Our Bachelor Degree in General Studies program is specifically designed to meet the educational goals of adults. The Bachelor of Arts in General Studies serves the non-traditional student wishing to complete their Bachelor's degree with online programs and in our multiple locations throughout Illinois including: Harper Professional Center, Schaumburg (NEW Fall 2014) Parkland College, Champaign Triton College University Center, River Grove University Center of Lake County, Grayslake Visit our website for more information http://www.eiu.edu/bgs/ Follow us on Twitter @EIU_BGS Join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EIUBGS You are closer to your College Degree than you think! No commute required. Contact EIU BGS with questions and learn how you can get on your way to getting started with our Bachelor Degree Program: 800-446-8918 Email: bgsba@eiu.edu

1. Bachelor of Arts in GeneralBachelor of Arts in General
Studies Degree at EasternStudies Degree at Eastern
Illinois UniversityIllinois University
http://www.eiu.edu/bgshttp://www.eiu.edu/bgs

2. The BGS Program isThe BGS Program is
A unique non-traditional approach to a
baccalaureate degree
Designed for mature adults with significant life &
work experience, family, career or
community responsibilities who are unable to
return to college as a traditional student

3. Why should I consider thisWhy should I consider this
program?program?
QualityQuality
– EIU is a highly ranked 4-year public institutionEIU is a highly ranked 4-year public institution
AccessAccess
– Variety of delivery methods including online coursesVariety of delivery methods including online courses
FlexibilityFlexibility
– In how, when, where, how fast you complete your degreeIn how, when, where, how fast you complete your degree
SupportSupport
– A professional team committed to helping you achieve yourA professional team committed to helping you achieve your
dream of a degreedream of a degree
CostCost
– EIU is one of the best values in higher education in IllinoisEIU is one of the best values in higher education in Illinois

4. What are the degree requirements?What are the degree requirements?
To graduate you must have completed a total ofTo graduate you must have completed a total of
120 hours which include:120 hours which include:
– 40 hours of Jr/Sr level credit40 hours of Jr/Sr level credit
– 20 hours from EIU20 hours from EIU
– 12 hours Humanities/Fine Arts12 hours Humanities/Fine Arts
– 12 hours Social/Behavioral Sciences12 hours Social/Behavioral Sciences
– 12 hours Math/Scientific Awareness12 hours Math/Scientific Awareness
– 6 hours Communication (English/Speech)6 hours Communication (English/Speech)
– One course in Cultural DiversityOne course in Cultural Diversity
– BGS 2985 Adults in Transition, BGS 3002 CriticalBGS 2985 Adults in Transition, BGS 3002 Critical
Thinking and the Adult Learner and BGS 4001 Self-Thinking and the Adult Learner and BGS 4001 Self-
Directed LeadershipDirected Leadership

5. Will the Illinois ArticulationWill the Illinois Articulation
Initiative (IAI) be recognized?Initiative (IAI) be recognized?
Yes!Yes!
If you completed the I.A.I. requirement, asIf you completed the I.A.I. requirement, as
part of your associate’s degree, will bepart of your associate’s degree, will be
accepted as having met the BGS generalaccepted as having met the BGS general
education component.education component.

6. So you weren’t the greatest studentSo you weren’t the greatest student
the first time around….the first time around….
We will accept grades of “D” in transferWe will accept grades of “D” in transfer
and apply them toward meeting degreeand apply them toward meeting degree
requirements as long as your overallrequirements as long as your overall
grade point average is at least 2.0 fromgrade point average is at least 2.0 from
the institution where you earned the D(s);the institution where you earned the D(s);
however, once admitted, only grades ofhowever, once admitted, only grades of
“C” or above will be counted toward“C” or above will be counted toward
graduation.graduation.

7. Ways to earn creditWays to earn credit
Transfer from regionally accredited institutionsTransfer from regionally accredited institutions
MilitaryMilitary
CLEP, DANTES, Excelsior ExamsCLEP, DANTES, Excelsior Exams
EIU courses—online or face-to-faceEIU courses—online or face-to-face

8. Ways to earn credit continuedWays to earn credit continued
Assessment of Prior Learning (PLA) is credit for
college level knowledge achieved outside the
formal university classroom. This is done by
submitting a prior learning portfolio.
This might include:
Work related training
On-the-job experiences
American Council on Education (ACE) approved training

9. There is no limit to the numberThere is no limit to the number
of credits you can earn. Youof credits you can earn. You
are limited only by theare limited only by the
amount of knowledge youamount of knowledge you
have and the time you wishhave and the time you wish
to invest.to invest.
There is an online courseThere is an online course
designed to help you with thedesigned to help you with the
portfolio process.portfolio process.
How many credits can IHow many credits can I
earn through the portfolioearn through the portfolio
process?process?

