How to Get a General Studies Degree?

If you are trying to determine a good course of study in college, then you have probably been overwhelmed by all the different options out there. If you are interested in humans, then you might be torn between history, psychology, sociology, or anthropology. If you love science, then you might be torn between physics, chemistry, Biology and geology. You may have wondered why it is necessary to specialize so much, when you simply love learning about a wide variety of different topics. If this describes you, then you may want to think about obtaining a general studies degree.

A general studies degree can go by many names. At some schools, it is known as a liberal arts degree. In fact, most undergraduate liberal arts colleges are designed so that the first two years of school essentially are general studies. You are expected to take classes across a broad spectrum and then choose which discipline you’d like to specialize in. The general studies student simply takes this approach two years further.

If your school doesn’t have a dedicated general studies degree, then you may have to get a bit creative. Some schools will allow a student to create his or her own plan of study. You may have to outline all the classes that you’d like to take ahead of time and then have that course plan approved by the dean of your school. You may have to write an essay explaining why it will be beneficial for you to take that plan of study rather than one of the traditional majors of the college.

Another option you might take is to major in Anthropology. Anthropology itself is already an extremely broad area of study. It cuts across many areas, like biology, philosophy, psychology, ethics, psychology, religion, linguistics, and history. It generally isn’t too difficult to convince your dean that a specific class would be applicable to your anthropology degree. After all, anthropology is the study of man, and what area of study has no relation to man?

Although there might not be a specific degree in general studies at your school, you can certainly figure out a way to take that approach if you wish.