Frequently Asked Questions

What is the General Studies Degree program?
General studies was created in 1975 to provide access to IU for the growing number of adult students beginning or completing college degrees.

The term “general studies” has a long tradition in higher education and implies a rigorous foundation of courses in the liberal arts and sciences. At IU, general studies builds upon this foundation by offering flexible options that allow students to address their individual career and educational goals.

There are two general studies degrees at IU: the Associate of Arts in General Studies (A.A.G.S.) and the Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.). For some students, the A.A.G.S. is a steppingstone to the B.G.S.

Was general studies designed for someone like me?
The general studies degree was designed to address the educational needs of adults older than “traditional-age” (18 to 22) college students, but it is also appropriate for motivated younger students who can benefit from the program’s strong liberal arts foundation and flexible learning and scheduling options and who possess the maturity to tailor a program of study to meet their specific goals.

What degree requirements do I need to fulfill?
General studies degrees build upon a required foundation of courses in the arts and sciences.

As a general studies student, you complete concentrations in each of the following: arts and humanities, math and science, and social and behavioral sciences. You pursue in-depth study of one of these three areas, in addition to course work in written and oral communications, quantitative reasoning, computer literacy, and cultural diversity. Contrary to myth, general studies students many not “take any courses they choose”; they must complete a structured set of requirements.

What kinds of courses do I take as a general studies student?
Simply stated, the very same courses other students take. The General Studies Degree program has no faculty of its own, nor special courses for general studies students.

On-campus students attend the very same classes as, say, students pursuing a business, history, or chemistry degree. Students at a distance take departmentally approved courses developed and taught by on-campus faculty and instructors.

Some general studies students concurrently pursue certificates to build careers in areas such as business.

What’s so unique about general studies that I should consider it over another degree program?
As an adult learner with existing career or life experiences, you may find that your goals are not addressed by a single departmental major.

With general studies, you have the opportunity to tailor a program of study to meet your individual interests. This does not suggest that there are fewer requirements; instead, it means that degree requirements include the flexibility to choose courses in specialties that you want to pursue. You may elect to combine courses from different academic departments to build specific career skills.

Since general studies was originally designed for adult students, it provides additional means to demonstrate academic knowledge, such as credit for prior learning (which requires the development of a learning portfolio), greater flexibility in applying transfer credits, military service, or credit by examination.

What careers can I pursue as a general studies graduate?
General studies graduates pursue a wide range of careers. The strong liberal arts training you receive makes you especially competitive in work settings where critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills are highly valued.