Social data (provided by groups like Pew Research) suggests the completion of the bachelor’s degree leads to higher earnings and lower unemployment rates over a lifetime. Some suggest that earnings rise as much as $1.2M in a lifetime versus those without a bachelor’s degree. The General Studies major is designed for a well-rounded student, interested in coursework across campus.
Program Overview
A Well-Rounded Degree.
Earning a bachelor’s degree can greatly expand opportunities for success in many industries, and the General Studies degree is here to help you take your existing college credits and do just that! This Bachelor of Arts offers a versatile platform for growth, blending diverse coursework in culture and society, education and human development, and business, communication and media. Beyond providing you with a balanced and multifaceted education, the general studies degree will also help you hone skills crucial for professional success including critical thinking, problem solving, and leadership.
Because earning a degree as a non-traditional student can present unique challenges, this program is structured specifically for working adults and allows you to meet you preexisting personal and professional obligations. Our engaging and encouraging faculty are here to help you every step of the way and will work with you one-on-one to accomplish this major educational goal.
Pick up your bachelor’s degree where you left off and take control of your future success!
Meet an educational milestone
Increasingly, the estimated 40 million Americans with some credit and no degree are returning to campus in pursuit of the degree.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
A 49-credit, individualized-study program requiring a selection of courses from three areas, plus a one-credit career and professional development course (ADC 300 Degree to Career Success), and a three-credit senior capstone course (ADC 490 Capstone). Students will take 15 credits from each of three areas listed below to demonstrate educational breadth in their studies. For coursework in Areas 1-3, students are expected to complete ADC offerings listed below or similar coursework. The students in General Studies who seek Colorado Licensure through Western's Education Department will satisfy the capstone requirement by completing the licensure unit instead of ADC 490 Capstone.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Area 1 - Culture and Society (choose five): | 15 | |
ENG 310 | Food and Travel Writing | |
ENVS 100 | Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2) | |
ESS 320 | Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity | |
ESS 490 | Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity | |
HIST 200 | Historical Inquiry | |
HIST 370 | Public History | |
HIST 372 | Monuments and Museums | |
POLS 117 | Introduction to Political Ideas (GT-SS1) | |
POLS 397 | Special Topics | |
ROE 351 | Inquiry into Sustainability | |
SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3) | |
SOC 320 | Sociology of Families | |
SOC 351 | Juvenile Delinquency | |
SOC 367 | Corrections | |
SOC 380 | Social Class, Status, and Power | |
Area 2 - Education and Human Development (choose five): | 15 | |
EDUC 102 | Learning & Teaching (GT-SS3) | |
EDUC 197 | Special Topics in Education | |
EDUC 202 | Education and Schooling in the U.S. (GT-SS3) | |
EDUC 340 | Application of Pedagogy and Practice | |
EDUC 397 | Special Topics in Education | |
ESS 185 | Lifetime Wellness | |
ROE 182 | Introduction to Recreation and Outdoor Education | |
ROE 235 | Foundations of Teaching Environmental Education | |
ROE 240 | Alternative Programming | |
ROE 283 | Leadership and Facilitation | |
ROE 391 | Experiential Education Theory and Pedagogy | |
ROE 398 | Program Planning (with laboratory) | |
ROE 468 | Leadership and Administration | |
Business, Communication and Media (choose five): | 15 | |
ACC 201 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | |
ART 173 | Foundation Design: Digital Art and Design | |
BUAD 185 | Business Communication | |
BUAD 270 | Principles of Marketing | |
BUAD 327 | Social Media Marketing | |
BUAD 335 | Marketing Communications | |
COM 274 | Public Relations Communication | |
COM 346 | Multimedia Communication | |
COM 371 | Small Group and Conflict Management | |
COM 375 | Social Media Skills | |
COM 377 | Intercultural Communication in the Digital Age | |
DES 270 | Introduction to Graphic Design and Illustration | |
ENG 302 | Technical Writing | |
ESS 382 | Management of Sport and Fitness Facilities | |
ESS 450 | Risk Management in Physical Activity Settings | |
ROE 333 | Recreation and Sport Marketing | |
Total Credits | 45 |
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
ADC 300 | Degree to Career Success | 1 |
Area 1 Elective | 3 | |
Area 2 Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 7 | |
Spring | ||
Area 2 Elective | 3 | |
Area 3 Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 6 | |
Summer | ||
Area 1 Elective | 3 | |
Area 3 Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 6 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
Area 1 Elective | 3 | |
Area 2 Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 6 | |
Spring | ||
Area 2 Elective | 3 | |
Area 3 Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 6 | |
Summer | ||
Area 2 Elective | 3 | |
Area 3 Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 6 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
Area 1 Elective | 3 | |
Area 3 Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 6 | |
Spring | ||
Area 1 Elective | 3 | |
ADC 490 | Capstone | 3 |
Credits | 6 | |
Total Credits | 49 |
Careers
Take the first steps toward your academic and personal growth.
