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General Studies Degree Program

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Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.)

Basic Structure of B.G.S. (Distribution Requirements)
Area A: Arts and Humanities 12 credits
Area B: Science and Mathematics 12 credits
Area C: Social and Behavioral Sciences 12 credits
Concentration in Area A or B or C 18 credits
Area D: Arts and Sciences 15 credits
Area E: General Electives 51 credits
Total credits required for the B.G.S. 120 credits

Within the basic structure of the distribution requirements, students must meet the fundamental skills requirements of the IU School of Continuing Studies and the IU South Bend general education requirements. For more information about these specific requirements, click on the appropriate admission track below:

Admission Tracks for B.G.S.
Track Admission Standards Advising Materials
Blue Matriculated at IU South Bend summer 2005 or before
Admitted into the General Studies Degree Program
     July 26, 1997 through August 31, 2006		 Plan of Study
Degree Progress Report
Orange Matriculated at IU South Bend summer 2005 or before
Admitted into the General Studies Degree Program
     September 1, 2006 or after		 Plan of Study
Degree Progress Report
Yellow Matriculated at IU South Bend fall 2005 or after
Transferred 55 or fewer credits
Admitted into the General Studies Degree Program
     September 1, 2006 or after		 Plan of Study
Degree Progress Report
Ivory Matriculated at IU South Bend fall 2005 or after
Transferred 56 or more credits
Admitted into the General Studies Degree Program
     September 1, 2006 or after		 Plan of Study
Degree Progress Report

B.G.S. Requirements and Policies

  1. Distribution Requirements: 36 credits
    You must complete 12 credits in each of three learning areas: arts and humanities, science and mathematics, and social and behavioral sciences. The 12 credits required in each learning area must include courses from at least two academic departments. You must fulfill the distribution requirements with grades of C- (1.7) or higher.
     
  2. Concentration: 18 credits
    You must complete an additional 18 credits in one of the three learning areas: arts and humanities, science and mathematics, and social and behavioral sciences. The 18 credits must include courses from at least two academic departments. You must fulfill the concentration requirement with grades of C- (1.7) or higher.
     
  3. Arts & Sciences: 15 credits
    You must complete an additional 15 credit hours in the arts and sciences: arts and humanities, science and mathematics, and social and behavioral sciences.
     
  4. Electives: 51 credits
    You must complete 51 credits of electives. Electives may come from the the arts and sciences or any of the professional schools of the university.
     
  5. Fundamental Skills
    You must fulfill each fundamental skills (competency) requirement with a grade of C (2.0) or higher. Courses meeting the fundamental skills may also be counted within the distribution requirements, concentration area, arts and sciences category or as electives.
     
  6. IU South Bend Campus General Education
    You must fulfill the IU South Bend Campus General Education requirements. Courses meeting the campus general education requirements may also be counted within the distribution requirements, concentration area, arts and sciences category or as electives.
     
  7. Minimum: 30 credits at 300-400 level
    You must successfully complete at least 30 of the 120 required credits at the 300 and 400 (upper division) level.
     
  8. Maximum: 21 credits in a single academic department
    You may apply no more than 21 credits in any one academic department, including credits earned on the basis of a Self-Acquired Competency (SAC) portfolio, toward the 120 required credits.
     
  9. Maximum: 30 credits in single professional or technical program
    You may earn no more than 30 of the 51 credit hours allowed outside the arts and sciences, including credits earned on the basis of a SAC portfolio, in any one professional school or technical program. Exceptions: IU South Bend School of Business and Economics & IU South Bend Dental Hygiene program.
     
  10. Minimum: 30 credits from I.U. South Bend
    You must successfully complete at least 30 of the 120 required credits at I.U. South Bend. You may not apply credits earned by self-acquired competency (SAC), Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), and College-Level Examination Programs (CLEP) to this 30 credit hour requirement.
     
  11. Minimum: 20 credits after admission to the General Studies Degree Program
    You must complete at least 20 credits after admission to the General Studies Degree Program. You may not apply credits earned by self-acquired competency (SAC), Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), and College-Level Examination Programs (CLEP) to this 20 credit minimum.
     
  12. Minimum: cumulative GPA of 2.0
    You must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all courses considered for the B.G.S. and on all courses completed after admission to the General Studies Degree Program. The minimum grade we accept for any course completed to satisfy fundamental skills is C (2.0); the minimum grade we accept for any course completed to satisfy the distribution requirements or the concentration area is C- (1.7).