General Studies
Bachelor of General Studies
Director: Catherine Daniélou
College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office
The Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree is a flexible interdisciplinary degree that allows students to choose a general curriculum that meets their individual goals and provides room for exploration and inquiry. Our students have found special meaning in the modular and interdisciplinary intent of our program. The BGS prepares students for careers in various professional fields, including government, health care, real estate, general social services and the service-producing sector, law, retail, as well as the private industry where fundamental critical thinking and inquiry skills as well as rigorous writing and communication skills are of key importance. BGS graduates with high GPAs have also been successful in meeting their professional school goals, including graduate school.
The Bachelor of General Studies is a broad-based option supported by all undergraduate programs offering a minor at UAB. UAB offers a choice of over 80 minors. The BGS program integrates all our undergraduate campus in the choice of options. The program goals are to 1) equip students with a broad-based higher education allowing them to perform efficiently in the workplace; 2) prepare students to understand an increasingly complex and multifaceted world; and 3) help students to demonstrate a multidisciplinary base of knowledge.
Undergraduate students graduating with a degree in General Studies work with the assigned BGS advisor and select two minors of their choice offered at UAB, along with 9 hours of 400-level course work and a Capstone experience. Graduating students are expected to: (1) write, communicate, and present effectively; (2) evaluate and interpret information as well as societal issues critically and analytically; (3) apply knowledge and modes of inquiry from several disciplines; (4) demonstrate integrative learning.
The Bachelor of General Studies provides broad well-rounded rigorous educational opportunities to traditional and non-traditional students contemplating careers or graduate school opportunites for which a Bachelor's degree and university-level reading, writing, communication and critical thinking skills are required.
Program Director:
Catherine Danielou, PhD, Dean's Office, College of Arts and Sciences
934-4653, danielou@uab.edu
Program Advisor:
Kip Hubbard, MA, College of Arts and Sciences, Advising Office
Heritage Hall Building 402, 934-6135, kiph@uab.edu
Bachelor of General Studies
Degree requirements:
Successful completion of any 2 UAB minors* of student's choice
Capstone Requirement:
Select one of the following:
CAS 400 – General Studies Capstone (1 credit) (must be taken during the Senior year, not earlier)
Or another UAB approved Capstone course
Total Hours: Estimated 36 – 51 hours (minors being a minimum of 18 hours)**
*Students majoring in General Studies must achieve a grade of C or higher in all courses applied toward the major requirements.
*Students majoring in General Studies must meet residency requirements and complete 9 hours at the 400 level or above taken at UAB.
**A single course may not count toward more than one minor requirement.
Courses
CAS 101. Success in Biology and Natural Sciences. 2 Hours.
The objective of this course is to introduce incoming freshmen to an education in the biology in context of the university. It is meant to help prepare students for a successful collegiate career in the study of biology and natural sciences.
CAS 102. Success in Chemistry and Natural Sciences. 2 Hours.
The objective of this course is to introduce incoming freshmen to an education in the Chemistry in context of the university. It is meant to help prepare students for a successful collegiate career in the study of chemistry and natural sciences.
CAS 103. Success in the Sciences. 2 Hours.
The objective of this course is to introduce incoming freshmen to an education in the sciences in context of the university. It is meant to help prepare students for a successful collegiate career in the study of science.
CAS 104. Success n Soc/ Behavioral Sci. 2 Hours.
The objective of this course is to introduce incoming freshmen to an edcuation in the social and behavioral sciences in context of the university. It is meant to help prepare students for a successful collegiate career in the study of social and behavioral sciences.
CAS 105. Success in Psychology and Social Sciences. 2 Hours.
The objective of this course is to introduce freshmen to an education in psychology and the social sciences in context of the university. It is meant to help prepare students for a successful collegiate career in the study of psychology and social sciences.
CAS 106. Success in the Humanities. 2 Hours.
The objective of this course is to introduce incoming freshmen to an education in the humanities in context of the university. It is meant to help prepare students for a successful collegiate career in the study of the humanities.
CAS 107. Success in Music. 2 Hours.
The objective of this course is to introduce incoming freshmen to an education in music in context of the university. It is meant to help prepare students for a successful collegiate career in the study of music.
CAS 108. Success in Communication. 2 Hours.
The objective of this course is to introduce incoming freshmen to an education in communication in context of the university. It is meant to help prepare students for a successful collegiate career in the study of communication.
CAS 109. Success in World Cultures and Foreign Languages. 2 Hours.
The objective of this course is to introduce incoming freshmen to an education in foreign languages and world cultures in context of the university. It is meant to help prepare students for a successful collegiate career in the study of world cultures and foreign languages.
CAS 110. Success in Art. 2 Hours.
The objective of this course is to introduce incoming freshmen to an education in art in context of the university. It is meant to help prepare students for a successful collegiate career in the study of art.
CAS 111. Success in Theatre. 2 Hours.
The objective of this course is to introduce incoming freshmen to an education in theatre in context of the university. It is meant to help prepare students for a successful collegiate career in the study of theatre.
CAS 112. Success in College. 3 Hours.
The objective of this course is to introduce incoming freshmen to a successful path in college in any field of study. It is meant to help prepare students to engage as community members and design pathways for meaning and success in their collegiate career and beyond. This course meets Blazer Core Local Beginnings Requirement with flags in First Year Experience and Service Learning/Community-Based Learning.
CAS 399. Perceptions:Poverty in Amer/SL. 3 Hours.
This service-learning course engages students in critical analysis of perceptions and policies about poverty in the United States while providing essential tax preparation and services to members of our local community. Academic coursework will focus on perceptions and misperceptions of those in poverty, race and poverty, socioeconomic issues faced by low-income families, federal and state policies toward working families, predatory lending practices that erode wealth, and strategies to address poverty in the United States.
CAS 400. General Studies Career Readiness Capstone Project. 1 Hour.
This capstone experience course is designed for students who opted for an interdisciplinary major to develop a portfolio and reflect on their academic accomplishments, interdisciplinary intellectual interests, and the skills they have acquired in light of their specific career goals. Available to Seniors only.
CAS 401. General Studies Independent Studies. 2 Hours.
Course designed for students who opted for an interdisciplinary major. Students will explore an approved interdisciplinary topic and develop an integrative research portfolio.
CAS 402. General Studies Interdisciplinary Independent Readings. 3-6 Hours.
This individualized course of directed readings focuses on a rigorous in-depth exploration of an interdisciplinary research topic along with the development of a comprehensive research project. Permission of program director and instructor are required.
CAS 405. General Studies Professional Internship. 1-3 Hour.
Experiential learning course designed for students who opted for an interdisciplinary major, allowing them to gain valuable professional experience and develop a reflective professional activity portfolio related to an interdisciplinary academic trajectory. The experience will be relevant to the student’s academic and career plans.