The Bachelor of Science in University Studies (BSUS), offered by The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) as part of the Finish@UT program, is a highly flexible degree plan. When you earn a University Studies degree, you’ll obtain a broad-based education in at least three subject areas and you’ll be a step closer to launching or advancing your career.
Degree Plan
The BSUS degree plan requires 120 total credits for completion. Contact your advisor regarding how many credits must be taken specifically from UT Arlington. A 2.0 cumulative GPA is required for graduation. Of the 120 total credits, you must complete at least 36 upper-division credits (3000- and 4000-level courses). You must also meet the residency requirements for completing a degree at UT Arlington.
There are three areas of curriculum to complete for each degree plan: Major Content, Core Curriculum, and Electives*
*A maximum of 30 hours of courses from the College of Business can be used for the University Studies degree.
The degree plan consists of:
- General Education Core Curriculum (42 credits)
- Major Concentration Areas (45 credits)
- Electives (33 credits)
Please contact Finish.Advisor@UTA.edu for questions regarding a degree plan.
Please Note: The Bachelor of Science in University Studies offered through the Finish@UT program is not open to students who have already earned an undergraduate bachelor’s degree. Students seeking a second bachelor’s degree should select another major area for the continuation of their studies.
General Education Core Curriculum (42 total credits)
The State of Texas requires students to complete a core curriculum that encompasses a variety of disciplines. The list included here notes the areas that are required for completion of the UT Arlington (UTA) core curriculum. Your transcript will be evaluated to determine which areas have already been fulfilled. For more information, please contact your advisor.
- Communication - 6 credits
- Mathematics - 6 credits
- Life and Physical Sciences - 6 credits
- Language, Philosophy and Culture - 3 credits
- Creative Arts - 3 credits
- U.S. History - 6 credits
- Government/Political Science - 6 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences - 3 credits
- Foundational Component Area Option - 3 credits
Should you need to complete some areas listed, you may do so by:
- taking online courses through the Finish@UT in either accelerated sessions or traditional semesters;
- completing courses on site at UTA's campus; or
- completing courses at another college or university and having them transferred into UTA.
Major Content (45 total credits)
The major is comprised of a 24 hour primary and 21 hour secondary content area selected by the student with a University Studies advisor for a total of 45 hours.
- At least 12 of the 24 hours required for primary content area must be advanced (3000-4000 level) courses.
- At least 6 of the 21 hours required for secondary content area must be advanced (3000-4000 level) courses.
- For each content area selected, students may only take courses from the approved department prefixes listed.
- You may choose your content areas from the following options:
AREA I: Art, Media, Humanities
ADVT, ARCH, ART, BCMN, CHIN, CLAS, COMM, COMS, CTEC, DNCE, ENGL, FREN, GERM, GLOBAL, GREK, HIST, HUMA, INTD, JOUR, LATN, LING, MODL, MUSI, PHIL, PORT, PREL, RUSS, SPAN, THEA
AREA II: Business, Community Studies, Social Science**
ACCT, ANTH, BCOM, BEEP, BLAW, BSTAT, CRCJ, ECED, ECON, EDML, EDUC, FINA, GEOG, INSU, INSY, LIST, MANA, MARK, OPMA, PLAN, POLS, PSYC, REAE, SOCI, SOCW, URPA
AREA III: Engineering, Health & Wellness, Physical Science
BE, BIOL, CE, CHEM, CSE, EE, ENGR, GEOL, HEED, IE, KINE, MAE, MATH, MSE, NE, NURS, PHYS, SCIE
**No more than 15 hours of coursework from the College of Business combined can be used in the content area.
Approved Finish@UT coursework from the other Finish@UT partner institutions may be used in the BSUS degree plan in conjunction with UTA Finish@UT courses providing they fit the degree plan and meet all UTA residency and degree requirements.
Electives (33 total credits)
Students must complete a sufficient number of electives to fulfill the 120 hours required to complete the degree as well as 36 hours of advanced (3000-4000 level) coursework required. Contact your advisor for further information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do with a Bachelor of Science in University Studies (BSUS) degree?
This degree is designed for students seeking options beyond the traditional university majors. The program features a breadth of study in a range of academic disciplines that prepare you for a variety of career paths. When you earn a University Studies degree, you’ll graduate with a broad-based education in at least three subject areas. Earning this bachelor's degree can enhance your career options.
What can the University Studies program do for me?
- Synchronize coursework to help you graduate faster
- Provide a foundation to begin or enhance your career
- Refocus your academic goals
- Provide options for applying your existing credits toward a degree
- Hone your skills in important areas such as communication, critical thinking, project management, and problem-solving
- Make you a more appealing candidate to potential employers
What are the program requirements?
- You must have 60 or more college credits to be admitted to the program.
- You must have a 2.0 GPA to be admitted to and graduate from the program.
- You must complete the UTA General Education Core Curriculum requirements to be admitted to the program.
- You must complete your online application.
- Once admitted, you must complete 15 credits in each of the three major concentration areas for a total of 45 credits. Credits earned before entering the program may be used to satisfy degree requirements after consulting with your program advisor.
- In each concentration area, at least six of the 15 credits must be upper-division (3000 or 4000 level courses).
- Of the total 45 credits, no more than 15 may have the same course prefix.
- Courses completed as part of the core curriculum may not be used to satisfy the concentration area or elective requirements.
Who should apply?
- Prospective students who find that a traditional major doesn't meet their needs
- Former students who want to return to UTA to complete their degrees
- Prospective students who are unsure about what major to pursue
- Transfer students who want to accelerate their graduation but have numerous credits that don’t easily apply to a major
- UTA students unable to meet the academic requirements to enter or graduate from another major
- Students who have completed the core curriculum
- Students who have a 2.0 GPA or higher
What are my options when selecting the courses for the two major concentration areas for BSUS?
The goal of the concentration area coursework is to give you an interdisciplinary foundation that satisfies your individual educational and professional goals while maintaining academic rigor and integrity. Currently, there are courses being offered by UTA in two major concentration areas for the BSUS: Geological Sciences and Social Sciences. Approved Finish@UT coursework from the other Finish@UT partner institutions may be used in the BSUS degree plan in conjunction with UTA Finish@UT courses providing they fit the degree plan and meet all UTA degree requirements. As you work closely with your advisor, you’ll be able to incorporate concentrations made up of some combination of Finish@UT courses from the other partner institutions into a personalized degree plan that best fits your previous study and career goals.
What is the cost of BSUS courses?
The cost of Finish@UT courses depends on the tuition and fee structures of the campuses hosting them and is based on residency status. Refer to the Tuition, Payments & Financial Aid page under the Student Support link, for more details.
What institution will issue my degree and what will the diploma read?
When you complete the BSUS program, your degree will be from The University of Texas at Arlington and your diploma will be for a Bachelor of Science in University Studies.
