This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2025-Spring 2026 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.
Bachelor of Science in General Studies
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Academic Plan Code(s): GENEBS_O, GENEBS
Program Information
This program can be completed 100% online.
Students earning a BS in General Studies will develop broad knowledge and awareness as well as professional, interpersonal, and critical thinking skills to succeed in a diversified workforce or further academic pursuits. The General Studies curriculum encourages students to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their role in addressing complex and ever-changing social issues. This degree serves continuing, transfer, and returning students with a pathway to complete their education online. It also offers students entering college a highly interdisciplinary degree program with a choice of five thematic tracks or a sixth option to earn two minors or certificates. Finally, the degree offers an accessible option for students at risk of leaving the university due to life circumstances that present barriers to more traditional majors. All tracks may be completed online, but a face-to-face degree option is also available.
Degree Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | 31 | |
| College/School Requirements | 7 | |
| Program/Major Requirements | 83 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121 | |
- 1
Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework.
Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.
Admission Requirements
There are no specific admission requirements for this degree plan.
The Change Major Request form can be found under the Academic Progress tile on ULink.
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements* | 31 | |
* All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above). Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
College/School Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Arts & Sciences Requirements | ||
| GEN 100 | Student Success Center First Year Experience | 1 |
| or GEN 101 | Arts & Sciences First Year Experience | |
| Electives in Natural and/or Social Sciences OR electives in Humanities (depending on the areas of focus) at 300 level or above | 6 | |
| WR Courses - two approved courses at the 300 level or above 1 | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 7 | |
Program/Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies Core Courses | ||
| GNST 303 | Introduction to General Studies | 3 |
| GNST 305 | Prior Learning Assessment | 0-3 |
| GNST 401 | General Studies Capstone - CUE, WR | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Track Requirements: Courses must be taken across at least three listed disciplines. Related courses from other disciplines may be counted on a case-by-case basis. 2 | 36 | |
| Minimum electives | 42-45 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 83 | |
- 1
May be met by completing other required courses designated WR.
- 2
At least 24 hours must be at the 300 level or higher. At least 12 hours must be taken in A&S.
At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement) | ||
| Requirement fulfilled by completing the following: | ||
GNST 401 | General Studies Capstone - CUE, WR | |
Interdisciplinary Tracks
Courses must be taken across at least three listed disciplines. Related courses from other disciplines may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the program director. Completion of a minimum of 36 credit hours is required for each track.
Communication and Creative Expression
This track will allow you to explore the interconnectedness between communication and creative expression and their relevance to individuals and to modern society. Track disciplines include Art, Art History, Communication, English, Comparative Humanities, and Theatre Arts.
A selection of sample coursework is provided below to indicate the breadth of the track and the courses that may be offered in an online modality; however, a total of 36 credits in the track's focus area must be completed to meet the track requirements so additional courses may be needed to meet the track credit hour requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ART 200 | Studio Art and Visual Culture - AH | 3 |
| ARTH 203 | Introduction to Art - AH | 3 |
| ARTH 290 | Survey of Asian Art - AH, P2 | 3 |
| COMM 201 | Introduction to Communication Studies - SB | 3 |
| COMM 303 | Introduction to Communication Technologies | 3 |
| ENGL 202 | Introduction to Creative Writing - AH | 3 |
| ENGL 374 | Gender, Race, Sexuality in Children's Lit - AH, P1 | 3 |
| HUM 224 | Introduction to Film - AH, P2 | 3 |
| HUM 324 | Approaches to Film Interpretation | 3 |
| TA 207 | Enjoyment of Theatre - AH | 3 |
Health and Human Studies
This track will allow to you to explore scientific, social, and environmental aspects of health and wellness. This track may be customized to prepare for professional healthcare programs (ex. Physician’s Assistant, Physical Therapy, Speech Language Pathology); your advisor can offer guidance for a more personalized interdisciplinary pre-health degree. Track disciplines include Anthropology, Biology, Geographic and Environmental Sciences, Psychology, Sociology, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
A selection of sample coursework is provided below to indicate the breadth of the track and the courses that may be offered in an online modality; however, a total of 36 credits in the track's focus area must be completed to meet the track requirements so additional courses may be needed to meet the track credit hour requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 260 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 3 |
| BIOL 261 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 3 |
| GEOG 200 | Human Geography in a Changing World - P2, SB | 3 |
| PSYC 306 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 312 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 342 | Drugs and Behavior | 3 |
| SOC 325 | Sociology of Human Sexuality | 3 |
| SOC 340 | Mental Health and Illness | 3 |
| WGST 312/SOC 343 | Sociology of Women's Health | 3 |
| WGST/HSS 364 | Women's Health Issues - P1, SB | 3 |
Ethics, Justice, and Society
This track will allow you to explore the relationship between the ethical principles and values that govern our social institutions and the challenges and issues faced in creating a morally just society. Track disciplines include Criminal Justice, Pan-African Studies, Peace Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Social Change, and Sociology.
