General Studies Major, BGS

Bachelor of General Studies Overview

The Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) is a bachelor’s degree completion program intended for students to maximize their transfer credits while earning a degree that is aligned with career readiness skills. 

The BGS includes an interdisciplinary curriculum designed for students to explore different professional/career fields.  In addition to learning and practicing essential skills required in all professions, students gain in-depth knowledge in specialized areas from a selection of tracks (Communication; Criminal Justice/Legal Studies; Human Resource Development; Information Technology) or a minor in Management from our AACSB accredited School of Management.

The BGS is ideal for transfer students and adult learners who want to maximize their credits earned from other colleges/universities/the military and want to take advantage of the program’s flexibility and opportunity to customize their education to attain their educational and professional objectives.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Graduates from the Bachelor of General Studies program at Clark University will be able to:

• Collaborate in team projects and contribute individually to achieve organizational goals
• Communicate effectively with character and integrity
• Critically assess their own attitudes, values, and assumptions and consider their impact on individuals and the wider society
• Apply basic project management knowledge and skills
• Demonstrate business acumen
• Use data literacy skills to evaluate and interpret data to inform decision-making

Graduates will gain additional knowledge and skills based in their track or minor.

Requirements

The Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) requires 32 course units (128 semester hours). 

Core Requirements

• LEAD 1010 - Leadership and Decision-Making  ^
• LEAD 1030 - Emotional Intelligence  ^
• COMM 1390 - Writing for Professional Communication  
• COMM 2020 - Organizational Behavior  
• COMM 2180 - Interpersonal Communication ^
• COMM 2300 - Intercultural Communications  
• ECON 1010 - Economics and the World Economy  
• PA 1200 - Project Management Basics  
• PA 1000 - Introduction to Business  
• GENS 2940 - Internship  
• GENS 2999 - Capstone  

^Also counts as a Distribution Requirement

Students will complete the Management minor, one of the following specified tracks, or an individualized track. 

Management Minor

Students work with their BGS academic advisor to declare the Management Minor. They will also work with an advisor from the School of Management (SOM) to plan their studies in the Minor. 

The Management Minor  consists of 6 courses:

Required course

• MGMT 100 - The Art and Science of Management  
• 5 Units of Electives: 3 units must be at the 200 level or higher

Tracks

Each track has 4 courses.

Communication Track

• COMM 1210 - Effective Speaking and Presenting  
• COMM 2360 - Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict Management  
• 2 Communication course electives

Criminal Justice/Legal Studies Track

• CJ 1000 - Introduction to Legal Studies  
• CJ 1620 - Criminal Investigations  
• 2 Criminal Justice course electives

Human Resource Development Track

• PA 1530 - Principles of Mangement  
• HRD 1240 - Human Resource Management  
• HRD 1510 - Labor Relations In Workplace  
• 1 HRD course elective

Information Technology Track

• CSEC 1090 - Python Programming  
• CSEC 2050 - Introduction to Operating Systems  
• CSEC 2150 - Database Management  
• 1 CSEC course elective

Individualized Track

Consult with your academic advisor to develop your individualized track.

Distribution Requirements

Students are required to take 11 course units to meet the liberal arts distribution requirement for a bachelor of science or a bachelor of general studies degree. This requirement is designed to give students perspectives on human affairs that are essential to be contributing citizens of the world.  Please note that required major courses may also satisfy a Distribution Requirement; consult with your academic advisor if you have questions.  The 11 units must be distributed as follows:

• English/Verbal Expression- two units - ENG 1000 - Introduction to Composition  & ENG 1150 - Intermediate Composition  
• Humanities - three units, distributed among at least two disciplines. One unit must be met a course on ethics.  Course subject prefixes that satisfy this category include: ASL, ART, ARTH, ARTS, ENG (not ENG 1000 or ENG 1150), FILM, GERM, HEBR, JAPN, MUSC, PHIL, and TA.  Students may also take COMM 1210 Effective Speaking and Presenting.
• Science/Mathematics - two units. One in math; one in science.
• Social Sciences - three units, distributed among at least two disciplines.  Course subject prefixes that satisfy this category include: CJ, COMM, ECON, GOVT, HIST, LEAD, PSYC, and SOC.
• Technology - one unit.  Course subject prefix that satisfies this category: CSEC

Electives

Electives may be selected from the entire spectrum of courses. Please consult your academic advisor with questions.