Program overview
The Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree is one of the most popular programs at Athabasca University. Unlike the other degrees offered by Athabasca University, the BGS does not have a residency requirement, and courses that make up the degree requirements may be completed at institutions other than Athabasca University.
The Bachelor of General Studies is a multidisciplinary degree program that provides a framework of individualized study within an Arts and Science or Applied Studies designation that offers you the freedom to choose courses to meet your specific goals. While 45 credits must be in your chosen focus area, you can select a wide variety of courses to design a curriculum and program outcomes that meets your specific needs.
Through your chosen program of studies, you will be supported to develop scholarly research and writing skills, learn how to integrate evidence and insights from several disciplinary areas, and achieve the learning outcomes that are meaningful for your desired education.
Because there are so many potential options, we provide help to make sure the BGS meets your career or personal needs. Our counsellors are available to assist you to define your educational, professional, and career goals. Our academic advisors are available to discuss your program plan.
Routes and options
There are two designations available: Arts and Science and Applied Studies. Your degree program must be comprised of at least 45 credits in your chosen designation.
Arts and Science Designation
Arts includes courses in the humanities and social science areas of study.
Science includes the natural sciences such as biology, chemistry and physics as well as computer science, information systems and management systems.
Applied Studies Designation
Applied studies includes courses in business and administrative studies.
Students in this route may receive transfer credit for courses in education, engineering, and physical education, as well as other coursework completed at recognized post-secondary institutions.
Admission requirements
There are no formal admission requirements for this program. If you are 16 or older, you are eligible to enroll in the BGS. You can enrol anytime and start right away, regardless of your previous education.
How to apply
You can apply to AU online, anytime. Once you’ve completed the online application form and paid the one-time general application fee (and transfer credit evaluation fee, if applicable), you’re officially an AU student and can start registering in courses.
Submit your transcripts if you want us to consider your previous post-secondary education for transfer credit.
Transfer and advanced credit
If you have previous post-secondary education you may be eligible for transfer credit. If you have learning drawn from life and work experience that relates to this program you may wish to consider Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). These process could result in your having fewer courses to complete en route to your AU degree.
Program requirements
To complete the program you will need to fulfil all the general requirements of the Bachelor of General Studies, with the necessary number of credits for your chosen designation.
Our program plans can give you an idea of what courses you need to finish this program, and how to plan the order you’ll take them in. If you’re feeling stuck, our academic advisors can help.
Required courses
Detailed information about courses in this program can be accessed using the following links:
Tuition and fees
Once you have paid the initial application fee, tuition is pay-as-you-go for each course registration. Course fees vary depending on your location and other factors.
Calculate your course cost You can estimate your total program cost by multiplying the cost of a 3-credit course by the number of courses you need to take for the program. Remember that tuition costs may increase each year.
Program learning outcomes
Graduates from the Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) program will demonstrate the ability to:
- Integrate foundational knowledge, skills and attitudes from the required humanities, sciences and social sciences courses.
- Critically examine the theoretical basis of several disciplines which comprise a particular area of interest beyond the core curriculum.
- Develop appropriate conclusions based on qualitative and quantitative analysis of data drawn from disciplinary and interdisciplinary sources, while recognizing the limits of these analytics.
- Adopt the mechanisms and processes of critical thinking consciously and systematically to integrate and synthesize diverse ideas and knowledge from multiple sources.
- Express beliefs, concepts, propositions, arguments, and conclusions that are well-informed by evidence.
- Present ideas in coherent, concise, and technically correct forms that follow rules of academic integrity.
- Evaluate the quality and relevance of evidence on the basis of its source and methods used to generate it.
- Apply knowledge and information synthesized from general and specialized studies to personal, academic, service learning, professional, and/or community activities.
Possible career options
- administrator
- advertising
- conflict mediation and resolution
- consumer advocate
- counsellor
- creative
- customer care and support
- educator
- employment services
- English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor
- human resources
- human services
- marketing
- media work
- government worker
- pastoral care
- researcher
- recreation
- retail
- sales
- settlement work
- self-employment
- support worker
- trades
- volunteer
Continuing education
At Athabasca University:
At other educational institutions*
- Education, bachelor or master degree
- journalism
- law
- library science
- social work
- teaching English as a second language (TESL)
* Entrance requirements vary among educational institutions. It is the students’ responsibility to research the entrance requirements of other educational institutions.