Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

General Studies (B.G.S.)


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Program: B.G.S.
Department of General Studies 
College of Arts and Sciences

Kettler Hall 144 ~ 260-481-6828


General Studies offers a wide variety of personalized degree options to students. They may individually tailor their programs to combine a substantial core of courses basic to a traditional university education and study in career-related areas. Within the flexible framework of degree requirements, students may design an undergraduate program that can more readily meet their career and personal-development goals. Students will be encouraged and assisted in developing a unique academic program complementing their individual interests, abilities, and intellectual and practical concerns.

The Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) includes courses in broad categories called required areas of learning (listed below) and elective credit that students may earn in any Purdue University Fort Wayne program. The required areas of learning provide broad exposure to the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, while the electives permit students to explore areas of interest, receive credit for prior university-level experiential learning, and tailor the degree to their individual needs. In each plan of study, students must demonstrate competency in each of the following areas: written communication (two courses), oral communication, mathematics, computer literacy, and a diversity course. After students are admitted to a general studies degree program, students will develop a plan of study to meet their objectives. An advisor will provide assistance in this effort. 


Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this degree, students will:

  • Speak and write precisely, clearly, and persuasively.
  • Formulate arguments in a variety of contexts.
  • Assess their own arguments and compare and evaluate them with the arguments of others.
  • Understand the nature and diversity of individuals, organizations, cultures, and societies.
  • Demonstrate understanding of scholarly approaches to such abiding questions as the meaning of life, the role of the arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and sciences and mathematics in understanding what being human means, and the limits of knowledge.
  • Apply their knowledge in written, oral communication, or technical competencies.
  • Gather, evaluate, select, organize, and synthesize material in order to complete a research or creative project.
  • Apply the knowledge gained across interdisciplinary boundaries

Program Delivery:

Students may take advantage of the wide variety of daytime, evening, weekend, hybrid, and online courses at Purdue Fort Wayne. Students may also earn credit by examination, and in some cases earn credit for significant, documentable self-acquired competencies when the learning outcomes have been comparable to those of university-level work. See an advisor for more information. Consideration is given to all previously earned college credit from other accredited institutions. The Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) program may also be tailored to the needs of those unable to study on campus during regularly scheduled periods and may be completed online.

Admission to the Program:

To be admitted to the B.G.S. program, applicants must have a cumulative GPA of a 2.00 or higher.  For questions, contact the Director of General Studies.

General Program Requirements:

Additional Program Requirements


All requests for exceptions/waivers to any requirement must be petitioned in writing and approved by the appropriate dean or director of the General Studies Program.

Upper Level Requirement: 30 Credits

  • A minimum of 30 credits must be taken at the 30000-40000 level (or see College of Arts and Sciences  for a list of 20000 level courses than can be counted as upper level).

Diversity Requirement: 1-3 Credits

  • African American Studies (ANY)
  • ANTH 10501, 20002, 20003, 30000, 31001, 33000, 35001, 37001, 37500, 44500, 45500, 45700, 47000
  • BIOL 25000, 32700
  • BUS 20400, 30000, 30200, 49001, 49400
  • CLCS 20500
  • CMPL 21700
  • COM 21200, 30300, 31200, 32400, 41000, 42200, 52700, 59000
  • CSD 11500, 18100, 18200, 30600
  • EALC (ANY)
  • ECON 40800, 43000
  • EDU 30500, 30700, 34001, 35201, 37001, 40001, 41000
  • ENGL 10700, 36401, 36901, 37202, 37801, 37901, 38101, 38800, 39201, 46201
  • FNN 20400
  • FOLK 11100, 25400, 30500, 35200
  • FR (ANY)
  • GEOG 10700
  • GER (ANY)
  • GERN 23100
  • HIST 10001, 11300, 11400, 20101, 22200, 23200, 31001, 31002, 31101, 31102, 32503 (***), 32701, 33101, 33201, 33503, 34201, 34502, 34601, 35102, 35202, 35501, 36102, 38601, 38801, 39301, 40201, 42501 (***), 42601 (***), 43200
  • IDIS 20200
  • ILCS 20800, 35000
  • INTL 20000, 20800
  • INTD 33000
  • LING 36000
  • LST 10100, 21000, 29000 (***), 33000, 38500, 39000 (***)
  • MUSC 10500, 20103, 39300
  • NELC (ANY)
  • NUR 30900
  • OLS 25200, 45400
  • POL 10700, 10900, 20001 (***), 32400, 32800, 33501, 33900, 34000, 35001, 36001, 37101, 37600, 40100 (***), 49001 (***)
  • PPOL 30500
  • PSY 24000, 33400, 33500, 34500, 36500, 37100
  • REL 11200, 23000, 23100, 29300 (***), 30100, 30500, 30600, 30700, 31100, 31200, 31500, 32100, 37500, 37800, 38100
  • SOC 16300, 30000
  • SPAN (ANY)
  • WOST (ANY)

       ***See your academic advisor to have variable topic courses approved for diversity

Course Subject Limits

- 21 credit limit in each of the following department/subject areas: AD, AFRO, ANTH, ASTR, BIOL, CHM, CLCS, CMPL, COAS, COM, CS, CSD, DANC, EALC, EAPS, ECON, ENGL, FOLK, FR, FVS, GEOG, GER, GERN, HIST, HONR, HORT, ILCS, INTL, IST, LGBT, LING, MA, MARS, MUSC (unless used as a professional field, see professional school areas below, and only 10 credits each in any one instrument, including voice or ensembles), NELC, PACS, PCTX, PHIL, PHYS, POL, PSY, REL, SOC, SPAN, STAT, THTR, WOST

