Bachelor of General Studies in General Studies
Department
General Studies Program
College
College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Overview of the program
The overall object of the Bachelor of General Studies degree program is to provide students with educational opportunities to obtain an interdisciplinary degree, one that is often highly desirable in today's rapidly changing world. The specific objectives of the General Studies program are to provide courses of study, opportunities, and experiences to assist students in the following ways:
- To prepare students to enter a career requiring broad and in-depth knowledge and skills.
- To allow students to obtain a flexible, general college education with major and minor
emphasis areas.
- To prepare some students to enter professional schools or graduate programs in other
disciplines.
- To offer a degree option to students with new interests or those changing their majors
late in their academic careers.
- To assist students in career planning and in the transition into the workforce.
-
Total semester hours required: 120
Concentrations
Bachelor of General Studies concentrations include:
- Arts
- Humanities
- Natural Sciences
- Applied Sciences
- Behavioral Sciences
- Applied Behavioral Sciences
- Business - Restricted to Minor Concentration
Strengths of the program
The General Studies program continues to focus on strong academic integrity through rigorous degree requirements. For example, in the General Studies bachelor degree program, forty-five hours at the junior/senior level are required. Also, faculty collaboration with other departments allows faculty advisors to remain knowledgeable about departmental course offerings across campus, which strengthens the General Studies degree program.
Departmental strengths include:
- A flexible, specialized curriculum designed for each individual student
- Ongoing faculty research and development
- Scholarly faculty involvement through presentations and publications
- Student access to licensed Career Counselors as advisors
- Positive feedback from General Studies students
- Successful completion of programs for many transfer and non-traditional/returning students
Preparing for a job in the program
Students graduating with a degree in General Studies should be prepared to:
- Market themselves and their specific skills
- Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills
- Succeed in their specific career interests
- Succeed in an ever-changing global marketplace
- Embrace diversity, work as part of a team, and develop leadership skills through their occupations and through service opportunities in the community
Careers in the program
General Studies majors have the option of working in almost any field from writing, to sales, to banking. Our graduates are equipped with skills highly desired by many employers; therefore, a wide array of job choices are available. The General Studies degree creates great flexibility in career choice because of the versatility within the program.
The following occupations represent some of the career opportunities available to graduates in General Studies. Some choices may require additional schooling at graduate or professional schools and may be dependent on the concentration area selected. Students planning for additional education are encouraged to contact the graduate school of the department they wish to attend to ensure that appropriate foundation work is completed. For more information on specific qualifications, students should speak with an advisor, someone in the specific industry, or consult the Occupational Outlook Handbook or other career guidance resources. They should also take advantage of career planning services offered by the University and career planning courses such as CPL 104 and/or CPL 304, which are offered by General Studies.
- Account Executive
- Banking
- Buyer
- Human Resources
- Legal Assistant or Paralegal
- Attorney
- Lobbyist
- Manager: Hotel, Restaurant, Early Childhood Program, Retail, Bank
- Office Administrator
- Program Director
- Social Service Administrator
- Mental Health Counselor
- Public Relations
- Sales Representative or Manufacturing Representative
- Writer/Journalist
- Trainer: job, communication skills, life skills, etc.
Starting Salaries after completing the program (estimates only)
Management (depends on area)-$30,000- $41,600
Sales Representative (depends on area)-$25,000-$35,000
Human Resources Personnel-$30,000-$42,000
Public Relations-$25,000-$38,000
Social ServicesAdministrator-$25,000-$34,000
Human Services Assistant-$18,500-$29,000
Journalists-$27,000-$32,000Campus organizations and activities affiliated with the program
General Studies majors participate in almost all available organizations on campus because of the diversity of their course work. For example, students join organizations such as Student Government, or the Creative Writing Club.
How do I know this is the degree for me?
Common Strengths and interests of students in the programAs a generalist, a General Studies graduate is well suited for a variety of jobs. Students pursue a degree in General Studies for a variety of reasons. Some have multiple academic interests and don't want to limit themselves. Others want to pursue graduate studies and choose this degree to get the necessary requirements and background knowledge. Still others have been out of school for quite some time and want to complete a degree for personal satisfaction or job promotion. Whatever the reason, General Studies' advisors will help a student set goals and work toward achieving them.
Because of the nature of this degree program, many opportunities exist. The following comments are pertinent to the General Studies major:
"In today's job market there is a premium on intangible qualities such as leadership, flexibility, and the capacity for abstract thought." ( www.graduatejobs.com)"The United States is entering a new golden age of generalists: integrators of information, motivators of people, communicators of ideas." (Mitchell Fromstein, CEO of Manpower, Inc.)
Notable Alumni
Ms. Joann Beynon, Counseling Intern
Ms. Corliss Dupuy, Human Resource Analyst
Ms. Joy Glascock, Administrative Secretary
Mr. David Jenkins, Physical Therapist
Ms. Heather Miers-White, Sales Associate
Ms. Emily McKneelyContact Information
General Studies Program
SLU 10672
Hammond, LA 70402On Campus: North Campus Main Building, Room 289
Telephone: 985-549-3755
Fax: 985-549-3879
