Dean's Message to Prospective Students of the College of General Studies

Two major problems have traditionally plagued higher education, especially large urban universities. The first has been the inability of college faculties to agree upon a common learning experience for undergraduate students before those students commit themselves to a major professional field of study. The second has been the inability of colleges to avoid large, impersonal lecture courses, especially for freshman and sophomore students who quickly gain the impression that no one is really concerned about their individual and personal growth.

In 1952, Boston University established the College of General Studies as a program dedicated to resolving those problems. Over more than four decades, the College has built a national reputation as a unique program of general education serving the needs of accomplished students who may not qualify for direct acceptance to the very competitive degree programs of the University.

The College program's uniqueness begins with a commitment to the values of a common curriculum. Freshman students entering the College of General Studies are not expected to build their own individual curricula from a catalog shopping list. The curriculum, an interdisciplinary experience in common learning, is formulated by a dedicated faculty of professional teaching generalists holding doctoral degrees in a range of representative disciplines.

The second element in the College's unique program is its team-teaching methodology. The College is proud of its distinction as the historical source of team teaching, a concept that has spread nationally at all levels of education. At the College of General Studies, team teaching guarantees every student a close personal and educational relationship with a team of outstanding educators devoted to the academic development of their students. The team-teaching structure receives strong support from the College's advising and counseling staff and from the learning assistance staff, both of whom assist the faculty team in meeting the complex needs of their students. Through sophomore elective courses, the College program anticipates the junior and senior years at Boston University.

The College of General Studies, in sum, offers an intellectually exciting and academically demanding program. For students who seek a college specifically designed to meet typical freshman and sophomore needs, and who desire a coherent general education in their progress toward a University degree, this bulletin represents an introduction to Boston University and its College of General Studies.

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