Mar 29, 2024  
2021-22 UMM Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-22 UMM Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Bachelor of College Studies


OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

Required Course for fulfilling Capstone Experience and Writing Intensive in Major: BCS 460 or other equivalent courses

Residency requirement: Must complete at least 30 credits through UMM, at least 12 of which must be in their major and 9 of these 12 must be upper level (300 level or above). 


The Bachelor of College Studies (BCS) program meets the individualized needs of students who have a strong desire to finish their Bachelor’s degree, have earned at least 45 hours of college credit, and developed a clear and compelling set of program goals and learning objectives that can be achieved and supported by UMM courses and faculty.  The general education and program requirements are broad and flexible enough to give many students the fastest and most affordable route to completing their degree.  BCS students may take on-line and/or onsite classes, or a combination of the two.

Working closely with the BCS coordinator and an advisor appropriate to their concentration area, students must develop a Plan of Study that includes overall program objectives, student learning outcomes for the Self-Designed concentration, all course work to be completed in all areas of the program, and the planned capstone experience (i.e. BCS 460 or other equivalent). Once approved, the Plan sets the curriculum for the individualized program.

General Requirements


Students must earn a minimum of 120 credits and achieve a GPA of at least 2.00 to graduate. Forty credits must be at or above the 200 level. While they are not required to meet all University Core requirements, students must take the general education courses listed below.   A single course can only be used to fulfill one requirement in general education and self-designed concentration.

General Education Requirements - 37-40 cr


I. Communication Skills - 6 cr


II. Artistic & Creative Expression - 3 cr


Complete 3 credits from one of the following subject areas:

  • Art
  • Creative Writing
  • Dance
  • Interdisciplinary Fine Arts
  • Music
  • Theatre

III. Cultural Environments - 6 cr


Complete one course from each of two different areas listed below, for a total of 6 credits:

  • Art
  • English
  • Foreign Language
  • History
  • Humanities
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Theatre
  • Writing

V. Social Contexts & Institutions- 9 cr


Select one course from each of two different areas listed below, for a total of 9 credits.

Environmental Liberal Arts


Behavioral Sciences


Any course in:

  • Psychology (PSY)

Social Sciences


Any UMM course from one of the following areas:

  • Anthropology (ANT)
  • Sociology (SOC)
  • Social Sciences (SSC)
  • Women’s Studies (WST)

For transfer courses in area or group studies, a syllabus, course description and/or reading list may be requested to show relevance to social sciences.

Political & Economic Studies


Any course from one of the following areas:

  • Economics (ECO)
  • Political Science (POS)

Business Studies


Any course from one of the following areas:

  • Business (BUS)
  • Management (MAN)
  • Marketing (MAR)

Ethics & Philosophy


Any course in:

  • Philosophy (PHI)

      or 

Any course that meets the Core Requirement for Ethics 

VI. Quantitative Literacy - 3-6 cr


VII. Scientific Inquiry - 4 cr


Any four credit lab science. 

VIII. Personal Wellness - 3 cr


Self-Designed Concentration


Students in consultation with their academic advisor will draw up a plan for a concentration, including the name of the concentration, the goals, the learning outcomes, and the specific courses that the student will use to complete the concentration.  The concentration and plan of study will be unique to each student.  The concentration must be in an area of study that can be supported by UMM faculty and UMM courses, especially courses at or above the 300-level.  The concentration may not duplicate, or be used to circumvent degree requirements of any degree program at UMM.  The proposed Plan of Study must be approved by the academic advisor, the BCS Coordinator, the BCS Advisory Committee and the VPAA.

A minimum of 39 credits is required in each self-designed concentration.  All course work should focus on the goals and objectives of the proposed concentration.  This may include independent studies, CLEP, Portfolio Assessment, etc.  A minimum of 12 credit hours in the concentration must be UMM course work.  A minimum of 15 hours must be taken at the 300-level or above; of these 15 hours, a minimum of 9 hours must be UMM course work.  The concentration must include a culminating integrative experience that clearly demonstrates the linkage between the concentration objectives and the student’s academic work.  This may be accomplished through completion of BCS 460 - Senior Project/Capstone Experience   or another appropriate senior seminar or capstone course.  The concentration must also include at least one course which meets the Advanced Level Writing requirement of the University Core.  Students must have a 2.0 GPA in the self-designed concentration to qualify for graduation.

All UMM residency requirements apply to BCS students, including a minimum of 30 credits of UMM coursework.

Note:  If a student transfers from the Bachelor of College Studies program to any of the other baccalaureate degree programs, University Core requirements and the appropriate program requirements must be completed.