Concentration
Majors may have concentrations (required or optional), which are approved set of courses to indicate in-depth knowledge or specialty area within the major and are recognized on the student’s transcript.
Per the Ohio Department of Higher Education, concentrations must include a minimum of 50 percent of the overall curriculum within the degree program. The rationale behind the Ohio Department of Higher Education mandate is to ensure that concentrations are not so unique to their program's curriculum that they operate as unauthorized separate degree programs.
Example in practice – Program 1:
| 33 | Program credits (shared by all concentrations) | |
| + | 18 | Concentration credits (unique to concentration) |
| 51 | Overall curriculum credits | |
| x | .5 | |
| 25.5 | (50 percent mark) |
Program 1 fits the rule because program credits (33) are more than 50 percent mark (25.5). Concentration includes 65% of the overall curriculum.
Example in practice – Program 2:
| 27 | Program credits (shared by all concentrations) | |
| + | 45 | Concentration credits (unique to concentration) |
| 72 | Overall curriculum credits | |
| x | .5 | |
| 36 | (50 percent mark) |
Program 2 does not fit the rule because program credits (27) are not more than 50 percent mark (36). Concentration includes 38% of the overall curriculum.
Example in practice – Program 3:
| 30 | Program credits (shared by all concentrations) | |
| + | 30 | Concentration credits (unique to concentration) |
| 60 | Overall curriculum credits | |
| x | .5 | |
| 30 | (50 percent mark) |
Program 3 fits the rule because program credits (30) are equal to 50 percent mark (30). Concentration includes 50% of the overall curriculum.