Launch into a world of endless options with general studies!

You know you want a college degree, but maybe you aren’t set on one specific area of interest. General studies could be the perfect option for you! A degree in general studies allows you to explore all the topics that you’re passionate and curious about without having to limit yourself to one or two options. With general studies, you can curate a custom degree catered specifically to what you want to learn about. 

Anchor: Stats

By the Numbers

$50,000

Average Salary

5%

Industry Growth

1:5

Students Make the Dean's List

100%

Student-Focused
Anchor: Programs & Requirements
Programs & Requirements

Programs & Requirements

* The credit hours listed on this page only reference the specific program requirements and is not reflective of the total hours necessary to receive your degree. Cumberlands requires all students obtain a minimum of 60 hours for an associate’s degree and a total of 120 hours for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer and prior learning credits may be counted toward those totals.

To learn more about our General Education Requirements, please visit the page referenced below or explore our Academic Catalog

General Education Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in General Studies

To obtain a bachelor's degree in general studies, students must complete a core set of general studies courses (12 hours), two specialized areas (15 hours each; 30 hours total), and a set of strategic electives (remaining hours) to complete their degree. Students may also opt to complete one specialty area (15 hours) and one minor (varying credits depending on program) in the place of the second specialty area to complete their degree. 

If a student chooses an option and minor of the same discipline, the courses must not overlap in requirements for the specialty area. Courses included within the major or minor of general studies must be unique in meeting the general studies degree requirements and are not being utilized to meet other major or minor degree requirements. 

Course Requirements

BADM 401 Personal Finance 

BADM 402 Business Communications 

PLAN 100 Strategies for General Studies 

PLAN 400 Capstone 

Two 15-credit hour specialty areas are required, totaling 30 hours combined.

Nine (9) or more hours must be at the 300 or 400 level.

Select from the following emphases:

Specialty Area 1: Business 
Courses with a BADM or BACC prefix 

Specialty Area 2: Health and Fitness 
Courses with a ESS, HESS, or HLTH prefix 

Specialty Area 3: Behavioral Sciences 
Courses with a COUN, HLTH, HSRV, CRJS, or PSYC prefix 

Specialty Area 4: Education 
Courses with a EDUC, ELEM, IECE, or SPED prefix 

Specialty Area 5: Information Science and Technology 
Courses with a ITSS, ITSC, ITSM, or ITSI prefix 

Specialty Area 6: Media Studies 
Courses with a COMM, JOUR, or IDC prefix 

Specialty Area 7: Christian Studies 
Courses with a MSMN prefix 

Specialty Area 8: Humanities and Social Sciences 
Courses with a HIST, ENGL, SPAN, THRT, MUSC, MUED, ART, POLS, or SOCI prefix 

Specialty Area 9: STEM 
Courses with a BIOL, PHYS, CHEM, or MATH prefix 

Specialty Area 10: Healthcare 
Courses with a NUR or AHS prefix 

A bachelor's degree at Cumberlands requires a minimum of 120 hours completed. However many hours you haven't yet completed through required courses and specialty areas should be completed through elective courses.

A Bachelor of Arts in General Studies requires the same courses as a Bachelor of Science with the addition of completing one foreign language sequence through the intermediate level.

FREN 131        Elementary French I

FREN 132        Elementary French II

FREN 231        Intermediate French I

FREN 232        Intermediate French II

 

SPAN 131        Elementary Spanish I

SPAN 132        Elementary Spanish II

SPAN 231        Intermediate Spanish I

SPAN 232        Intermediate Spanish II

 

Note: Foreign language courses are only offered on campus.

Minor in General Studies or Professional Studies

You have the freedom to minor in general studies or professional studies. Either option means you can customize your minor to include classes that fit a number of your interests. This 21-credit hour option is a good way to broaden your academic topics while still completing a minor.

Course Requirements

PLAN 300 Professional Success Strategies (3 hours)

Choose courses in the following area: 
1 lower level course from one emphasis group (3 hours)
2 upper level courses from one emphasis group (6hours)

Choose courses in the following area: 
1 lower level course from a second emphasis group (3 hours)
2 upper level courses from a second emphasis group (6 hours)

To see the options available to study as an emphasis, view the Bachelor's tab on this page and click Specialty Areas.

PLAN 300 Professional Success Strategies (3 hours)
BADM 402 Business Communications (3 hours)
Choose Certification Credit Courses (15 hours)

Students must complete 15 credit hours (three classes) via certification credit, courses with built-in certifications, or professional studies approved courses. Nine (9) of the certification credit hours must be at the 300 or 400 level.

Courses with certifications built-in include:

  • BADM 333 Business Analytics 
  • BADM 334 Principles of Marketing 
  • BADM 430 Advertising 
  • BADM 433 Services Marketing 
  • BADM 435 Consumer Behavior 
  • BADM 451 Marketing Communications and Public Relations 
  • BADM 455 Market Research 
  • COMM334 Social Media 
  • BADM 431 Entrepreneurship 
  • BACC 231 Accounting Software Management
  • COMM 141 Fundamentals of Advertising and PR 
  • COMM 242 Audience Insight 
  • COMM 343 Creative Strategy 
  • COMM 363 Advanced Video Production 
  • COMM 430 Professional Communication 
  • COMM 444 PR Campaigns 

Courses that are approved for professional studies include: 

  • BADM 331 Principles of Management 
  • BADM 339 Human Resource Management 
  • BADM 401 Personal Finance 
  • BADM 439 Professional Development 
  • COMM 130 Interpersonal Communication 
  • COMM 230 Introduction to Public Speaking 
  • ENGL 133 Technical Writing 
  • ITSC 431 Legal and Ethics 
  • ITSS 130 Introduction to Application Software 
  • ITSS 230 Fundamentals of Databases 
  • ITSS 232 Web Design 
  • POLS 233 American National Government 
  • POLS 239 Legal Research and Writing 
  • PSYC 338 Industrial/Organizational Psychology 
  • SPAN 134 Spanish for Public Service 

Associate of Science in General Studies

If you want to start college, but you just can't commit to spending four years working on a full-fledged bachelor's degree, we understand. That's why we offer so many associate degree programs – including an Associate of Science in General Studies. Not only do you have the chance to finish the degree in much less time, but you also get to study a handful of interests instead of focusing largely on one major. If you crave variety and want a degree in your hand in as little as one year, this could be the right fit for you.

