Open Studies (BS)

Summary

Open Studies is a flexible, customizable, and multidisciplinary area of study allowing students to choose classes from across the curriculum that align with their interests, needs, and goals. General Studies is intended for students who have a high volume of credits and uninterested in or unable to complete a traditional major in a reasonable amount of time.

Veterans Education Benefits are not approved for flight training, or any other course or courses where tuition is paid to any entity other than Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Degree

Bachelor of Science

Total Credits

120

Career Cluster

Interdisciplinary Studies

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Program Requirements

Required General Education

Complete the university general education requirements or the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MTC).

Major Common Core

Complete the university's Diverse Cultures graduation requirement.
Complete the university's Writing Intensive graduation requirement.
Earn 40 semester credit hours in upper-division (300-400) courses.
Earn at least 30 semester credit hours from Minnesota State Mankato.
Complete at least 120 semester credit hours.

The BS in Open Studies and BS in Interdisciplinary Studies culminate in a capstone experience course which students take during their final semester of studies. Students reflect upon their learning to understand how their coursework has prepared them to transition from the academic world into the professional world. This is a variable-credit course that can be taken for 1-4 credits depending on each student's needs and under consultation with their advisor. The workload increases with each credit. The requirements for this course are dependent on academic focus and goals for the future.

Prerequisites: none

Policies

  1. Complete the university’s General Education program or the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MTC).
  2. Complete the university’s Diverse Cultures and the Writing Intensive graduation requirements.
  3. Only the maximum allowable Credits for Prior Learning as defined by university policy count toward the degree.
  4. Complete at least 40 semester credit hours of upper-division (300-400) coursework.
  5. Earn at least 30 credit hours from Minnesota State Mankato.
  6. No more than 25% of total semester credits are Pass (P)/No Credit (NC).
  7. Earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 including all course credits completed at Minnesota State Mankato and all course credits transferred and accepted from other post-secondary higher education institutions.
  8. Earn 120 semester credit hours. (Development-level course credits do not apply to the degree.)
  9. Only the maximum allowable credits as defined by university policy can count towards both the General Studies major and any additional majors, minors, or certificates.