Bachelor of Arts – General Studies

3 Year Degree

The three-year Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in General Studies is a flexible interdisciplinary track for students who wish to explore a number of subjects to determine their future professional and education goals. By studying everything from math to English to foreign languages and more, students can gain a solid foundation preparing them for a number of career pathways.

One of the biggest benefits of a general studies program is the personalized approach that fits with the needs and goals of the student. Many students approach post-secondary with multiple interests; unsure of which major to focus on. A general studies program combines what a student wants with what a student needs to study. Because many students initially struggle with knowing what they want to focus on or where their talents lie, a general studies program can help them explore a variety of disciplines and gain the breadth of knowledge that they seek.

Skills You'll Gain From This Degree

As an extremely flexible college degree, you will strengthen important and transferrable skills such as communication, analysis, and problem-solving. In addition, it lets you concentrate on coursework tailored to your interests, passions, and goals.

In addition to coursework knowledge, graduates of our program develop strong skills in the following aspects:

Effective oral and written communication
Problem-solving and pattern intelligence skills
Ability to learn and synthesize new ideas
Experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis
Critical and reflective reading skills
Effective research and evaluation of primary and secondary sources
Organization and time-management skill
Ability to adapt easily to situations
Ethical decision-making skills
Ability to work in a team
Foreign language skills and cross-cultural knowledge

Career Pathways

A general studies degree can be helpful in a wide range of industries because the coursework encourages students to think broadly. Interdisciplinary degrees integrate a variety of fields and different ways of thinking, which broadens your perspective and ability to think outside the box. Careers relating to management, administration, the arts, human resources and communications are all great fits for general studies graduates.

Below is a sample of jobs that may be relevant to this degree. Note that this is not an exhaustive list and some occupations require further education and experience.

Public Relations Director
Brand Manager
Technical Writer
Social Worker
Software Consultant
Copywriter
General Manager
Administrative or Executive Assistant
Risk Management Specialist
Nonprofit Program Manager

Apply Today!

St. Mary’s University is a dynamic, welcoming teaching and research institution. We offer fully accredited, affordable and rigorous degrees that are recognized the world over. We hope that your adventure will be an amazing one, and that you will remain connected to St. Mary’s for a lifetime.