Associate of Arts in General Studies

Potomac State College

The online Associate of Arts in General Studies is an affordable pathway to your first 60 credits – or all your general education (GEF) requirements – and it can lead to any career you want. During this program, you are encouraged to explore, discover, and develop your special aptitudes and interests.

While pursuing this degree, you will acquire essential skills that are valuable for both immediate educational goals and lifelong learning. These skills are crucial in a world characterized by rapid change and evolving technology.

• In-Demand Skills: Acquire knowledge, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and social skills.
• Professional Advancement: Valuable skills for career growth, whether you're already working or just starting your educational journey.
• Customization: Tailor elective courses to match your personal and professional interests.

This major serves a three-fold function: (1) to provide an opportunity to examine the general areas of higher education and assist in choosing a major field of concentration; (2) to serve as a program that, through appropriate elective courses, can be adapted for the specific requirements of any four-year college to which a student transfers; and (3) to provide a career curriculum for a student who does not plan to continue in a four-year program.

Upon successful completion of the A.A. degree, General Studies majors will have completed all general education program requirements. The GEF works to fulfill the University’s goals of (1) creating well-rounded students with a broad base of skills and knowledge, (2) linking together the courses that students take at WVU, and (3) instilling in students a permanent connection to learning and education, giving them the skills to learn what they need outside a formal educational environment. The GEF strives to help students be thoughtful participants in a democratic society, and to achieve the intellectual integration and awareness they will need to adapt to changes and meet challenges in their personal, social, and professional lives.

The Associate of Arts in General Studies equips you with versatile skills applicable to a wide range of careers. You will develop your communication, organizational, and problem-solving abilities. Additionally, this degree serves as a foundation for further education, empowering you to specialize in many other fields. The broad-based curriculum fosters adaptability and prepares your for a continuously evolving job market.