The General Studies Program

Deneen Lewis, Ph.D. Director/Assistant Professor

Office: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Bldg., Room 316

Phone: (504) 284-5412

E-mail: dlewis@suno.edu

Nyla Ceaser Noble. M.S., Counselor

Office: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Bldg., Room 315

Phone: (504) 286-5105

E-mail: nnoble@suno.edu

Karen M. Washington, Administrative Assistant

Office: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Bldg., Room 317

Phone: (504) 286-5150

E-mail: kwashington@suno.edu

The General Studies Program was established during the 2002-03 academic year as a campus-based program. The General Studies Program is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that offers a Bachelor of General Studies degree with the successful completion of 120 credit hours. The program provides students with an enhanced, comprehensive, and broad-based liberal education that offers majors the flexibility to adapt and combine courses from established traditional and non-traditional academic disciplines to fit their respective career plans and interests for an array of pre-approved concentrations. Additionally, students are required to complete 18-21 credit hours of enhanced electives.

The General Studies Program core-curriculum requirements provide students with an extended and in-depth academic preparation in fields such as African American Studies, Business, English, Health Information Management Systems, Humanities, Political Science and Social Sciences. Other areas of concentration may be considered upon approval by the Director of the General Studies Program and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The Program may introduce other courses to enhance the academic experience of its students upon approval of the Director of the General Studies Program and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Program adds depth and new dimensions to existing programs as well as enables Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) to continue pursuing its mission of serving the educational needs of both their students and the community.

The goals of the General Studies Program are to:

  1. Provide students with an enhanced, academically challenging and comprehensive liberal education from established traditional undergraduate curricula;
  2. Provide a flexible course of study that will establish an interdisciplinary approach to the development of students;
  3. Provide a supportive environment that will instill an understanding and appreciation of the social, political, cultural and economical forces which shape communities at the local, state, national and international levels;
  4. Provide students with quality counseling and to assist the students in meeting their academic goals;
  5. Provide students with academic support programs that will enhance their successful matriculation;
  6. Provide a sound undergraduate foundation that will prepare students for the workplace for graduate education and service to their community.

Admission Requirements

  1. Must meet the university admission requirements;
  2. Generally, students that are admitted into the General Studies Program have completed the General Education core requirements before admittance to the program or, at least be at the sophomore level of academic study;
  3. Must have a grade point average of 2.0 or, a minimum of a grade of “C” in all courses recommended for transfer;
  4. Students are encouraged to contact the Office of E-Learning and to enroll in the Smarter Measure orientation training session should they desire to take an on-line course.

Requirements for Graduation

  1. Students are required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours consisting of the 39 General Education core credit hours. A minimum of twenty-seven (27) to thirty (30) credit hours are required in all General Studies Program Areas of Concentration; with the exception of Business that requires a maximum of 27 credit hours. Please note that a student enrolled in the Business Area of Concentration may not exceed 29 credit hours earned in Business courses. Additionally, fifteen (15) credits hours at the 400 level, 15 credit hours at the 300 level and the remaining 15 credit hours rests with students choice of classes at the 400/300 level. This totals 45 credit hours at the upper level. In summary, a total of 45 credit hours consisting of 15 hours at the 300 level and 15 hours at the 400 level and 15 hours of the students’ choice (400/300 level) are needed to complete your program of study. Other transfer credits are considered beyond the 39 general core requirements for students that have completed up to 60 credit hours and earned an associate degree under the State Articulation Agreement. More information regarding the Articulation Agreement may be obtained through the University Registrar’s Office.

    When selecting an area of concentration, students may choose from the African American Studies, Business, English, Health Information Management Systems, Humanities, Political Sciences, or Social Sciences. Under certain circumstances, a student may design an additional concentration in an area of interest that must be approved by the Director of the General Studies Program, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

  2. Students are required to secure an appointment with their assigned academic counselor each semester prior to registering for courses.
  3. Students are also required to successfully complete a minimum of 18-21 credit hours of Enhanced Electives. The Enhanced Electives must coincide with the student’s future goals and career plans.
  4. A grade point average of at least a 2.0 or a minimum grade of C or higher is required in all courses in the General Education and Area of Concentration categories.
  5. Completion of 60 hours of volunteer/community service is required.
  6. Other university requirements may also apply as stated in the University Course Catalog.
  7. All General Studies Program students are required to successfully complete the following courses with a minimum grade of “C” for each area of concentration to satisfy student learning outcomes requirements established by the Program:
    Communications 210  Math 151, 250/232 
    English 111, 112, 203 
    Biology 105/105L; 106 
    History 210/220   
    Chemistry 101/Physical Science 101   

Areas of Concentration

General Studies Concentration in African-American Studies

Students may elect an African-American Studies Concentration.

Students are asked to schedule an advisement session with Dr. Lewis if their last name begins the initials A-K and Ms. Ceaser Noble if their last names begin with L-Z in order to obtain their appropriate curriculum sheet.

General Studies Concentration in Business

Students may elect a Business Concentration.

Students are asked to schedule an advisement session with Dr. Lewis if their last name begins the initials A-K and Ms. Ceaser Noble if their last names begin with L-Z in order to obtain their appropriate curriculum sheet.

General Studies Concentration in English

Students may elect an English Concentration.

Students are asked to schedule an advisement session with Dr. Lewis if their last name begins the initials A-K and Ms. Ceaser Noble if their last names begin with L-Z in order to obtain their appropriate curriculum sheet.

General Studies Concentration in HIMS

Students may elect a HIMS Concentration.

Students are asked to schedule an advisement session with Dr. Lewis if their last name begins the initials A-K and Ms. Ceaser Noble if their last names begin with L-Z in order to obtain their appropriate curriculum sheet.

General Studies Concentration in Humanities

Students may elect a Humanities Concentration.

Students are asked to schedule an advisement session with Dr. Lewis if their last name begins the initials A-K and Ms. Ceaser Noble if their last names begin with L-Z in order to obtain their appropriate curriculum sheet.

General Studies Concentration in Political Science

Students may elect a Political Science Concentration.

Students are asked to schedule an advisement session with Dr. Lewis if their last name begins the initials A-K and Ms. Ceaser Noble if their last names begin with L-Z in order to obtain their appropriate curriculum sheet.

General Studies Concentration in Social Science

Students may elect a Social Science Concentration.

Students are asked to schedule an advisement session with Dr. Lewis if their last name begins the initials A-K and Ms. Ceaser Noble if their last names begin with L-Z in order to obtain their appropriate curriculum sheet.

*Students please note that History 363 can be used in place of History 354 in order to satisfy the 30 credit hours needed for the Area of Concentration in African American Studies.