Bachelor of Arts in General Bachelor of Arts in General Studies Degree at Eastern Studies Degree at Eastern

Illinois UniversityIllinois University

http://www.eiu.edu/bgs

The BGS Program is The BGS Program is A unique non-traditional approach to a baccalaureate degree

Designed for mature adults with significant life & work experience, family, career or

community responsibilities who are unable to return to college as a traditional student

Why should I consider this Why should I consider this program?program?

QualityQuality– EIU is a highly ranked 4-year public institutionEIU is a highly ranked 4-year public institution

AccessAccess– Variety of delivery methods including online coursesVariety of delivery methods including online courses

FlexibilityFlexibility– In how, when, where, how fast you complete your degreeIn how, when, where, how fast you complete your degree

SupportSupport– A professional team committed to helping you achieve your A professional team committed to helping you achieve your

dream of a degreedream of a degree

CostCost– EIU is one of the best values in higher education in IllinoisEIU is one of the best values in higher education in Illinois

What are the degree requirements?What are the degree requirements?To graduate you must have completed a total of To graduate you must have completed a total of

120 hours which include:120 hours which include:– 40 hours of Jr/Sr level credit40 hours of Jr/Sr level credit– 20 hours from EIU20 hours from EIU– 12 hours Humanities/Fine Arts12 hours Humanities/Fine Arts– 12 hours Social/Behavioral Sciences12 hours Social/Behavioral Sciences– 12 hours Math/Scientific Awareness12 hours Math/Scientific Awareness– 6 hours Communication (English/Speech)6 hours Communication (English/Speech)– One course in Cultural DiversityOne course in Cultural Diversity– BGS 2985 Adults in Transition, BGS 3002 Critical BGS 2985 Adults in Transition, BGS 3002 Critical

Thinking and the Adult Learner and BGS 4001 Self-Thinking and the Adult Learner and BGS 4001 Self-Directed LeadershipDirected Leadership

Will the Illinois Articulation Will the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) be recognized?Initiative (IAI) be recognized?

Yes! Yes!

If you completed the I.A.I. requirement, as If you completed the I.A.I. requirement, as part of your associate’s degree, will be part of your associate’s degree, will be

accepted as having met the BGS general accepted as having met the BGS general education component.education component.

So you weren’t the greatest student So you weren’t the greatest student the first time around….the first time around….

We will accept grades of “D” in transfer We will accept grades of “D” in transfer and apply them toward meeting degree and apply them toward meeting degree requirements as long as your overall grade requirements as long as your overall grade point average is at least 2.0 from the point average is at least 2.0 from the institution where you earned the D(s); institution where you earned the D(s); however, once admitted, only grades of however, once admitted, only grades of “C” or above will be counted toward “C” or above will be counted toward graduation.graduation.

Ways to earn creditWays to earn credit

Transfer from regionally accredited institutionsTransfer from regionally accredited institutions

MilitaryMilitary

CLEP, DANTES, Excelsior ExamsCLEP, DANTES, Excelsior ExamsEIU courses—online or face-to-faceEIU courses—online or face-to-face

Ways to earn credit continuedWays to earn credit continuedAssessment of Prior Learning (PLA) is credit for college level knowledge achieved outside the formal university classroom. This is done by

submitting a prior learning portfolio.

This might include:

Work related trainingOn-the-job experiences

American Council on Education (ACE) approved training

There is no limit to the number There is no limit to the number of credits you can earn. You of credits you can earn. You are limited only by the are limited only by the amount of knowledge you amount of knowledge you have and the time you wish have and the time you wish to invest. to invest.

There is an online course There is an online course designed to help you with the designed to help you with the portfolio process.portfolio process.

How many credits can I How many credits can I earn through the portfolio earn through the portfolio

process?process?

Only if you want to!Only if you want to!

The Bachelor in General Studies is The Bachelor in General Studies is available completely online. In available completely online. In addition, EIU classes are available addition, EIU classes are available at nights and on weekends at Triton at nights and on weekends at Triton College, Parkland College, Harper College, Parkland College, Harper College and the University Center College and the University Center of Lake County.of Lake County.

