Pictured | Mark Chapman | General Studies // minors in Business Administration and Mass Communication | Goshen, Indiana (hometown)

Bachelor of General Studies

Degree Map | Arts and Humanities >> see department
Degree Map | Science and Mathematics >> see department
Degree Map | Social and Behavioral Sciences >> see department

About the Bachelor of General Studies

Students earn General Studies degrees for both personal enrichment and professional advancement. General Studies alumni are employed in most fields including business, education, public administration, sales, and social service. Twenty-five percent have earned graduate degrees in such fields as business administration, counseling, education, law, medicine, ministry, and social work.

Academic Advising

College policy on academic advising requires that students meet with their academic advisor at least once each year, and in some departments, prior to each semester's enrollment. Advising holds are reset following advising appointments. Students with a declared major are usually advised in their academic unit. To determine who your advisor is and how to contact then, see One.IU.

Degree Requirements (120 cr.)

Students receiving the Bachelor of General Studies must complete 120 total credit hours including

• IU South Bend Campuswide General-Education Curriculum (A minimum grade of C (2.0) is required in the following General Education requirement areas: Writing, Oral Communication, Quantitative Reasoning, Computer Literacy, Non-Western Cultures, and Diversity in United States Society.) (33-39 cr.)
• Arts and Sciences Foundation requirements
• Additional B.G.S. requirements
• A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.

In addition, the following conditions apply to this degree:

• 30 minimum IU South Bend credit hours required
• 30 maximum credits may be awarded for successful completion of external exams such as AP, CLEP, DSST and Regents College. Additional credits may be earned with successful completion of university exams as approved by IU South Bend.  Additional credits may also be granted for successful completion of exams and training documented from military service and from accredited licensure examinations as approved by the American Council on Education (ACE).
• 90 maximum credit hours accepted in transfer from other colleges and universities
• 2.0 minimum cumulative grade point average required in all Indiana University courses

Major Requirements

Basic competence must be demonstrated through completion of an approved course with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in those areas marked with an asterisk (*).

GNST-G 203 Introduction to General Studies* | Prerequisite: Admission to General Studies or attend a General Studies Information Session. GNST-G 203 must be completed either prior to or within the first 12 credit hours after admission to the Bachelor of General Studies degree program.

Quantitative Reasoning| One required course; students may not test out of the Quantitative Reasoning requirement.

Second-level Writing*| The second-level writing requirement can be met with ENG-W courses above ENG-W 131 Reading, Writing, and Inquiry I or any course designated as fulfilling the CLAS second-level writing in the Schedule of Classes.

GNST-G 400 Senior Capstone Seminar*| must be completed during the final semester prior to graduation. This course gives students the opportunity to make an assessment of their degree in the light of university degree requirements and their personal and professional goals.

Arts and Sciences Foundation (69 cr.)

These courses must be completed in the three subject fields—A, B, and C—in at least two separate academic disciplines in each field as follows:

A. Arts and Humanities (12 cr.)

African American Studies | American Studies | Classical Studies | Comparative Literature | English | Fine Arts | Folklore | History | History and Philosophy of Science | Philosophy | Religious Studies | Speech | Telecommunications | Theatre and Dance | World Languages

B. Science and Mathematics (12 cr.)

Anatomy | Astronomy | Biology | Chemistry | Computer Science | Geology | Mathematics | Microbiology | Physics | Physiology | Plant Sciences

C. Social and Behavioral Sciences (12 cr.)

Anthropology | Criminal Justice | Economics | Geography | Political Science | Psychology | Sociology

Concentration Area (18 cr.)

Concentration area courses must be earned in at least two separate disciplines in one of the three subject fields A, B, or C

Electives (15 cr.)

Electives may be earned in any of the three subject fields, A, B, or C or additional Arts and Sciences disciplines.

Each course in Areas A, B, C, and the concentration area must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.

General Studies Electives (51 cr.)

• Electives may be selected from any of the colleges/schools of the university.

Because a key objective of the Bachelor of General Studies degree is to encourage the development of a comprehensive curriculum, a maximum of 21 credit hours in any single department in the College of Arts and Sciences, and a maximum of 30 credits hours in any one of the professional schools of the university, may be applied to the Bachelor of General Studies. Students who minor in an area may take up to six additional credits beyond the minor requirements in order to complete the minor.

Minors and Certificates

Students are strongly encouraged to complete minors and/or certificates in consultation with a faculty advisor in the specific academic area as part of their Bachelor of General Studies degree. Minors and certificates are listed on their official transcript.

Internships

Students are encouraged to include internships as part of their Bachelor of General Studies degree. Internships provide students with the opportunity to advance in their current job settings. Students may also explore a potential career field, learn job skills, develop the habits of mind valued by employers, and integrate classroom content with real-life experiences. Professional level experiences and challenges improve marketability upon graduation. Students may use up to 12 credits of internship toward their Bachelor of General Studies degree. Internship applications are accepted on a rolling basis.