Undergraduate Studies
The Office of Undergraduate Studies (OUS) is committed to working synergistically with the University’s eight colleges and school to ensure an integrated academic experience for all undergraduate students at Prairie View A&M University. Through working with the academic departments, the OUS encourages the use of innovative instructional methods for all disciplines with an emphasis on rigor, relevance and responsiveness to the academic and professional needs of the PVAMU undergraduate. We provide opportunities for students to participate in experiential learning opportunities that are an essential component of the undergraduate learning experience, through High Impact Practices i.e. research, internships, and service learning.
As a component of the academic leadership team of the Office of Academic Affairs, the OUS is committed to serving the University in achieving its mission by working to:
- Assist students as they transition to PVAMU from high school or other educational institutions, identify a major, complete their Core Curriculum, participate in HIPs/Career Exploration and complete the requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree;
- Ensure high quality undergraduate degree and certification programs that are rigorous and current;
- Establish new degree programs and reviewing existing programs for quality and coherence through the Undergraduate Council and in collaboration with colleges and departments; and
- Provide administrative oversite and support for the Bachelor of General Studies Degree Program, the Core Curriculum, Assessment and Evaluation, Academic Advising, Undergraduate Policies and Procedures, the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), Open Educational Resources (OER) initiatives, Undergraduate Research and other HIPs initiatives.
College Academic Requirements
The BA and BS in General Studies falls under the requirements of the Brailsford College of Arts and Science. Students pursuing an undergraduate degree in the Brailsford College of Arts and Science may satisfy the language requirement through course work or examination. Credit by examination may be by Advanced Placement (AP) or College Level Examination Program (CLEP).
Major and Minor Requirements
The General Studies degree is a customized set of study that allows the student to pursue an academic program that fits their educational, professional, and career goals. Through individualized advising, the program helps students define their educational goals and design multidisciplinary curricula drawing on a variety of course offerings.
The purpose of the degree program is (1) to provide flexibility to students with broad interests, (2) to offer an option to those with new interests or those changing their majors late in their academic careers, and (3) to maximize opportunities for individuals to pursue graduate studies and advance their careers.
Students must earn a minimum grade of a “C” in all classes taken in their major disciplines and a minimum grade of a “C” in all classes taken in their minor disciplines (if applicable). A 2.00 grade point average is required before the student is approved for graduation. Transfer credits toward the major must be approved by the program coordinator and Dean of Undergraduate Studies.
Minimum Total Credit Hours for Graduation
Students must complete a minimum of 120 semester credit hours with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in the major field of study in order to earn a bachelor’s degree. Students must review the requirements for each degree program outlined in the catalog.
Degree Program Requirements
Core Curriculum 1 | 42 | |
Foreign Language Requirements (one language) | 6 | |
Language and Communications Requirements | 3 | |
Technical Writing | ||
or ENGL 2143 | Advanced Composition | |
Major Requirements 2 | 9 | |
Multidisciplinary Studies | ||
Diversity & Global Learning | ||
Multidisciplinary Capstone | ||
Prescribed Electives 3 | 42 | |
Concentration I (21 Hours) | ||
Concentration II (21 Hours) | ||
Unrestricted Electives | 18 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
1 | MATH REQUIREMENT: BA in GNST requires MATH 1103 or MATH 1113. BS in GNST requires MATH 1113; additionally, one advanced level (3-4 SCH) mathematics course above MATH 1113 is advised to meet prerequisites in STEM concentrations. |
2 | Major requires 9 SCH |
3 | CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENT: Consult with your academic advisor. 9 SCH in each 21 SCH concentration must be upper division with the same course prefix unless approved by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies |