If you prefer a broader and more varied approach to learning than what a single-discipline major could give you, then you may want to choose our new flexible general studies major. 

This new major is ideal if: 

• You’re looking for a strong foundation in general education, which will then prepare you to pursue a graduate degree in a field that doesn’t require a specific major or that encourages multi-disciplinary undergraduate study.
• You want to develop marketable job skills and meet many employers’ basic requirement of having a college degree. 
• You are seeking retraining and want to increase your general knowledge so you can enhance your personal and professional growth. 

The curriculum is built on a foundation of general education courses and electives, so you can develop depth in your background knowledge that is required for further study. You will receive hands-on experience through an internship, directed study, service-learning project and/or study abroad. As part of the major, you’ll have to complete a writing intensive capstone course related to your main area of study. 

With this degree, you’ll have many employment and graduate and professional school opportunities.

Program Requirements:

The general studies major consists of 72-73 credits distributed over at least three areas of study, each representing a different category. Five courses (15 credits) must be at the 1300 level or above. Students select three areas of study from a list of five possible categories, and credits are distributed as follows:

Area of Study I: 36 credits

Area of Study II: 18 credits

Area of Study III: 12 credits

Total: 66 credits

Students may choose from the following categories and must complete three areas as detailed above:

Category I: Arts and Letters (ENG, WRITNG, ART, MUSIC, THEA, languages)

Category II: Behavioral, Economic, and Political Sciences (PSY, SOC, ECON, PS)

Category III: History, Cultures, and Philosophical Inquiry (HIST, ANTH, PHIL)

Category IV: Physical, Life and Computational Sciences (ASTRON, BIOL, CHEM, ENGR, ES, GEOL, PHYS, PET, MATH)

Category V: Professional Studies (ACCT, ADMJ, CIST, COMM, EDUC, ENTR, ENVSTD, FIN, HPRED, HMGT, INTS, MGMT, MIS, MRKT, NUR, PR)

Students must also complete a three-credit experience in directed research, internship, service learning, or study abroad.

Capstone: Students must complete a three- or four-credit capstone in an area of focus for which all prerequisites have been met

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Total credits required for the major 72-73

Required Minor 15-21

(Note: Transfer students who have earned a previous degree, or Pitt-Bradford students with a second major, do not need to complete a minor.)

General Education Program Requirements and Electives—Variable

(See General Education Program and General Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree under Academic Policies and Guidelines for further details.)