What Is Required to Finish My BYU Degree Through the BGS Program?

Once formally admitted to the Bachelor of General Studies program, you will have up to eight years in which to graduate. To ensure you are meeting graduation requirements, you will complete courses from your graduation plan, which is mapped out and approved during your first course (STDEV 100).

To earn a Bachelor of General Studies degree, students must complete the following requirements.

• A minimum of 120 semester hours of earned credit, which breaks down as follows:
  
  

  Required Credit Hours
  STDEV 100 Independent Study Course	1 hour
  University Core      General Education      Religious Education	30 to 70 hours 14 hours
  Emphasis Requirements	30 hours
  STDEV 490 Independent Study Course	2 hours
  General Electives	3 to 43 hours

  
  
• At least 30 credit hours (exam credit excluded) earned in residency on the BYU campus in Provo as an admitted day student (completed before BGS admission).
  
  
• A minimum of 40 credit hours of upper-division credit (300- and 400-level courses), including at least 15 in the emphasis (12 hours in the management emphasis).

The following policies also apply:

• A minimum of 10 credit hours in the emphasis must be enrolled in and completed through BYU after formal admission to the BGS program.


• All courses taken after admission to BGS must be BYU courses.


• Students must earn a minimum 2.0 BYU grade point average and a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average.


• The program must be completed in eight years or fewer.

Student Development 100 (StDev 100) Independent Study Course
In addition to introducing you to the Aims of a BYU Education, this Independent Study course sets the foundation for the BGS capstone experience and helps you to get back into the college experience. You will learn test-taking strategies and also identify the type of learner you are. You will be taught ways to adapt to teachers and learning situations that employ other learning methods, including this distance education setting. You will brush up on study skills and learn how to manage your life to make time in your already busy schedule to devote to completing your degree. Another critical element of this course is to help you determine exactly which classes you must take to complete your BGS degree requirements. You will prepare a graduation plan that, when approved, will be your guide to completing your BGS degree. This course must be taken through BYU Independent Study. The version that is sometimes offered on campus differs in content.

University Core Requirements
The Bachelor of General Studies degree requires the same university core courses as all other BYU degrees. The university core consists of both general education and religious education requirements. See University Core requirements.

Emphasis Requirements
As a BGS student you must choose one of eight areas of study. The emphasis adds a measure of specialization and can be completed in one of the following areas: American studies, English and American Literature, family history, family life, history, management, psychology, or writing. Each emphasis has a 30-hour requirement. See Emphasis requirements.

Student Development 490 (STDEV 490) Independent Study Course
STDEV 490 is the BGS capstone course, completed as the last course in the program. The purpose of the capstone experience is to help you integrate your learning in the emphasis and to help you synthesize and reflect on your entire BGS experience in light of the Aims of a BYU Education and the expected learning outcomes for the Bachelor of General Studies program. See BGS Learning Outcomes.

Graduation
Diplomas are awarded in April, June, August, and December. BGS students are encouraged to participate in commencement ceremonies that are held in April and August. As a BGS student, you are encouraged to participate in the convocation of the college that houses your emphasis (Humanities, Marriott School, or Family, Home, and Social Sciences).