A selection of sample coursework is provided below to indicate the breadth of the track and the courses that may be offered in an online modality; however, a total of 36 credits in the track's focus area must be completed to meet the track requirements so additional courses may be needed to meet the track credit hour requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CJ 200 | Introduction to Criminal Justice - SB | 3 |
| CJ 360 | Juvenile Justice | 3 |
| PAS 205 | Race, Color and Consciousness - P1, SB | 3 |
| PAS 305 | Legal Lynchings: A Survey of Race, Law, and the American Justice System | 3 |
| PEAC 325 | Peace, Justice & Conflict Transformation | 3 |
| PHIL 222 | Contemporary Moral Problems - AH | 3 |
| PHIL 323 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| POLS 315 | Race, Law and Politics - P1, SB | 3 |
| SCHG 305 | Hip-Hop and Social Movements - WR | 3 |
| SOC 206 | Social Justice - P1, SB | 3 |
| SOC 210 | Race in the United States - P1, SB | 3 |
Culture and Community
This track will allow you to explore cultural and social contexts and how culture interacts with an individual’s experience of the world. Track disciplines include Anthropology, Deaf Studies, Disability Studies, Pan-African Studies, Religious Studies, Sociology, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
A selection of sample coursework is provided below to indicate the breadth of the track and the courses that may be offered in an online modality; however, a total of 36 credits in the track's focus area must be completed to meet the track requirements so additional courses may be needed to meet the track credit hour requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 201 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology - P2, SB | 3 |
| ANTH/SCHG 333 | Globalizing Inequalities - WR | 3 |
| HUM 344 | Religion in the United States | 3 |
| PAS 227 | Survey of American Diversity | 3 |
| ITP 150 | Historical Perspectives on the Deaf Community | 3 |
| PAS 227 | Survey of American Diversity | 3 |
| PAS 314 | Black Psychology | 3 |
| PAS 317/HUM 377 | African-American Religion - AH, P1 | 3 |
| PAS 364/WGST 347 | Racism and Sexism - P1, SB | 3 |
| WGST 201 | Women In American Culture - AH, P1 | 3 |
| WGST/COMM 324 | Communication and Gender | 3 |
Global Studies
This track will allow you to explore global issues and perspectives and will prepare you to live and work in settings with diverse ethnic and cultural populations and to function more effectively as a member of an increasingly interconnected world. Track disciplines include Anthropology, Art History, Asian Studies, Classical and Modern Languages, History, Humanities, Jewish Studies, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, Linguistics, Pan-African Studies, and Political Science.
A selection of sample coursework is provided below to indicate the breadth of the track and the courses that may be offered in an online modality; however, a total of 36 credits in the track's focus area must be completed to meet the track requirements so additional courses may be needed to meet the track credit hour requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 203 | Archaeology of Human History - P2, SBH | 3 |
| FREN 201 | Continuing French Language and Culture I | 4 |
| FREN 250 | Introduction to the French-Speaking World - AH, P2 | 3 |
| HUM 105 | Humanities in Global Cultures - AH, P2 | 3 |
| HUM 351 | Survey of African Religion and Culture | 3 |
| JPST 310 | Japanese Culture Through Film - AH, P2 | 3 |
| JPST 312 | Japanese Popular Culture - AH, P2 | 3 |
| LALS 200 | Exploring Latin America - AH, P2 | 3 |
| LALS 310 | Introduction to Latin American Studies - P2, SB | 3 |
| SPAN 201 | Continuing Spanish Language and Culture I | 3 |
| SPAN 260 | Cultures of Latin America - AH, P2 | 3 |
| WGST 325/ENGL 373 | Women and Global Literature - AH, P2 | 3 |
Dual Concentration
This track enables you to study two disciplines or areas of interest and to explore and prepare for further studies in these disciplines as well as in fields such as education, law, and social work. The Dual Concentration track can consist of two minors, two certificates, or the combination of a minor and a certificate. At least one minor or certificate must be housed in A&S.
Courses in the following minors and certificates are currently available online.
College of Arts and Sciences
Anthropology*
Communication
Criminal Justice
Diversity & Inequality
English Literature
Ethics**
Geospatial Technologies, Applied*
Humanities
Pan-African Studies**
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
College of Business
Accounting**
Business Administration
Economics
Marketing (occasionally)
Real Estate Marketing
College of Education & Human Development
Climate, Equity, & Opportunity in the Workplace**
Healthcare Leadership**
Human Resource Leadership**
Leadership & Talent Development
Sports Administration
School of Social Work
Social Work
Speed School of Engineering
Computer Science
*Can be completed online w/ department approval of substitutions
**Certificates
Flight Plan
NOTE: The nature of the BS in General Studies is specialized and unique to each student and therefore a flight plan is not available.