General Studies Degree Online Bachelor of Arts

Develop the fundamental skills needed to succeed in a wide variety of fast-paced business environments with an online bachelor's in general studies with a concentration in business administration.

Courses may include:

• Financial Accounting
• Principles of Management
• Applied Marketing Strategies

Learn the fundamentals of object-oriented programming that can help you enter one of the nation's fastest growing fields with an online bachelor's in general studies with a concentration in coding basics.

Courses may include:

• Introduction to Scripting
• Foundation in Application Development

Attain the knowledge, competencies and confidence required to kickstart your career in the rapidly changing industry of communication with an online bachelor's in general studies with a concentration in communication.

Courses may include:

• Visual Communication and Design
• Social Media Strategy
• Organizational Branding

Develop strong interpersonal skills and a deep understanding of our legal system with an online bachelor's in general studies with a concentration in criminal justice.

Courses may include:

• The United States Judicial System
• Technology in Criminal Justice
• Introduction to Homeland Security and Counterterrorism

Gain the skills you need to start and manage your own business with an online bachelor’s in general studies with a concentration in entrepreneurship.

Courses may include:

• Small Business Management
• Entrepreneurship
• Business Plan Preparation

Immerse yourself in cutting-edge theories to develop a skill set that translates to any field where understanding human behavior is important with an online bachelor's in general studies with a concentration in psychology.

Courses may include:

• Lifespan Development
• Abnormal Psychology
• Foundations of Addictions

Flexible

With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7.

Affordable

As part of our mission to make higher education more accessible, we’re committed to keeping our tuition rates low. In fact, we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

Prior coursework could also help you save time and money. SNHU’s transfer policy allows you to transfer up to 90 credits toward your bachelor's degree and 45 credits for an associate degree from your previous institutions—that means you could save up to 75% off the cost of tuition. You could also save time and money by getting college credit for previous work experience, or by taking advantage of military discounts and employer tuition assistance if available to you.

Respected

Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 160,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a regional accreditor, which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality. 

Recently, SNHU has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:

• U.S. News & World Report named SNHU the 2021 Most Innovative University in the North and one of the nation's "Best Regional Universities"
• Awarded the 21st Century Distance Learning Award for Excellence in Online Technology by The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
• A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth

Network

At Southern New Hampshire University, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 300,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate the field. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.

93.6% of online students would recommend SNHU (according to a 2022 survey with 17,000+ respondents). Discover why SNHU may be right for you.

Expanding access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials:

• Completed free undergraduate application
• Prior transcripts, which we can retrieve at no cost to you
• Test scores are not required as part of your application

Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 (8-week) undergraduate terms.

If you’re ready to apply, follow these simple steps to get the process going:

• Complete a free undergraduate application
• Submit any additional documents required
• Work with an admission counselor to explore financial options and walk through the application process

If you have questions or need help filling out your application, call 1.888.387.0861 or email enroll@snhu.edu.

Notes: 

• Laptop or desktop?  Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility. 

• Note:  Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10. 

• Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government. 

• Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers. 

Earning a bachelor of general studies can help you find a new career or advance in your current job. In a general studies degree program, you can gain career skills that are sought after by employers, including communication, critical thinking and problem-solving. And you’ll be able to tailor your learning toward subjects that align with your career goals.

Bachelor’s degrees are in high demand. Workers with bachelor’s degrees are more likely to earn more – and have lower rates of unemployment – than those without a 4-year degree.¹

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, bachelor’s degree holders earned about $25,844 more per year than workers with some college experience but without a 4-year degree.¹ Unemployment rates for workers with a bachelor’s degree were 2.2% in 2022, compared to 3.5% for workers with some college courses but no degree and 4.0% for workers without any college experience.¹

A general studies degree can also act as a stepping stone to a more advanced degree. You can earn your undergraduate degree faster and move on to a more specialized online master's degree – boosting your salary and career prospects even more.

Master's degree holders earned a median weekly income of $1,661 in 2022 – nearly 16% more than bachelor's degree holders.¹

Of course. Earning a general studies degree online means you’ll have 24/7 access to course materials. You can complete your coursework when it’s convenient for you, whether that's at noon or midnight.

SNHU's online general studies degree was designed for flexibility. Six 8-week terms each year mean you can earn your degree at your own pace, even while balancing a career and family obligations.

"Online study has been a great fit for me," said Kaylee Castillo '21. "I can sit down during my most productive time of the day and work on my assignments. I was a bit nervous about my ability to work in unstructured timelines, but I have been thriving in this type of learning environment."

Academic advisors can ensure you make the most of any prior education and professional experience. Their guidance can help you earn your bachelor’s degree in the shortest amount of time possible.

As an online student, you’ll still have access to networking opportunities and learning services. Online student services include online clubs, tutoring, writing help and career counseling.

With a general studies degree, you can explore a variety of courses and apply them to a bachelor’s degree. General studies courses include history, natural and social sciences, technology and humanities.

