General Studies

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General Studies, with Focused Career Outcomes.}}

What is the General Studies program?

General Studies is a flexible and interdisciplinary program that allows students to design their own path, leading to a Bachelor of General Studies degree. Students will develop a foundation across the Arts, Humanities, and Sciences and select focused electives based on their interests, experiences, and goals. 

Who is the General Studies program for?

The General Studies program is designed to appeal to a wide array of students. 

• If you have accumulated college-level credits through transferring and/or changing majors, General Studies can help you utilize credits you’ve already earned to their fullest extent.
• If you have a wealth of hands-on experience from the military or the workforce, General Studies allows you the opportunity to be awarded college-level credit toward a bachelor’s degree.
• And if you have broad interests that cannot be satisfied by an existing major, General Studies can create an individualized plan of study for you.

General Studies provides an efficient route to graduation and a highly personalized plan of study that can be used as the basis for career changing or advancement or as a bridge toward graduate or professional-level studies.

What are the requirements?

There are no special admission requirements for General Studies.  All students are required to take two core classes: GEN 200 as an introduction to the major and GEN 400 as a culminating experience.  Students also complete required hours in the Arts, Humanities, and Sciences, and a minimum of 12 upper-level credit hours in an approved focused elective area.  More detailed information can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.

What kind of support will I have as a student?

General Studies students will have access to all the support services provided at CSU: tutoring, academic coaching, financial aid assistance, career development, and more. Students will be guided in their studies by a General Studies Navigator, and through engagement with the faculty in their area(s) of interest.  Students will also receive support in pursuing Credit for Prior Learning, as applicable.

What are the outcomes?

The General Studies program is designed to develop durable and versatile workforce-aligned skills, such as critical and creative thinking and problem solving.  While workforce needs change, these skills always remain in demand. General Studies graduates are prepared for the future by expanding their abilities to:

• Understand – To demonstrate integrative and independent learning to attain and use knowledge from a variety of disciplines, and to demonstrate an understanding of a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.
• Communicate – To demonstrate clear and effective communication in many forms of expression, and to demonstrate the use of basic information technology and adaptability.
• Lead – To demonstrate innovative solutions to challenges, and to demonstrate the use of multiple strategies to examine complex issues. 

What are the misconceptions about General Studies?

The General Studies program is NOT:

• Being “undecided” on a major. General Studies is designed for students who want flexibility while still pursuing a purposeful and carefully structured degree. Students work closely with advisors to build an intentional course plan that connects themes, skills, and disciplines in meaningful ways.
• An “easy” path. General Studies students complete the same rigorous coursework, learning outcomes, and graduation requirements as any other major.  Their coursework is drawn from existing electives, certificates, and minors.
• Lacking in direction or purpose. Rather than specializing in one field, General Studies students design an interdisciplinary pathway aligned with their goals. The program builds adaptable skills that translate across industries and help students get ahead.