General Studies
Program Description
The curriculum of the General Studies degree program is designed to provide latitude and flexibility for students in choosing an undergraduate degree plan. The program allows students many options in selecting disciplines to create a curriculum to meet their particular needs, interests, and time constraints. The curriculum is comprised of a set of general core requirements along with minors in three discipline concentrations and elective courses.
Each General Studies student must choose three discipline concentrations. In order to complete each minor course of study, the student must earn 18 semester hours with at least 9 of these at or above the 300 level. Moreover, at least one of these upper-level courses in each discipline concentration must be one designated as a writing-intensive course. The remaining hours in the curriculum are free electives.
The four options for discipline concentrations are
Humanities (ART, ENG, FNA, FRE, MUS, PHI, SPA, SPE, THE), Natural Sciences (BIO, CHE, ENV, ESC, FSI, MAT, PHY), Professional Studies (BUS, CIS, EDU, HSC, HCM, NDT, NSG, RAD, RTC, SED), and Social Sciences (CJU, COU, ECO, GEO, HIS, PSC, PSY, SOC).
Outcomes of the General Studies Program
The overall purpose of the program in General Studies is to form in the student a firm foundation and a broad academic experience on which can be built further study or which can be readily applied to a wide variety of fields. This purpose is delineated as follows:
- The successful student gains a knowledge and appreciation of the political, historical, social, economic, and cultural experiences of peoples from prehistoric times to the modern era.
- The program provides flexible support to enable students in other disciplines to meet degree attainment or certification goals.
- The program affords students the opportunity to pursue areas of special interest in humanities, business, psychology, sociology, natural and social sciences, and mathematics.
Student Learning Outcomes of the General Studies Program
Upon successful completion of the General Studies Program, students are able to
- recall essential factual information in the areas of concentration;
- read, understand, and critique standard reference works and scholarly or professional periodicals in the areas of concentration;
- assess critical theories and trends in the chosen areas of concentration;
- synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge in the fields of concentration; and
- demonstrate the ability to engage in critical thinking and independent judgment in the areas of concentration.
Degree Requirements
The degree of Bachelor of Science in General Studies is conferred upon students who complete the approved program of study with a Grade Point Average of at least 2.0 in all 120 semester hours of the curriculum, at least 2.5 in all core and general education requirements, and at least 2.5 in all course work. Alternatively, students may earn the degree of Bachelor of Arts in General Studies if, among the selected elective courses, at least six semester hours are earned in a single foreign language.
Note: ENG 100, MAT 100A, MAT 100B, and REA 100 classes are not acceptable as electives.
A partial four-year plan is given below as a suggestion, with the first two years devoted to the completion of the core and general education course requirements.
Freshman (29 credits)
| | Natural Science Elective | 5 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
| HIS | History Elective | 3 |
| MAT 105 | College Algebra | 3 |
| PHI | Philosophy Elective | 3 |
| | Social Science Elective | 3 |
| SPE 101 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| THE | Theology Elective | 3 |
Sophomore (25 credits)
| ENG | Literature Elective | 3 |
| ART/FNA/MUS | Fine Arts Elective | 3 |
| MAT | Mathematics Elective | 3 |
| PHI | Philosophy Elective | 3 |
| THE | Theology Elective | 3 |
| | Natural Science Elective | 4 |
| | Social Science Electives | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 54 |
Junior and Senior
During the Junior and Senior years, in consultation with and with the approval of the assigned General Studies advisor, the student must choose and complete three discipline concentrations and 12 additional semester hours of free electives.
General Studies Summary
| Core Curriculum Requirements |
28 |
| General Education Requirements |
26 |
| Three Minor Courses of Study |
54 |
| Elective Requirements |
12 |
Total Credit Hours: 120