Information on Associate Degree Program in General Studies
Majors Overview December 22, 2013Get information on an Associate of Arts degree in general studies and its coursework, career choices, and continuing education choices.
A.A. Programs in General Studies
Students enrolled in Associate of Arts Degree Programs in General Studies can often explore various fields, such as statistics, math, life science, physical science, literature, history and psychology. Students can use the various courses as adequate preparation before going on to earn a bachelor’s degree. Individuals who have not decided what career or field of study to pursue would benefit by enrolling in the Associate of Arts Degree Program in General Studies.
Those who wish to seek entry-level jobs in marketing, sales, healthcare or management would benefit from acquiring interpersonal and writing skills in these associate degree programs whose admission criteria typically require applicants to hold a GED certificate or high school diploma.
Coursework
Coursework in an associate degree program in general studies is devised to hone their critical thinking, interpersonal and writing skills of students whose general skills and knowledge are also developed. They can choose elective courses in specific subject areas such as calculus, U.S. history or world literature in coursework that includes topic areas such as:
•Philosophy
•Natural sciences
•Social sciences
•Economics
•Mathematics
•English
•Psychology
•Communications
Career Choices
Many job givers demand strong communication skills that can be honed by general studies graduates, who depending on the electives they take can seek positions such as:
•Entry-level managers
•Entry-level sales representatives
•Entry-level marketers
Continuing Education Choices
Though general studies graduates may seek to enter the workforce immediately after they complete the program, the coursework is devised to prepare them for continued education in the form of a bachelor’s degree. Some schools allow associate degree graduates to transfer credits earned toward enrollment in a liberal-arts based bachelor’s degree program. Students enrolled in some associate’s degree programs are allowed to tailor the coursework to facilitate transfer to a four-year school of their choosing.
Students can choose their electives in an associate’s degree program, in accordance with their choice of major. After they complete the program they can choose to pursue bachelor’s degree in various areas such as philosophy, psychology, business, mathematics or English.