General Studies Degree Guide
- What Is General Studies?
- Pros and Cons
- General Studies Degrees: Associate to Doctorate
- What to Know Before You Apply
- What Can You Do With It?
- Jobs With a General Studies Degree
- Cost of General Studies Degrees
- FAQs
General studies programs explore a myriad of liberal arts subjects, helping develop your critical-thinking and communication skills. As a general studies major, you’ll cover a wide variety of subjects while building your degree around the courses, interests, and career goals that matter most to you.
The flexibility of an online general studies degree program is especially appealing if you have broad academic interests or if you’re a transfer student with credits that don’t fit easily into a single major.
The interdisciplinary coursework of a general studies major can prepare you for many career paths, depending on what classes you choose.
What Is a General Studies Degree?
A general studies degree offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that includes humanities, social science, and natural science coursework. While a general studies degree includes the same general education classes as other majors, including courses in English, math, and the social and life sciences, the key difference lies in the core major coursework.
Unlike regular degrees, general studies programs typically allow you to build and structure your upper-level course plan, selecting classes from subjects as varied as business, information technology, anthropology, or criminal justice. Typically, you must choose a couple of fields of study to concentrate on, but you aren’t limited to a single field.
General Studies Courses You Can Expect to Take
This section explores common classes for general studies degrees, but remember that general studies majors often set their own curricula and take many additional courses.
English Composition: English composition builds strong persuasive reasoning and writing skills. You learn to organize your ideas and express them effectively.- Public Speaking: Public speaking encourages communication skills. You examine the principles of spoken communication, practical applications of public speaking skills, and ways to enhance presentations.
- Statistics: Statistics trains you in data analysis. Coursework covers approaches to hypothesis testing, probability theory, and statistical computing. Fields like business, marketing, and technology all rely on statistics.
- Art History: Art history explores visual culture, including architecture and the fine arts. The field strengthens research and analytical skills by exploring artistic trends, historical contexts, and cultural frameworks.
- Anthropology: Anthropology studies humanity from its inception through its modern-day form. Courses cover cultural diversity, the evolution of cultural institutions like politics and religion, and the links between biology and culture.
- Life Sciences: The life sciences explore biology at every level, including cells and complex ecosystems. You examine natural selection, genetics, the origin of life, and molecular biology.
Pros and Cons of General Studies Degrees
A general studies major offers several pros, including the ability to customize your degree. However, before pursuing a general studies degree, you should consider the cons, as well.
Pros of a General Studies Degree
- Allows you to customize your degree based on unique interests that do not fit into one field
- Offers an interdisciplinary approach that builds varied skills
- Helps you complete a degree if you have college credits from multiple subjects
- Easy to transfer an associate degree in general studies to a four-year program in general studies
Cons of a General Studies Degree
- Does not provide focused career training for fields that require a certain major
- You may need an internship or work experience to demonstrate focus to potential employers
- Some departments restrict upper-division courses to majors and exclude general studies majors
- May not prepare you for a graduate program as well as a more focused degree
General Studies Degrees: From Associate to Master’s
You can earn a general studies degree at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The interdisciplinary nature of a general studies degree helps you develop versatile skills and competencies that can be applied to a wide variety of career paths after graduation.
This section explores common concentration options, graduation requirements, and job opportunities for general studies degrees.
Associate Degree in General Studies
- Program Length: 2 years
- Potential Jobs: Administrative assistant, human services assistant
An associate degree in general studies blends coursework from diverse disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, business, information technology, and STEM. During a two-year associate degree program, you take introductory courses in different fields.
A general studies associate degree also fulfills the general education requirements for a bachelor’s degree at many four-year colleges. This means if you have an associate degree in general studies, you can transfer directly into four-year colleges to pursue bachelor’s degrees in more specific majors. Earning an associate degree can also lead to careers like an administrative assistant or a social services assistant.
Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies
- Program Length: 4 years
- Potential Jobs: Editor, Technical Writer, Market Researcher, Public Relations Specialist
A bachelor’s degree in general studies lets you design an interdisciplinary curriculum around your academic interests. During a general studies degree program, you customize your coursework to focus on what interests you, including subjects like business, creative writing, information technology, or communication. Similar degrees include a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies or liberal studies.
Completing a bachelor’s degree generally takes four years of full-time enrollment. Transfer students or those who choose an accelerated bachelor’s program often earn their degrees in less time. After graduating with a bachelor’s in general studies, you can look for careers in sales, business, the public sector, and nonprofit organizations.
Master’s Degree in General Studies
- Program Length: 2 years
- Potential Jobs: Nonprofit Manager, Survey Researcher, Marketing Manager
A master’s degree in general studies or a closely related program, like a master’s in liberal studies, offers graduate-level coursework in the humanities and social sciences. Depending on the program, you may also take science, mathematics, or technical courses. A general studies program often allows you to design your own interdisciplinary curriculum, aligning with your professional goals.
Earning a master’s degree typically takes two years of full-time study, though many universities offer part-time, online, and accelerated options as well. With a master’s degree in general studies, you can consider roles like editorial director, survey researcher, brand manager, or business analyst.
