The University of Iowa will terminate two bachelors of science degrees because of less demand for the programs. 

The two programs approved for termination by the state Board of Regents Thursday are the bachelor of science in criminology, law, and justice and the bachelor of science in sociology. 

According to the university’s bachelor of science in criminology, law, and justice termination request to the regents, the degree is also offered as a bachelor of arts degree.

Currently, demand for the bachelor of science degree in the major is low, it states. 5.8 percent of students enrolled in the criminology, law, and justice major are on the bachelor of science track, with 20 out of 347 students enrolled.

Tanya Uden-Holman, UI associate provost for undergraduate education and dean of the university college, said at the regents meeting Wednesday that the department has faced challenges in solidifying that all students were ready for the program.

“The department has really had difficulty screening students to ensure that they were fully prepared for the rigorous math requirements,” Uden-Holman said.

Following termination, students on the bachelor of science track will still be able to complete the degree. The request states that additional quantitative training will be available for students who want to pursue it in the future.

“There should be no loss of enrollment in the criminology major due to this change, and there should also be an opportunity for cost savings,” Uden-Holman said. “It’ll really allow the department to reallocate courses to better serve the much more popular BA major.”

Uden-Holman said the department would ensure that students have access to needed courses.

“For future students who are interested in additional quantitative training, they’ll make sure that they have access to the courses for the certificate program, and social science analytics, which is currently offered to both BA and BS students,” she said.

Termination of the bachelor of science in sociology degree

Low demand is also impacting the bachelor of science in sociology, which is why the UI sought its termination. 

According to the request, five students out of 96 sociology majors are enrolled on the bachelor of science track, making up 5.3 percent of those enrolled. 

“In addition, the department has had difficulty screening students to ensure that they are fully prepared for the rigorous math requirements of the upper-level courses. This is creating additional hurdles for some of the students who opt for the BS,” the request states.

Like the other degree, current students in the bachelor of science track can still finish their degree. 

“Of the five students in the BS, four are third-year students, and the fifth is a first-year student. The undergraduate courses necessary for degree completion will still be offered, and the department will arrange for these students to be allowed to enroll in the required graduate statistics courses,” it states.

The request states the university will also aid future students who want additional quantitative training. 

“The department will ensure that students have access to needed courses through the certificate program in Social Science Analytics (which is currently offered to both BA and BS students),” it states. 

Natalie Miller contributed to this report.