Frequently Asked Questions

The College of General Studies (CGS) is a small, liberal arts college within BU, offering first-year and second-year students a program that satisfies most of the BU Hub University-wide general education requirements while giving students a strong foundation in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and writing. As a CGS student, you explore these subjects through an interdisciplinary lens that emphasizes the connections between the courses. This approach equips you with the abilities to synthesize information from multiple perspectives, think critically, solve problems, and communicate effectively.

You will start your time at CGS in January for a spring semester in Boston, followed by an intensive summer semester. You’ll continue your second year in CGS, finishing CGS courses, electives, and an interdisciplinary Capstone project. After completing the four-semester program, you will continue to one of BU’s nine degree-granting undergraduate schools or colleges to pursue your major. The CGS program gives you a strong liberal arts foundation for your specialized field of study.

CGS admits about 600 students each year. There are approximately 1,200 first-year and second-year students.

Our average class size is 25 students.

Only full-time faculty members teach our classes. We believe that direct and constant access to faculty is critical to your learning experience, especially at such an early part of your college education. Because of this, CGS does not have teaching fellows or teaching assistants. Faculty members teach their own classes, host their own lectures, and hold their own office hours.

Additionally, almost all of our faculty members have PhDs and work full-time at CGS—we do not have any adjuncts. Our faculty is comprised of noted scholars, scientists, poets, historians, biologists, philosophers, musicians, film experts, and professionals in many other fields who are masters at classroom teaching. Visit our Faculty Profiles to learn more about our faculty members’ interests and areas of expertise.

No. Completion of our program places you at the half way point towards a BU degree. You will take electives in other BU schools or colleges to explore and start accruing credits towards your intended major. That way, when you continue to one of the nine degree-granting colleges junior year, you’ll be taking courses at the same level as the peers in your major. Visit the Pathways to a Degree.

Please note that degrees in Engineering (ENG), select programs in the College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College (SAR), and some physical science majors in College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) may take longer.

It’s up to you! Our alumni go on to lead multinational corporations, work in nonprofits, start their own businesses, write books, become doctors and lawyers, work in entertainment, explore the world, and more. The broad, interdisciplinary education you receive at CGS provides you with the skills, knowledge, and habits of mind that help you succeed in any industry. You will learn skills that all employers are looking for: critical thinking, effective communication, flexibility, problem-solving, and applying your knowledge to real-world problems.

Recent research shows that leadership, the ability to work in a team, strong written and verbal communication skills, problem solving skills, and analytical skills are among the top qualities that employers look for in college graduates (National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2014). Our alumni regularly report back that CGS’s interdisciplinary team approach has enabled them to excel in their professional lives.

With over six decades of leadership in general education, CGS embodies the BU Hub’s commitment to the depth and breadth of interdisciplinary knowledge. Our program satisfies most of the BU Hub’s University-wide general education requirements while giving you a comprehensive liberal arts foundation in humanities, social science, natural sciences, and writing. Our faculty take a cohesive and interdisciplinary approach—emphasizing how each subject is relevant to real-world problems and working as a team to connect course concepts. This approach enables you to retain and apply what you’re learning more effectively. At the end of the CGS program, you participate in a Capstone project, working with peers to research a real-world, timely issue, and propose a comprehensive, practical solution.

You will choose three CGS humanities courses, three CGS social sciences courses, and electives from one of BU’s other schools and colleges. CGS’ menu of interdisciplinary courses fosters deep learning and creates a cohesive, integrated educational experience.

The CGS program is four semesters total, completed during the first two years of college. Read more about the two-year program.

Yes, you may receive credit if your AP scores or college coursework grades meet University standards. The Boston University Admissions site can give more information on advanced placement. 

Yes—in fact, you are required to take courses at BU’s other nine schools or colleges. Like many of our students, you will likely choose electives to explore academic disciplines or professional areas in more depth and to start accruing credits towards your intended major.

No, you have guaranteed continuation into one of the nine degree-granting schools or colleges at BU. When you complete CGS with a GPA of 2.0 or higher, and have taken appropriate electives, you simply declare your major(s) for the junior year. See the Pathways to a Degree for details.

CGS students graduate from each of the nine degree-granting schools or colleges at BU. The most popular schools that students continue on to are the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Communication, and the Questrom School of Business.

At CGS, 93% of first-year students return for their second year, one of the University’s highest retention rates. On average, 96% of second-year CGS students successfully transition into another BU school or college to finish their BU degree.

