Unlock Your Career Potential
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See Courses & Program Info
View a complete list of program courses, credit options, and more.
The general studies degree requires a total of 120 credits.
- 30 Required Major Credits: Review the required major courses outlined below.
- 41 General Education Credits: Review the options available to fulfill the 41 credits of general education coursework requirements for bachelor's degrees.
- 49 Minor & Elective Credits: Review a list of available academic minors or see the course catalog or Schedule of Classes to help you select elective courses.
Required Major Courses
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Vertical Pathway
Through a vertical pathway, students who complete this program may be eligible to reduce their total coursework for a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Develop Key Career Skills
Today's employers are looking for professionals who have a broad knowledge base and the adaptability needed to fill many roles in an organization. This online program is designed to give you the broad skillsets you need to thrive in a modern work environment. Graduates of this online general studies program may be able to develop crucial and career-relevant skills in complex problem-solving, adaptability, critical thinking, and innovation. Our program directors refresh and update the curriculum regularly, with a focus on helping students achieve the following:
$5T+
Lifetime Earnings
Between 2010 and 2020, those who earned a bachelor’s degree attained additional net lifetime earnings of $5.9 trillion.
Source: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce | Learning and Earning by Degrees | 2024
42%
Bachelor’s Requirement
By 2031, 42 percent of all new jobs in the United States will require at least a bachelor’s degree.
Source: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce | After Everything: Projections of Jobs, Education, and Training Requirements through 2031 | 2023
Practice Real-World Skills in Your Courses
Throughout your curriculum, your instructors will assign coursework that will help you prioritize real-world skills and in-demand experience. In past courses, students have been able to complete the following course projects:
- Analyze insights about personal and professional goals.
- Synthesize concepts and theories in your field or industry of focus.
- Design and conduct research in your field or industry of focus.
- Develop and present a professional portfolio that showcases your mastery of your learning goals.
FAQs
Get answers to questions that current and prospective students are asking about program admission, credibility, and more.
Students can take the general studies degree program online to help prepare for a wide area of interests and further education. The 120-credit program has a flexible curriculum that students can adapt to meet their career goals and maximize previously earned credits. The general studies degree can help students prepare to work in various corporate and private sector jobs and to prepare for graduate-level work.
UMGC's general studies degree is a 120-credit program. The time it will take you to complete your degree will depend on several factors, including your goals, how many transfer credits you have, your course load each semester, and whether you are able to benefit from one or more of our fast paths to credit, including credit for prior learning and credit for military education and training.
Tuition rates for this undergraduate program are very competitive and appear at the top of this page. We offer a low in-state rate for Maryland residents and a reduced tuition rate for military service members and their spouses and dependent children. We also offer scholarships for those who qualify, an interest-free monthly payment plan, and no-cost digital materials in place of most textbooks to help make online bachelor's degrees even more affordable.
You do not need any background or experience to enroll in our online bachelor’s degree in general studies. As long as you meet our undergraduate admission requirements, you can enroll in this program.
You do not need any prior certifications to enroll in or complete this program.