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 also enhancing your broad-based interpersonal and leadership skills. The B.A. in general studies culminates in an integrative capstone course.
Curriculum Overview
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 offered by SLU online, you can begin working toward your degree at any time, making advanced education more accessible for working professionals.
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 gives students the opportunity to pursue graduate work in several different fields of study.
For many professional careers, a bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for even applying for a job or earning a promotion. The Bachelor of Arts in General Studies can help students fulfill that basic requirement. It demonstrates that students have the perseverance, thirst for knowledge and work ethic to complete a degree in several areas of academic inquiry.
Admission Requirements
The School for Professional Studies welcomes adult learners whose educational journey has been interrupted by life's circumstances. This includes individuals with at least one of the following characteristics:
- 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
- Financial independence, has dependents other than a spouse, is a single parent, or has other demands that make traditional education less feasible
Application Requirements
- Work Experience: At least three years or the equivalent. Work experience may include a full-time/part-time job, internship, volunteer work, or comparable experiences.
- Education: High school diploma or composite GED score of at least 2250.
- Coaching session: Successful completion of a meeting with an academic coach (this can be done virtually or on campus).
- Grade Point Average: Minimum transfer cumulative GPA of 2.5 (unless qualified for conditional admittance).
- Transcript: An official transcript from the most recent institution attended.
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 specially 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 http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
For information on other scholarships and financial aid, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.
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.
1. Graduates will be able to identify the political and non-political processes that make a difference in the civic life of our communities.
2. Graduates will be able to analyze ideas, data and events to reach informed conclusions.
3. Graduates will be able to explain how ethical perspectives apply in various social contexts.
4. Graduates will be able to write in different styles, genres and modalities.
5. Graduates will be able to integrate ideas and experiences across disciplines
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | 39 | |
| Major Requirements | 39 | |
| 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 | 3 | |
| General Studies Capstone | ||
| Student Selects a Minor, Certificate, or Liberal Arts Focus | 18-24 | |
| General Electives | 15-21 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Continuation Standards
Students must maintain a minimum 2.00 GPA.
SPS Core Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Communication and Technology | 9 | |
| Igniting Success: Jesuit Education and the Adult Learner | ||
| Public Speaking in Org. Life | ||
| Business and Professional Writing | ||
| Critical Thinking and Problem Solving | 6 | |
| Discrete Methods and Models | ||
or CIS 2850 | Principles of Data Analysis | |
| Intro to Phil: Self & Reality | ||
| Ethics, Values & Spirituality | 9 | |
| Theological Foundations | ||
| Ethics | ||
THEO/SPR | One additional THEO or SPR course | |
| Engaging the Human Experience | 15 | |
| Ethics of Writing | ||
| Engaging the Human Experience | ||
One Humanities course | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Twentieth Century Art | ||
| Intro to Literary Study | ||
| Introduction to Short Fiction | ||
| American Literary Traditions: Special Topics | ||
| Origins of the Modern World to 1500 | ||
| Origins of the Modern World, 1500 to Present | ||
| U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction: 1850-1877 | ||
| The Saint Louis Region | ||
| Intro to Phil: Self & Reality | ||
| Science and Religion | ||
| Spirituality: Work & Vocation | ||
| Spirituality, Peace & Justice | ||
| American Christianity | ||
| One Natural Science course | ||
| Introduction to Ecology and Evolution | ||
| Biology of Health and Disease | ||
| One Social Science course | ||
| Introduction to American Politics | ||
| General Psychology | ||
| Survey of Economics | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| One Diversity course | ||
| Workplace Ethics | ||
| Professional Communication Between Cultures | ||
| Applied Personality | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
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 | ||
| PST 1500 | Igniting Success: Jesuit Education and the Adult Learner | 3 |
| THEO 1005 | Theological Foundations | 3 |
| Fall 2 | ||
| CIS 2850 | Principles of Data Analysis | 3 |
| HUM 2000 | Ethics of Writing | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Spring 1 | ||
| CMMK 1210 | Public Speaking in Org. Life | 3 |
| ARTH 1005 | Approaching the Arts | 3 |
| Spring 2 | ||
| BIOL 1385 | Introduction to Ecology and Evolution | 3 |
| PHIL 1055 | Intro to Phil: Self & Reality | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| ENGL 4005 | Business and Professional Writing | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Fall 1 | ||
| PST 1900 | Survey of Economics | 3 |
| PHIL 2055 | Ethics | 3 |
| Fall 2 | ||
| SPR 3610 | Spirituality: Work & Vocation | 3 |
| HIST 3635 | The Saint Louis Region | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Spring 1 | ||
| HUM 2100 | Cultivating Intellectual Virtues for Lifelong Learning | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Spring 2 | ||
| HUM 2150 | How to Think Critically | 3 |
| ORLD 1000 | Foundations of Effective Leadership | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| General Electives | 3 | |
| Minor | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| Fall 1 | ||
| HUM 3300 | Then and Now: Thinking Historically | 3 |
| PMGT 1010 | Fundamentals of Project Management | 3 |
| Fall 2 | ||
| HUM 3400 | Creative Thinking: Cultivating an Imaginative Mind | 3 |
| ORLD 2500 | Financial Concepts | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Spring 1 | ||
| HUM 3450 | Interpreting Texts | 3 |
| CIS 2300 | Data-Driven Decision Making | 3 |
| Spring 2 | ||
| HUM 3500 | Writing in a Digital Age | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Minor | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| Fall 1 | ||
| HUM 4100 | Engaging Difference in a Pluralistic World | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | |
| Fall 2 | ||
| ORLD 3300 | Organizational Behavior and Team Effectiveness | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Spring 1 | ||
| HUM 4200 | Working for the Common Good | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | |
| Spring 2 | ||
| HUM 4960 | General Studies Capstone | 3 |
| General Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
For additional admission questions, please call 314-526-2825 or email sps@slu.edu.