Your Duquesne Degree

All students, regardless of major, must complete a minimum of 120 credits including the Bridges Common Learning Experience in order to graduate. Each major has its own requirements. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 30 credits at Duquesne. The following requirements are based on the credits that a student has officially transferred to Duquesne as determined by their academic advisor.

Bridges Common Learning Experience 

Pittsburgh is home to more than 400 bridges, and amid them all, atop the storied Bluff, stands Duquesne University. Our location allows students to study where possibilities extend in every direction. Our very founding was intended to help people from diverse backgrounds make a difference as leaders and helpers in their communities, and we live that mission today.

Through the Bridges Curriculum, Duquesne students build knowledge and skills to become life-long, agile learners, succeed professionally, act ethically and contribute to the common good. Bridges curriculum includes four integrated components: On-Ramp, Foundations, Structures and Pathways. In an effort to assist students in maximizing their Bridges experience, the following guidelines have been established for transfer students.

Freshman standing (less than 30 credit)

Will complete all components of the Bridges Curriculum.

Sophomore standing (30 - 59 credits)

Waived from Information Literacy requirement. All other Bridges requirements must be satisfied through transfer coursework or completion of Duquesne classes.

Junior or Senior standing (60+ credits)

Waived from the Foundations component of Bridges curriculum (Information Literacy, First-Year Writing, Essential Questions Seminar, Introduction to Ethical Reasoning).

All other Bridges requirements must be satisfied through transfer coursework or completion of Duquesne classes: Structure component and Pathways.

Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree

As accreditation guidelines would mandate general education as part of these degree program's curriculum, students are waived from all Bridges requirements. Certain portions, (e.g. Writing Enrichment, Experiential Learning Opportunity, and Capstone Experience) are built into most programs of study and will have these features integrated into the majors.

School of Pharmacy PharmD professional phase (60+ credits or an Associate's Degree)

This program does not award a Bachelor's Degree so students are waived from all Bridges requirements. Certain portions, (e.g. Writing Enrichment, Experiential Learning Opportunity, and Capstone Experience) are built into the professional phase of the programs.