General Studies (B.G.S.)

The Bachelor of General Studies is a flexible degree program designed to serve the needs of individuals who have earned numerous credits but have not completed their degrees. Students work with an advisor to determine course equivalencies and to develop an appropriate degree completion plan.  Students earning a B.G.S. complete all general education requirements (30 hours), as well as 15 credit hours of coursework in each of three emphasis areas and a capstone course specific to the B.G.S. degree program. Majors and minors are not available within the B.G.S., and eligibility is limited to students who have completed at least 60 credit hours. A separate application process is required; contact the Center for Academic and Career Planning for more information.

 See Graduation Requirements for requirements.

• Allied Health-Course include the following prefixes: ACP, selected CLHU, selected CMST, COUN, DCOM, DHGY, HSC, MLS, NURS, SOCW
   
• Business-Course include the following prefixes: ACCT, BADM, BLAW, selected CMST, DSCI, ECON, ENTR, FIN, HRM, HSAD, selected MCOM, MGMT, MKTG
   
• Education-Course include the following prefixes: selected ARTE, selected CMST, selected COUN, EDER, EDFN, ELED, selected ENGL, EPSY, selected HLTH, INED, LIBM, selected MATH, selected MFL, MLED, selected MUS, selected PE, SEED, SPED, TET
   
• Fine Arts-Course include the following prefixes: ART, ARTD, ARTE, ARTH, selected MCOM, MUAP, MUEN, MUS, THEA, selected WMST
   
• Humanities-Course include the following prefixes: ARTH, CLHU, selected CMST, ENGL, HIST, HUM, LING, selected MCOM, MFL, NATV, PHIL, REL, selected WMST, any non-English language course(s)
   
• Military Studies-This program allows for the application of 15 credits of Military Studies, accepted through a block transfer for military service, applied to all students with an honorable discharge from the U.S. Military, based on prior learning acquired in training and coursework in the armed services.
   
• Science, Engineering and Mathematics-Course include the following prefixes: ANAT, selected BADM, BIOC, BIOL, BME, CHEM, ESCI, selected GEOG, ISCI, MATH, MICR, MTRO, NSCI, PHGY, PHYS, selected PSYC, selected SOC, STAT, selected SUST
   
• Social Science-Course include the following prefixes: ANTH, CJUS, selected CMST, DCOM, ECON, selected GEOG, HIST, INTS, LDR, LEGL, selected LING, MCOM, MSL, NATV, POLS, PSYC, SOC, selected SUST, selected WMST
   
• Technology-Course include the following prefixes: CSC, TET, selected MCOM
   
• Wellness-Course include the following prefixes: ACP, HLTH, KSM, PE (PE 100 limited to 6c)

ENGL 101, 201, and 205; MATH 101; and CMST 101 may not be included in emphasis areas. Credit for PE 100 (activity courses) is limited to six hours. Coursework in emphasis areas may also be used to fulfill other degree requirements.

• Minimum of 30 credit hours must be taken from USD.
• Minimum of 30 credit hours towards the degree must be at the upper-division level (300/400-level).
• Maximum of 90 transfer credit hours may be applied to the degree.

This program is not designed or advertised to lead to a professional license or certification required for employment.

USD is permitted to operate under the terms of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) policies and standards in offering online courses/degree programs to residents in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.  Online courses/programs may also be offered to residents of California (a non-SARA state) because it does not regulate out-of-state public institutions.

Additionally, this program is authorized to offer supervised field study experiences (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) in South Dakota. Please be aware that there may be some restrictions on your ability to engage in supervised field study outside of South Dakota. Please contact a program representative if you have questions regarding supervised field study.

Distance education courses or programs will not be offered outside of the United States without prior written approval from the University, which may be withheld for any reason. If you taking distance courses while physically located outside of the United States, it is your responsibility to confirm the following: (a) if the country will recognize an online degree; (b) the availability of supervised field study opportunities in the country; and (c) if the country charges any additional taxes, withholdings or fees associated with online distance education programs.

For more information, please visit USD’s State Authorization page or contact your admissions counselor.