Q: What do many presidents, CEOs, Peace Corps volunteers, Pulitzer Prize winners and Fulbright scholarship winners have in common?

A: A liberal arts degree. That’s because the liberal arts tradition – the foundation of America’s universities – demands the ability to think broadly, collaborate and communicate.

Getting your bachelor of general studies degree (BGS) in NIU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is now easier and offers you a great education combined with the convenience of online learning. Employers value the critical thinking, communication and collaborative learning skills you develop from a broad area of study, which is why BGS graduates thrive in so many fields.

NIU online courses are called "blended" online courses because they combine face-to-face meetings with online lectures, chat, group projects, role-playing exercises and simulations. Courses are small and reflect NIU’s expanding commitment to student-centered education and rigorous preparation for an increasingly complex, technologically oriented workforce. Online learning emphasizes collaboration and demands the best of faculty, students and staff.

Q: Why are blended online courses better?

• National research shows that online students complete their courses at a higher rate and earn better grades in a blended format.
• NIU’s experience confirms that face-to-face class meetings build strong and lasting online learning communities.
• Many courses use face-to-face meeting dates for student presentations or field trips to museums and live performances.
• Courses prepare professionals for today’s workplace, which calls for combining efficient meetings with effective electronic communication.
• The liberal arts tradition values individual and interpersonal learning. The BGS online degree emphasizes both styles of learning.

"The Liberal Arts and Sciences BGS has served students and professionals throughout the northern Illinois region for almost 40 years. Its diversified curriculum in the humanities, social studies, and sciences promotes critical thinking, effective communication, and cultural literacy," says Fred Kitterle, Dean of NIU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

"Now the degree can be earned through an ideal blend of online and face-to-face classes. Award-winning NIU faculty are receiving national recognition for their innovative online teaching, including simulations and games. There has never been a more exciting time to join them, whether it is for your first online course or for a blended BGS degree."

Current students and graduates agree. "Taking an online class is the solution on so many levels,” said BGS major Patti Smith. "With this [spring 2005] being my last semester, and my work schedule being tight, taking this online class allowed me to finish my requirements in time for May graduation. Without the ease of doing assignments from home and with the discipline of having weekly assignments with due dates to help keep me on task, I would never been able to finish in time."

Michelle Hunt, a Liberal Arts and Sciences BGS graduate, said her online courses taught her how much could be accomplished collaboratively and online. "We learned that it is possible to accomplish so much through the internet and worked together nicely as a team,” she said.

Take a look at some courses offered through the BGS online program.