Associate of Arts in General Studies
100% ONLINE
Harcum College offers an Associate of Arts in General Studies online to provide students with the opportunity to tailor a program that is unique to their specific interests. Since the General Studies program includes 13 elective courses, students can sample a diverse range of disciplines. At the conclusion of the program, students will have a clear understanding of their future career path, whether it involves transferring into a four-year bachelor's program or immediately entering the job market with an associate degree in hand.
Enrollment in GenEd Studies Online is ongoing!
Enrollment requirement: To register for our GenEd courses students need a high school diploma or GED.
Graduation requirement: To earn the associate degree, students must complete 62 credit hours.
Program Description
The General Studies program has historically served several important functions for Harcum College.
- The program offers students who are undecided about their career with an opportunity to experience several different fields. Students can easily transfer into career-specific programs at Harcum.
- Some students complete the General Studies program and transfer to four-year colleges with an associate degree.
- The General Studies program has traditionally housed the core curriculum of 24 credits, which all Harcum students must earn.
The core requirements include composition, humanities, social science, mathematics, science and physical education courses. These core courses fulfill many components of the college's mission statement.
Degree Details
Students earn an Associate of Arts in General Studies to enhance their credentials and upgrade their position at their current place of employment or pursue a new career path. Students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution often choose to test their ability to earn a two-year degree before moving forward with their education.
Some students who have been out of school for some time prefer to return to college since they feel more comfortable studying two years at a time, rather than facing a four-year challenge immediately. Some students recognize that obstacles may arise, so they welcome the chance to secure a two-year degree to increase their earning ability in case they are unable to pursue a four-year degree after graduation.
The General Studies program has been offered in a variety of forms since the college opened in 1915.
During the program, students learn critical-thinking skills, mathematical and scientific reasoning, analytical-thinking skills and other assessment methodologies. Students are asked to describe and evaluate literature and poetry, to assess different dimensions of society from a variety of theoretical perspectives, to perform laboratory experiments, to critically evaluate current events and to develop and perform community service projects.
They may have a wide spectrum of assignments depending upon each course. The skills learned vary, of course, with the particular courses that students choose as their electives.