10. Only if you want to!Only if you want to!
The Bachelor in General Studies isThe Bachelor in General Studies is
available completely online. Inavailable completely online. In
addition, EIU classes are availableaddition, EIU classes are available
at nights and on weekends at Tritonat nights and on weekends at Triton
College, Parkland College, HarperCollege, Parkland College, Harper
College and the University CenterCollege and the University Center
of Lake County.of Lake County.
Will I have to drive toWill I have to drive to
Charleston?Charleston?

11. All credits you have earnedAll credits you have earned
will be accepted and, wherewill be accepted and, where
appropriate, will be appliedappropriate, will be applied
towards graduationtowards graduation
requirements.requirements.
Remedial level classes willRemedial level classes will
not transfer.not transfer.
How many of my creditsHow many of my credits
can I transfer?can I transfer?

12. You can transfer up toYou can transfer up to
100 credits earned100 credits earned
from other institutions.from other institutions.
Up to 78 credits canUp to 78 credits can
be from thebe from the
community college.community college.

13. Absolutely!Absolutely!
Reviewed & approvedReviewed & approved
by the Higherby the Higher
LearningLearning
Commission.Commission.
Is this an accreditedIs this an accredited
program?program?

14. You will not have a major.You will not have a major.
The degree has a liberalThe degree has a liberal
arts approach where youarts approach where you
build a curriculum based onbuild a curriculum based on
your individual needs.your individual needs.
You can have two minorsYou can have two minors
documented on your officialdocumented on your official
transcript.transcript.
Curriculum

15. The real question isThe real question is
What do you want to do withWhat do you want to do with
your degree?your degree?
Our graduates can be found inOur graduates can be found in
all walks of life and in all kindsall walks of life and in all kinds
of careers.of careers.
What can I do with a B.A.
in General Studies?

16. Approximately 40% of ourApproximately 40% of our
graduates enroll in agraduates enroll in a
graduate program.graduate program.
BGS graduates work inBGS graduates work in
health care, hospitalityhealth care, hospitality
and travel, higherand travel, higher
education, law andeducation, law and
various other fields.various other fields.
After completion of thisAfter completion of this
degree, can I apply fordegree, can I apply for
graduate school?graduate school?

17. Depends on howDepends on how
many credits youmany credits you
already have & howalready have & how
many classes youmany classes you
take each semester.take each semester.
An academic advisorAn academic advisor
will assist you inwill assist you in
developing a plandeveloping a plan
towards graduation.towards graduation.
How long will it take meHow long will it take me
to finish my degree?to finish my degree?

18. The bottom line is,The bottom line is,
how long do you wanthow long do you want
it to take?it to take?
You are in control!You are in control!
How long will it take meHow long will it take me
to finish my degree?to finish my degree?

19. • You can completeYou can complete
your degree whereyour degree where
ever you go.ever you go.
• Currently we haveCurrently we have
students in manystudents in many
other states and inother states and in
several foreignseveral foreign
countries. Your tuitioncountries. Your tuition
will remain the samewill remain the same
if you relocate.if you relocate.
What happens if I amWhat happens if I am
transferred or move way?transferred or move way?

20. You never have toYou never have to
start over again,start over again,
you never loseyou never lose
your credits.your credits.

21. Fees include:Fees include:
- $30.00 University Application- $30.00 University Application
FeeFee
- $283.00 per credit hour tuition- $283.00 per credit hour tuition
- $44.00 per credit hour fee- $44.00 per credit hour fee
- $9.95 per credit hour Textbook- $9.95 per credit hour Textbook
Rental FeeRental Fee
No additional fees.No additional fees.
How much does itHow much does it
cost?cost?

22. Yes, if you qualify forYes, if you qualify for
financial aid, it will applyfinancial aid, it will apply
to your EIU tuition &to your EIU tuition &
fees.fees.
Will financial aid apply toWill financial aid apply to
this program?this program?

23. Will I have an advisor?Will I have an advisor?
Yes, your academic advisor will work
with your throughout your degree.

24. • We encourage our students to join ourWe encourage our students to join our
listserv to receive news, notices of speciallistserv to receive news, notices of special
events, & scholarship applicationevents, & scholarship application
information as well as information aboutinformation as well as information about
schedules and new classes being offered.schedules and new classes being offered.
• We also have an EIU/BGS Facebook pageWe also have an EIU/BGS Facebook page
and LinkedIn group.and LinkedIn group.
How can I stay in touch?

25. For further informationFor further information
Visit us at http://www.eiu.edu/bgsVisit us at http://www.eiu.edu/bgs
Call us at 217-581-5618Call us at 217-581-5618
Email us at bgsba@eiu.eduEmail us at bgsba@eiu.edu