General Studies
The Bachelor of General Studies program is designed for those students who desire to pursue a non-traditional degree program at the University outside of any departmental major. This degree program permits great latitude in utilizing the academic resources of the University for planning and acquiring an education to meet individual needs. Students may plan their programs to the best advantage of their particular educational objectives. Students build their programs on the foundation of University's Common Academic Program requirements.
Bachelor of General Studies (GEN) minimum 120 hours
Admission requirements for the Bachelor of General Studies are the same as those for any other degree offered in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Candidacy for the Bachelor of General Studies may be declared in the first year but not later than the commencement of a student's last 30 semester hours of study. An application for acceptance into the degree program must be completed and approved by an Assistant Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences. Any students in good academic standing may request transfer into this program.
The General Studies student is required to plan an academic program to satisfy the requirements for graduation in consultation with an Assistant Dean. The General Studies student must complete a minimum of the last 30 semester hours of study under the supervision of an Assistant Dean who will serve as the student's advisor. In order to graduate with a Bachelor of General Studies degree, a student must satisfy the following requirements:
- College of Arts and Sciences' Competencies and the University's Common Academic Program requirements.
- A minimum of 54 semester hours of courses at the 300-400 level with a grade point average of 2.0 or better.
- Not more than 30 semester hours of work from any one academic discipline.
- Credits earned in completion of the Bachelor of General Studies may not be applied at a later time to the credits for a second degree from the College of Arts and Sciences.
- Successful completion of GNS 480, Senior Capstone course.
The Common Academic Program (CAP) is an innovative curriculum that is the foundation of a University of Dayton education. It is a learning experience that is shared in common among all undergraduate students, regardless of their major. Some CAP requirements must be fulfilled by courses taken at UD (e.g., Capstone and Diversity and Social Justice). Some major requirements must also be fulfilled by courses taken at UD. Students should consult with their advisor regarding applicability of transfer credit to fulfill CAP and major program requirements.
| Common Academic Program (CAP) 1 | ||
| First-Year Humanities Commons 2 | 12 cr. hrs. | |
| Introduction to Global Historical Studies | ||
| Introduction to Religious and Theological Studies | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Writing Seminar I 3 | ||
| Second-Year Writing Seminar 4 | 0-3 cr. hrs. | |
| Writing Seminar II | ||
| Oral Communication | 3 cr. hrs. | |
| Principles of Oral Communication | ||
| Mathematics | 3 cr. hrs. | |
| Social Science | 3 cr. hrs. | |
| Arts | 3 cr. hrs. | |
| Natural Sciences 5 | 7 cr. hrs. | |
| Crossing Boundaries | up to 12 cr. hrs. | |
Faith Traditions | ||
Practical Ethical Action | ||
Inquiry | ||
Integrative | ||
| Advanced Study | ||
Philosophy and/or Religious Studies (6 cr. hrs.) | ||
Historical Studies (3 cr. hrs.) 6 | ||
| Diversity and Social Justice 7 | 3 cr. hrs. | |
| Major Capstone 8 | 0-6 cr. hrs. | |
- 1
The credit hours listed reflect what is needed to complete each CAP component. However, they should not be viewed as a cumulative addition to a student's degree requirements because many CAP courses are designed to satisfy more than one CAP component (e.g., Crossing Boundaries and Advanced Studies) and may also satisfy requirements in the student's major.
- 2
May be completed with ASI 110 and ASI 120 through the Core Program.
- 3
- 4
- 5
Must include two different disciplines and at least one accompanying lab.
- 6
May be completed with ASI 110 and ASI 120 through the Core Program.
- 7
May not double count with First-Year Humanities Commons, Second-Year Writing, Oral Communication, Social Science, Arts, or Natural Sciences CAP components, but may double count with courses taken to satisfy other CAP components and/or courses taken in the student's major.
- 8
The course or experience is designed by faculty in each major; it may, or may not, be assigned credit hours.
| Major Requirements | ||
| General Studies Area at the 300/400 level 1, 2 | 54 | |
| GNS 480 | Senior Capstone | 0 |
| Breadth | ||
| ASI 150 | Introduction to the University Experience | 1 |
| Total Hours to total at least | 120 | |
- 1
Includes 300/400 CAP courses.
- 2
May not include more than thirty semester hours from any one academic discipline.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ASI 150 | 1 | ENG 100 (CAP Humanities Commons) | 3 |
| CMM 100 (CAP Communication) | 3 | HST 103, PHL 103, or REL 103 (CAP Humanities Commons) | 3 |
| HST 103, PHL 103, or REL 103 (CAP Humanities Commons) | 3 | CAP Mathematics | 3 |
| HST 103, PHL 103, or REL 103 (CAP Humanities Commons) | 3 | CAP Natural Science w/lab | 4 |
| CAP Arts | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| CAP Natural Science | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENG 200 (CAP Writing Seminar) | 3 | CAP Faith Traditions (GS Major) | 3 |
| SSC 200 (CAP Social Science) | 3 | General Studies Major | 3 |
| General Studies Major | 3 | General Studies Major | 3 |
| General Studies Major | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CAP Advanced Philosophy/Religious Studies (GS Major) | 3 | CAP Advanced Historical Studies (GS Major) | 3 |
| CAP Inquiry | 3 | CAP Advanced Philosophy/Religious Studies (GS Major) | 3 |
| CAP Integrative (GS Major) | 3 | CAP Practical Ethical Action (GS Major) | 3 |
| General Studies Major | 3 | General Studies Major | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| General Studies Major | 3 | GNS 480 | 0-3 |
| General Studies Major | 3 | CAP Diversity and Social Justice | 3 |
| General Studies Major | 3 | General Studies Major | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Studies Major | 3 |
| General Elective | 2 | General Studies Major | 3 |
| General Elective | 2 | ||
| 14 | 14-17 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120-123 | |||