Both the Applied Studies Option and the Individualized Studies Option of the BGS program require completion of at least 124 credit hours, of which

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Program Requirements
Applied Studies Option
USI Core Curriculum
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• at least 30 credit hours must be at the 300/400 (junior/senior) level
• at least 30 credit hours must be from USI 
• at least 21 credit hours must be completed after admission to the BGS program 

    Individualized Studies Requirements 

University Core Curriculum--50 hours 
Individualized Study Program--74 hours 

Each student must designate a minimum of 36 credit hours which will serve as a "major" meeting his or her individual goals.  Courses should represent a cognate area similar to other university majors such as those found in Business, Engineering, Liberal Arts, etc.  Established USI majors are not open to BGS students. 

Two upper-level courses, available each fall and spring via distance education, are:

GENS 498 Personal & Professional Development (3 credit hours).  This capstone course satisfies the University Core Curriculum's Category D: Synthesis for students pursuing the Bachelor of General Studies.  Others may enroll for elective credit.  This course is an interdisciplinary study of adult human development and self.  Theories of psychosocial, cognitive, moral, and faith development are examined and compared with the student's personal history and career development in the form of a professional portfolio and a thematic autobiography.  The assigned Applied Research Project draws from the student's critical thinking and information processing skills in identifying a contemporary problem in an organization, gathering pertinent information for analysis, and choosing an appropriate solution.  Prerequisites:  PSY 201, senior standing, and consent of instructor

GENS 490 General Studies Internship (1-6 credit hours) is designed to recognize the value of experiential learning activities and work experience relevant to the individual's program.  Each student, as directed by a faculty member, and with consultation from the Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) director, will develop a project that demonstrates the integration of prior educational and work experience with University coursework into a unified and meaningful whole.   The number of hours of credit to be awarded will be determined by the faculty member, but may not exceed six.  Credit will be awarded only after the student has been admitted to the BGS program.