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Bachelor of General Studies Online

This degree is designed to accommodate students who have prior coursework and/or professional experience and need a flexible pathway to complete their studies. Students in this degree program are often seeking career advancement or career placement in their areas of interest.

Next Apply Date: 12/16/24
Next Class Start Date: 1/13/25
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 12/16/24
Next Class Start Date: 1/13/25

Program Overview

Explore the versatility of our online Bachelor of General Studies program

Maximize your prior education and craft a personalized degree plan with the A-State Online Bachelor of General Studies program. With a broad emphasis on critical thinking, this tailored program prepares you for a myriad of career opportunities.

One of the most versatile degrees offered, the A-State Online Bachelor of General Studies program allows you to build on prior coursework and explore various interests, while providing a convenient means to gain academic credentials for career advancement. The program combines work-relevant skills with multidisciplinary courses in communications, math, science and the arts and humanities.

Complete your degree quickly by transferring up to 90 eligible credit hours of prior college coursework. Customize your studies to your interests by working with your advisor to choose 2 areas of emphasis. Your academic focus can be narrow or broad, as you develop a strong educational foundation and critical knowledge base.

BGS Emphasis Areas (.PDF)

BGS Course Schedule (.PDF)

Learn to think critically, communicate and collaborate effectively and solve problems creatively and strategically. These core competencies are essential across a wide range of industries and professions.

+

Prepare for a broad range of professional roles, including:

  • Account Manager
  • Sales Representative
  • Benefits Advisor
  • Copywriter
  • Brand Manager
Prepare for a broad range of professional roles, including:+
  • Account Manager
  • Sales Representative
  • Benefits Advisor
  • Copywriter
  • Brand Manager

Gain the knowledge and industry-relevant skills employers seek:

  • Effective communications
  • Customer service
  • Organizational tactics
  • Scheduling
  • Sales management
Gain the knowledge and industry-relevant skills employers seek:+
  • Effective communications
  • Customer service
  • Organizational tactics
  • Scheduling
  • Sales management

Also available:

A-State offers a variety of undergraduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online undergraduate programs.

Per Credit Tuition: $282
Transfer Credits: Up to 90 hours
Credit Hours 120
Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

Tuition

You may qualify for a financial aid package

A-State's online programs are affordable and convenient. You may also qualify for financial aid. Learn more.

The Bachelor of General Studies online program offers the same low, pay-by-the-course tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour: $282
Per Course: $846

Transfer your credits for lower tuition

Use our Tuition Estimator to see how affordable your degree could be. Slide the notch to the number of credits you've already earned—which may qualify for transfer credit—to get an estimate of what your degree might cost.

0
90
Transfer Credits: 0
Your Estimated Tuition: $Your Estimated Tuition:
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Transcripts sent from other colleges and universities will be evaluated, and accepted credits will be added to the student's A-State record. The Tuition Estimator is not a guarantee or predictor of the number of credit hours that will be accepted.

You may be closer to Graduation than you think!

A-State-approved credit for prior learning recognizes your previous accomplishments, reducing your tuition costs and time to graduation.

Calendar

A-State online dates and deadlines

Our Bachelor of General Studies online program is flexible and convenient—featuring accelerated coursework and multiple start dates per year.

Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.

View full calendar  + 

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Fall 210/14/249/30/2410/4/2410/10/2410/11/2412/6/24
Spring 11/13/2512/16/2412/18/241/9/251/10/252/28/25
Spring 23/10/252/24/252/28/253/6/253/7/255/2/25

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 12/16/24
Start Class 1/13/25

Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

Apply Now

Admissions

What you'll need to apply to A-State online

A-State Online offers a streamlined admission process for both new students and transfers. Students who are interested in the Bachelor of General Studies online program should review and follow the requirements for admission below.

Admission Requirements:

  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • 2.0 GPA for transferring credits
View all admission requirements +

There are several paths to admittance at A-State:

  • If you have 13 or more transferrable college credit hours, you would be admitted if you have a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0 on previous college coursework
  • If you have 0-12 transferrable college credit hours and have been out of high school for five years or more, you would be admitted if you:
    • Have a high school diploma or state-approved equivalent
    • Have completed 12 or fewer earned college hours
    • Have never enrolled as a student at A-State
    Note: If you’re admitted as non-traditional first-time freshman, you may be required to successfully complete a predesignated curriculum of 12 hours (Certificate or Non-Degree). Upon successful completion, you will be transitioned to a degree seeking program.
  • If you have 0-12 transferrable college credit hours and have been in high school within the last 5 years, you would be admitted if you have one of the following:
    • 3.0 cumulative high school grad point average (or GED test score equivalent), OR
    • 19 minimum ACT super score or minimum 990 combined SAT super score, OR
    • Class rank in the top 20% of your graduating class

​Application Submission Requirements

Submitting your application takes three easy steps: filling out the application, submitting your documents and paying the application fee.

