Bachelor of Elective Studies
Details and Information
Program
Requirements
Complete admission and program requirements are found in the University Catalog.
Consider this:
- If you started a degree program but have not finished, the Bachelor of Elective Studies (BES) allows you to come back to college to complete your degree in a timely manner.
- If you have earned a large number of credits in an area of study that no longer interests you or meets your career objectives, you can select another course of study. The previous credits you earned still count towards your BES
- If your work demands basic knowledge in more than one subject area, the BES allows you to take higher level courses without completing the full requirements of a major.
- If your personal interests encompass a wide variety of disciplines, the BES gives you a chance to explore several subject areas in depth without committing to one specialty.
- If you are choosing a new career path, the BES is your degree of choice.
These choices – and others – allow you to elect the courses, the schedule, the time commitment and the level of intensity you choose to complete your undergraduate degree.
How to design your Bachelor of Elective Studies degree
Bachelor of Elective Studies – Liberal Studies major (self select)
- Go to the Advising & Student Transitions website and change your major to Liberal Studies (BES).
- Fill out and submit the program proposal form.
- Contact Advising and Student Transitions to make an appointment with a BES adviser to discuss your program proposal:
Advising and Student Transitions
366 Centennial Hall
(320) 308-6075
advising@stcloudstate.edu
Bachelor of Elective Studies – Departmental major and/or minor
- Go to the Advising & Student Transitions website and change your major to Liberal Studies (BES).
- Fill out and submit the program proposal form.
- Contact Advising and Student Transitions to make an appointment with a BES adviser to discuss your program proposal.
Advising and Student Transitions
366 Centennial Hall
(320) 308-6075
advising@stcloudstate.edu
- Meet with the department chair for your major or minor to design an approved list of courses.
Degree requirements
Requirements in bold are distinct to the BES:
- Completion of the program proposal form.
- Completion of the Liberal Education Program.
- Obtained at least 40 credits of upper division (300-400) level courses.
- Completion of a minimum of 120 college level credits with at least a 2.0 grade point average.
- No more than 60 credits in one academic discipline.
- A maximum of six internship credits may be used as part of the 40 credits at the upper division level. Additional internship credits may still be used as electives toward graduation.
- A major and/or minor is not required, but strongly encouraged. See list of majors/minors.
- St. Cloud State residency requirement of 30 semester credits.
Additional Information
Transferring Credits Students may transfer credits from other institutions to St. Cloud State. Information about transfer procedures and residency requirements available from
Records and Registration on St. Cloud State’s website.
Graduate School
Students should plan their BES undergraduate program to meet the requirements of graduate institutions or programs that interest them. It is recommended that students investigate graduate admission criteria while pursuing the BES degree in order to tailor their course choices to graduate degree program requirements.
Employers
The BES degree provides the same high level of academic achievement as any other baccalaureate degree. It uses 21st century technology to help students complete degree programs and recognizes changing approaches to higher education for students at all stages of academic progress. The Program Proposal that is required of BES candidates allows students to think through their reasons for pursuing their undergraduate degrees through the BES program. Creating the Program Proposal gives students the opportunity to develop clear and reasoned answers to give any employer inquiring about this degree program.
