Bachelors of General Studies (B.G.S.)

Overview: The Bachelors of General Studies (B.G.S.) degree allows students to design a plan of study to meet their personal interests and career goals. The plan of study is more flexible than that required in traditional degree programs. The degree is intended for those members of the local community already in careers but who need a degree to advance professionally or personally, as well as for current FAU students who meet the 120-hour requirement but, because of personal or employment imperatives, need to hasten their time to degree.

Requirements: In consultation with an advisor, students map out a plan of study that includes 15 credit hours of upper-division coursework in one discipline. All other requirements for the FAU degree apply, including:

  1. A minimum of 120 credit hours overall;
  2. All general education (Intellectual Foundations Program) requirements (36 credit hours);
  3. Writing Across the Curriculum (Gordon Rule Writing) requirements;
  4. At least 45 credit hours at the upper-division level;
  5. The last 30 credits of upper-division credits taken in residence at FAU;
  6. A minimum 2.0 FAU GPA overall and in the 15-credit upper-division coursework selected in one discipline.

Students may not pursue the Bachelors of General Studies as a second major, second degree, or second baccalaureate. Students may pursue one minor with the B.G.S. degree, but there can be no overlap of courses between the B.G.S. 15-credit discipline and the minor.


Advising for General Studies

Advising for the Bachelors of General Studies degree will take place in the college where your concentration is housed (if your concentration will be in Management, for example, advising will take place in the College of Business).

Please contact the appropriate college advising office for an advising appointment.

  • Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
  • Colleg of Business
  • College of Social Work and Criminal Justice 
  • College of Education
  • College of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
  • Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
  • Charles E. Schmidt College of Science                                                                                                        
  • College of Social Work and Criminal Justice