Who says you have to pick a specialty? Being a generalist can be a great thing. Leonardo Da Vinci was a generalist. So was Benjamin Franklin. NOVA's General Studies AS allows you to explore your interests and find your passion, while laying the groundwork for a career in any field.
NOVA’s A.S. in General Studies leaves students with a lot of options. Transfer to a four-year institution, increase your value to current or potential employers, or just keep on learning.
The A.S. in General Studies transfers to four-year schools with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program – but is dependent on which electives you choose.
Some colleges and universities do not allow General Studies degrees for guaranteed admission. Speak with an advisor to find the right transfer school for you.
Students are advised to work closely with the faculty and counseling staff for program and course scheduling. Electives should be chosen carefully to meet requirements of the transfer institution. The responsibility for proper course selection rests with the student. Students are encouraged to complete the A.S. degree before transferring. Some Virginia colleges and universities exclude General Studies graduates from participating in guaranteed admission programs.
| Two Years | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Semester | |||
| ENG | 111 | College Composition I | 3 |
| Choose One | |||
| ITE | 115 | Intro. to Computer Applications and Concepts | 3 |
| ITE | 119 | Information Literacy | |
| MTH | 154 | Quantitative Reasoning OR Higher | 3 |
| 1 | Physical or Life Science Elective w/Lab | 4 | |
| Choose One | |||
| SDV | 100 | College Success Skills | 1 |
| SDV | 101 | Orientation to (a Specific Discipline) | |
| Total | 14 | ||
| 2nd Semester | |||
| 2CST | Elective | 3 | |
| ENG | 112 | College Composition II | 3 |
| 3HIS | Elective | 3 | |
| 4 | Humanity/Fine Arts Elective | 3 | |
| 1 | Physical or Life Science Elective w/Lab | 4 | |
| Total | 16 | ||
| 3rd Semester | |||
| 4 | Humanity/Fine Arts Elective | 3 | |
| 5 | Open Electives | 9 | |
| 6 | Social/Behavioral Sciences Elective | 3 | |
| Total | 15 | ||
| 4th Semester | |||
| 5 | Open Electives | 12 | |
| 6 | Social/Behavioral Sciences Elective | 3 | |
| Total | 15 | ||
| Total credits for the Associate of Science = 60 | |||
| Two Years | Credits |
|---|---|
| 1st Semester | |
|
ENG
111
|
3 |
| Choose One | |
|
Intro. to Computer Applications and Concepts
ITE
115
|
3 |
|
Information Literacy
ITE
119
|
|
|
Quantitative Reasoning OR Higher
MTH
154
|
3 |
|
Physical or Life Science Elective w/Lab
1
|
4 |
| Choose One | |
|
SDV
100
|
1 |
|
Orientation to (a Specific Discipline)
SDV
101
|
|
| Total | 14 |
| 2nd Semester | |
|
Elective
2CST
|
3 |
|
ENG
112
|
3 |
|
Elective
3HIS
|
3 |
|
Humanity/Fine Arts Elective
4
|
3 |
|
Physical or Life Science Elective w/Lab
1
|
4 |
| Total | 16 |
| 3rd Semester | |
|
Humanity/Fine Arts Elective
4
|
3 |
|
Open Electives
5
|
9 |
|
Social/Behavioral Sciences Elective
6
|
3 |
| Total | 15 |
| 4th Semester | |
|
Open Electives
5
|
12 |
|
Social/Behavioral Sciences Elective
6
|
3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Total credits for the Associate of Science = 60 | |
1 See biology, chemistry, ENV 121-ENV 122, physics, geology, or natural science courses with a lab component, listed under General Education Electives (excluding NAS 161-NAS 162). Some four-year colleges require a two-semester sequence.
2 Select from the following: CST 100, CST 110, CST 126, or CST 229.
4 See humanities/fine arts courses listed under General Education Electives. Elective should be selected with advice of a counselor or academic advisor to meet the requirements of the transfer institution.
5 See a list of Open Elective
7 See social/behavioral science courses listed under General Education Electives.
American Sign Language Career Studies Certificate
American Sign Language to English Interpretation A.A.S.
Art History Specialization
Communication Studies
Deaf Studies Specialization
English Specialization
General Education Certificate
International Studies Specialization
Liberal Arts A.A.
Professional Writing Certificate
Social Sciences A.S.
Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management Career Studies Certificate
Psychology Specialization
Public History and Historic Preservation Career Studies Certificate
Recreation Programming and Administration Career Studies Certificate
Recreation, Parks & Leisure Studies Specialization
As a General Studies major, you have a lot of options. Talk through them with one of our advisors.
*Indicates Required Field