INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTH BEND 2003 - 2005 BULLETIN
The General Studies Degree
School of Continuing Studies
Paul A. Joray,
Director
Office: Administration Building, 233
Telephone: (574) 237-4260
Internet Address:
www.iusb.edu/~gens/
Assistant Director: Christopher
Mission Statement
Our mission is to assist you to design and implement a coherent, focused, and comprehensive plan of study leading to an associate and/or bachelors degree in general studies which achieves the traditional objectives of a university education, and meets your personal and professional goals.
Students earn general studies degrees for both personal enrichment and professional advancement. General studies alumni are employed in practically all fields of endeavor 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.
Both the associate and bachelors degrees are offered and may be completed through the use of a combination of academic procedures:
Taking courses on the IUSB or other Indiana University campuses.
Transferring credit hours from other accredited colleges and universities.
Taking IUSB faculty directed readings courses.
Participating in internships.
Passing Indiana University departmental examinations.
Passing foreign language placement examinations.
Receiving credit hours for college-level learning gained through life experiences and documented in the prior learning portfolio.
Receiving credit hours granted on the basis of professional credentials and experience.
Taking correspondence courses through independent study.
Passing College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) or Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) examinations.
Receiving credit hours for training programs approved by the American Council on Education and the University of the State of New York.
Receiving credit hours for military training and service.
Admission
Prior to admission to general studies, you will meet with a general studies academic advisor who will work in partnership with you to plan an appropriate academic program.
In addition, the 1 credit hour course EDUC F203 Introduction to General Studies is offered to assist you in the development of a personalized program of study and a schedule to complete your general studies degree. This course is required of all bachelors degree students and recommended for associate degree students.
Basic Structure
General studies degrees consist of required credit hours in the three subject fields in the College of Arts and Sciences and elective credit hours in any of the colleges of the university. The three subject fields in the College of Arts and Sciences are generally organized as follows. (Schools and departments not specifically listed here are considered professional schools.)
A. Arts and Humanities
Afro-American Studies
Classical Studies
Comparative Literature
English
Fine Arts
Folklore
History
History and Philosophy of Science
Language Courses
Philosophy
Religious Studies
Speech
Theatre and Drama
B. Science and Mathematics
Anatomy
Astronomy
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Geology
Mathematics
Microbiology
Physics
Physiology
Plant Sciences
Zoology
C. Social and Behavioral
Sciences
Anthropology
Economics
Geography
Psychology
Political Science
Sociology
Degree Requirements
Required Credit Hours and Grade Point Averages
60 minimum credit hours required for the degree.
15 minimum Indiana University course credit hours required.
10 minimum Indiana University course credit hours required after admission to general studies.
45 maximum credit hours accepted in transfer from other colleges and universities.
2.0 minimum cumulative grade point average required in all Indiana University courses and in all courses completed after admission to general studies.
Distribution of Credits
Thirty-six required credit hours in the College of Arts and Sciences in the three subject fieldsA, B, and Cin at least two separate academic departments in each field distributed as follows:
A. Arts and Humanities 12 cr.
B. Science and Mathematics 12 cr.
C. Social and Behavioral Sciences 12 cr.
Each course in subject fields A, B, and C must be completed with a minimum grade of C.
Electives: 24 elective credit hours in any of the colleges of the university.
Since a key objective of the Associate of General Studies degree is to encourage the development of a comprehensive curriculum, a maximum of 15 credit hours in any single department in the College of Arts and Sciences and in the professional schools of the university may be applied to the degree.
Fundamental Skills Development
Within the 60 credit hours required for the Associate of General Studies degree, each student must demonstrate basic competence in four areas:
Computer literacy
Ability to use the computer to input and retrieve information, to use a variety of software tools such as database management, word processing, spreadsheet, and the Internet.
Oral communication
Ability to be verbally fluent in interpersonal, group, or public speaking situations.
Written communication
Ability to write clearly, correctly, and to argue effectively in formal prose.
Quantitative reasoning
Ability to use mathematical or statistical principles and skills.
Basic competence is demonstrated through completion of specific courses with a minimum grade of C (2.0), by examination, or prior learning portfolio.
