General Studies (BGS)

In addition to being offered on Northern State University’s main campus (Aberdeen, SD), this major is also offered at Capital University Center (Pierre, SD), University Center - Rapid City, University Center - Sioux Falls and Online.

The Bachelor of General Studies degree is designed for students who have accumulated significant credits (at least 60) and want to complete a bachelor’s degree, yet for whatever reason are no longer interested in completing a degree in their original program of study. In addition to the standard system general education core and the NSU institutional graduation requirements, students complete three 15-credit emphasis areas instead of a major. The program allows a high degree of flexibility in course selection from a variety of disciplines.

Subject areas from the South Dakota Board of Regents system included in each emphasis area are as follows (excluding some courses):

• Allied Health: BIOL, CHEM, HLTH, MICR, PHGY
• Business: ACCT, BADM, ECON, MIS
• Education: ARTE, ECE, EDER, EDFN, ELED, ELRN, EPSY, INED, LIBM, SEED, SPED
• Fine Arts: ART, ARTD, ARTH, MUAP, MUEN, MUS, THEA
• Humanities: ARAB, ART, ARTH, ENGL, FREN, GER, GREE, HUM, LAKL, LATI, LING, MCOM, MFL, MUS, PHIL, REL, RUSS, SPAN, SPCM, THEA
• Social Science: ANTH, CJUS, ECON, GEOG, GLST, HDFS, HIST, POLS, PSYC, SOC, SS, WMST
• Science, Engineering and Mathematics: A&S, BIOL, CHEM, ESCI, GEOG, GEOL, MATH, PHGY, PHYS, PS, STAT
• Technology: CSC, ELRN, MIS
• Wellness: AT, HLTH, HPE, PE, WEL

The degree culminates with a capstone course, which serves to synthesize the chosen emphasis areas. In this course, students will demonstrate they are knowledgeable in their three emphasis areas and that they have achieved college-level competencies in communication, critical analysis, problem solving, and synthesis. The capstone course must be taken from NSU.

Minors may be added but courses used for minor may not also be used in emphasis areas. A minimum of 32 credits must be upper level. Required gpa is 2.0. Residency requirements apply.

Students who complete the BGS degree will be eligible to apply for positions for which a bachelor’s degree is required. While the degree does not prepare students for entry into licensed professions such as K-12 teaching, nursing, or engineering, students will be able to select courses that support other career plans. Graduates will also be eligible for admission to graduate programs that require a bachelor’s degree. Courses taken for other programs or selected to complete the BGS may provide the background needed for graduate programs.

For information on becoming a active NSU student contact Admissions, SC 213, (605) 626-2544. For information on how completed courses apply to this program, contact the Registrar, DH 103 (605) 626-2012 or Justin Bartel, General Studies Advisor at (605) 626-7900.