Earn Your Degree with Flexibility: BS in General Studies

Majors & Minors
General Studies

General Studies

"I have the flexibility to map out my own curriculum; I am now able to focus more on the things I enjoy most by getting a little bit of everything, but at the same time, I still have a centralized degree map I can look back to, rather than a constricted specific path."

Meet general studies major Kristina Khalid-Abasi

You should consider majoring in general studies if:

You want to explore multiple fields and subjects in your degree program.
Your career goals require a broader background than a traditional major.
You’re interested in custom-designing your own interdisciplinary curriculum.

The Bachelor of General Studies program allows you to design your own course path in college. There are no specific general studies classes — you have the freedom to select classes that are offered to all other students on campus.

At �鶹��ý Lafayette, you can choose from one of five concentrations, or "blocks" as we call them in University College:

Applied Sciences
Arts and Humanities
Behavioral Sciences
Business Studies
Natural Sciences

Whichever you choose, you’ll get a deep understanding of the subjects you’re most passionate about with opportunities to get hands-on experience.

Related Programs

General Studies at �鶹��ý Lafayette

What's General Studies Like?

Lab work
Group work & collaboration
Writing
Presenting
Math
Leadership

250

possible combinations of courses you can take for your Bachelor of General Studies degree

Life as a General Studies Major

A Personalized Transfer Plan

Transfer into the general studies program and most — if not all — of the coursework you've completed so far can apply to your Bachelor of General Studies degree. To transfer, you'll need to have your transcript evaluated in University College.

Student Research

Through Advance: Student Research Experience, all students have the opportunity to get hands-on experience conducting research, developing creative works, and publishing or presenting the results.

Student research opportunities

Organizations & Service

Make your mark on the University and develop essential skills for your career. Get leadership training and refine specialized skills while giving back to the community and campus.

Study Abroad

Earn credit toward your degree while studying in another country. Study abroad with our programs in Costa Rica, England, France, Italy, and Morocco.

Concentration Blocks in General Studies

Applied Sciences

Custom-build a degree path across engineering, environmental science, kinesiology, health, design, and computer science. With this block, you can have a career in medicine, child services, oil and energy, computing, or recreation.

student and professor composing music on a piano

Arts & Humanities

The arts and humanities concentration explores what it means to be human and how humans experience the world. Explore music, history, communication, film, sociology, and anthropology.

Behavioral Science

Explore the broader questions of human behavior in the behavioral sciences concentration. Study psychology, criminal justice, political science, communication, education, and sociology.

Student and professor in the �鶹��ý Lafayette Mariast financial lab

Business Studies

The business studies concentration gives you a holistic understanding of the business-centered work force. Courses range from economics to insurance, law, management, research, and others.

Students collecting sediment samples from the Vermilion River

Natural Sciences

The natural sciences concentration lets you focus on the natural world around us. Explore topics including biology, geology, mathematics, statistics, and physics, with lots of hands-on experience in labs and in the field.

Career Opportunities in General Studies

David Begnaud, ‘05

“As I climb the professional ladder, I’ve competed for jobs against some of the smartest people around — some had more degrees than a thermometer. I’ve got one: it’s a bachelor’s (in general studies). But I also have something that’s equally important: I’ve got a determination that can slice through steel. I have never regretted choosing this University as my alma mater.”

General Studies, '05

Lead National Correspondent with CBS News

More about David

Careers with a General Studies Degree

Vice President of a Corporation
Attorney
Teacher
Corporate Account Manager
Business Owner
Counselor
Law Enforcement Personnel

Program Requirements

Admissions Requirements

To major in general studies, you must meet the University's admissions requirements.

See the full admission requirements.

Graduation Requirements

All general studies majors are required to earn at least 120 credit hours to graduate:

39 hours in core general education requirements
36 hours in enrichment areas
24 hours in your concentration area
21 hours of free electives

Freshmen are not allowed to declare general studies as their major. You may transfer into the general studies program after your freshman year.

You will fulfill all of your course requirements .

Choose one block as your concentration. You are required to take 24 hours of 300- to 400-level courses in that block to fulfill your concentration requirements.

You will also take courses in three enrichment areas. You are required to take 12 hours in each enrichment area, and those can be courses from the 100- to the 400-level. Your first enrichment area is the same as your concentration. You choose your other two enrichment areas from .

All students in general studies are required to take a computer literacy course and an advanced or intensive writing course, which you’ll choose with your advisor’s help.

for the Bachelor in General Studies degree.

Resources

Apply now

Department of Special Services