- 30 Credit limit in each of the following professional school/college discipline: BUS, DAST, DHYG, DLTP, EDU, HPER, HSRV, IDIS, INTD, LST, MSL/MIL, MUSC (if used as a professional field and counted in the electives area only and only 10 credits each in any one instrument, including voice or ensembles), NUR, OLS (unless paired with other classes/subjects within the School of Engineering Technology and Computer Science; see below). PPOL, RADX, VM

- 30 Credit limit in each of the following professional school areas, but only 21 credits in each subject within the school/college:

  • Engineering Technology and Computer Science (30 total; 21 allowed in each, except OLS): ARET , CE, CET, CEPT, CNET, ECET, ECE, ENGR, ET, ETCS, IET, IT, IM, ITC, ME, MET, SE, TECH, and up to 30 in OLS unless paired with any of the above for a total of 30 within the college/school
  • Consumer and Family Sciences (30 total; 21 allowed in each): CDFS, CFS, FNN, HTM
  • Agriculture (30 total; 21 allowed in each): AGRI, ANSC, ENTM, FNR, HORT

Required Areas of Learning: Credits 54


Arts and Humanities: Credits 12


Grade of C- or above is required.

Written and Oral Communication: Credits 9


Science and Mathematics: Credits 12


Grade of C- or above is required.

Computer Literacy: Credits 1-3


Choose one of the following:

  • Anything in Computer Science
  • Anything in Information System Technology
  • Cr. 3
  • Cr. 1-3. (Does not count in Area B, elective only.)
  • Cr. 3.
  • Cr. 3. (Does not count in Area B, elective only.)
  •  

    Choose two courses in the following Science and Mathematical areas:  Credits 6-8

    • ANTH 20001, 44500 (ONLY)
    • Astronomy
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Computer Science (Includes BUS 20101)
    • Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
    • ECON 27000 (ONLY)
    • Entomology
    • Forestry and Natural Resources
    • GEOG 10700, 10900, 31500 (ONLY)
    • Horticulture
    • Information System Technology
    • Mathematics (Except MA 11100, 12401)
    • Physics
    • PPOL 30000 (ONLY)
    • PSY 12000, 20100, 31000, 31100, 31400, 32900, 41600 (ONLY)
    • SOC 35100 (ONLY)
    • Statistics

Social and Behavioral Sciences: Credits 12


Grade of C- or above is required.

Choose four courses from the following social and behavioral sciences subject areas: Credits 12 (must include at least two different subjects)

  • Anthropology
  • Economics
  • Geography
  • Linguistics
  • Political Science
  • PPOL 10100 (ONLY)
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • WOST 21000 (ONLY)

Credits focused in ONE of the Three Above Areas: Credits 18


Grade of C- or above is required.

    Arts and Humanities: Credits 18

  • African American Studies
  • Art and Design
  • Classical Studies
  • Communication
  • Comparative Literature
  • Dance
  • English (Except 15000, 19000, 12900, W130)
  • Film and Video Studies
  • Folklore
  • History
  • International Languages
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Religious Studies
  • Theatre

OR

    Science and Mathematics: 18 Cr

  • ANTH 20001, 44500 (ONLY)
  • Astronomy
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science (Includes BUS 20101)
  • Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
  • ECON 27000 (ONLY)
  • Entomology
  • Forestry and Natural Resources
  • GEOG 10700, 10900, 31500 (ONLY)
  • Horticulture
  • Information System Technology
  • Mathematics (Except MA 11100, 12401)
  • Physics
  • PPOL 30000 (ONLY)
  • PSY 12000, 20100, 31000, 31100, 31400, 32900, 41600 (ONLY)
  • SOC 35100 (ONLY)
  • Statistics

OR

    Social and Behavioral Sciences: 18 Cr

  • Anthropology
  • Economics
  • Geography
  • Linguistics
  • Political Science
  • PPOL 10100 (ONLY)
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • WOST 21000 (ONLY)

General Electives: Credits 66


General Studies Capstone: Credits 3

EDU 40000 Topical Exploration in Education   3 Cr (A grade of C- or above is required.)

Art and Science electives: Credits 15

  • African American Studies
  • Art and Design
  • Anthropology
  • Astronomy
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Classical Studies
  • Communication
  • Comparative Literature
  • Computer Sciences (includes BUS 20100 only)
  • Communication and Science Disorders
  • Dance
  • Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
  • Economics
  • English (Except 15000, W130)
  • Entomology
  • ETCS 10600 (ONLY)
  • Film and Video Studies
  • Folklore
  • Forestry and Natural Resources
  • Geography
  • Gerontology
  • History
  • Horticulture
  • Information System Technology
  • International Languages
  • International Language and Culture Studies
  • International Studies
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Mathematics (Except MA 11300, 10900)
  • Medieval Studies
  • Music
  • Peace and Conflict Studies
  • Pharmacology
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • PPOL 10100, 30000 (ONLY)
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Sociology
  • Statistics
  • Theatre
  • Women’s Studies

Free Electives: Credits 48

Students may choose from any available subjects/courses that they meet the prerequistes for and have not already taken.  Courses with a D- or higher will be accepted in electives.

Total Credits: 120


All students must have a 2.0 or higher to graduate.

Student Responsibility


You are responsible for satisfying the graduation requirements specified for your selected program.  Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career.  All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean.

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