Degree Requirements
Required Credit Hours and Grade Point Averages
120 minimum credit hours required for the degree.
30 minimum Indiana University course credit hours required.
20 minimum Indiana University course credit hours required after admission to general studies.
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 and in all courses completed after admission to general studies.
Distribution of Credits
Sixty-nine required credit hours in the College of Arts and Sciences in the three subject fieldsA, B and Cin at least two separate academic departments in each field distributed as follows:
A. Arts and Humanities 12 cr.
B. Science and Mathematics 12 cr.
C. Social and Behavioral Sciences 12 cr.
Concentration Area (18 cr.) earned in one of the three subject fields: A, B, or C. Each course in A, B, C, and the concentration area must be completed with a minimum grade of C.
Arts and Sciences Electives (15 cr.) earned in any of the three subject fields: A, B, and C.
51 credit hours of electives in any of the colleges of the university.
Since 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 credit hours in any one of the professional schools of the university may be applied to the B.G.S.
Upper-Division Credit Hours
A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300- or 400-level (upper-division) is required.
Fundamental Skills Development
Within the 120 credit hours required for the Bachelor of General Studies degree, each student must demonstrate basic competence in five areas:
Computer literacy
Ability to use the computer to input and retrieve information; to use a variety of software tools such as database management, word processing, spreadsheet, and the Internet.
Oral communication
Ability to be verbally fluent in interpersonal, group, or public speaking situations.
Written communication
Ability to write clearly, correctly, and to argue effectively in formal prose. (Two courses required.)
Quantitative reasoning
Ability to use mathematical or statistical principles and skills.
World culture
Ability to understand, appreciate, and assess a culture other than American or Western.
Basic competence is demonstrated through completion of specific courses with a minimum grade of C (2.0), by examination, or prior learning portfolio.
Introduction to General Studies
The course, EDUC F203 Introduction to General Studies, must be completed by all students either prior to or within the first 12 credit hours after admission to the Bachelor of General Studies degree program with a minimum grade of C (2.0).
Senior Capstone Seminar
The 1 credit hour course EDUC F401 Senior Capstone Seminar must be completed within the last semester prior to graduation with a minimum grade of C (2.0). This course gives you the opportunity to make an assessment of your degree in the light of university degree requirements and your personal and professional objectives.
Minor Concentrations
You may complete minor concentrations, in consultation with a faculty advisor in the specific academic area, as part of your Bachelor of General Studies degree program. The minor concentration is listed on your official transcript.
The 1 credit hour course, EDUC F400 Preparing the Prior Learning Portfolio, is offered on a regular basis to assist you in identifying, demonstrating, and documenting the college-level learning gained through life experiences. A handbook for preparing the prior learning portfolio entitled Earn College Credit for Experiential Learning, contains step-by-step instructions for developing and formatting the document.
Your advisor will work with you to help prepare the portfolio. Up to 30 prior learning portfolio credit hours may be applied to the Bachelor of General Studies and up to 15 credit hours toward the Associate of General Studies degree. The fee per credit hour is the fee charged by the Indiana University Independent Study Program for university courses at the time the credit is reported on your official transcript.
Faculty Governance
The General Studies Degree Committee is the academic program
responsible for administering the general studies degree. The committee has the
authority to develop and monitor policies and procedures for admission,
advisement, academic quality, and the certification of graduates and
recommendations for the granting of degrees. Members are appointed by the
executive committee normally for staggered two-year terms, after soliciting
recommendations from the current members of the General Studies Degree
Committee, the degree program director, the vice chancellor for academic
affairs, and the academic senate members at large. The general studies degree
director shall be an ex-officio voting member of this committee. The committee
chairperson also serves as a member of the all-university School of Continuing
Studies faculty governance body.
Additional Academic Policies and Procedures
See the appropriate section in this Campus Bulletin regarding Academic Regulations and Policies of the University, and the Indiana University School of Continuing Studies Bulletin and Policy Handbook. Courses for general studies degree students are listed in the course descriptions under School of Education and the School of Continuing Studies (SCS).
Paralegal Studies
See information listed in Division of Continuing Education section of this Campus Bulletin.
