The University Faculty Senate approved changes to the bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree requirements that will give students greater flexibility in choosing general education courses.

The changes were recommended by a report from a Faculty Senate subcommittee.

Currently, students pursuing a B.A. degree must split nine required credits evenly between humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and arts.

The changes allow students to arrange the nine credits among six areas, including the addition of foreign languages, natural sciences and quantification.

Students will also be able to arrange these credits freely, such as using all nine in one area.

"We wanted to provide additional flexibility for students pursing the B.A. degree," Jack Selzer, chair of the subcommittee, said. "This flexibility will ... make it easier for them to do things like double majors, minors and get additional foreign language instruction."

Dawn Blasko, Senate secretary, said the subcommittee that reviewed the B.A. requirements was commissioned because it had been a while since the last time the requirements had been reviewed.

"I think the changes will be helpful to students who want to try some things a little different out of their major," she said.

Caroline Eckhardt, professor of English and comparative literature and a member of the subcommittee, said the changes were made to preserve the commitment to liberal arts education beyond what general education requires.

"We wanted to encourage students to more easily take a major or minor, or pursue foreign or education abroad programs," she said.

Selzer said the change will also be advantageous to students who decide to switch to liberal arts from other academic colleges.

Susan Welch, dean of the College of the Liberal Arts, said the requirement will take effect next fall for new students, and current students will be able to decide whether or not to continue on their current track.

"Typically these changes ... just apply to new students," she said. "We don't make things retroactive for students."