Course Requirements

BADM 401 Personal Finance 

BADM 402 Business Communications 

PLAN 100 Strategies for General Studies 

PLAN 400 Capstone 

Select one of the following emphases: 

Specialty Area 1: Business 
Courses with a BADM or BACC prefix 

Specialty Area 2: Health and Fitness 
Courses with a ESS, HESS, or HLTH prefix 

Specialty Area 3: Behavioral Sciences 
Courses with a COUN, HLTH, HSRV, CRJS, or PSYC prefix 

Specialty Area 4: Education 
Courses with a EDUC, ELEM, IECE, or SPED prefix 

Specialty Area 5: Information Science and Technology 
Courses with a ITSS, ITSC, ITSM, or ITSI prefix 

Specialty Area 6: Media Studies 
Courses with a COMM, JOUR, or IDC prefix 

Specialty Area 7: Christian Studies 
Courses with a MSMN prefix 

Specialty Area 8: Humanities and Social Sciences 
Courses with a HIST, ENGL, SPAN, THRT, MUSC, MUED, ART, POLS, or SOCI prefix 

Specialty Area 9: STEM 
Courses with a BIOL, PHYS, CHEM, or MATH prefix 

Specialty Area 10: Healthcare 
Courses with a NUR or AHS prefix 

Military Science Minor

Strengthen your understanding of the Army’s mission, organization, and culture by develop your leadership skills. By earning a minor in Military Science, you get an inside look into how the army operates and have the opportunity to become a great leader. With skilled and determined professors ready to help you thrive, success is inevitable. Find your place amongst likeminded people and discover what it takes to excel in the army.

Course Requirements

MSL 101 Introduction to the Army

MSL 102 Foundations of Leadership

MSL 201 Leadership and Ethics

MSL 202 Army Doctrine and Decision Making

MSL 210 Basic Camp Practicum

MSL 301 Training Management and the War Fighting Functions

MSL 302 Applied Leadership in Small Unit Operations

HIST 336 American Military History

MSL 310 Advanced Camp Practicum

MSL 401 The Army Officer 

MSL 402 Company Grade Leadership

Anchor: Mission & Goals

Mission & Goals

The purpose of the General Studies program is to offer a degree in which you can explore a wide variety of fields and build a curriculum that best fits your educational goals, graduating with a firm educational foundation.

Develop your knowledge in a variety of fields.

Strengthen your problem-solving, time-management, reading comprehension, and writing skills.

Build a degree program that is customized to your interests and needs.

Be prepared for a wide range of different career paths.

Graduate with a well-rounded college degree.

Anchor: Career Outcomes

General Studies Careers & Outcomes

All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Real Estate Manager: $59,230

Real Estate Manager: $59,230

Property, real estate, and community association managers oversee many aspects of residential, commercial, or industrial properties.

Sales Manager: $127,490

Sales Manager: $127,490

Sales managers direct organizations' sales teams.

Top Executive: $98,980

Top Executive: $98,980

Top executives plan strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals.

Community Service Manager: $74,000

Community Service Manager: $74,000

Social and community service managers coordinate and supervise programs and organizations that support public well-being.

Agricultural Manager: $73,060

Agricultural Manager: $73,060

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers run establishments that produce crops, livestock, and dairy products.

Construction Manager: $98,890

Construction Manager: $98,890

Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish.

Anchor: FAQs

Common Questions

All programs at University of the Cumberlands are offered at some of the lowest rates in the nation – and we even include free textbooks through our One Price Promise. For more information on how affordable this program would be for you, visit our Financial Aid page.

One of the benefits of a general studies degree is the amount of options it gives you! You could apply a STEM background to Christian ministry. You could pursue corporate communications careers with a mix of minors in behavioral sciences, media studies, and business. You could combine minors in healthcare and education with health and fitness minor. Or, you could find yourself starting a new career path altogether. The options are endless! 

By studying a wide variety of subjects, you’ll graduate with knowledge and experience that will prepare you for a variety of different fields, giving you options for an array of different careers. 

Yes. There are many jobs that require a college degree, but many employers care less about the specifics of that degree and more about the time and effort you put into earning one. For jobs that don’t require a specialized degree path, such as a doctor or a lawyer, a general studies degree will fit the bill. It shows that you’re hardworking and have earned a solid education, and that you have a well-rounded understanding of multiple subjects. 

The beauty of a degree in general studies is that it gives you the opportunity to customize your education for your future. Choosing from minor options in business, health and fitness, behavioral science, education, technology, media, Christian studies, and more, you’ll get to design your major to fit your specific goals. And you’ll graduate with the preparation you need to be successful in a vast array of careers. 

If you have a lot of different academic interests, or if you’re still unsure about where your passion lies, general studies is a great option. It’s perfectly normal to be undecided about what you want to do after college, and a degree in general studies allows you to customize your education and opens a range of options for you after graduation. If the freedom to chart your own path appeals to you, then general studies is the right choice! 

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