Advising Guide for BS in General Studies (GS)
(Note: If you need this document in another format, please contact Todd Campbell at todd.campbell@ung.edu or 706-864-1435.)
1.
Familiarize yourself with the GS degree a.
What year did you start at North Georgia? There are different plans of study. Area A through E requirements are different depending on the year you started school. Make sure the plan of study you download corresponds to the year/semester you started at
North Georgia. If you started before 2007, you can use the 2007 Plan of Study to document your classes, but you will need to use the Undergraduate Catalog from the year you began school to determine your Area A through E requirements. b.
Bring a copy of your plan of study to every meeting with the GS Director. c.
Bring a copy of your most current transcript to every meeting with the GS Director d.
Determine your three focus groups on your own or with guidance from the GS Director e.
Make a selection of future classes before you meet with your advisor
2.
Take advantage of all opportunities to help you graduate on time a.
Consider taking test to earn college credit (CLEP exam or Dante’s Test). Consult the
Testing Office: http://www.ung.edu/testing/clep http://www.ung.edu/testing/dsst b.
Make those AP credits count! c.
Sign up for transient status in your local college during the summer d.
For a list of transfer equivalency credits go to the following link http://ung.edu/registrar/transfer-information.php
e.
Plan on taking summer classes when needed
3.
If you have earned less than 40 credit hours , you MUST meet with your advisor, usually the
GS Director a.
Make an appointment with the GS Director before pre-registration opens b.
Bring a copy of your most current transcript and Plan of Study to the meeting c.
Bring any questions you have about the GS program, degree, or future career opportunities
4.
If you are a student with 90 hours or more , you will need a Plan of Study on file to register a.
Email the GS Director requesting the Plan of Study at least 48 hours in advance b.
Sign up for an appointment with the GS Director to pick up your Plan of Study c.
Sign your Plan of Study and deliver it to the Registrar’s Office prior to the opening day of registration
5.
If you are a commissioning cadet , you must plan with extra detail a.
Starting in the Fall 2009, Professional Military Education (PME) requirements include a written communication skills requirement not covered anywhere else in the plan of study. You should review the courses that meet this requirement.
Updated Feb. 5, 2016 by Todd Campbell

b.
If you need to submit a 104-R Form, you need to allow at least 48 hours for the GS
Director to produce it – make an appointment to request the 104-R Form or email the GS
Director requesting the form
6.
Any emails sent to the GS Director must include your name, student ID number, and your focus groups. Additionally, if you have a minor, you should always indicate that in correspondence with the GS Director.
7.
You must complete your AREA A course work within your first 30 credit hours of enrollment a.
You need a letter grade of C or better in all three courses b.
If you don’t fulfill this requirement, you will not be able to (pre)register due to academic holds in your Banner account
8.
AREA F can be fulfilled with any 1000/2000 level courses. These courses should be prerequisites for any courses you plan to take in your focus groups. a.
Remember that the GS Director cannot waive prerequisites in other departments or for any courses. b.
Departments are not required to allow you into their courses if you don’t meet their departmental requirements or if you don’t have the course prerequisites. c.
It is the student’s responsibility to investigate prerequisites for courses and to take the required courses before attempting to register for 3000/4000 level focus group courses.
9.
You are required to take 15 credit hours in each focus group a.
At least 6 hours from each focus group must be completed at UNG b.
You cannot have more than nine hours of “D” credit in the major (across all three focus groups) c.
You must have at least a 2.0 in each focus group and as a cumulative grade point average in order to graduate d.
You must choose three focus groups in total
10.
If you plan to use Preprofessional Programs as a focus group, you must do the following: a.
Change your major to the program you are interested in (i.e., nursing, physical education, etc). b.
Apply to their program and be accepted as a major in their program c.
Take the prerequisite courses and at least 15 hours of 3000/4000 level courses in their program d.
Change your major to GS after completing the 15 hours required for the focus group
11.
Look ahead at course offerings for future semesters a.
Some classes are only offered once a year or every other year b.
Keep in mind that it is not always possible or beneficial to take all of your courses on a
“two day” or “three day” a week schedule. Students who attempt to do this find that they have multiple exams on the same day throughout the semester. Instructors are not required to make accommodations for students having multiple exams on the same day during the semester.
Updated Feb. 5, 2016 by Todd Campbell

c.
It is your responsibility to plan ahead and ensure the timely completion of your degree requirements
12.
The GS degree does NOT require a minor a.
If you choose to pursue a minor degree, it is very likely that your decision will result in additional classes and thus extend your expected graduation date b.
The GS Director does not recommend a minor since many of the courses that would count toward a minor could be used to fulfill the focus group requirements
13.
The GS Director does not build your schedule for you; he suggests courses for you to consider based on the above guidelines and the Plan of Study.
14.
Discuss future career options with the GS Director or visit Career Services at 333 Stewart
Center for more information.
Updated Feb. 5, 2016 by Todd Campbell

