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Studies & Degrees in General Studies

General studies is a broad programme rather than a single discipline. The US National Center for Education Statistics defines it as an undifferentiated programme that includes instruction in the general arts, general science, or unstructured studies, and gives "undeclared major" and "undecided" as examples. Students take courses from several fields, such as writing, mathematics, humanities, social science and natural science, instead of specialising in one subject from the first day.

The model belongs mainly to North American higher education, where the first part of a degree is general education and the main subject (the major) is chosen later. People choose general studies for three reasons: to start university before deciding on a major, to collect credits that transfer to a bachelor's degree, or to finish a degree with credits already earned in different subjects.

Qualifications and levels

  • Associate degree (two years). According to EducationUSA, the US Department of State's advising network, community colleges offer two-year programmes leading to the Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree. Some colleges also award a degree called general studies. Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon, describes its Associate of General Studies as designed for students who are not seeking a transfer degree or an Associate of Applied Science degree; it can be used to improve employment opportunities or to fulfil some of the requirements of a university programme.
  • Transfer route ("2+2"). In this model a student earns a bachelor's degree with two years of community college followed by two years of university study. Transfer degrees are built for this. Chemeketa's Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree can fulfil the lower-division general education requirements at any of Oregon's public four-year universities, and it requires a grade of C or better in each class and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
  • Diploma in Canada (two years). At Camosun College in Victoria, British Columbia, the Diploma in Arts and Science Studies lets students design their own full-time or part-time programme. It lasts two years, is open to international students and can cover the first two years of university study before transfer to the University of Victoria or another institution.
  • Bachelor's degree. Some universities offer a flexible bachelor's degree under the name general or interdisciplinary studies. At Troy University in Alabama, the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies combines three academic minors into a personal curriculum, which the university presents as a way to design one's own general studies degree.
  • Undeclared entry. Large universities often have a unit for students who have not chosen a major. At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Exploratory Studies gives first-year and second-year students a flexible programme in which to explore majors while staying on track for graduation.

Where to study it

The directory lists 14 active schools for this subject. Eight are in the United States and two in Canada; Spain, Germany, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Australia have one each. Besides the schools named above, the list includes the University of Southern Maine and Gateway Community College in the United States and the University of British Columbia in Canada. In Europe it includes the Madrid and Heidelberg campuses of Schiller International University, which teaches the American curriculum.

Teaching is in English. Colleges set their own English requirements for international applicants, and some offer intensive English courses before the degree starts. EducationUSA notes that community college credit is usually less expensive than university credit and that small classes can help international students adjust to the pace of US academic life.

Transfer and recognition

The value of a general studies qualification depends on what happens next. Not every associate degree is designed for transfer: check whether the receiving university accepts the credits and at which level the student will enter. Chemeketa advises students to follow the degree requirements and course sequence as designed and to work with an advisor.

Students who plan to return to Spain or another country with a different degree structure should ask the university or ministry there how the credits will be recognised. A two-year general degree has no direct equivalent in the Spanish system, where students enter a specific bachelor's degree (grado) from the start.

Careers

General studies does not lead to one profession. Its use on the job market is as proof of completed post-secondary education and of general skills such as writing, analysis and communication. Camosun College points out that many employers look for successful completion of two years of post-secondary education. Most students use the qualification as a step towards a bachelor's degree in a specific field, and that later degree decides the career options.

Frequently asked questions

What is a general studies degree?

It is a broad programme made up of courses from several fields instead of one main subject. It exists mainly in the United States and Canada, most often as a two-year associate degree or diploma.

Can I transfer to a university after a general studies programme?

Often, but not automatically. Transfer degrees and diplomas are designed for it; other general studies degrees are not. Ask the college and the university you want to enter which credits are accepted.

How long does it take?

Associate degrees at community colleges and the Camosun College diploma take two years. A bachelor's degree in the 2+2 model takes two further years at a university.