The diligence and dedication of the educators, staff and students of Temple's Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) program has been honored by Graduate Philadelphia.

Graduate Philadelphia, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting non-traditional adult learners in achieving post-secondary degrees, advancing their careers, and securing living-wage employment, named Temple University the organization's 2024 Higher Education Partner for its ongoing work with the BGS program.

"This recognition is a direct result of an incredible collaboration across so many areas of our university, with each individual contributing in an essential meaningful way," said Dr. Vicki Lewis McGarvey, Vice Provost for University College, which offers the BGS program. "The hard work and commitment of the team that has made the BGS program such a success has already made a profound impact on the lives of countless learners, and we're just getting started!"

According to Malik Brown, President and CEO of Graduate Philadelphia, the BGS program aligns perfectly with the goals of Graduate Philadelphia.

"Temple has always been a really strong partner for Graduate Philadelphia. This specific program really taps into that adult learner who may not be sure what track they want to go into — do I want to go into marketing, or finance or IT or human resources," said Brown, who was the keynote speaker at the 2023 University College Graduation Ceremony where the most recent cohort of BGS students received their diplomas. "This is, I think, a truly broad general studies program that allows some flexibility while still having those foundational elements, while still having a practicum that allows someone to complete this learning opportunity and then go on and apply it in the real world. I think this program is a model for meeting the needs of adult learners."

Partnerships with higher education institutions like Temple are key to providing the wealth of resources adult learners need to achieve their educational and career goals, Brown said.

"We can't do this work alone; we are not a college or university. We are community-based organization that serves at the intersection of communities, post-secondary education and workforce development. Our role is to make sure that we are out recruiting, we're raising awareness of the different college and university programs," Brown said during an interview in May 2023. "We are providing those wraparound services that are needed to get someone enrolled and from enrollment to persistence to completion. A collective impact model is critical if we want to move the needle forward. It really is this idea of coming together, everyone bringing their strengths and capabilities, where we find synergy and move Philadelphia forward together." 

The Bachelor of General Studies, offered through Temple's University College, is designed specifically for adult learners with prior college and at least 60 transferable credits who are ready to complete their undergraduate degree. This 120-credit bachelor's program focuses on creating a solid foundation for a wide variety of careers and it allows students the opportunity to customize their degree path. 

The general studies degree combines major coursework (including two writing intensive courses), general education courses and electives. The curriculum is specifically tailored to enhance students' critical thinking skills, effective communication abilities and interdisciplinary knowledge to achieve their personal and professional goals. Students receive personalized guidance from the University College Academic and Student Services team to develop the curriculum that meets their needs. Students also have access to courses and resources available at any of Temple's campuses, including Main Campus, Ambler Campus, Temple University Harrisburg and Temple University Center City. 

Learn more about the Bachelor of General Studies Program here.