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The Division of General Studies (DGS) is the academic home for students interested in exploring, discovering, and declaring majors at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. DGS is one of the largest academic communities for first-year students at Illinois and serves over 2,000 students each year. Over 30,000 students have started their Illinois journey through DGS. 

As a DGS student, you will be attending one of the top-rated universities in the nation while having the opportunity to fully explore all your majors of interest.

• Talk to academic advisors who are experts in the requirements of the first two years of every program on campus.

• Take introductory courses geared toward personalized exploration strategies.

• Tailor your course schedule to multiple interests.

• Explore majors at Illinois for up to four semesters while staying on track to graduate.

• Join a community made up of students with a diverse range of interests.

• Attend DGS events designed specifically for exploration of major opportunities.

We’re excited that you are part of the Division of General Studies and look forward to meeting with you!