University General Education Requirements
*Note: Admission to the program has been suspended for new students, effective Fall 2021.
Chairperson: Brenda Eatman Aghahowa
The General Studies major at Chicago State University is an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree program that students can tailor to personal and professional interests and experiences. It offers the equivalent of a double minor, tied together with a General Studies Orientation course and a culminating General Studies Capstone course. Students may receive up to 18 credit hours of academic credit for previously acquired experiential learning. Class times and days vary depending on a student’s chosen fields of study.
The General Studies degree offers versatility in the range of courses across a variety of disciplines, with some structure added to ensure fundamental ideas are included in the program. This degree is often useful for someone who has completed some college coursework but has not yet earned a degree, and may be working in a field where a degree would offer professional advancement.
Program Requirements
Admission to the General Studies Bachelor of Arts Degree
To be admitted to the General Studies degree program, a student must be 24 years of age or older. Students must meet academic requirements per the criteria below:
- Students with 24 (or more) semester hours of collegiate level work* must:
- Provide official, sealed transcripts from each university attended.
- Document a cumulative grade point average (GPA) above 2.0.
- Students with fewer than 24 semester hours of collegiate work* must do the following:
- Provide official, sealed transcripts from each university attended (if prior coursework exists).
- Complete CSU’s English and Reading proficiency examinations.
- Complete CSU’s General Studies prospective student interview.
*Collegiate level work is defined as 100/1000-level courses (or higher) from a regionally accredited college or university.
New students, 24 years of age or older, who do not have an ACT/SAT score, will be interviewed by the department prior to being recommended for admission.
Those enrolled in the program should also be aware of the following:
- Effective Spring 2002, for both entering and returning students, only grades earned at CSU will be calculated in computing the student’s grade point average.
- All credits earned with grades of A, B, C, Pass, or Credit as applicable are accepted toward the degree.
- No grades of D are accepted in transfer.
- Effective Fall 2007, for all new and returning students, no graduation credit is given for a grade of D.
- The stipulated Residency requirement is that 24 semester hours of coursework must be successfully completed at CSU.
- A minimum grade point average of C (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) must be achieved for graduation.
- Prior to graduation, students must successfully complete English, reading, and other examinations required by the University.
All General Studies students must complete 120 semester hours of work. These include 36 hours in general education. (See the University’s official list of Gen Ed requirements .) GS majors also must complete 6 credit hours of General Studies Orientation and Capstone Seminars.
Students also must successfully complete 36 hours in two General Studies Enhanced Minors from the approved list. At least 12 credit hours in each of the two minors must be at the 4000 level.
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