A general studies degree is particularly helpful for students who have already completed some college coursework and want to finish their degree. You can focus your degree on an area of concentration that interests you and aligns with your chosen career path.

With a general studies degree, you can gain career skills and a broad base of education. You can apply your learning to advance your career or start a new one.

"For students to be adequately prepared to do well in their chosen career, they need to have not only the rigor of an academic education but also an applied, relevant and practical curriculum that focuses on the development of these core skills," said Anthony Siciliano, SNHU’s associate vice president of general education programs.

A general studies degree is a type of liberal arts degree and can be viewed as an extension of the common associate degree in liberal arts. Liberal arts defines a number of university majors, usually focused on the literature, humanities and social sciences. Liberal arts subjects aim to provide general knowledge on a subject, rather than technical skills.

With a bachelor of general studies degree online, you’ll gain a broad base of liberal arts education, exploring social sciences, natural sciences, history and humanities.

Your general education courses can also help you develop key career skills that are in high demand across many industries. You'll develop communication, critical thinking and problem solving skills that you can apply to any career.

In an online bachelor of general studies program, courses include general education classes, elective classes and classes to help you earn a concentration in one area of study.

To earn a general studies degree at SNHU, you’ll need to complete 42 credits of core general education courses. These courses are the foundation for your learning and cover everything from writing and humanities to mathematics, history and science.

General studies courses also include a 12-credit area of concentration that aligns with your coursework and your goals. Concentrations include information technology, business, communication, creative writing, psychology, sport management and more.

A bachelor of general studies also includes 63 credits of free electives. You can explore the topics that interest you and best serve your career goals. Elective courses also make it easy to apply prior college credits to your degree.

A degree planning course at the start of your general studies bachelor degree can help you develop an academic plan of study, choose a concentration and ensure your learning aligns with your career goals.

Your general studies degree courses can give you the skills – and the confidence – you need to start or advance a career.

"It has given me a sense of appreciation, a sense of belonging and at the same time it has challenged me a lot," said general studies graduate Hermanisha Neptune '16. "Things that I was unsure of, if I was unsure about myself, having my education actually took all that stuff away."

It depends. A bachelor’s degree typically takes about 4 years to complete. But a general studies degree can be a faster path to graduation, particularly if you’ve already completed some college courses.

“The general studies degree is designed to help students achieve their goal of a degree without having to start over because they transferred universities,” said Priscilla Hobbs, associate dean of general education and interdisciplinary studies at Southern New Hampshire University.

The bachelor of general studies was designed to help you leverage past college credits and earn a degree. SNHU accepts up to 90 transfer credits toward a bachelor’s program. This means you could take as few as 10 courses, or 5 terms, to get your degree.

"I was attracted to the general studies program because it utilized most of the credits I have collected throughout the years," said Kaylee Castillo '21. "It allowed me to not only take classes related to my desired job, but it also allowed me to move up my graduation date."

Our admission team tries make sure no transfer credits are left behind. And your academic advisor offers guidance and support throughout your degree program to get you to graduation faster.

Absolutely — it's especially worth it if you're a transfer student, because it could be your fastest path to completing your degree.

Thanks to SNHU's generous transfer policy, which accepts up to 90 transfer credits toward an online bachelor’s degree program, you could take as few as 5 terms – or 10 courses – to earn your general studies degree after transferring.

And even if you aren't a transfer student, a general studies degree can be extremely worthwhile, since bachelor’s degree holders earn about $25,844 more per year than workers with some college experience but no degree and $30,108 more than workers with only a high school diploma.¹

Additionally, a general studies degree can further specialize your education or be a springboard for one of SNHU's many graduate degrees.

Everyone's education journey is different, but one of the most popular motivations for earning a general studies degree is so you can utilize previously earned credits to advance your career.

"I had a lot of credit hours in other majors, so being able to tie all of that into a degree that would also open up doors in my current career was a major plus," said Cody McKee '20.

On the other hand, Kaylee Castillo '21 was motivated to enroll in SNHU's general studies program because it let her earn a degree on an accelerated timeline. "It allowed me to not only take classes related to my desired job, but it also allowed me to move up my graduation date," she said.

Regardless of your reasoning, a general studies degree can offer a multitude of benefits.

Other names for general studies degree include interdisciplinary studies, liberal studies and liberal arts. These names interchangeably describe a flexible degree that allows a high number of transfer credits and free electives.

You can without a doubt list a general studies degree on your resume.

Just like a bachelor's in psychology or a bachelor's in business, a bachelor's in general studies from SNHU is an accredited degree from a respected university that can help you stand out amongst the competition when applying for jobs.

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, on the internet, at:

• https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2018/article/bachelors-degree-outlook.htm#projections-by-entry-level-education (viewed May 9, 2023)
• https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2023/data-on-display/education-pays.htm (viewed May 9, 2023)
• https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2018/article/bachelors-degree-outlook.htm (viewed Oct. 24, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-and-human-service-assistants.htm (viewed Oct. 24, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/human-resources-specialists.htm (viewed Oct. 24, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm (viewed Oct. 24, 2022)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.