Spelman College Degrees (Majors & Outcomes)
Spelman offers undergraduate Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in liberal-arts, science, and other fields. Your best fit depends on your intended major, its required courses, and what you may want to do after college—not on a simple ranking of BA versus BS. Review Spelman’s current catalog, admissions rules, costs, and aid before you decide.
Choosing a degree can feel like choosing a path you cannot change. In practice, students often have room to explore, but changing majors may affect course plans, graduation timing, and cost. The safest approach is to compare the programs you are considering, then check the requirements that apply to your entry year.
I encourage students and families to focus on three questions: What subjects do you want to study? What must you complete to earn the degree? What experiences will help you take your next step after graduation? Spelman’s catalog and academic advisers can help turn those questions into a workable plan.
Spelman Admissions and Undergraduate Program Overview
Spelman College is a women’s liberal-arts college in Atlanta, Georgia, with undergraduate programs leading to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. Its program list and admission rules can change, so use Spelman’s current academic catalog and admissions pages to confirm the options and requirements for your intended entry term.
Spelman is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor’s degrees. Accreditation applies to the institution; it is not a rating of a specific major or a promise of a particular career result. You can check SACSCOC’s directory for current status.
Applying and checking eligibility
Spelman evaluates applicants under its current admission policy. Do not treat a GPA or test score found on a third-party site as a guaranteed cutoff or a promise of admission. Check Spelman’s official admissions information for the requirements, testing policy, application materials, and deadlines that apply to your entry term.
If you are a high school student, review the first-year application requirements. If you have attended another college, ask Spelman how it defines transfer eligibility and which prior credits may be evaluated. Confirm eligibility and program details directly with the college.
| Before applying | What to confirm | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Intended entry term | Application deadline and required materials | Dates and policies may change |
| Applicant type | First-year or transfer requirements | The process depends on your academic history |
| Intended major | Whether it is offered and which degree it leads to | Major names and degree rules can change |
| Testing | Current test-optional or testing policy | Do not rely on an older policy |
| Financial aid | FAFSA school code, forms, and deadlines | Missing a deadline may affect aid review |
Planning for cost and aid
Start with Spelman’s official cost of attendance, but do not assume that the published total is what your family will pay. Your net price is the cost after grants and scholarships are applied. Compare your individualized aid offer with the full cost, including indirect expenses listed by the college.
Complete the FAFSA using Spelman’s current federal school code. Submit any additional aid forms by the college’s stated deadlines. Before accepting an offer, read the award notice and ask how aid renewal works. Grants, scholarships, and other aid can have different renewal conditions.
Next step: Confirm the requirements for your applicant type, entry term, and aid application before making a college decision.
Majors, Curriculum, Credit Requirements, and Graduation Standards
A major is the main subject area you study in depth. A degree also includes general education, electives, and other requirements set by the college and program. At Spelman, the current catalog is the authority for the available majors, whether each leads to a BA or BS, and the courses required to graduate.
Spelman’s academic offerings span the liberal arts, sciences, and professional or applied fields. Use the official program directory to explore areas that interest you, then open each program’s catalog entry. A department or program page can explain its focus, but the catalog should guide your course planning.
BA and BS: what the labels do and do not tell you
A BA and a BS are both bachelor’s degrees. In general, a BA may include a broader liberal-arts structure, while a BS may require more coursework in science, mathematics, or a related field. These are broad patterns, not rules that apply to every college or every major.
At Spelman, compare the actual course lists rather than choosing by the degree letters alone. Check required courses, electives, prerequisites, and any research, internship, or capstone requirements. A BS is not automatically better for science careers, and a BA does not automatically limit future study. Graduate programs set their own entry requirements.
| Your current question | Compare in the catalog | Planning implication |
|---|---|---|
| Do I prefer a broad course mix or deeper study in a field? | Required major courses and electives | Shows how much room you have to explore |
| Am I considering graduate or professional school? | Required subject courses and program prerequisites | Helps you plan for later applications |
| Could I change majors? | Shared courses and prerequisite sequences | Shared courses may make a switch easier, but confirm with an adviser |
| Do I hope to finish within a set time? | Total degree requirements and course availability | Sequencing can affect how long completion takes |
Build a degree plan before choosing courses
Do not rely on a generic credit estimate to plan graduation. The relevant total and rules are those in your degree program’s current catalog and your advisor-approved degree audit. A degree audit is a record that shows how completed and planned courses apply to your graduation requirements.
At the start of enrollment, ask an adviser to map general education, major courses, electives, prerequisites, and any required culminating work. Confirm minimum cumulative and major GPA rules, residency requirements, and the minimum total credits that apply to your program. “Residency” usually means the amount of coursework you must complete through the college granting your degree.
Course order matters. A required course may be offered only in certain terms, or it may have prerequisites. Taking a class that does not count toward your degree can add time and cost. Before registering, confirm how each course applies to your plan.
Planning scenarios: how a choice can affect your route
These are planning examples, not reports about individual Spelman students. They show why it is useful to compare course requirements early and ask an adviser before making a change.
- A student weighing two majors: They compare required courses and find several that may meet requirements in both programs. Before treating those courses as shared credit, they ask an adviser to verify how each one applies.
