Overview
Under the leadership of Collegiate Studies, the College of Arts and Sciences offers the Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree program through the DCIE, which provides a solid and rigorous, interdisciplinary academic experience for adult students. It is designed specifically for adults who have previously attended college but have not yet completed their undergraduate degrees, as well as for those who have never had the opportunity to pursue post-secondary studies. Admitted students may attend in either a part-time of full-time status. Prospective students are eligible for admission if graduated from high school at least four years ago, have not attended the University of Miami during the past calendar year, have a minimum of 2.2 grade-point average on previous college work, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Students must be pursuing first undergraduate degree.
The BGS curriculum allows an individual the flexibility to design an area of concentration to enhance professional or personal goals. Designed to strengthen critical thinking and writing skills of the students, each course is taught by University of Miami faculty who are committed to the adult student.
Advisors offer personalized attention in career exploration and academic advising and discuss educational alternatives with potential students. Every effort is made to ensure that the process - from admission to registration - is efficient, convenient, and flexible. Students may complete their degree by attending online and on-campus courses.
To underscore its commitment to the adults in our community, the University offers a special tuition to students in the Bachelor of General Studies program which enables the adult, part-time student to pursue this degree at an affordable tuition rate.
The admission process takes into consideration that one’s grade-point average, while significant, is only one factor in determining an applicant’s qualification for acceptance. Therefore, an advising session with an enrollment advisor from DCIE will be scheduled, by calling Collegiate Studies at 305-284-4000, to supplement the information you provide on the BGS application form.
Requirements for Graduation
I. Candidates for the Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree must complete the required credit hours and achieve the quality point average specified for students in the University at large as stated in the section Academic Regulations and Procedures. Candidates must earn a C or better in approved classes of their Area of Concentration. Exempted is interpreted to refer exclusively to those exemptions provided under the following headings:
- Advanced Standing and Placement (Credit Hour Granted);
- Credit by Examination;
- Advanced Placement (by proficiency examination);
II. Except where a required course is one designated to correct a deficiency in his/her college preparation, the student may apply the credit hours of any required course from which he is exempted toward the credit hours for that subject as a general requirement for graduation, toward the 120 credit hours required for graduation. (See Departmental Proficiency Examinations.) An exemption may be granted for WRS 105, but these credit hours may not be applied towards the 120 required for graduation.
III. Credit Only
Only free electives may be taken under this option. Courses which satisfy the major, the distributions of the School, the General Education Requirements of the University or any course for which a C or better is required may not be taken for credit only.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Composition 1 | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | |
| Quantative Skills | ||
| MTH 101 | Algebra for College Students ( with an acceptable score on the math placement test is required or a "C" or better in MTH 099) | 3 |
| MTH 113 | Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| Arts and Humanities | ||
| Select a total 9 credit hours in any of the following disciplines: | 9 | |
American Studies in Humanities | ||
Art | ||
Art History | ||
Communications (Motion Pictures) | ||
Dance | ||
Theatre Arts | ||
Musicology | ||
English | ||
Philosophy | ||
Religion or Women’s Studies in Humanities | ||
| People and Society | ||
| Select a total of 9 credit hours in any of the following disciplines: | 9 | |
African American Studies | ||
American Studies in Social Science | ||
Anthropology | ||
Communication | ||
Economics | ||
Education and Psychological Studies | ||
Geography | ||
Judaic Studies | ||
Political Science | ||
Psychology and Sociology | ||
| STEM | ||
| Select one 3 credit hour course in computer information systems, business technology or media management | 3 | |
| Select 6 credit hours in one or more of the following disciplines: | 6 | |
Biology | ||
Chemistry | ||
Geological Sciences | ||
Environmental Science | ||
Marine Sciences | ||
Physics and Physical Sciences | ||
| Degree Requirements | ||
| Additional Arts and Humanities | ||
| Select a total of 12 credit hours in each of the following disciplines: | 12 | |
Art History | ||
Literature | ||
Philosophy | ||
Religious Studies | ||
| Foreign Languages | ||
| Select a minimum of 3 credit hours of foreign language at the 200 course level or higher. | 3 | |
German | ||
Portuguese | ||
French | ||
Italian | ||
Spanish | ||
| History Survey Sequence | ||
| Select a total of 6 credit hours in a single two semester sequence | 6 | |
| Area of Concentration | ||
| Every candidate for a degree must select an area of concentration. 2 | 30 | |
| WRS 333 | Writing the Research Paper 3 | 3 |
| Secondary Focus 4 | ||
| Select four more secondary courses to compliment AOC (previously Interdisciplinary courses) | 12 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select elective courses in consultation with their advisor to meet the 120 credit hour graduation requirement | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 1
During the first year of enrollment in the School.
- 2
The candidate designs an area of concentration that meets his/her professional and personal goals. The course of study is reviewed and approved by the Dean and/or Director of the program. Candidates must earn a C or better in approved classes.
- 3
WRS 333 Writing the Research Paper is a Pre-requisite to completing courses in Area of Concentration and/or Secondary Focus.
- 4
Secondary Focus courses are especially designated to complement the AOC, enhance professional knowledge, cultural perspective and its relation to contemporary society.
Mission
The mission of the BGS program is to provide adult learners (over age 22) with a pathway to a high quality, flexibly scheduled undergraduate education tailored to their academic and career goals.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will develop and present high-quality content using writing conventions appropriate to the audience and purpose of a given context.
- Students will provide a comprehensive analysis of an issue and construct a well-reasoned argument through effective synthesis of sources.
-
Students will engage with credible and relevant scholarly sources that are appropriate to the discipline and genre of writing.
