General Studies (B.G.S.)

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48 Major Hours, 120 Degree Hours

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.

Regental Requirements (30 hours)

See Graduation Requirements for requirements.

Specific B.G.S. Degree Requirements (48 hours)

Capstone course (3 hours):

GS 491 - Independent Study (C)

15 credit hours of coursework in each of three emphasis areas selected from the list below (45 hours):

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.

Electives (42 hours)

Note:

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.

State Authorization - It Matters Where You Live

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference USD’s State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization