Bachelor of General Studies (BGEN) - BGenStud

QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Toowoomba campus: 909501; Distance education: 909505; Fraser Coast campus: 919501; Springfield campus: 929501

CRICOS code (International applicants): 030303C

Contact us

Students who wish to enrol in this program are strongly advised to contact the Program Coordinator before arranging their enrolment in their chosen majors.

Program focus

The Bachelor of General Studies has been created for students who want to profit from a wide choice of study areas. Such programs should appeal to those who have left school but who want to sample a range of university subjects before embarking on a more specialised degree program. The program offers substantial choice and flexibility, allowing entry to a wide range of career and study options, including transfer to other degree programs. Students study courses chosen from a mix of the following discipline categories: Humanities, Social Science, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Environment and Sustainability, Business/Commerce and General Engineering.

Career opportunities

A General Studies program can lead to any career enhanced by a tertiary qualification. It is designed to develop knowledge in a broad range of disciplines.

Program aims

The Bachelor of General Studies aims to:

• provide a qualification of high academic standard based on a structured selection of disciplines from across the University

• provide a qualification which meets the advanced educational needs of a variety of paraprofessional services

• provide a qualification that meets the entry requirements for admission to a range of appropriate and relevant postgraduate diploma programs

• produce graduates with a broad background of general studies who are able to function effectively in a variety of public and private sector work environments.

Admission requirements

Standard admission is by completion of Year 12, including at least a sound achievement (or equivalent) in English, at an OP level (or equivalent) comparable with that of other University of Southern Queensland programs. Some majors or disciplines may require further pre-requisites.

Non-standard admission is in accordance with University of Southern Queensland regulations, especially articulation from TAFE, or successful completion of three approved units of the Tertiary Preparation Program .

How to apply

Domestic students

Application for undergraduate programs may be made through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). The same procedure applies whether you plan to study on-campus or by distance education.

If you completed Year 12 at a Queensland secondary school you will be assessed for entry on the basis of your Overall Position (OP) or equivalent score. Year 12 students from other states or territories are considered for entry on the basis of their UAI, ENTER or TER and the subject prerequisites indicated. Other applicants will be based on their overall Rank.

International students

This program is offered to international students. An international student is a person who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen and not an Australian permanent resident. Please refer to USQ International for information about entry requirements, visa arrangements and how to apply.

Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of your higher education and you as a student pay a student contribution amount, which varies depending on the courses undertaken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.
Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called HECS-HELP.

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.
Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called FEE-HELP.

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

Program structure

The maximum time for completion of the program is nine years.

Students are required to complete 24 units as follows:

• All students must take the core course CMS1000 Communication and Scholarship or equivalent.

• Students must also take CSC1402 Foundation Computing, or CIS1000 Information System Concepts.

The following electives are acceptable for the third core course:

• ANT1000 World Archaeology: An Introduction

• ANT1001 Introductory Anthropology

• CMS1010 Introduction to Communication Studies

• CMS1013 Australian Television

• EDC2200 Indigenous Perspectives

• ENL1000 Introduction to Literature

• ENL1001 Australian Stories

• HIS1000 World Civilizations to 1500 CE

• HIS1001 Introduction to Australian History

• HIS1003 World History Since 1500AD

• IND1000 Indonesian 1A

• INR1000 International Relations in a Globalizing Era

• INR1001 Global Transitions and Human Security

• JRN1000 Introduction to Journalism

• LAC1001 Language Survival Skills

• MUS1031 Music History 1 (EXT only)

• MUS2087 Introduction to Popular Music

• PRL1002 Principles and Practice of Public Relations

• PRL1003 Reputation Management

• SOC1000 Approaches to the Social Sciences

• THE1001 Introduction to History and Theory of Drama 1

• VSA1000 Introduction to Art Theory

• at least six and not more than eight units chosen from a major/discipline in any category* with at least two units being at third year level**

• three units in a major/discipline selected from a second category*

• three units in a major/discipline selected from a third category*

• three units in a major/discipline selected from any categories* including a category previously selected

• four to six units of electives which may be selected from any major/discipline in any category* including categories/majors/disciplines previously selected.

To assist students with their enrolment, the following table is provided –

the following sites will also be of assistance when choosing disciplines:

• http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/current/arts/BGEN.html#programprogram.completion.reqs

• http://webapp.usq.edu.au/progsearch/

• http://www.usq.edu.au/studentadmin/forms.htm

Program completion requirements

For the purpose of these programs, majors/disciplines are grouped into five categories - Humanities; Social Sciences; Biological Sciences; Physical Sciences; and Business.

Students should indicate on their enrolment form which Major/Discipline is to be taken as their `first' discipline (six to eight units) or `second, third, fourth' discipline (three to five units). At the relevant question in the enrolment form students should list their Majors/Disciplines against the items First Major, Second Major, Third Major/Option, Second Option as appropriate. Ideally, students should indicate all four disciplines to be studied but, if these have not been decided, the first and second majors/disciplines should be indicated. All students enrolled in this degree must contact the Program Coordinator to ensure enrolment patterns are correct.

Note: Nursing, Early Childhood, Special Education and Teaching Practice courses are not available.

Note: In order to identify individual courses for first major/discipline codes, you will need to consult the relevant Faculty section of this Handbook.

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 9 years to complete this program.

Articulation

Students who successfully complete the Bachelor of General Studies may apply for admission to other USQ academic programs with appropriate credit. Graduates from the Bachelor of General Studies program may be eligible to apply for admission to a range of Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or coursework Master programs in designated areas.

Exemptions

Students may be eligible for exemptions or recognition of prior learning. The maximum exemption is 12 units.

Recommended enrolment pattern

Notes

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of General Studies who choose Psychological Studies as one of their majors should note that this qualification will not necessarily provide them with a pathway to professional accreditation as a psychologist.