The BGS major requires 45 credit hours, including a capstone. These 45 credit hours are evenly distributed among three areas of study called components. A component may be made up of courses from a single department or may be made up of courses from multiple departments that relate thematically. Component courses may be selected from any department or program at MU (if the department permits), but at least 18 credit hours must be made of courses from an A&S department. Of the 15 credit hours required for each component, 6 credit hours in each of the components must be numbered 3000 or higher. Students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 in each component area and grades of D are not acceptable. A student may include one component made entirely of transfer coursework if the other two components each contain 9 credit hours of coursework numbered 3000 or above. BGS students are required to include a minimum of 12 credit hours of MU coursework numbered 3000 level or above in their three components.