Major in General Studies

Program Requirements

• 3 Texas State minors
• 2 General Studies courses
• Other core and degree requirements as stipulated by Texas State
• Complete 12 advanced hours in each minor, no substitutions from requirements
• 2.25 Texas State GPA for each minor, all minor courses and BGS courses must be a 'C' or higher
• Minimum of 120 degree hours

Career Opportunities

Majoring in General Studies offers a wide variety of employment options. Students challenge themselves to investigate, examine, and synthesize individual subject areas. This analysis provides skills that are attractive to potential employers. The General Studies courses will help students identify connections among their personal interests, three chosen minors, and career options.

BGS Advising Syllabus

The BGS Advising syllabus is an official document between the student and the BGS advisors. The BGS advisors will honor what is listed in the BGS advising syllabus and we expect for BGS students to do the same. Please refer to the syllabus before declaring the BGS major and as needed thereafter.

General Studies Core Courses

GNST 3350--Interdisciplinary Preparation
This course will include a variety of assignments designed to encourage self-analysis of career/intellectual interests, career planning, and selection of component minors and minor course selections for the BGS major. Students will also develop an interdisciplinary course plan incorporating three Texas State minors and/or an initial proposal for topic, format and audience of the Interdisciplinary Project to be completed in GNST 4350. Prerequisite: Declared BGS major, Instructor approval, minimum Texas State GPA of 2.0.

GNST 4350--Interdisciplinary Project (WI)
In this course, each student completes a project that incorporates all the disciplines from his or her individualized program. The project consists of research, literature reviews and information analysis, resulting in a written or media product. Prerequisite: GNST 3350, instructor approval, minimum Texas State GPA of 2.0.

Letter from our Alum:

Dr. Nelson and Ms. Chrans,

I just wanted to check in with you guys and let you know how everything is going since graduation. After walking on Saturday, I took a position as an Inside Sales Account Manager with an IT company in Austin. I was wonders ahead of the people around me in the hiring process. I have received an offer letter from every company I have interviewed with since graduation, and I have no doubt that my GNST courses are the reason why. Not only have they helped my interviewing skills, but made me more thorough and attentive to detail in my daily responsibilities at work. I just wanted to say thanks, and tell you guys the coursework was 110% relevant and important. Good luck with the present semester, and I hope to talk with you soon. 
Sincerely, 

Zach Watson

Minor Checksheets (For General Studies Majors ONLY)

^{For advising purposes only.   Not official unless confirmed by your University College advisor.}

Click here to the next page for 67 Texas State minor checksheets.

Excluded Minor Combinations:

Though the major is interdisciplinary and based on three minors as defined by the Texas State catalog, certain minor combinations may not be allowed if coursework is duplicative. A course may be counted toward more than one minor only if it is specifically required by those minors.

As of January 2010, several minor combinations were no longer allowed for new students declaring the General Studies major.

Students who declared before January 2010 will be "grandfathered" through the program with their current minors. If a current student changes or declares any of their minors after January 2010, the excluded minor combinations will be enforced, as may others that are determined to be duplicative.

General Studies Faculty/Staff

Dr. David Nelson, Associate Dean & Professor
University College
Office: Undergraduate Academic Center (UAC) 120, East Lobby
Phone: 512.245.2218
Fax: 512.245.8765
E-mail: dn04@txstate.edu

Ms. Lisa Chrans, M.A., Senior Lecturer
University College
Office: Undergraduate Academic Center (UAC) 120, East Lobby
Phone: 512.245.2218
Fax: 512.245.8765
E-mail: lc19@txstate.edu

Dr. Gary Springer, LPC
Adjunct Instructor
Office: JCK 115
Phone: 512.245.2792
E-mail: gs12@txstate.edu

For more information or to declare a General Studies major contact:

University College Advising Center
Office: Undergraduate Academic Center (UAC) 120, East Lobby
Phone: 512.245.2218
Fax: 512.245.8765
E-mail: ucadvising@txstate.edu

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