For more information, visit the Bachelor of General Studies webpage.
The Bachelor of General Studies degree (BGS) is a degree-completion option for students who have completed significant coursework but not the requirements for a specific major. Through careful evaluation of coursework already completed at YSU or other colleges and universities, a degree completion plan is constructed for each student. The BGS may also be appropriate for students for whom a general bachelor's degree may lead to career advancement or for those students who seek the personal satisfaction of having completed a bachelor's degree.
Individuals who have a bachelor's degree are not eligible for the BGS degree, and the BGS degree may not be earned concurrently with another bachelor's degree.
All BGS students complete the requirements of the General Education curriculum (old or new). As such, the goals of the general education curriculum are met by BGS students. They are as follows:
- Write and speak effectively
- Acquire, process, and present quantitative and qualitative information using the most appropriate technologies, including computers
- Reason critically, both individually and collaboratively; draw sound conclusions from information, ideas, and interpretations gathered from various sources and disciplines; and apply those conclusions to one's life and society
The specific requirements for the completion of the Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) degree are as follows:
A 48-semester-hour concentration with at least 24 s.h. of upper-division credit comprised of:
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS | ||
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar | 1-2 |
| or YSU 1500S | Youngstown State University Success Seminar | |
| or HONR 1500 | Intro to Honors | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| Mathematics Requirement | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities (6 s.h.) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) (6-7 s.h.) | 7 | |
| Social Science (6 s.h.) | 6 | |
| General Education Electives (9 s.h.) | 9 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Two focus areas consisting of 18-24 s.h. each 1 | 36 | |
| LASS 4880 | General Studies Capstone | 3 |
| ENGL 4891 | Individual Study (Must take for 1 hour concurrently with LASS 4880, 15 week students, or the term preceding LASS 4880, 7 week students.) | 1-3 |
| Elective Hours | 42 | |
| Total Hours Required for Degree: 120 s.h. | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 120-124 | |
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Focus-area requirements are either submitted by the departments offering the course work in the focus area or designed by the Coordinator of General Studies, with input from the student, based on previous student experience and coursework. In all cases the focus area coursework must be approved by the Coordinator of General Studies.
Learning Outcomes
All BGS students complete the requirements of the General Education curriculum (old or new). As such, the goals of the general education curriculum are met by BGS students. They are as follows:
- Write and speak effectively
- Acquire, process, and present quantitative and qualitative information using the most appropriate technologies, including computers
- Reason critically, both individually and collaboratively; draw sound conclusions from information, ideas, and interpretations gathered from various sources and disciplines; and apply those conclusions to one's life and society
In addition BGS students are expected complete requirements specific to the program. They are as follows:
- Demonstrate preparedness for and the behaviors indicative of professionalism in the work environment
- Analyze and synthesize a variety of texts
- Produce capstone level research work
Appreciate importance and value of an interdisciplinary degree