- A student considering a switch: They look at the new major’s prerequisites and course sequence. The switch may fit their goals, but they check whether required courses are available in time for their intended graduation date.
- A student planning for graduate study: They review the admissions requirements for the graduate programs they may pursue, then compare those requirements with their undergraduate plan. They do not assume the BA or BS label alone will meet them.
Next step: Ask for a degree audit and verify every course’s place in your plan before enrolling.
Academic Support, Student Experience, and Degree-Completion Planning
Academic support includes advising and other resources that help students understand course choices, build skills, and stay on track. The services available and their rules can change. Ask Spelman which resources fit your situation, especially when you are choosing a major, transferring credit, or revising a degree plan.
Your experience outside class can also help you explore a field. Depending on your interests and what is available, you may seek research, internships, campus leadership, or career services. These activities can help you test your interests and build experience, but participation does not guarantee a job or admission to graduate school.
A practical sequence for first-year and transfer students
- Before applying: Identify one or more areas of interest. Review current programs, entry requirements, and application dates. Transfer students should ask how prior coursework is reviewed.
- Before committing: Compare the official cost of attendance with your aid offer. Check the renewal terms for each award and note any forms or deadlines.
- When planning courses: Use the current catalog and an adviser-approved degree audit. Check prerequisites, course availability, GPA rules, and residency requirements.
- As your goals develop: Revisit your plan with an adviser if you change majors or consider another path. Ask how the change could affect course progress, aid, and graduation timing.
- Before graduation: Confirm degree clearance with the college. Use career resources to explore employment or graduate and professional programs.
A key risk is a mismatch between your course plan and your aid conditions. Courses that do not meet degree requirements may delay graduation and add cost. Aid can also depend on renewal rules. Check both your degree audit and award notice each year, and ask the relevant office when something is unclear.
Next step: Keep one current degree plan and compare it with your aid renewal terms each year.
Career Pathways, Graduate Study, and Employment Outcomes
A degree can support several next steps, but a major does not guarantee a particular job, salary, or graduate-school offer. Outcomes depend on many factors, including experience, further education, location, and the job market. Use official outcome data carefully, and check what group and time period each figure describes.
When you compare Spelman programs, look beyond a list of possible careers. Review the courses and skills in the major, then ask what career advising, internship, research, or graduate-school support is available. Discuss how those opportunities fit your goals with the department or a college adviser.
How to evaluate outcomes data
The U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard provides information about colleges, costs, and outcomes. It can help you explore data, but a school-level figure may not describe the experience of students in a particular major. Check the measure, cohort, and time period before using a number to compare programs.
For a more useful comparison, ask these questions:
- Does the figure cover Spelman graduates overall or a specific major?
- What years or graduating group does it include?
- Does it measure employment, earnings, further education, or another outcome?
- Is it a reported result, an estimate, or a figure from another source?
- Does it describe a result that matters to your own goals?
If you plan to apply to graduate or professional school, look up requirements at the programs you may pursue. Some may require specific courses or prior preparation. Build those into your undergraduate plan early, and confirm them with the relevant admissions offices.
Next step: Use outcome data as context, not as a promise; connect it to your intended field and goals.
Conclusion: choosing a degree foundation
A sound choice starts with the program’s actual requirements, not assumptions about the words BA or BS. Spelman’s current catalog can show which degrees and majors are available and what each one requires. Pair that information with careful advising, an affordable aid plan, and a clear view of your next steps.
If you are undecided, compare courses in the fields that interest you and ask how easily your plans could change. If you already have a goal, check the preparation it requires. In either case, verify current details directly with Spelman before applying or registering.
Frequently asked questions
What bachelor’s degrees does Spelman College offer?
Spelman offers undergraduate Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science programs. Check the current catalog for the degree attached to each major.
Does Spelman offer both BA and BS degrees?
Yes. The college offers both degree types. Requirements vary by program, so compare the current catalog entries rather than relying on the degree label alone.
Where can I find Spelman’s full list of majors?
Use Spelman’s official academic programs page and current catalog. Confirm the major’s exact name, degree type, and requirements for your entry year.
Is a BA or BS better for graduate school?
Neither is always better. Graduate and professional programs set their own requirements, so compare those prerequisites with the courses in your Spelman degree plan.
How many credits do I need to graduate from Spelman?
The applicable total depends on the current degree and program rules. Check your catalog and advisor-approved degree audit rather than using a general estimate.
Can transfer students bring in college credits?
Ask Spelman how it evaluates transfer coursework. Confirm which credits apply to general education, major requirements, or electives before building your graduation plan.
Does Spelman publish a minimum GPA or test score for admission?
Check the current admissions policy for your entry term. Do not assume a third-party GPA or test-score estimate is an official cutoff or a guarantee.
How do I estimate the cost of attending Spelman?
Review the official cost of attendance and compare it with your personal financial aid offer. Use the net cost after grants and scholarships, and check aid renewal rules.
Where can I check Spelman’s accreditation?
Search the SACSCOC institution directory for current accreditation information. SACSCOC is Spelman’s institutional accreditor.
Where can I find reliable career outcome information?
Start with Spelman’s official career resources and the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard. Check each figure’s source, cohort, measure, and time period before drawing conclusions.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Matthew Ellison. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