Will I have to drive to Will I have to drive to Charleston?Charleston?

All credits you have earned All credits you have earned will be accepted and, where will be accepted and, where appropriate, will be applied appropriate, will be applied towards graduation towards graduation requirements.requirements.

Remedial level classes will Remedial level classes will not transfer.not transfer.

How many of my credits How many of my credits can I transfer?can I transfer?

You can transfer up to You can transfer up to 100 credits earned 100 credits earned from other institutions.from other institutions.

Up to 78 credits can Up to 78 credits can be from the be from the community college.community college.

Absolutely! Absolutely!

Reviewed & approved Reviewed & approved by the Higher by the Higher Learning Learning Commission.Commission.

Is this an accredited Is this an accredited program?program?

You will not have a major. You will not have a major.

The degree has a liberal The degree has a liberal arts approach where you arts approach where you build a curriculum based on build a curriculum based on your individual needs. your individual needs.

You can have two minors You can have two minors documented on your official documented on your official transcript.transcript.

Curriculum

The real question isThe real question is

What do you want to do with What do you want to do with your degree?your degree?

Our graduates can be found in Our graduates can be found in all walks of life and in all kinds all walks of life and in all kinds of careers.of careers.

What can I do with a B.A. in General Studies?

Approximately 40% of our Approximately 40% of our graduates enroll in a graduates enroll in a graduate program.graduate program.

BGS graduates work in BGS graduates work in health care, hospitality health care, hospitality and travel, higher and travel, higher education, law and education, law and various other fields. various other fields.

After completion of this After completion of this degree, can I apply for degree, can I apply for

graduate school?graduate school?

Depends on how Depends on how many credits you many credits you already have & how already have & how many classes you many classes you take each semester.take each semester.An academic advisor An academic advisor will assist you in will assist you in developing a plan developing a plan towards graduation.towards graduation.

How long will it take me to How long will it take me to finish my degree?finish my degree?

The bottom line is, The bottom line is, how long do you want how long do you want it to take? it to take? You are in control!You are in control!

How long will it take me to How long will it take me to finish my degree?finish my degree?

• You can complete You can complete your degree where your degree where ever you go.ever you go.

• Currently we have Currently we have students in many students in many other states and in other states and in several foreign several foreign countries. Your tuition countries. Your tuition will remain the same will remain the same if you relocate.if you relocate.

What happens if I am What happens if I am transferred or move way?transferred or move way?

You never have to You never have to start over again, start over again, you never lose you never lose your credits.your credits.

Fees include: Fees include: - $30.00 University Application - $30.00 University Application FeeFee - $283.00 per credit hour tuition- $283.00 per credit hour tuition - $44.00 per credit hour fee- $44.00 per credit hour fee - $9.95 per credit hour Textbook- $9.95 per credit hour Textbook Rental FeeRental Fee

No additional fees.No additional fees.

How much does it cost?How much does it cost?

Yes, if you qualify for Yes, if you qualify for financial aid, it will apply financial aid, it will apply to your EIU tuition & to your EIU tuition & fees.fees.

Will financial aid apply to Will financial aid apply to this program?this program?

Will I have an advisor?Will I have an advisor?

Yes, your academic advisor will work with your throughout your degree.

• We encourage our students to join our We encourage our students to join our listserv to receive news, notices of special listserv to receive news, notices of special events, & scholarship application events, & scholarship application information as well as information about information as well as information about schedules and new classes being offered.schedules and new classes being offered.

• We also have an EIU/BGS Facebook page We also have an EIU/BGS Facebook page and LinkedIn group.and LinkedIn group.

How can I stay in touch?

For further informationFor further information

Visit us at http://www.eiu.edu/bgsVisit us at http://www.eiu.edu/bgsCall us at 217-581-5618Call us at 217-581-5618Email us at bgsba@eiu.edu Email us at bgsba@eiu.edu