General studies degree programs
General studies degree programs are multidisciplinary, providing students with a basic and general knowledge in a variety of disciplines.
A general studies degree can be useful for many reasons, whether you want a credential to get a job or advance in your career, qualify for professional certification or simply your own personal satisfaction for earning a college degree.
You can pursue a General Studies degree program at the Associate’s or Bachelor’s level, leading to an Associate of Arts in General Studies (AAGS), respectively Bachelor of General Studies (BGS). A general studies degree at the Associate’s level will require 60 credits to complete while a Bachelor’s degree will require 120, and you will study several disciplines within the fields of Arts and Humanities, Science and Mathematics, Social and Behavioral Sciences and General Electives.
A General Studies degree program is a great place to start if you want some kind of college degree; it gives you the chance to try out different disciplines to see what appeals most to you and it makes a great foundation if you wish to attend a four – year college afterwards. Also called the “generalist degree”, a General Studies program covers the basics of a university education. It will prove to your employers that you can work within a variety of subject areas, and that you can learn basically anything, so a professional training would not be a problem. Employees with a college degree earn bigger salaries and are more likely to advance in their careers, as most employers seek to hire college graduates. If you want to pursue a college degree, but you’re not certain which field would be the most appropriate for you, a General Studies degree would solve your problem. It will provide you the degree and give you a better idea of what you would like to study or in what field you would want to make a career. Many General Studies degree holders choose to proceed to a graduate school or professional school afterwards. You can continue your studies in a great variety of graduate programs, and the wide range of skills gained through the general studies degree can be transferred to other colleges or universities.
If you are interested in earning a general studies degree as a credential to get a job, after completing a general studies program you can qualify for several positions within various professional fields, such as education, social services, real estate, private industry, government, law, and others.
With a such competitive job market, a general studies degree could give you a head start. you will gain basic general knowledge in many various fields: Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Calculus, College algebra, Anthropology, History, Geography, Political Science, Sociology, Literature, Art etc. From there, you can do pretty much anything, either continue your education to specialize in a particular field, or get a job that only requires you basic skills and knowledge. Employers are looking to hire individuals with a wide base of knowledge and with some prior training. Graduating from a general studies degree program from any accredited college or university will improve your career outlook and will give you the means to advance more rapidly within an organization.