Fostering your intellectual development is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling and enriched life after graduation. Wondering how you can apply your program of choice to your intellectual and personal journey? Check out our “What Can I Do With This Major?” tool to explore the diverse opportunities and pathways within any degree program.
Scholarships
Blackbaud Award Management (BAM) Academic Works
Blackbaud Award Management (BAM) Academic Works is Western’s tool for searching for, applying for and managing over 300 scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students.
Western’s Adult Degree Completion program is unique in many regards, and scholarship opportunities may be different to students in this program. Contact your academic advisor to see which opportunities you qualify for and begin your scholarship application process today.
Find your ScholarshipsEligibility
- ADC students enrolled in 15 credits or more per school year in ADC program
- 2.75 cumulative GPA or greater
Description
Awards are up to $1500 per student scholarship awarded annually for two years, to be applied to tuition and fees.
Selected by: The ADC Program
Application:
No scholarship application is needed but students must be admitted into ADC and apply for financial aid to receive award. Contact ADC for scholarship deadline and information. 970.943.2997, adc@western.edu
Eligibility
- In-state Colorado residence
- Work with ADC advisor to Create Master Academic Plan (MAP)
- Qualify to receive $1 or more of Federal PELL Grant
- Enrolled in ADC and degree seeking, with a minimum of six credits per academic year
- Must participate in ADC advising sessions each semester
Description
Based out of Tucson, AZ, Earn to Learn (ETL) is leading a wave of funding innovations in higher education by offering postsecondary matched savings scholarship programs. In short, ETL helps qualified college students save $500 per year for their schooling and then matches that investment 8:1 with the help of Western funding, turning the amount into $4500.
Application
Scholarship applications accepted in the spring of the year. Email adc@western.edu or call 970.943.2997 for more information.
Eligibility
- Recipients must have not been enrolled in an institution or higher education for two or more consecutive semesters
- Minimum GPA of 2.75 or higher
- Enrolled in a minimum of 15 credits per academic year
- Must participate in the ADC Adult Learner mentoring program
Description
- Awards are up to $3000 per academic year.
Application
- No scholarship application needed but students must show through transcripts that they have not been enrolled in an institution or higher education for two or more consecutive semesters prior to the applying to the ADC program. Additional COSI and Western policies apply. Email adc@western.edu or call 970.943.2997 for more information.
Eligibility
- Intended for in-state Colorado residents
- Minimum GPA of 2.00or higher
- Enrolled in ADC and degree seeking, with a minimum of six credits per academic year
- Must participate in ADC advising sessions each semester
Description
This Western-funded scholarship ranges from $1000 – 2,500 per school year to be used for tuition and fees.
Application
Qualification of scholarship determined upon entry of the ADC program and reviewed on a regular basis. Email adc@western.edu or call 970.943.2997 for more information.
Blackbaud Award Management (BAM) Academic Works
Blackbaud Award Management (BAM) Academic Works is Western’s tool for searching for, applying for and managing over 300 scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students.
Western’s Adult Degree Completion program is unique in many regards, and scholarship opportunities may be different to students in this program. Contact your academic advisor to see which opportunities you qualify for and begin your scholarship application process today.
Find your ScholarshipsAlumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Note: Students enrolled in a Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program (i.e. major) do not qualify for Western Merit Scholarship programs. See the Rady Merit Scholarship section above for scholarship opportunities.
Program Benefits
Why complete your degree at Western?
Western’s ADC General Studies degree offers many benefits including:
Flexibility: Western’s General Studies degree can be complete asynchronously online, allowing you to learn at a pace that works for you.
Affordability: A variety of scholarship opportunities are available to ADC students, helping you offset the costs of earning your degree.
Knowledgeable Faculty: Western’s courses are primarily taught by full-time faculty with terminal degrees, ensuring you’ll learn from industry experts with decades of experience.
Start your journey
It can be intimidating to restart your post-secondary education, but Western is committed to providing the resources you need to succeed before, during and after earning your degree
Additional Resources
Department Information
Adult Degree Completion
Department Chairperson
Terry Schliesman, Ph.D.Adult Degree Completion Program Director
Adult Degree Completion Associate Director
Eliza Ekstrom SullivanAdult Degree Completion Associate Director
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Taylor 303
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231