Individual Studies Concentration, B.G.S.

Bachelor of General Studies

The Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree program is designed to serve students who wish to pursue a broadly defined and/or individually designed baccalaureate program. BGS students will work closely with an advisor to design a program of study to meet individual educational and career objectives. The flexibility of the BGS degree will enable students to tailor educational experiences to meet personal goals, broaden their appreciation of the arts and sciences, enhance career skills and competencies, and increase career opportunities and choices. All BGS students must complete a set of requirements for the degree shown below.

B.G.S. Degree Requirements

• All University general admission requirements, academic policies, and academic standards for other baccalaureate degree programs apply to the BGS program.
• All students seeking the degree Bachelor of General Studies must fulfill Core 39 requirements. Core 39 requirements are listed elsewhere in this bulletin.
• At least 39 hours must be at the upper division (300-400) level.
• A minimum of 30 hours of credit toward the degree must be earned at USI.
• Students seeking admission to the BGS program should make application to the USI Office of Admission. Students pursuing an individualized study concentration can declare the major immediately upon entering the University.  Students pursuing an applied studies concentration (public service or enterprising leadership) must have earned sixty (60) credit hours and fulfill the University of Southern Indiana Core 39, not including the embedded experiences, before applying to the BGS applied studies program.  Due to the accelerated, cohort nature of the applied studies concentrations, students wishing to pursue this degree program must be accepted into the program by the BGS program director.  The required sixty (60) credit hours can be earned at USI, transferred in from other accredited universities, or take the form of block credit based on an assessment of competencies (i.e., military experience).
• Students must have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale in order to be considered for admission into one of the applied studies concentrations.  Students cannot declare an individualized studies program of study with below a 2.0 cumulative undergraduate grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
• Up to six hours of credit may be earned through an occupational experience (
  BGS 490 General Studies Internship
   ).
• Individualized Studies Concentration: BGS students who select the individualized studies option will work closely with an advisor to design a program of study to meet individual educational and career objectives. This flexible program enables students to create their own “major,” utilizing courses from two or more academic disciplines. Previous hours earned at other institutions will be evaluated according to USI transfer policies.
• Applied Studies Concentration: This option is for students who have completed a formal associate degree program or have amassed considerable college credit.  In order to be admitted into this concentration, applicants must have completed the USI Core 39 (not including embedded experiences) and have accumulated at least sixty (60) credit hours of college credit.
• Up to 60 hours may be transferred from associate degree programs, depending on the transferability of specific courses or programs. For technical degrees and/or certificates, credit may be awarded as a block (not a recognition of individual courses for transfer). The amount of credit awarded will be determined by the BGS program director.