Bachelor of General Studies





	Bachelor of General Studies College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters The Program Benefits Professional Specializations Areas of Focus Requirements for Graduation Opportunities for Experiential Education For More Information The Program The BGS program at UM-Dearborn is specifically designed for community college graduates who want to further their education and pursue another degree without losing previous coursework. Students entering from community colleges may transfer up to 62 hours of credit; with careful planning, they may obtain the degree after completing a minimum of 58 credit hours at UM-Dearborn. The program is also intended for students who desire a flexible, individualized course of study, and wish to tailor their coursework to career goals and workplace requirements. Students create their own curriculum path, choosing three individual areas of focus, or minors. Students may further customize their education by enrolling in internships or cooperative education. back to top Benefits The benefits of the BGS program are many: Individualized curriculum Maximum flexibility Full credit given for the associate’s degree Faster degree completion may be possible Career and workplace related Co-op/Internship opportunities A University of Michigan degree UM–Dearborn’s BGS offers several specialized tracks which are listed below. Students can also individualize their degree by choosing three areas of focus from following lists: back to top Professional Specializations If you have chosen a career path in management, marketing, social work, public relations, or other such high-demand fields, you may choose from one of the following professional specializations: Human Resources Focuses on the management of human resources in organizations; on the role and development of the manager as a leader, and on the mission and specific functions of the personnel/human resources field. Areas of focus: management; psychology; and communications Consumer Behavior Develops skills related to careers in market research and analysis, advertising and public relations, sales management, industrial and consumer product management, and promotion management. Areas of focus: management; communications; and psychology, economics, or sociology Human Services Concentrates on understanding human behavior within a social and organizational context, and is designed as general preparation for a career in human services such as social work, criminology, child development, substance abuse, or gerontology. Areas of focus: psychology; sociology; and anthropology, communications, health policy studies, political science, or women's studies Applied Data Analysis Focuses on the need to understand and apply information to make decisions within the organization; prepares students to quantify information and teaches modeling and synthesis for evaluation and presentation of information. Areas of focus: applied statistics; management; and any other CASL area of focus Organizational Writing Provides an organizational context and conceptual framework for the practice of professional writing. Develops writing skills that will be applicable in the areas of industry, media and government. Areas of focus: communications; English; management Health Administration Designed for students interested in administrative careers in the health care industry. Integrates an understanding of broad organizational and management skills with the study of current health policy issues. Areas of focus: health policy studies; management; and communications or psychology Work, Technology, and Society Integrates the study of changing work organization and industrial technology with a special focus on the auto industry so as to develop a broad understanding of and ability to effectively participate in the region's premier industrial sector. Areas of Focus: organizational change in a multicultural and global environment; technological structures and technological change in manufacturing; auto industry studies back to top Areas of Focus You may choose one of the previously mentioned professional specializations consisting of pre-selected areas of focus. Or, you may choose your three areas of focus from the following lists of approved areas: Group I - CASL Single-disciplinary Areas (12 hours at the 300-400 level required in each area chosen. You may choose one, two, or all three areas of focus from Group I.) Anthropology Applied Statistics Art History Biochemistry Biological Sciences Chemistry Comparative Literature Computer and Computational Math Economics English Environmental Science French Studies Geology German Hispanic Studies History Humanities Linguistics Mathematics Microbiology Music Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology (some courses available online) Sociology Group II - CASL Multi-Disciplinary Areas (15 hours required in each area chosen. You may choose one, two, or all three areas of focus from Group II.) African and African American Studies Auto Industry Studies Communications Criminal Justice Studies Earth Science Environmental Studies Film Studies Health Policy Studies Law and Society Medieval and Renaissance Studies Organizational Change in a Multicultural and Global Environment (available online and on campus) Religious Studies Science and Technology Studies Social Science Research Methodology Technological Structures and Technological Change in Manufacturing (some courses available online only) Women’s and Gender Studies Group III - Areas Outside of CASL ( You may choose only one area of focus from Group III.) Management (12 hours at the 300–400 level) CIS (12 hours 100–200 level + 12 hours 300–400 level) back to top Requirements for Graduation Distribution requirements consisting of one course in mathematics, one course in the natural sciences, two courses in the behavioral/social sciences, two courses in the humanities, two semesters of English composition, and one diversity course 12-15 upper-division (300 or above) credit hours in each of three areas of focus with a GPA of at least 2.00 in each area of focus A minimum of 48 upper-division credit hours, 30 of which must be from the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters A minimum of 120 total credit hours (including transfer credit) with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 Students admitted Fall 2005, or thereafter , must complete a Statement of Rationale during their first semester of enrollement, and an Exit Report and Goals Checklist during their last semester at UM-D. back to top Opportunities for Experiential Education Among the many career-related opportunities offered to BGS students at UM-Dearborn is participation in experiential education. BGS students have found wide-ranging opportunities in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters Cooperative Education Program, including employment in human resources, marketing, underwriting, legal investigation, project management, and information systems. Our students recognize that BGS and experiential education go hand-in-hand, as do BGS and positive career prospects. One BGS student says, "I found that the BGS degree was very marketable in Co-op and in my search for a permanent job. With BGS, you have more flexibility since you have three different areas of study. Employers are very enthusiastic about the major. It gave me more insight than I would have if I only had one area of study." back to top For More Information For more information about the B.G.S. program: Marllis Shannon CASL Office of Advising and Student Records University of Michigan-Dearborn 4901 Evergreen Dearborn, MI 48128-1491 313-593-5293 mshannon@umd.umich.edu To request an application or obtain more information about admission to the University: Office of Admissions and Orientation University of Michigan-Dearborn 4901 Evergreen Road Dearborn, MI 48128-1491 313-593-5100 admissions@umd.umich.edu http://www.umd.umich.edu back to top

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