General Requirements

Academic Guidance

A counselor provides guidance for each General Studies Degree Program candidate. Note: Although students are encouraged to seek the advice of a General Studies Degree Program counselor, students are responsible for planning their own programs and meeting the degree requirements for graduation.

General Requirements for the Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.)

(Students must check with their home campus regarding how courses apply to their degree.)

  • Students must successfully complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to graduate.
  • Students must successfully complete at least 69 of the 120 required credit hours in the arts and sciences. No more than 21 of these 69 credit hours—may be taken in a single arts and sciences department or subject area. In addition, no more than 30 of the 51 credit hours allowed outside the arts and sciences may be taken in any one professional school or technical program.
  • Students must successfully complete at least 30 of the 120 required credit hours at Indiana University or through the Independent Study Program. Earning credit through an academic department examination at Indiana University is equivalent to having completed that course at Indiana University. Credits earned by Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), and College-Level Examination Programs (CLEP) may not be applied to this 30 credit hour requirement.
  • Students must complete at least 20 credit hours after admission to the General Studies Degree Program. This should be Indiana University course work. Credits earned by self-acquired competency, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), and College-Level Examination Programs (CLEP) may not be applied to this 20 credit hour requirement.
  • Students must successfully complete at least 30 of the 120 required credit hours at the 300 and 400 upper-division level.
  • Students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all courses considered for the B.G.S. and on all courses completed after admission to the School of Continuing Studies. C– is the minimum grade accepted for any course completed to satisfy course distribution requirements.
  • Students who pursue the B.G.S. after completing the A.A.G.S. must fulfill the B.G.S requirements in effect at the time of admission to the bachelor’s program.
  • Students must also fulfill the fundamental skills and course distribution requirements (see “Fundamental Skills Competency Requirements” below and Course Distribution Requirements).

Fundamental Skills Competency Requirements

For the B.G.S., students must meet fundamental skills competency requirements that demonstrate college-level competency in six areas: written communication, intermediate writing course, oral communication, quantitative reasoning, computer literacy, and diversity. Students may demonstrate competency by completing an appropriate college-level non-remedial course or its transfer equivalent in English composition/writing, speech/communication, quantitative reasoning, computer science, and diversity; by earning a grade of C or higher in a 3 credit hour course.

A course that fulfills one of the six competency requirements at any Indiana University campus fulfills that requirement for the General Studies Degree Program at any other Indiana University campus. Acceptable grades for courses meeting competency requirements must be consistent with the campus’s requirements.

Many courses in the Independent Study Program are available to fulfill competency requirements.

Note: Students should consult with their General Studies Degree Program counselors to determine which independent study courses fulfill competency requirements on their campuses.