Students interested in pursuing a general studies degree should apply for admission to the School of Continuing Studies as follows:

1. All applicants must complete the application form included in the General Studies Degree Program bulletin or available from any General Studies Degree Program office.
2. Citizens of other countries, including those in the United States on immigration visas, must submit TOEFL scores and a 300- to 500-word handwritten essay. The essay is to be written on a topic of the student's choice and may include autobiographical information. Students who intend to pursue a general studies degree on an Indiana University campus must also submit the international application for admission.
3. Applicants who have not previously attended a college/university as a degree student must submit official copies of their high school transcripts or evidence of having earned a GED high school equivalency diploma. Applicants without a high school diploma or GED high school equivalency diploma should attach a letter explaining how their previous experience has prepared them to pursue a college degree.
4. Applicants who have previously attended a college/university must request the college/s or university/ies attended to forward official transcripts to the Indiana University office to which the application form is being sent.
5. Applicants who are veterans should submit a copy of the DD214 form. Certificates of completion from training programs and special schools should be enclosed with this form.
6. Applicants presently on active duty should request an official copy of their DD295 form from their education officer. Certificates of completion from training programs and special schools should be enclosed with this form.
7. Applicants who have completed educational programs/courses in noncollegiate organizations must request that official records of program/course completion be sent directly from the awarding organization. Applicants must also submit a complete description of the programs/courses, preferably a copy of program/course literature or an explanatory letter on the organization's letterhead stationery.
8. Applicants who have taken the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and/or the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Support (DANTES) exams should request that official transcripts of their exam scores be sent directly from the testing agency.
9. Applicants who have been placed on academic probation, dismissed, or denied readmission to a previously attended school must provide a letter explaining the circumstances and the reasons they believe they will now be successful.
10. Campus-based students should submit application materials to the appropriate office on the campus at which they will be admitted.
11. At-a-distance (non-campus-based) students should submit application materials to the university-wide office.

Application Fees

Applicants who have not previously attended Indiana University must pay a nonrefundable application fee at the time they submit their application. Application fees vary from campus to campus and are subject to change. Current fees for U.S. citizens/international students are as follows:

• University-wide (non-campus-based) $35/$50
• IU Bloomington $35/$40
• IUPUI (Indianapolis) $35/$50
• IUPUC (Columbus) $35/$50
• IU East (Richmond) $25/$40
• IU Kokomo $30/$40
• IU Northwest (Gary) $25/$35
• IPFW (Fort Wayne) $30/$30
• IU South Bend $35/$40
• IU Southeast (New Albany) $28/$40

Note: Course fees cannot be included with the General Studies Degree Program application fee. Independent study course fees and General Studies Degree Program application fees must be submitted separately.

Application and Admission Deadlines

Applicants intending to take regular session courses on campus must check with the campus at which they will enroll for the specific application deadline. There are no specific application deadlines for at-a-distance (non-campus-based) students.

The official date of a student's admission is the date the student is accepted into the General Studies Degree Program. This date does not necessarily coincide with the date the application was processed by the Indiana University Office of Admissions. Current course work of students whose admission has been approved on or prior to the campus pass/fail deadline will be considered course work taken after admission to the General Studies Degree Program.

General Requirements

Academic Guidance

A counselor provides guidance for each General Studies Degree Program candidate. Note: Although students are encouraged to seek the advice of a General Studies Degree Program counselor, students are responsible for planning their own programs and meeting the degree requirements for graduation.

Residency Requirements

There is no residency requirement for General Studies Degree Program students.

General Requirements for the A.A.G.S.*

1. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 60 credit hours to graduate.
2. No more than 15 credit hours-including credits earned on the basis of a SAC portfolio-in any one academic department may be applied toward the 60 required credit hours.
3. Students must successfully complete at least 15 of the 60 required credit hours at Indiana University or through the Independent Study Program. Earning credit through an academic department examination at Indiana University is equivalent to having completed that course at Indiana University. Credits earned by self-acquired competency, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), and College-Level Examination Programs (CLEP) may not be applied to this 15 credit hour requirement.
4. Students must complete at least 10 credit hours after admission to the General Studies Degree Program. This should be Indiana University course work. Credits earned by self-acquired competency, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), and College-Level Examination Programs (CLEP) may not be applied to this 10 credit hour requirement.
5. Students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all courses considered for the B.G.S. and on all courses completed after admission to the School of Continuing Studies. C- is the minimum grade accepted for any course completed to satisfy course distribution requirements.

General Requirements for the B.G.S.*

1. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to graduate.
2. Students must successfully complete at least 69 of the 120 required credit hours in the arts and sciences. No more than 21 of these 69 credit hours-including credits earned on the basis of a SAC portfolio-may be taken in a single arts and sciences department or subject area. In addition, no more than 30 of the 51 credit hours allowed outside the arts and sciences-including credits earned on the basis of a SAC portfolio-may be taken in any one school or technical program.
   
3. Students must successfully complete at least 30 of the 120 required credit hours at Indiana University or through the Independent Study Program. Earning credit through an academic department examination at Indiana University is equivalent to having completed that course at Indiana University. Credits earned by self-acquired competency, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), and College-Level Examination Programs (CLEP) may not be applied to this 30 credit hour requirement.
4. Students must complete at least 20 credit hours after admission to the General Studies Degree Program. This should be Indiana University course work. Credits earned by self-acquired competency, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), and College-Level Examination Programs (CLEP) may not be applied to this 20 credit hour requirement.
5. Students must successfully complete at least 30 of the 120 required credit hours at the 300 and 400 upper-division level.
6. Students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all courses considered for the B.G.S. and on all courses completed after admission to the School of Continuing Studies. C- is the minimum grade accepted for any course completed to satisfy course distribution requirements.
7. Students who pursue the B.G.S. after completing the A.A.G.S. must fulfill the B.G.S requirements in effect at the time of admission to the bachelor's program.
8. Students may not be awarded the A.A.G.S. and B.G.S. within the same academic year. Note: For example, academic year 1999 includes students graduating in December 1999, May 2000, June 2000, and August 2000.

Competency and Course Requirements

The fundamental skills competency and course distribution requirements for the A.A.G.S. and B.G.S. are summarized in this section. Students must also complete the general requirements for the A.A.G.S. or B.G.S.

Fundamental Skills Competency Requirements

For both the A.A.G.S. and B.G.S., students must meet fundamental skills competency requirements that demonstrate college-level competency in four areas: written communication, oral communication, quantitative reasoning, and computer literacy. Students may demonstrate competency by completing an appropriate college-level nonremedial course or its transfer equivalent in English composition/writing, speech/communication, quantitative reasoning, and computer science; or by exercising other options, including departmental, CLEP, or DANTES exams.

A course that fulfills one of the four competency requirements at any Indiana University campus fulfills that requirement for the General Studies Degree Program at any other Indiana University campus. Acceptable grades for courses meeting competency requirements must be consistent with the campus's requirements.

Many courses in the Independent Study Program are available to fulfill competency requirements. Note: Students should consult with their General Studies Degree Program counselor to determine which independent study courses fulfill competency requirements on their campus.