  1. When completing the online application, select 100% online student and then complete all the steps on the online application.
  2. Pay $30.00 non-refundable application fee.
  3. Submit all official college transcripts.
  4. Submit official high school transcripts (if applicable).
  5. Submit official ACT/ SAT test scores (if applicable).

Note: If you have 0-12 transferrable college hours, test scores will still need to be submitted for reporting purposes to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE); however, they are not needed for an admission decision. Accuplacer test scores are an acceptable alternative to ACT/SAT scores.

If you have any questions along the way, call us at 866-621-8096 and we’ll be happy to help answer questions.

Document Submission Address

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467

Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

For Non-US Postal Mail Overnight Delivery Only:

A-State Online
c/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401

Courses

The degree plan for our general studies online program

To earn your Bachelor of General Studies, you need to complete 120 credit hours of coursework. The program includes 38 credit hours of general education courses, 9 credit hours of major courses and 73 credit hours of elective courses, including 2 emphases. Students can finish faster by transferring previously earned credit hours. Transfer credit hours will be evaluated during the admission process.

Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.

Expand All

These courses must be taken to complete your degree.

Duration: 14 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Exploration of the role of critical thinking in a range of professional settings through reading, writing and communication using technology, professionally-prepared materials, and statistical charts. Basic overview of the research writing process is included.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Required for all BSIS majors. Must be senior level status to enroll (90 or more earned hours).
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Capstone experience is designed to ensure BSIS graduates synthesize the learning objectives embedded in the BSIS program and gain the necessary skills to be market-ready including professional-level communications and critical thinking skills. The special problems research project is centered on students' emphasis area(s).

Students must take 73 credit hours of electives to satisfy the 120 credit hours required for this program. Courses may be chosen with the assistance of an advisor and per your degree plan. Electives can come from any courses offered so long as prerequisites are met.

Students must take the following courses.

First-year course - Students must take the following Making Connections online course. If you transfer in more than 12 credit hours, you will not be required to take the Making Connections course. You may replace that 3-hour course with a 3-hour elective course.

First-year course (3 hours)
UC 1013

Communication Requirement (6 hours)
ENG 1003
ENG 1013

Mathematics Requirement (3 hours)
Students must take MATH 1023 or any MATH course that requires MATH 1023 as prerequisite.

Arts and Humanities Requirement (3 hours)
MUS 2503
ENG 2003
ENG 2013

Social Sciences Requirement (9 hours)
POSC 2103
SOC 2213
PSY 2013

Life Science Requirement (4 hours)
Students must complete BIO 1003 with BIO 1001 lab.

Physical Sciences Requirement (4 hours)
Students must complete CHEM 1043 with CHEM 1041 lab.

 

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Laboratory, must be taken with BIO 1003. There will be a fee when purchasing the LabKit. Please visit the tuition and fees page for pricing.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The major characteristics and processes of life emphasizing the human organism. Promotes understanding of diversity and unity among living organisms with focus on ecological interactions and responsibilities of people within their social and natural environment. Lecture three hours per week. Special course fees may apply. Must be taken with BIO 1001.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Special course fees apply. Prerequisite or co-requisite of CHEM 1043. Fall only.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to selected fundamental concepts including dimensional analysis, mole concept, atomic and molecular structure, nomenclature, chemical reactions, thermochemistry, intermolecular interactions, gases, mixtures, kinetics, equilibrium and acid base chemistry. Fall only.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study and practice of fundamentals of written communication, including principles of grammar, punctuation, spelling, organization, and careful analytical reading. Prerequisite, with grade of C or better, for ENG 1013.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Continues the practice of ENG 1003 to develop further the skills learned in that course. Based on reading and discussion of various types of writing, the students’ essays will provide practice in different kinds of rhetorical development, including research and documentation.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of literary works from several historical periods ranging from early civilizations through the Renaissance.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of literary works from several historical periods ranging from the Renaissance to the present.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, systems of equations and inequalities, matrices, and miscellaneous topics. No credit given if taken following MATH 1054.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is an introduction to music for the listener who has had no formal training or experience. By exploring the history of Western Art music, learners will begin to connect the development of music with the changing of society and culture.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
American politics. The constitution, government, and politics of the United States.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study of the important scientific, principles of individual human behavior from biological, cognitive, social, and behavioral perspectives.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Human society and social behavior.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Required course for all first semester freshmen. Course content is centered around the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful ASU student, including academic performance, problem solving, critical thinking, self-management and group building skills, university policies and other relevant issues.
"If you want a degree that fits your every need, this is it. It's a well-rounded program that covers the general sciences, English, arts, math — it covers it all!"
Sarah Cooper

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