PLAN OF STUDY FOR B.S. DEGREE IN GENERAL STUDIES--Fall 2014
NAME:______________________ ID#:__900______
ADVISOR:__Richard “Todd” Campbell___________________ CATALOG:_Fall 14-______
ANTICIPATED GRADUATE DATE (SEMESTER/YEAR): ______/______
COURSE SEM
AREA A: Essential Skills - 9 Hours
HRS GRADE COURSE SEM HRS GRADE
AREA F: Courses Appropriate to Major - 18 Hours
A1:ENGL 1101
A1:ENGL 1102
3
3
A2:MATH 1111 3*
AREA B: Institutional Options – 7 Hours
Modern Lang. 4
1-2000 level courses
3
3
3
3
3
3
Global
AREA C: Humanities/Fine Arts/Ethics – 6 Hours
ENGL 21--
FineArtsAppr.
AREA D: Science/Math/Technology - 11 Hours
Science w/Lab
Science w/Lab
MATH
AREA E: Social Sciences - 9 Hours
3
2?
3
3
3/1
3/1
3*
U.S. & Georgia History/Constitution
: HIST 2111, 2112; POLS 1101
Behavioral Sciences :
3
ANTH 1102, ECON 2105, PSYC 1101, SOCI 1101
3
Social Science:
GEOG 1101 or 1102; HIST 1111, 1112, 2111, or 2112; POLS 1101, 2301, or 2401
3
Basic Military Science - 12 Hours
Major Area 48 hours
Focus Group 1
Focus Group 2
Focus Group 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
MILS 1000/1005
MILS 1100/1105
MILS 2000/2005
MILS 2100/2105
Advanced Military Science - 16 Hours
MILS 3000/3005
MILS 3100/3105
MILS 4000/4005
MILS 4100/4105
MILS 4300
2/1
2/1
2/1
2/1
3/1
3/1
3/1
3/1
3
LG1 – US Perspective: HIST 2111 or 2112 or POLS 1101:
LG2 – Global Perspective: POLS 2401 or HIST 1112:
LG3 – Critical Thinking: ENGL 1102 or BIOL 1107K:
3
3
3
3
3
IDST 4000 SP 3
Electives 12 hours minimum to reach 120 hours
3
3
3
3
U.S. & Georgia History & Constitution:
This is not a contract binding the University to offer a given course at any given time. Arrangements concerning the scheduling of courses will be made between the student and the advisor based on the information at hand. These arrangements will not be binding on the student or the University .
Student: ________________________/__/__/__ Advisor: _________________________/__/__/__
Department Head:_________________/__/__/__ Registrar:________________________/__/__/__
Minor Advisor:___________________/_/_/
Updated Feb. 5, 2016 by Todd Campbell

Core Curriculum Requirements 60 Hours
All baccalaureate programs at North Georgia have as a requirement the satisfactory completion of at least 60 semester credit hours comprising the six areas of the core curriculum. A complete description of Areas A-E of the core curriculum can be found in Core Curriculum section. Individual degree programs may specify exceptions and/or particular courses which must be taken within each Area A-E of the core curriculum.
Those exceptions and/or course requirements and Area F of the core curriculum are shown below.
Area A no exceptions
Area B no exceptions
Area C no exceptions
Area D no exceptions
Area E no exceptions.
Area F: Courses Related To The Area Of Study 18 hours
Students must complete 18 hours of 1000-2000 level coursework in support of their chosen focus groups.
Major Area
Focus Groups (45 hours)
Students must complete 15 hours of 3000-4000 level coursework in each of three different focus groups.
Students must maintain at 2.0 GPA in each focus group, a 2.0 overall university GPA, at least 6 hours of each focus group must be taken at North Georgia and no more than 9 hours of "D" grades can be used in meeting their major requirements.
Students may choose from the following list of focus groups:
1. Fine and Performing Arts: Art, Media Studies, Music and Theater
2. Natural Sciences: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Geography, Geology and Physics
3. Social Sciences: Criminal Justice, Human Services, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology
4. Business: Accounting, Business, Economics, Finance, Management and Marketing
5. Mission Related: International, Leadership, Military Science, Gender Studies, and Appalachian Studies
6. Humanities: Anthropology, Communication, English, History, Journalism, Modern Languages and
Philosophy
7. Mathematics/Computers: Mathematics and Computer Sciences
8. Pre-Professional Programs: Athletic Training, Nursing, Physical Education and Teacher Education
Capstone Course (3 hours) - Only offered during Spring semesters.
IDST 4000 Interdisciplinary Studies Senior Seminar (3 hours)
Electives (12 hours)
12 credit hours to bring the total number of credit hours to at least 120 hours.
Updated Feb. 5, 2016 by Todd Campbell