What to Consider Before Applying to a General Studies Program
You have several factors to consider before selecting a general studies degree, including accreditation, admissions requirements, and whether a program meets your career goals.
- 1
Accreditation for General Studies Programs
Like any other degree, you should only look for general studies degree programs at accredited colleges and universities. Accredited schools meet the highest standards for educating students and granting degrees.
Accredited degrees also meet the requirements for professional licenses and certifications. You must also an accredited institution to qualify for federal financial aid programs.
- 2
Determine If Your Intended Field Requires a Specific Degree
A general studies degree can give you versatile skills, but it doesn’t prepare you for specific career paths. For instance, jobs in the sciences may call for a specific undergraduate major, such as biology or chemistry. If you have a highly specialized career in mind, you may be better off pursuing a more specialized major.
- 3
Admission Requirements
A bachelor’s in general studies degree usually requires the same application materials as any other degree. Common application requirements include:
- Official transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Standardized test scores, such as the ACT or SAT
- A personal statement or essay
If you’re applying to a more selective school, you may also need to meet a specific GPA requirement. Graduate applications may require extra materials, including a writing sample and GRE scores.
What Can You Do With a General Studies Degree?
As a general studies major, you pursue many different careers after earning your degree. Courses in liberal arts, business, and STEM encourage strong critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills. These abilities can lead to careers in fields like business, public relations, public health, social services, and the nonprofit sector.
As you explore your career goals and hone your interests, you may consider transferring into more specific majors or picking up a minor. For example, if you’re drawn to accounting classes, you might switch to a finance degree, or if you enjoy political science courses, you might pursue a criminal justice degree.
Business
Many business careers require strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. With a general studies degree, you can work as a human resources specialist, a loan officer, or an insurance sales agent. In these roles, you interact with customers, analyze data, and help businesses operate smoothly.
General studies majors who complete courses in business, human resources, and finance gain the knowledge and skills necessary for diverse business careers. A business degree also prepares you for these jobs.
Social and Behavioral Sciences
The social and behavioral sciences include careers in psychology, social work, and human services. Entry-level careers in the social and behavioral sciences include social and human service assistant and psychiatric technician.
Assistant and technician roles typically require candidates to have associate degrees, while caseworkers and counselors often need bachelor’s degrees.
A general studies degree with coursework in psychology, the social sciences, and social work can also prepare you for careers in the social and behavioral sciences. A psychology degree also leads to opportunities in these fields.
Marketing and Communications
Marketing and communications careers require strong critical thinking and communication skills. A general education degree prepares you for careers like advertising sales agent, market research analyst, and public relations specialist. With work experience or a graduate degree, marketing and communications professionals can advance into managerial roles.
Courses that emphasize communication, writing, and analysis benefit marketing and communications professionals. A communication degree also helps if you’re considering a career in marketing, public relations, or advertising.
What Jobs Can I Get With a General Studies Degree?
With its broad focus, a general studies degree can prepare you for entry-level careers in fields as varied as marketing, publishing, and social services. In these fields, you may qualify for roles as a market researcher, technical writer, or advertising agent.
This chart highlights possible careers for general studies graduates, along with salary data and projected job growth.
| 10 General Studies Careers | Median Annual Salary (2024) | Projected Job Growth (2023-33) | Minimum Degree Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social and Human Service Assistant | $45,120 | 8% | Associate Degree |
| Administrative Assistant | $47,460 | 1% | Associate Degree |
| Insurance Sales Agents | $60,370 | 6% | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Advertising Sales Agent | $61,460 | -7% | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Public Relations Specialist | $69,780 | 6% | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Human Resources Specialist* | $72,910 | 8% | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Editor | $75,260 | -2% | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Market Research Analyst | $76,950 | 8% | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Technical Writer | $91,670 | 4% | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Survey Researcher* | $63,380 | 0% | Master’s Degree |
*May require more specific training
General Studies Degree Salary
Your salary potential with a general studies degree depends on several factors, including location, industry of employment, and level of education. Earning an advanced degree may help increase your salary potential. On average, general studies master’s degree holders earn $15,000 more than those with a bachelor’s degree.
| General Studies Degree Level | Mean Starting Salary for General Studies Majors (2023) |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | $62,220 |
| Master’s | $77,230 |
How Much Does a General Studies Degree Cost?
The tuition rate for a general studies degree depends on what type of school you attend and what level of degree you pursue. In general, public colleges offer cheaper tuition than private colleges, and graduate school tends to be more expensive than
Below are the average annual tuition rates for the 2023-2024 school year of different kinds of institutions, as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics:
- Public undergraduate: $6,944
- Private undergraduate: $27,978
- Public graduate: $11,827
- Private graduate: $20,515
Frequently Asked Questions About General Studies Degrees
Given the broad application of a general studies degree, professionals with a this degree earn a wide range of salaries. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), general studies majors from the class of 2023 earned an average starting salary of $62,000.
Earning a master’s degree in general studies can help you increase your earning potential. According to the NACE, master’s degree-holders earn an average starting salary of about $15,000 more per year than bachelor’s degree-holders.
