General Studies
(This program is an interdisciplinary major.)
Dorothy V. Pettee, Adviser
Degrees Offered
The General Studies program offers a baccalaureate program for a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree.
Degree Requirements
Students may follow a broad program of general studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. General Studies is an interdisciplinary program that allows students to select an area of concentration and related course work not offered in traditional majors. The General Studies program has been established in recognition of the fact that existing majors may not satisfy the needs of all students desiring a liberal education. It provides students with a far greater flexibility in the arrangement of the undergraduate program of study. It should be noted that students who plan to pursue graduate or professional degree programs or enter certain employment areas that require established curricular backgrounds may find it to their advantage to consider existing majors offered within the College rather than the General Studies option. To insure the integrity of the program, students should declare this major before they have completed 90 hours. Students seeking admission to this program will be interviewed by the General Studies adviser in the College Student Services Office and must have sound reasons for their choice. Once accepted into the program, students must have their programs approved by the General Studies adviser.
Under this program, the University and College general education requirements specified in the Degree Requirements section of this catalog must be fulfilled, and an area of concentration in the natural sciences, social sciences or humanities must be identified for the purpose of fulfilling general education requirements. Students must take at least 64 hours of courses at the 2000 level or higher and at least 32 hours of courses at the 3000/4000 level and have earned a minimum of 124 hours to be eligible for graduation. In lieu of a major, students must take at least 16 but not more than 24 hours of course work in a single department and 26-34 hours of cognate or related course work for a total of 50 hours. Courses used for the concentration and related areas must be courses that would count in the major in those departments. Upon satisfactory completion of all requirements, either the B.A. or the B.S. degree will be awarded, depending on the concentration of courses. The transcript will identify the major as General Studies.