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2010-2011 Calendar | General Studies |
Bachelor of General Studies Program
Bachelor of General Studies Program | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
91ÅÝܽ Calendar 2010-2011
This non-specialist bachelor of general studies (BGS) degree program, administered within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, is designed for students whose educational goals are not met by other, more structured, undergraduate degree programs.
Students may complete one or more minors or extended minors (but no major), in any academic area(s) as part of the BGS degree. Students considering this program are strongly urged to consult the faculty advisor before declaring the BGS as their degree.
Beginning in the fall 2010 term, to be awarded a bachelor of general studies degree from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, students must be a Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences student. Students interested in this option are required to meet with a faculty advisor in Arts Central (located AQ 3020) and will be required to complete an application form to seek formal approval from the associate dean in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Students who have received admission to this program prior to the summer 2010 term should consult the Calendar that was in effect at the time of admission for program requirements.
Program Declaration
Prior to or upon enrolling for the term in which the 61st unit is completed, students in the bachelor of general studies program must formally declare and be accepted into a major program, a joint major program, two extended minor programs, an extended minor and a minor program, or two minor programs, and may apply for an honours program, subject to the regulations below. Program declaration establishes the exact major, extended minor, minor and honors requirements for graduation as they appear in the Calendar in effect at the time of declaration. Students are urged to keep a copy of this Calendar, known as the graduating Calendar, for reference.
Program requirements may be changed any time prior to graduation. A new formal declaration must be approved by the new program department and the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences if a faculty change is involved. The Calendar then in effect becomes the new graduating Calendar, and the requirements it specifies for the program must be fulfilled.
Course Duplication
University regulations governing the duplication of courses are rigorously applied in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. No more than five course duplications will be allowed.
Graduation GPA Requirements
Grade point averages (GPAs) used for graduation are the minimum GPAs that must be achieved to satisfy the requirements for a degree or other credential. The graduation GPA must be obtained both on the overall course work (CGPA) as well as on the upper division subset of that work (UDGPA).
In addition, program GPAs are the required minimum to satisfy the requirements of an honours, major, extended minor or minor program. In each case, the program GPA must be obtained both on the overall course work (CGPA) as well as on the upper division subset of that work (UDGPA) in the program area.
The graduation and program GPAs specified are University minimum requirements; individual faculties and departments may, with senate approval, have higher requirements.
In the event of repeated courses, only the higher grade is used in these GPA calculations.
Individual departments may have additional GPA requirements for graduation. Please check individual department Calendar listings for further information.
Please note that the minimum GPA requirements for graduation differed during the following time periods: September 1965 to August 1991; September 1991 to August 2003. Please consult the appropriate Calendar(s)* for information about GPA requirements during these time periods.
*Calendar in effect at the time of entry to 91ÅÝܽ and the Calendar that was in effect at the time of approval to credential and/or program.
For further information, see Grade Point Averages Needed for Graduation.
Program Requirements
Students complete a minimum of 120 units, including
- at least 60 units completed at 91ÅÝܽ
- at least 45 upper division units, including at least 30 upper division units completed at Simonn Farser University
- at least 65 uits in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
- at least 21 upper division units completed in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses, including at least 12 completed at 91ÅÝܽ
- satisfaction of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences writing, quantitative and breadth requirements (see below)
- an overall cuulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division CGPA of at least 2.0 and, if applicable, a program (extended minor, minor) CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 2.0
With the exception of co-op courses, FAL X99 and FAN X99, EDUC 401, 402, 405 and 406, courses completed from any faculty may be used to satisfy the degree requirements, but admission to courses is subject to the prerequisite requirements of the various departments.
Integrated Studies Program
Integrated studies programs within the bachelor of general studies degree are highly structured cohort-based programs that meet the educational needs of specific student groups. Such programs integrate liberal studies with knowledge and skills associated with a particular field of practice, or with a background common to its students. Students may undertake this degree option only through special admission to an individual program. Integrated studies programs are designed and structured in consultation with external agencies or employers and may have special locations, admission requirements and fee structures.
Because these programs may require and build upon varying levels of previous post-secondary education, related employment experience, and demonstrated intellectual maturity, the required number of units may be less than the normal 120 units. All such programs will require a minimum of 60 units in designated 91ÅÝܽ courses offered within the program, to include at least 45 upper division units.
Each integrated studies program will be governed by an academic steering committee. The curriculum, including both designated courses and total units, admission criteria, and any other special conditions for each individual integrated studies program will be approved in advance by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences curriculum committee.
Information is available at and from the director of the Integrated Studies Program, Continuing Studies, at 91ÅÝܽ Vancouver.
Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements
Students admitted to 91ÅÝܽ beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.
| WQB Graduation Requirements A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit. |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Requirement | Units |
Notes | |
| W - Writing | 6 |
Must include at least one upper division course, taken at 91ÅÝܽ within the student’s major subject | |
| Q - Quantitative | 6 |
Q courses may be lower or upper division | |
| B - Breadth | 18 |
Designated Breadth | Must be outside the student’s major subject, and may be lower or upper division 6 units Social Sciences: B-Soc 6 units Humanities: B-Hum 6 units Sciences: B-Sci |
6 |
Additional Breadth | 6 units outside the student’s major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements) | |
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences students who are pursuing a bachelor of arts degree must complete 12 additional breadth units rather than the normal University regulation of six. Additional breadth units must be from outside the student's major and may be B-designated (B-Hum, B-Soc, B-Sci courses). Students choosing to complete the BA degree with a joint major, joint honors, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.
Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit
The University’s residency requirement stipulates that, in most cases, total transfer and course challenge credit may not exceed 60 units, and may not include more than 15 units as upper division work.
Students admitted into the BGS in the fall of 2009 or later may use up to 60 units of transfer credit towards their 91ÅÝܽ degree. Students must complete a minimum of 60 units at 91ÅÝܽ, including at least 30 upper division 91ÅÝܽ units.
Students admitted into the BGS prior to the fall of 2009 may receive up to 90 units of transfer credit, according to the Calendar in effect at the time of declaration.