Program Overview

University Catalog

The Bachelor of University Studies (B.U.S.) degree is a baccalaureate degree program offered through the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and is advised through the Career and Advising Center. The B.U.S degree is designed to provide a unique, nontraditional and interdisciplinary program for students whose goals and objectives cannot be met via a traditionally established academic major or minor.

Degree Requirements

Degree Type: Bachelor of University Studies (B.U.S)

• Minimum Degree Credits to Graduation: 120
• The Bachelor of University Studies (B.U.S.) degree is a baccalaureate degree program offered through the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and is advised through the Career and Advising Center.
• The B.U.S degree is designed to provide a unique, nontraditional and interdisciplinary program for students whose goals and objectives cannot be met via a traditionally established academic major or minor.

Degree Plan Proposal

• Students seeking the B.U.S. degree will begin by working with an advisor to create the Bachelor of University Studies proposal, which includes a statement of goals, a summary of previous education and experience, and a proposed plan of study (i.e., remaining coursework) for the degree.
• After both have signed the proposal, it is forwarded to the Bachelor of University Studies Program Review Committee for approval.
• If the proposal is approved by the committee, it becomes the student's requirements for graduation.
• Each plan of study must meet the general education requirements (including the Capstone Experience, Cultural Diversity and Global Perspectives categories) and the graduation requirements of the university.
• The B.U.S. degree does not allow a designated major, instead a student will create an area or areas of emphasis that will help him or her attain post-graduation goals.
• Each area of emphasis must include a minimum of 12 credits of study with at least 6 of those credits being upper division credits.
• In addition to the emphasis area a student may choose to declare an academic minor that they feel will strengthen their plan of study.
• No fewer than 15 credits must be proposed (remain to be taken after approval) and included in the proposal.

University Degree Requirements

1. Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
2. Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework. Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
3. Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
4. A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
5. At least 30 credits must be NDSU resident credits. Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
6. At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
7. Students presenting transfer credit must meet the NDSU residence credits and the minimum upper level credit. Of the 30 credits earned in residence, a minimum of 15 semester credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 semester credits must be in the student's curricula for their declared major.

General Studies Option

Degree Type: Bachelor of University Studies (B.U.S)

• Sub-Plan: General Studies
• Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120
• The Bachelor of University Studies (B.U.S.) degree is a baccalaureate degree program offered through the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and is advised through the Career and Advising Center.
• Students who would like to pursue the Bachelor of University Studies: General Studies option, need to be eligible for and enrolled in the NDSU Degree Completion Program.
• Qualifications for this program are as follows:
  • Students who do not hold a prior Bachelor's degree
  • Students who have not been enrolled in an institution for a minimum of 2 years (24 consecutive months)
  • Students who have earned a minimum of 60 credits
  • Students who have a minimum 2.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average

University General Education Requirements

• Communication (C): 12 credits
  • ENGL 110: College Composition I
  • ENGL 120: College Composition II
  • COMM 110: Fundamentals of Public Speaking
  • Upper Division Writing
• Quantitative Reasoning (R): 3 credits
• Science and Technology (S): 10 credits
• Humanities and Fine Arts (A): 6 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (B): 6 credits
• Wellness (W): 2 credits
• Cultural Diversity (D):
• Global Perspectives (G):
• Total Credits: 39