General Studies: BA, BS, BS Professional Studies Degrees

Recognizing the broad theoretical and cultural concerns of traditional liberal education, the Kutztown University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences developed a four-year undergraduate degree program in General Studies; program/version are determined in the prospectus and approved by the Committee.

This degree program is designed not only to promote the philosophy of liberal education but also to incorporate investigation into newer areas of learning. Thus, this degree is not intended for students who do not have a clear and decisive educational plan or career goal in mind. Rather, the General Studies degree is to be pursued by only those students who have carefully planned, in consultation with their Academic Advisor and/or the Chair of the concentration area, and analyzed their educational and career goals and fully realize that completion of these goals requires diversification in several disciplines. The General Studies degree should not duplicate any existing major or major/minor combination.

Prior to applying to General Studies, students must have completed a minimum of 60 credits (and ideally completed no more than 76 credits, to increase the likelihood of graduating in four years) and earned a 2.0 or higher qpa. No student should be admitted as a transfer into this program. If a student’s concentration area is outside of Humanities, Social Sciences, or Natural Sciences and Math, they should select the B.S. Professional Studies Track. A minor and a concentration in the same area are not permitted.

To be accepted into the General Studies program, students must submit a prospectus detailing:

1.   College credits already completed and current qpa.
2.   Theme or topic (statement of educational and career objectives).
3.   Rationale for completing the objectives, focusing on how/why General Studies is the best program.
4.   Specific proposed program of study. This includes a master list of courses by semester, with a rationale for how each course relates to the program. Should a student be accepted, but later have to change courses outlined in the proposal, the student must notify the General Studies Coordinator and his/her Academic Advisor. Unapproved changes may jeopardize status in the program.

The prospectus must be presented to the Coordinator of General Studies and approved by the majority of the General Studies Committee. The Committee is composed of faculty representatives from the Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences, and the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The student will work with an Academic Advisor in the concentration area; the Coordinator of General Studies can assist, in conjunction with the appropriate Dean or Department Chair, with advisor selection if needed.

The following requirements must be satisfied and will be strictly enforced for all General Studies degrees:

General Education	51-52 credit hours
Theme or Topic	50-51 credit hours (The concentration area is 21 credits in a single discipline; at least twelve credits must be at 200-level or above, including the culminating experience. Remaining credits should complement the concentration and fulfill goals.)
Electives	18 credit hours (Electives should complement the concentration and fulfill goals, but can be additional credits in the concentration area)
Total:	120 credit hour minimum

The General Studies program must include at least a three-credit culminating experience, defined as an independent study, internship, thesis, or senior seminar in the concentration area (all existing requirements for these courses must be met). Students are responsible for arranging an appropriate internship if deemed necessary. This culminating experience, the nature of which is determined by the program theme or topic, will serve in lieu of a comprehensive exam.

(Revised 9/18/09; Approved 8/23/10; Updated and Approved: 8/23/11 and 9/29/11)

For more information, contact:
Dr. David Beougher
206 Graduate Center
(610) 683-4305 | clas@kutztown.edu