilled with one of the following): | 3 | |
| Applied Calculus for Business II | ||
| Applied Calculus for Business II with Lab | ||
| Calculus II | ||
| Natural Sciences course with lab (fulfilled with any NASC course) | 4 | |
| Behavioral Sciences (fulfilled with any PS or SO course) | 3 | |
| Government (fulfilled with one of the following): 2 | 3 | |
| US Government and Politics | ||
| Globalization | ||
| Comparative Government and Politics | ||
| US State and Local Government and Politics | ||
| International Relations | ||
| History (fulfilled with any HI course) | 3 | |
| Mathematics/Natural Sciences Elective (fulfilled with any MA 200 or higher or NASE) 3,4 | 3 | |
| Humanities/Social Science Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 47 | |
| 1 | Course is not required for transfer students with 15 transfer credits or more. These students will complete 121 credits for graduation. |
| 2 | International Affairs majors may take GLS 100, 101, 102 or 105. GLS 116 is required in the major. |
| 3 | Computer Information Systems majors must take a math elective. |
| 4 | Actuarial Science, Data Analytics and Mathematical Sciences majors are not required to take an MA/NASE elective, and therefore take 15 courses (44 credits) in the General Education Core. The General Education Math I and Math II requirements must be satisfied by MA 131 and MA 139. |
| 5 | Fulfilled by any CIN, COM, EMS, GLS, HI, LIT, MC, MLCH, MLFR, MLIT, MLJA, MLSP, PH (except PH 101), PS, SO, EC 282, 321, 331, 333, 341, 343, 351, 362, 370, 382, 425, 483, any ID (except ID 209 and ID 306), LA 100-199. |
OTHER DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
GPA REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
All students must earn a passing grade of at least D- in each course; meet a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in all courses completed at Bentley; and attain an overall GPA of at least 2.0 in all courses in the major.
Students electing or required to complete a minor must attain a minor GPA of at least 2.0.
RESIDENCY AND COURSE-AWAY LIMITATIONS
- Students are permitted to take courses away only during interim periods (i.e., summer and winter sessions).
- After matriculating at Bentley University, students may take no more than 10 percent of the remaining credits at other institutions. At least 60 credits toward a Bentley degree must have been earned at Bentley.
- Students must complete substantial work in the major field at Bentley. Only six credits in a student’s major area may be transferred from other institutions.
OTHER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
- Meet all financial obligations to the university
- Submit an application for program completion through Workday (see the Academic Calendar on the web for specific dates)
Arts and Sciences Majors
In addition to the General Education requirements described in the overview, Arts and Sciences degrees (except the Liberal Arts major) include the following:
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (24 to 25 credit hours)
Students must satisfy departmentally determined major course requirements in one of the Arts and Sciences majors which may be found under the Majors and Minors option in the left menu. Each major has particular course and minimum credit-hour requirements.
Minor in Business Studies (15 credit hours) or Business Studies Major (24 credit hours)
All students pursuing an arts and sciences undergraduate degree, with the exception of students completing a Liberal Arts Major, must complete either a Minor in Business Studies or a Business Studies Major as part of their degree requirements. Students pursuing an Arts and Sciences major cannot apply more than 30 credit hours of business courses to their degree requirements.
Unrestricted Electives (6 to 15 credit hours)
Students who elect the Business Studies Major have six credits of unrestricted electives. Students completing the minor in business studies have 15 credits of unrestricted electives.
Modern Language Requirement (6 credit hours)
Students pursuing an Arts and Sciences degree (except students pursuing a BS in Mathematical Sciences, Data Analytics or Actuarial Sciences) must complete two semesters of the same modern language, regardless of proficiency levels. Credits earned from AP classes and other institutions approved by Bentley (including abroad) will be considered.
Arts and Sciences Electives (9 to 27 credit hours)
Students pursuing an Arts and Sciences degree must complete additional arts and sciences related coursework of their choosing.
U.S. DIVERSITY, INTERNATIONAL AND COMMUNICATION-INTENSIVE FOCUSED COURSE REQUIREMENT
All students must satisfy these three focus requirements by selecting from a list of approved courses that have U.S. diversity, international and/or communication-intensive material as their focus.
In addition, Mathematical Sciences, Actuarial Science, and Data Analytics students complete one communication-intensive course in their major. Courses that meet the U.S. diversity, international and communication requirements are listed on the registrar’s website. These requirements can be fulfilled with courses taken to meet any of the other degree requirements. Transfer students with a minimum of 30 credits will be waived from the focus requirements.
Business Majors
In addition to the General Education requirements described in the overview, Business degrees include the following:
General Business Core Curriculum (27 credit hours)
Specialization in a field of business practice at Bentley is based on a solid foundation of business discipline knowledge and skills: the General Business (GB) Core. Starting in the first semester of the first year and ending in the fourth year, the sequence of nine three-credit courses enables students to understand the connections between business and society as well as among the internal functions of a business organization. The General Business Core is required of all Business majors.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GB 110 | Legal and Ethical Environment of Business | 3 |
| GB 112 | Tools and Concepts in Accounting and Finance | 3 |
| GB 212 | Practice and Applications in Accounting and Finance | 3 |
| GB 213 | Business Statistics | 3 |
| GB 214 | Marketing-Operations Fundamentals | 3 |
| GB 215 | Human Behavior and Organizations | 3 |
| GB 310 | Business Processes and Systems | 3 |
| GB 320 | Integrated Business Project | 3 |
| GB 410 | Global Strategy | 3 |
Major Requirements (from 24 to 30 credit hours)
Students must satisfy departmentally determined major course requirements in one of Bentley's Business majors. Each major has particular course and minimum credit-hour requirements.
Arts and Sciences Electives (15 credit hours)
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in a business discipline must complete an additional 15 credit hours of arts and sciences coursework of their choosing.
Business-Related Electives (3 credit hours)
Students pursuing a degree in business must complete an additional three credits of business-related coursework of their choosing.
Unrestricted Electives (from 0 to 6 credit hours)
Depending on a student’s major, students are required to take additional courses in any discipline. This requirement may be reduced to one or no courses for some majors.
U.S. Diversity, International and Communication-Intensive Focused Course Requirement
All students must satisfy these three focus requirements by selecting from a list of approved courses that have U.S. diversity (D), international (I) and/or communication-intensive (C) material as their focus.
In addition, all students complete one communication-intensive course (C) in their major. Courses that meet the U.S. diversity, international and communication requirements are listed on the registrar’s website. These requirements can be fulfilled with courses taken to meet any of the other degree requirements. Transfer students with a minimum of 30 credits will be waived from the focus requirements.