If you are a student in LSA, you can meet with a B.G.S. advisor to declare. You are welcomed (and encouraged!) to schedule an appointment with an advisor to discuss your interests and to see if this is right for you, even if you aren’t ready to declare yet. 

No, but some upper-level courses will require prerequisites to register or to be successful.

If you want to take the initiative to define your own program of study; you are open to different disciplines, methods, and vocabularies; and you are committed to investing the time to synthesize different perspectives, then B.G.S. is a good option. B.G.S. is excellent preparation for graduate and professional schools, which demand interdisciplinary thinking, including law, public policy, social work, public health, and business. As a student-centered degree you have incredible flexibility to integrate your academic interests and complement these with study abroad and transfer credits. You are welcomed (and encouraged!) to meet with an advisor to discuss your interests and to see if this is right for you. 

• Explore classes via the LSA Course Guide by using keyword searches and reading the class descriptions and/or syllabi.
• Think about your learning style: Do you prefer large lectures or experiential learning or small classes? Do you want classes that have exams or papers? Do you want classes with collaborative work with other students?
• Take a risk. You might learn something cool and unexpected. Every course does NOT have to fit neatly in your master plan.
• Many upper-level courses have prerequisites including some that are enforced at registration, so plan ahead.
• Many departments reserve seats for majors only, particularly in their upper-level capstone seminars. It may be possible to get the instructor’s permission, so don’t hesitate to ask the instructor or department if there is a class you really want to take.
• Consider looking at minors as models for structuring your program/selecting classes.
• Seek advice. Advisors and faculty whose classes you have enjoyed are great resources.

Yes, in fact we encourage you to think intentionally about the intersections among your courses and to develop that focus. Most B.G.S. students who develop a theme draw on courses from 7–9 subjects. B.G.S. is NOT 20-20-20.

• No more than 20 credit hours of upper-level courses may be counted from a single subject to complete the minimum 60 credit hours.
  • If an academic department has several subjects, a B.G.S. student may elect a maximum 20 credit hours of upper-level courses from each subject. For example, the American Culture Department includes multiple subjects: AMAS, AMCULT, ASIANPAM, LATINOAM, and NATIVEAM. 
• You may complete more than 20 credit hours in a single department provided that only 20 upper-level credits count toward the 60-credit minimum. 
• A cross-listed course may count under any one of the subjects, regardless of which subject you register for.
• At least 40 of these upper-level credits must be LSA credits.

Yes. You may include up to 30 credits of non-graded coursework (c/nc, p/f) in a B.G.S. These 30 credits can be included anywhere, including within the 60 credits of upper level coursework.

D-. Note that your cumulative and upper-level GPA must average a 2.0 or higher.

No.

No.

Yes. You may include 20 non-LSA credits in your B.G.S. A maximum of 20 upper-level non-LSA credits may count toward the 60 upper-level credits. Put differently: you must have a minimum of 100 LSA credits and 40 upper-level LSA credits in a B.G.S.

No, you cannot do a major in a B.S. or A.B. with B.G.S. This also precludes doing a second LSA degree with B.G.S.

No, but many minors can be models for potential courses to include in your B.G.S.

Yes, you can do supplemental studies with B.G.S. One course may be shared between the B.G.S. upper-level credits requirement and a supplemental studies program, though none currently exist.

Yes, if we have an arrangement with that School or College and the B.G.S. is your intended LSA degree.

B.G.S. students are eligible to pursue Honors through Honors in Engaged Liberal Arts (HELA), an Honors graduation plan intended for students who wish to combine their academics with civic or leadership experience by developing projects that involve a serious engagement with a significant intellectual, social, political, or practical problem. HELA can be a natural fit with B.G.S., as both programs provide a means for students to claim ownership of their college education and synthesize what they've learned across their experiences. 

Yes. With the exception of courses for the LSA language requirement, all UM-sponsored study abroad programs yield upper-level credit. If you plan to attend a non-UM program talk with an advisor in advance to ensure that your coursework will count toward your degree as you hope.

Yes. As long as you observe the College policies, transfer credit can meet B.G.S. upper-level requirements. Credit posted as 300-level or above departmental credit or as a specific course number (3XX or 4XX) may be included in the B.G.S. degree. If you plan to take credit out-of-residence meet with an advisor in advance to discuss your plans to ensure your coursework transfers as expected.

Yes! We encourage B.G.S. students to apply for the Blumenfeld Scholarship, which is specifically for B.G.S. students, and for other LSA scholarships.

Be truthful and tell them that you are doing a self-designed, interdisciplinary degree requiring 60 upper-level credits. You may elaborate by explaining your theme or emphasis. On a resume clearly identify your interests. We recommend that you write, “Degree expected/conferred: Bachelor in General Studies, an interdisciplinary degree requiring 60 credits of upper-level work.  My areas of focus are Q, R, and S with an emphasis in Y.”

B.G.S. is excellent preparation for graduate study, particularly if you are applying to a program that values interdisciplinary problem-solving. B.G.S. is excellent preparation for graduate and professional schools, which demand interdisciplinary thinking, including law, public policy, social work, public health, and business. If you plan to apply to a discipline-centered graduate program, you will want to take advantage of UM courses, faculty, and research opportunities relevant to your intended field.

You can find the full details of the graduation application process on our How to Apply for Graduation Page.

Go to Wolverine Access and log into Student Business to apply for graduation. We recommend that you apply during the semester prior to your final semester. (ex: Apply in October if you plan to graduate in May.) This will initiate an audit which will be emailed to you and which will contain details of your degree progress and any outstanding requirements. You do not need a release as you would for a major.