Yes. We believe global education opportunities unlock exciting, enriching and invaluable experiences — that’s why we built study abroad into the College of General Studies program through the Boston-London Experience. You can also choose to study abroad during your junior or senior year. In fact, many CGS students do both!

At CGS, we organize our classes, students, faculty, and advisors using a team system. Teams, similar to cohorts, are comprised of about 80 students who share the same faculty throughout the entire year, which enhances the teaching, learning, and social experiences by fostering a robust learning community.

Your faculty and advisor team meets weekly to closely coordinate the classes and ensure interdisciplinarity. This kind of team meeting and combination of perspectives is highly unusual at any college, let alone a large research university.

Part of what makes CGS unique is our academic advising program: we have a full-time advising team dedicated entirely to help you navigate, explore, and pursue a variety of educational experiences. Our advisors are here to assist with major exploration, course selection, and career path research. They also lend support as you transition to college, become familiar with the many resources across campus, and get to know BU’s policies and procedures.

In addition to meeting with you regularly, our academic advisors meet with the faculty teams to understand what’s going on in your courses so that they can best advise you on academic and career matters.

Read more about our academic advising program and meet the team.

Our Robert W. Emery Writing Center is located right in the CGS building, which is a comfortable space for you to meet with faculty members to strengthen your writing and critical reading skills. Whether it’s guidance on how to develop a strong thesis, or reviewing documentation styles, it’s a great place to receive individualized support.

In addition to CGS-specific study centers, the University also offers support services, such as the Educational Resource Center.

Our College maintains a strong sense of community. Our faculty members and staff not only want to know your name, they want to know your strengths, personality, and aspirations. And it shows. Faculty members are regularly asked for letters of recommendation— even if they had the student many years ago— because of our vested interest in getting to know our students so well.

Our classrooms and hallways are filled with energetic conversation and enthusiasm. As students, you get to know your peers well through our team system, and develop friendships that last beyond your two years at CGS.

Everyone is hard-working. You’re busy balancing rigorous classes with pursuing passions outside the classroom; and your faculty members are teaching their own courses, grading their own papers, and publishing their own work all at the same time.

Yes— we encourage it. As part of a world-renowned research university, CGS offers you the chance to connect with faculty members and conduct research as early as your first year of college. You can partner with a CGS faculty member for academic credit with a directed study, or do research for a stipend through a Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning program. Additionally, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) connects undergraduates interested in conducting research with BU faculty members who help provide supervision and guidance. Students may participate in the program for academic credit, for a stipend, or on a volunteer basis.

Whichever way you do it, it’s a great opportunity to partner with our faculty members who are leaders in their respective fields, gain research experience, explore your interests in greater depth, and potentially travel around the world and become published.

There are several CGS-specific student activity opportunities among the 450+ student activities groups across campus.

• Interested in serving as a student leader? The CGS Student Government Association aims to connect the student body and faculty and caters to the interests and needs of the CGS community.
• Active in international issues? The World Affairs Forum organizes lectures and master classes on an array of relevant, international topics.
• Passionate about the arts? Our Film Lovers and Philosophers Society offers a series of films and discussions with fellow film enthusiasts. Or, submit your short fiction, poetry, photography, or drawings to be featured in The Chimaerid, our literary magazine.
• Looking for a strong CGS community in the residence halls? You’ll find an active residence life community in our Gilbane House, which is home to 40 current and former CGS students- all undergraduates- as a part of the University’s Specialty Community Residence Program.

To read more, visit our CGS Student Organization page.

Lots! BU has more than 450 student groups, spanning interest areas such as recreation and athletics, service and justice, academic and professional interests, art and performance, student governments, Greek life, special interests, and many, many more. Explore the Student Activities website here, and if you don’t see your favorite group, start it when you get here!

As BU students, you live throughout the campus in the various residence options. Additionally, our Gilbane House is home to 40 current and former CGS students— all undergraduates— as a part of the University’s Specialty Community Residence Program.

You can apply directly to CGS following the standard application process through undergraduate admissions. Boston University accepts the Common Application.

Congratulations! Now that you’ve had the chance to explore our website, we invite you to check out our resources for current students. Visit our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. And, as you know, websites can only take you so far— there’s nothing like actually coming to campus to sit in our classrooms, talk to our students, and experience the culture first-hand so we invite you to schedule a visit and join us for an Open House.

Also be sure to check out the Admissions website, as they have a lot of information that can help you make sure BU is the right place for you.