General Studies, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

The General Studies degree program is designed for adult learners and students intending to complete a baccalaureate degree whose educational objectives are not aligned with a more traditional degree program.
In addition to the baccalaureate degree requirements in Section 5 of this Catalog, the following are required for students seeking a General Studies degree:
- The B.A. General Studies degree is intended to be a first baccalaureate degree and is not appropriate for a concurrent or secondary baccalaureate degree.
- Any courses ordinarily accepted for credit by Eastern Kentucky University may be chosen as hours to apply to the 120 hours required for graduation.
- In order to declare a General Studies major students must have previously earned 60 credits from a regionally accredited institution or two years or more must have lapsed since students earned any college credit.
- Students pursuing a General Studies degree are not permitted to declare a double major.
- Students pursuing a General Studies degree are encouraged to declare minors and/or certificates.
- Students in the General Studies program will graduate from and be considered alumni of a specific college based on either
- the student’s preference (If a student has at least 18 credits in a college, excluding General Education credits, then he/she may request to be affiliated with that college); or
- if the student has no preference, then affiliation is based on the college in which the greatest number of credits are earned (excluding General Education credits).
- The college from which the student graduates will not be included in the degree name. Degree name on diploma will be Bachelor of Arts General Studies.
Program Requirements
CIP Code: 24.0102
Summary Checklist for General Education
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Element 1 | ||
A: Written Communication | 3 | |
B: Written Communication | 3 | |
C: Oral Communication | 3 | |
Element 2 | ||
Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
Element 3 | ||
A: Arts | 3 | |
B: Humanities | 3 | |
Element 4 | ||
Natural Sciences | 6 | |
Element 5 | ||
A: Historical Science | 3 | |
B: Social Behaviorial Science | 3 | |
Element 6 | ||
Diversity of Perspectives Experiences | 6 | |
Total Hours | 36 |
Students are expected to complete Elements 1 and 2 within their first 60 hours of college credit.
General Studies
The General Studies program is intended to establish foundational skills in critical thinking and communication. The program is also intended to allow a student who has completed most of the requirements of a major but has not yet completed the major of an approved program to complete a baccalaureate degree in a timely manner.
Major
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
University Graduation Requirements | ||
General Education | 36 | |
Student Success Seminar | ||
GSD 101 | Foundations of Learning 1 | 3 |
Writing Intensive Course (Hrs. incorporated into Major/Supporting/Gen Ed/Free Electives category) | ||
Upper division courses (42 hrs. distributed throughout Major/Supporting/Gen Ed/Free Electives categories) At least 6 hrs. must be 400-level or higher. | ||
ACCT – General Studies majors may fulfill ACCT with any of the following options: | ||
Relevant credit hours will be incorporated into program requirements below. | ||
Professional Skill Development | ||
Applied Learning (3 credit hours of co-op/applied learning) | ||
Service-learning (S) course | ||
College-approved student abroad experience | ||
Thesis Project and Seminar | ||
Major Requirements | ||
ACCT Requirement | ||
Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
Professional Skill Development | ||
Co-op | ||
Service Learning (S) course | ||
EKU-approved Study Abroad course | ||
Free Electives | ||
Choose from 78 hours of free electives | 78 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
- 1
Waived for students who enter EKU with 30+ hrs. of courses ordinarily accepted for transfer credit by Eastern Kentucky University. Student Success Seminars will not be waived for AP and Dual Credit hours.
Note: General Studies students are encouraged to earn minors and/or certificates. Advisors will assist students with identifying minors and certificates.