General Studies, B.A.
Learn ways of thinking and practical skills that align with the competencies employers demand in the 21st century with the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies offered through Saint Louis University's School for Professional Studies.
As part of this interdisciplinary program, you'll explore the value of innovative reflection, inquiry and analysis, quantitative and financial literacy, leadership, ethical reasoning and civic engagement. You will also select a minor, certificate or liberal arts focus as part of your degree path. This additional feature allows you to deepen your expertise in one specialized area while enhancing your broad-based interpersonal and leadership skills. The B.A. in general studies culminates in an integrative capstone course.
As part of the School for Professional Studies, this 120-credit degree program offers future and current leaders like you a flexible option to meet your personal career goals. With six accelerated, eight-week terms each year provided by SLU online, you can begin working toward your degree at any time, making advanced education more accessible for working professionals.
As part of the School for Professional Studies, this 120-credit degree program offers future and current leaders like you a flexible option to meet your personal career goals. With six accelerated, eight-week terms each year provided by SLU online, you can begin working toward your degree at any time, making advanced education more accessible for working professionals.
Faculty
As a student in the School for Professional Studies at Saint Louis University, you’ll learn from exceptional faculty who are leading experts in their fields. They bring real-world knowledge to the classroom and are dedicated to your professional success. Learn more on our faculty page.
Careers
SLU's bachelor’s degree in general studies equips students with versatile skills that are highly marketable in a rapidly changing work environment. The degree empowers students to thrive in a diverse range of industries, from financial services to health care to universities. The broad disciplinary training also allows students to pursue graduate work in several different fields of study.
A bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for applying for a job or earning a promotion in many professional careers. A Bachelor of Arts in General Studies can help students fulfill that essential requirement. It demonstrates that students have the perseverance, thirst for knowledge and work ethic to complete a degree in several areas of academic inquiry.
Tuition
| Tuition | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Tuition | |
| Standard Tuition | $650 |
| Active Duty/Veteran (TA eligible or GI Bill); First Responders | $295 |
Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:
Information on Tuition and Fees
Scholarships and Financial Aid
There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:
- Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need. The School for Professional Studies offers numerous scholarships and awards specifically for new students.
- Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided in the form of grants and loans, some of which require repayment.
To determine eligibility for financial assistance, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) early for maximum consideration. FAFSA is available online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.
For information on other scholarships and financial aid, visit the student financial services office online at https://www.slu.edu/financial-aid.
Active Military and Veterans and First Responders
Honorably discharged veterans, active-duty military members, reserve members and first responders qualify for a reduced tuition rate of $295 per credit hour for any undergraduate program offered through the School for Professional Studies.
- Graduates will be able to identify the political and non-political processes that make a difference in the civic life of our communities.
- Graduates will be able to analyze ideas, data and events to reach informed conclusions.
- Graduates will be able to explain how ethical perspectives apply in various social contexts.
- Graduates will be able to write in different styles, genres and modalities.
- Graduates will be able to integrate ideas and experiences across disciplines
Admission Requirements
- Completed application
- High school diploma or composite GED score of at least 2250
- Minimum transfer cumulative GPA of 2.5 (unless qualified for conditional admittance)
- Official transcript from the most recent institution attended
- Delayed enrollment in post-secondary education
- Attends part-time for at least part of the academic year
- Works full-time (35 hours or more/week) while enrolled
- Is financially independent
- Has dependents other than a spouse
- Is a single parent
- Has other demands that make traditional education less feasible
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Undergraduate Core | 32-35 | |
| Major Requirements | 42 | |
| Cultivating Intellectual Virtues for Lifelong Learning | ||
| How to Think Critically | ||
| Then and Now: Thinking Historically | ||
| Creative Thinking: Cultivating an Imaginative Mind | ||
| Interpreting Texts | ||
| Writing in a Digital Age | ||
| Engaging Difference in a Pluralistic World | ||
| Working for the Common Good | ||
| Fundamentals of Project Management | ||
| Data-Driven Decision Making | ||
| Foundations of Effective Leadership | ||
| Financial Concepts | ||
| Organizational Behavior and Team Effectiveness | ||
| Capstone | ||
| General Studies Capstone | ||
| Student Selects a Minor, Certificate, or Liberal Arts Focus | 18-24 | |
| General Electives | 17-26 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Continuation Standards
Students must maintain a 2.00 GPA and receive a C or better in all major classes.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| Fall 1 | ||
| CORE 1005 | Ignite First Year Seminar | 3 |
| CORE 1205 | Public Speaking in Org. Life | 3 |
| CORE 1505 | Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community | 1 |
| Fall 2 | ||
| CORE 1605 | The Big Questions in Theology | 3 |
| CORE 1905 | Eloquentia Perfecta 1: Written & Visual Communication | 3 |
| CORE 2500 | Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation | 0 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| Spring 1 | ||
| CORE 1705 | The Big Questions in Philosophy | 3 |
| ENGL 3885 | Writing Personal Narratives | 3 |
| Spring 2 | ||
| CORE 3405 | Reading in a Distracted Age | 3 |
| HSCI 3510 | Physiological Processes in the Human Body | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| Summer 1 | ||
| CIS 2300 | Data-Driven Decision Making | 3 |
| Summer 2 | ||
| CORE 3605 | Social Sciences in Context | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Fall 1 | ||
| CORE 3500 | Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World | 1 |
| CORE 4005 | Persons & Problems in the Contemporary World | 3 |
| CIS 2875 | Principles of Data Analysis | 3 |
| Fall 2 | ||
| HUM 2100 | Cultivating Intellectual Virtues for Lifelong Learning | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| Spring 1 | ||
| HUM 2150 | How to Think Critically | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Spring 2 | ||
| HUM 3300 | Then and Now: Thinking Historically | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| Summer 1 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Summer 2 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| Fall 1 | ||
| HUM 3400 | Creative Thinking: Cultivating an Imaginative Mind | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Fall 2 | ||
| HUM 3450 | Interpreting Texts | 3 |
| ORLD 1000 | Foundations of Effective Leadership | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Spring 1 | ||
| HUM 3500 | Writing in a Digital Age | 3 |
| PMGT 1010 | Fundamentals of Project Management | 3 |
| Spring 2 | ||
| ORLD 2500 | Financial Concepts | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| Summer 1 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Summer 2 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| Fall 1 | ||
| ORLD 3300 | Organizational Behavior and Team Effectiveness | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | |
| Fall 2 | ||
| HUM 4100 | Engaging Difference in a Pluralistic World | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Spring 1 | ||
| HUM 4200 | Working for the Common Good | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | |
| Spring 2 | ||
| HUM 4800 | General Studies Capstone | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| Summer 1 | ||
| Minor | 3 | |
| Summer 2 | ||
| General Elective | 1 | |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |