Jun 16, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

General Studies (B.A.)

Location(s): Campus, Online


This program is not a matriculating program and is not intended for new SAU students. The program is designed for students who have been unable to complete an academic major at SAU for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to, personal issues, geographical changes, struggles in major courses, an employment change, job retention, or a promotion that requires a bachelor’s degree. Students must petition the Office of Registration and Records to transfer to this program. The petition is granted or denied by the Office of Registration and Records after an evaluation of the student’s academic record.

Choose one to three concentrations below.


Behavioral Science Concentration


  • PSY/SOC/SWK 6 credit hours any level, 9 upper-level credit hours Credit Hours: 15 ^

Business Concentration


  • ACC/BUS/ECN/FIN/MKT 6 credit hours any level, 9 upper-level credit hours Credit Hours: 15 ^

Criminal Justice Concentration


English/Literature Concentration


Family Life Education Concentration


  • FLE 6 credit hours any level, 9 upper-level credit hours Credit Hours: 15 ^

Fine Arts Concentration


  • ART/MUS 6 credit hours any level, 9 upper-level credit hours Credit Hours: 15 ^

Health and Human Performance Concentration


History/Political Science Concentration


  • HIS/POL 6 credit hours any level, 9 upper-level credit hours Credit Hours: 15 ^

Mathematics/Computer Science Concentration


  • CPS/MAT 6 credit hours any level, 9 upper-level credit hours Credit Hours: 15 ^

Natural Science Concentration


  • BIO/CHE/NSC/PHY 6 credit hours any level, 9 upper-level credit hours Credit Hours: 15 ^

Organizational Management/Management Concentration


  • ORM/MGT 6 credit hours any level, 9 upper-level credit hours Credit Hours: 15 ^

Bible/Ministry/Philosophy/Religion/Theology Concentration


  • CMI/PHI/REL/BIB/THE 6 credit hours any level, 9 upper-level credit hours Credit Hours: 6 ^

Concentration Credit Hours 15-45


General Education Courses for SAU Global


Community of Learners Core Courses


Liberal Arts Skills Courses


Liberal Arts Pathway Courses


(some of these requirements may be met with concentration courses)

General Education Credit Hours for SAU Global 41


General Education for Main Campus


Biblical Studies Courses


Liberal Arts Skills Courses


Liberal Arts Pathways Courses


(some of these requirements may be met with concentration courses)

General Education Credit Hours for Main Campus 51


Electives to complete 120 credit hours total


B.A. in General Studies Total Credit Hours 120


Symbol Key

^ Grade of “C” or better required.
* This course has a prerequisite.
# Possible waiver by exam.
+ Possible waiver with a specified number of transfer credits upon first-time admission.

Criteria for Consideration

Criteria for admission into this program is as follows:

  • A petition must be submitted to the registrar requesting to change from a matriculating SAU major.
  • Factors that may impede the student from completing the current matriculating degree program will be assessed before admitting students to this program. A petition is not a guarantee of approval.
  • Prior academic progress will be evaluated to determine the likelihood of students being able to finish the general studies program successfully within three semesters after the petition is submitted.

Petition for Alternative Concentration

Students may have previously completed a group of courses in a discipline not listed as a concentration option in the degree program. Students who wish to use that discipline as their concentration may petition the Office of Registration and Records. The department of the discipline must approve the concentration; therefore, a petition is not a guarantee of approval.

General Education Requirements

Students who are transferring into the general studies program from other SAU programs will be required to meet the General Education requirements for the SAU program from which they are transferring as reflected in a degree audit conducted by the Office of Registration and Records. Some General Education requirements may be met with concentration courses and will be identified in the degree audit.

SAU Global General Education Credit Hours

It is very likely that courses taken to meet the SAU Global General Education requirements are generally higher in credit hours than what is listed in the curriculum above, particularly in the Liberal Arts Pathway courses. If that is the case, those additional credit hours will be applied to electives.

Graduation and Program Requirements

  • Students must meet all graduation requirements for a bachelor’s degree.
  • Students must complete at least one concentration and can have up to three concentrations.
  • All of the concentrations require 15 credit hours with at least 5 courses in a given area. Nine of the 15 credits must be upper level.
  • Concentration cumulative GPA must be at least 2.2.
  • Students must complete at least 5 credit hours of courses at Spring Arbor University in the desired concentration/s.

Program Oversight

The general studies program is overseen by the Office of Registration and Records in consultation with academic departments. An academic advisor will be assigned by the registrar’s office to assist the student in completing the requirements.