IU Columbus Programs
Undergraduate Programs
General Studies
The Bachelor of General Studies Degree (BGS) is specifically designed for returning adult students and transfer students who want a degree that combines Indiana University’s high academic standards with flexibility and convenience. The BGS allows students to customize their own degree programs. Students may select courses from a broad range of subjects to tailor their course work to personal interests, goals, or career needs. Earning a degree in general studies allows students to apply for and pursue advanced degrees in a variety of fields, increase earnings, advance in careers, build confidence, and become role models for their children
The core of each general studies degree is a broadly based education encompassing the arts and humanities; the social and behavioral sciences; and mathematics and natural sciences. The curriculum expands students’ body of knowledge and awareness of major areas of human experience.
Of the 120 total credits, you must have at least:
- 30 credit hours in IU Columbus General Education Core
- 12 credit hours in IU Columbus Baccalaureate Competencies
- 18 credit hours in one of three concentration areas: (1) arts and humanities, (2) life and physical sciences, or (3) social sciences
- 21 credit hours in arts and sciences electives
- 39 credit hours in free electives
This degree program has multiple concentrations:
- Arts and Humanities
- Science and Mathematics
- Social and Behavioral Science
Additional requirements:
- At least 30 of the required 120 degree credits must be at the 300- or 400-level.
- No more than 30 credit hours are allowed in one arts and sciences department/subject or 30 credit hours in one professional school.
- At least 30 total credit hours from Indiana University are required; at least 21 of these must be earned after admission to the BGS degree program (Note: a maximum of 64 credits from a two-year college or 90 credits from a four-year college may be applied to degree requirements.)
- 2.0 cumulative IU grade point average and a 2.0 average in all courses completed after admission to the BGS degree program.
