Bachelor of General Studies in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Why pursue the B.G.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree and major?
If you’re a student with personal goals such as:
- Obtaining a well-rounded education that includes a mix of natural sciences, mathematics, social sciences, and the humanities
- Adding a bachelor’s degree to your existing technical degree or certification
- Pursuing a flexible degree path that allows for maximum customization, including options for online learning
- Earning a degree provides you with skills and knowledge employers say are essential for success in today’s fast-changing economy and global community – skills that are limited in current college graduates
Then the B.G.S. Liberal Arts and Science degree and major might be a good fit for you! Please note, however:
- This is not an “easy” or “quick” degree option. The academic standards are the same for all degrees granted by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and students are required to complete at least 120 credit hours, including degree-specific coursework.
- This is not an option for students who also wish to pursue majors or minors within the College
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of the University Registrar website.
B.G.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences Degree and Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core 34 General Education | 34 | |
| The KU Core 34 is comprised of 34-35 credit hours typically completed during the first two years of study. The Core 34 consists of the following requirements: English (6), Communications (3), Math & Statistics (3), Natural & Physical Sciences with lab (4-5), Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 in two different disciplines), Arts & Humanities (6 in two different disciplines), US Culture (3), and Global Culture (3) | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| LA&S 305 | Introduction to the Liberal Arts and Sciences BGS | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Research Methods | 3 | |
| Satisfied by one of the following: | ||
| Introduction to Black Education in the US | ||
| Case Study in American Studies: _____ | ||
| Introduction to Behavioral Research Methods in Communication | ||
| Global Environmental Literature | ||
| Environmental Conservation | ||
| Cinematic Rome | ||
| Mafia Movies | ||
| Critical Perspectives on AI and Digital Technologies | ||
| Methods in Law and Society | ||
| Political Science Methods of Inquiry | ||
| Quantitative Methods for Public Administration | ||
| Introduction to Social Research | ||
| Doing Feminist Research | ||
| Career Preparation | 3 | |
| Preparing for Programs in the Health Professions | ||
| Professional Career Management | ||
| Global Career Management | ||
| Internship Exploration | ||
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 6 | |
Satisfied by any two courses from the field of Social & Behavioral Sciences | ||
ABSC, ANTH, CLDP, COMS, ECON, GEOG, LA&S, LDST, LING, LWS, POLS, PSYC, PUAD, SOC, SPAA, SPLH, UBPL | ||
| Humanities | 6 | |
Satisfied by any two courses from the field of Humanities | ||
CLSX, ENGL, GRK, HA, HIST, HUM, LAT, PHIL, REL | ||
| Arts, Languages, & Interdisciplinary Studies | 6 | |
Satisfied by any two courses from the field of Arts, Languages, & Interdisciplinary Studies | ||
AAAS, AMS, ARAB, ART, BCMS, CEAS, CER, CHIN, CZCH, DANC, DRWG, DTCH, EALC, ECIV, EURS, EXM, FMS, FREN, GERM, GIST, HAIT, HEBR, HNDI, ISP, ITAL, JPN, JWSH, KICH, KISW, KOR, KQKL, LAC, METL, MUSE, PCS, PERS, PHOT, PLSH, PNTG, PORT, PRNT, QUEC, REES, RUSS, SCUL, SLAV, SPAN, TD, THR, TIB, TURK, UKRA, UYGR, VAE, WGSS, WOLO, YDSH | ||
| Natural Sciences & Mathematics | 6 | |
Satisfied by any two courses from the field of Natural Sciences & Mathematics | ||
ASTR, ATMO, BINF, BIOL, CHEM, EPHX, EVRN, GEOL, MATH, PHSX | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
Satisfied by any two courses from any of the 4 Fields of Study | ||
| General Electives | 44 | |
| Students will need to complete additional general elective credits to reach the required 120 hours. | ||
| Capstone | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar in Liberal Arts and Sciences | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
NOTE: BGS in Liberal Arts and Sciences is not an option in which students may pursue a major or minor. Some courses may require additional prerequisites.
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing option B of the BGS in Liberal Arts & Sciences. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill Core 34 Goals, please visit the KU Core 34 page.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| MATH 105 (Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE))030 | 3 | Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | Core 34: Social and Behavioral Science (SGE)050 | 3 |
| Additional Social & Behavioral Science (1 of 2) | 3 | LA&S 305 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Additional Social & Behavioral Science (2 of 2) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Core 34: Social and Behavioral Science (SGE)050 | 3 | Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE)040 | 4-5 |
| Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 |
| LA&S 372, 475, 485, or 490 (Career Preparation Requirement) | 3 | Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 |
| Additional Arts/Lang/Interdisciplinary (1 of 2) | 3 | Additional Arts/Lang/Interdisciplinary (2 of 2) | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| 15 | 16-17 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Additional Natural Science and Math (1 of 2) | 3 | Additional Humanities (2 of 2) | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Research Methods | 3 | Additional Natural Science and Math (2 of 2) | 3 |
| Additional Humanities (1 of 2) | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Field of Study Elective | 3 | LA&S 494 (Capstone Course) | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Field of Study Elective | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 2 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 120-121 | |||
Please note:
Additional requirement: Liberal Arts & Sciences Breadth Requirement. This is satisfied by the completion of a course (with a minimum of 2 credit hours) in 15 unique departments/programs within the College or School of the Arts (as determined by course prefix). Courses fulfilling this requirement may also contribute to other requirements.
Option B of the Liberal Arts and Sciences BGS degree is not an option in which students may pursue a major or minor, however, undergraduate certificates may be pursued/completed.
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
Notes:
* - This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
** - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.
*** - This course is a Required Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents to require this specific Core 34:Systemwide General Education course. If a student did not take this course it must be taken in addition to other degree requirements.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Integrate knowledge across disciplines by connecting examples, facts, or theories from more than one discipline to a novel object, set of circumstances, or issues.
- Demonstrates ability to pose new questions or generate new ideas on a novel object, set of circumstances, or issues.
- Demonstrate research and information literacy skills using scholarly resources, including the critical use of both print and electronic resource sources.
- Demonstrate an understanding of, and consideration for social, global, and cultural differences.
Graduation with Honors
Undergraduates may earn honors upon graduation in 3 ways. The student may graduate with distinction or highest distinction, earn departmental honors in the major, or complete the University Honors Program. It is possible to earn honors in 1 of these areas, any combination of them, or all 3. The award of honors is noted on the student’s transcript and in the Commencement program. Distinction and highest distinction are noted on the diploma. However, students completing Option B - the BGS in Liberal Arts and Sciences are not eligible to pursue departmental honors, as this degree option does not include a major.
Graduation with Distinction or Highest Distinction
The top 10 percent of each year’s graduating class is designated as graduating with distinction. Of these, the top one-third is designated as graduating with highest distinction. To be eligible, students must have completed at least 60 credit hours, graded A through F, in residence at KU.
The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Online Programs
For students who are unable to take their coursework on the Lawrence or Edwards campuses, the College Online offers Option B of the Liberal Arts & Sciences BGS degree fully online. Undergraduate certificates and minors are also available online. For more information visit the College Online website, or contact us directly at thecollegeonline@ku.edu.