General Studies, AS (GNST-AS)

General Studies is a program designed for students who seek an associate degree for personal growth  and/or career advancement. The General Studies Program provides students flexibility in degree completion and maximizes the number of credits that are transferred to Connecticut State Community College. While not intended for transfer, it can be used for the purpose of transfer with focused advising. However, students interested in transferring to a bachelor’s degree-granting program should consider one of the Liberal Arts and Science associate degrees, which are designed to satisfy transfer requirements at four-year institutions.

This program is designed to ensure that students develop strong communication skills, increase literacy and math skills, develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the sciences, social sciences, and the arts and humanities. General Studies students gain foundational knowledge in a variety of academic disciplines. The General Studies degree program is designed to give students the opportunity to explore knowledge from multiple perspectives. Students are challenged to become intellectually curious, aesthetically aware, and critically perceptive. The program gives students the flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of the workplace and the foundation necessary for lifelong learning and personal growth.

The general education and career education curricula are dynamic and interactive components. They enrich each other by helping students to make career choices in keeping with their understanding of 
themselves and their world. Together, they provide the skills and perspectives that make possible the dignity of work and social contribution. They cultivate a framework of meaning, value, ethical purpose, and commitment that enriches every aspect of life. They foster an attitude of critical inquiry, curiosity, openness and wonder that enables a spirit of lifelong learning.

Program Learning Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate college-level literacy and communication skills across disciplines.
2. Demonstrate college-level quantitative reasoning skills.
3. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills across disciplines. 
4. Demonstrate facility with current computer software applications used in college and the workforce.