David A. Vollrath, Director

Office: Administration Building 233

Telephone: (574) 520-4260

Internet Address: www.iusb.edu/~sbgens

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 bachelor's 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.

General Studies Degrees

Both the associate and bachelor's degrees are offered and may be completed through the use of a combination of academic procedures:

- Taking courses on the IU South Bend or other Indiana University campuses

- Transferring credit hours from other accredited colleges and universities

- Taking IU South Bend faculty-directed readings courses

- Participating in internships

- Passing Indiana University departmental examinations

- Passing world 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 Nontraditional 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

Application and Admission Deadlines

Your official admission date is the date we accept you into the general studies degree program. This date may not coincide with the date the IU South Bend Office of Admissions processes your application. If we approve your admission on or prior to the campus Pass/Fail deadline, we will consider any current course work as course work taken after your admission to the general studies degree program. Applications for admission into the degree program are available from the general studies office and online.

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-F 203 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 bachelor's degree students and recommended for associate degree students.

Graduation Deadlines

An application for graduation must be filed in the general studies office no later than October 1 for December graduation or February 1 for May and August graduation. All credit hours of candidates for degrees, except those of the current semester, must be on record at least six weeks prior to the conferring of degrees. Credit hours by correspondence must be on record at least three weeks prior to the conferring of degrees. The school is not responsible for the graduation of students who fail to meet these deadlines.

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 academic units 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

Philosophy

Religious Studies

Speech

Theatre and Dance

World Language

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

Associate of Arts in General Studies

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 fields - A, B, and C - in 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 credit hours selected from any of the colleges of the university.

Since a key objective of the Associate of Arts in 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 Associate of Arts in General Studies.

General Education Curriculum

(All courses are 3 cr. hours, unless otherwise designated.)

For a more detailed description of the IU South Bend general education curriculum, including lists of approved courses, please see page 33 in this Campus Bulletin .

All courses certified as meeting the campuswide general education requirements are designated in the Schedule of Classes .

Within the 60 credit hours required for the Associate of Arts in General Studies degree, each student must meet the following campus general education requirements in the following four areas. Basic competence must be demonstrated in those areas marked with an asterisk (*).

Fundamental Skills (12-14 cr.)

A. Writing*

ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition

B. Oral Communication

Not required

C. Oral Communication*

SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking

D. Visual Literacy

Not required

E. Quantitative Reasoning*

Select from approved course list, pages 35

F. Information Literacy

Not required

G. Computer Literacy*

Select from approved course list, pages 35

Bachelor of General Studies

Degree Requirements

Required Credit Hours and Grade Point Averages

- 120 minimum credit hours required for the degree

- 30 minimum Indiana University credit hours required

- 20 minimum Indiana University 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 fields - A, B and C - in 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 (an additional 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.

Electives: 51 credit hours selected from 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 Bachelor of General Studies.

Introduction to General Studies

EDUC-F 203 Introduction to General Studies must be completed with a minimum grade of C (2.0) either prior to or within the first 12 credit hours after admission to the Bachelor of General Studies degree program.

General Education

Campuswide Curriculum (33-39 cr.)

(All courses are 3 cr. hours, unless otherwise designated.)

For a more detailed description of the IU South Bend general education curriculum, including lists of approved courses, please see page 33 in this Campus Bulletin .

All courses certified as meeting the campuswide general education requirements are designated in the Schedule of Classes .

Within the 120 credit hours required for the Bachelor of General Studies degree, each student must meet the following campus general education requirements in the following seven areas. Basic competence must be demonstrated in those areas marked with an asterisk (*).

I. Fundamental Literacies (13-19 cr.)

A. Writing*

ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition

B. Critical Thinking

Select from approved course list, page 34

C. Oral Communication*

SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking

D. Visual Literacy

Select from approved course list, page 35

E. Quantitative Reasoning*

Select from approved course list, page 35

F. Information Literacy

COAS-Q 110 Introduction to Information Literacy (1 cr.)

G. Computer Literacy*

Select from approved course list, page 35

II. Common Core Courses (12 cr.)

Complete one course from each of the following four areas, as designated in the Schedule of Classes . At least one of the areas must be completed at the 300-level.

A. The Natural World

Select from approved course list, page 35

B. Human Behavior and Social Institutions

Select from approved course list, page 36

C. Literary and Intellectual Traditions

Select from approved course list, page 36

D. Art, Aesthetics, and Creativity

Select from approved course list, page 36

III. Contemporary Social Values (8 cr.)

Students must complete one course from each of the following three areas, as designated in the Schedule of Classes . Basic competence must be demonstrated in those areas marked with an asterisk*.

A. Non-Western Cultures*

Select from approved course list, page 36

B. Diversity in United States Society*

Select from approved course list, page 37

C. Health and Wellness (2 cr.)

Select from approved course list, page 37

Additional School of Continuing Studies Requirements

Basic competence must be demonstrated in those areas marked with an asterisk (*).

Junior/Senior-Level Writing

The junior/senior-level writing requirement can be met with ENG-W courses above ENG-W 131 or any course designated as CLAS junior/senior-level writing.

Senior Capstone Seminar

EDUC-F 401 Senior Capstone Seminar must be completed with a minimum grade of C (2.0) within the last semester prior to graduation. 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.

Upper-Division Credit Hours

A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300- or 400-level (upper-division) is required.

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 Prior Learning Portfolio

The 1 credit hour course, EDUC-F 400 Preparing the Prior Learning Portfolio, is offered through correspondence 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.

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 Arts in General Studies. 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 degrees. The committee has the authority to develop and monitor policies and procedures for admission, advisement, academic quality, the certification of graduates, and recommendations for the granting of degrees. Members are normally appointed for staggered two-year terms by the Executive Committee of the IU South Bend Academic Senate, 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, 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 the School of Education and the School of Continuing Studies (SCS).