Overview of the College of General Studies
We specialize in addressing the unique needs of students who are already busy with work, family, and community responsibilities. Our priorities are providing our students with a high-quality education that will help them change or advance their careers, and supporting them with the personalized services and resources they need to achieve their academic and professional aspirations.
CGS is Accepting Applications for Fall!
Want to enroll in classes this fall? What are you waiting for? Get an admissions decision from CGS within 24 hours! (Degree-seeking applications are processed through OAFA and may take longer.)
News & Events
All new CGS students are encouraged to attend a CGS Quick Start, your one-stop shop to access all the resources you'll need to start the school year stress-free. You can:
- Meet your advisor and enroll in classes.
- Learn about our wide array of support services, designed specifically for non-traditional students.
- Enjoy a complimentary lunch with incoming and current students...
...and much more!
Quick Start will be held from noon-1:30 p.m. on Monday, August 18.
Register today.
The College of General Studies' Bachelor in Legal Studies was ranked number one in an article titled “The 25 Best Bachelor in Legal Studies Degree Programs” by TheBestSchools.org.
TheBestSchools.org selected Pitt’s program based on several weighted factors, including academic excellence, course offerings, faculty strengths, and reputation, including reputation for online degree programs.
Learn more about CGS' Legal Studies degree.
Post-bac Pre-med: The pre-med track in Natural Sciences provides students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree—regardless of whether or not that degree included a science background—with the unique opportunity to complete the pre-requisite coursework they need and complete a second bachelor’s degree in as little as 39 credits. Learn more.
Pre-professional Programs: CGS students can also complete the prerequisite course work for several graduate and undergraduate programs offered by other Pitt schools, while taking advantage of the unique student services, flexible courses, and real-world experience that CGS provides. Whether your end goal is in engineering, teaching, health care, or another field, CGS can be your first step in starting your career. Learn more.
Each year the College of General Studies recruits a number of CGS Students to be Peer Mentors and assist nontraditional first-year and transfer students with their transition to the University of Pittsburgh. These Peer Mentors will be paired with new students. The goals of this program include:
- Assisting mentees in making social contact and empowering them to become a part of the university community.
- Helping mentees find their way around campus and aiding them in accessing university services.
- Assisting mentees in understanding and dealing with administrative requirements.
- Supporting mentees in adjusting to the university culture.
Peer mentoring training will take place in June 2014. If you are interested in participating in this program, please contact Dr. Sherry Miller Brown at sbrown@pitt.edu.
The University of Pittsburgh Athletic Department hosted its annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Breakfast to honor student-athletes for their outstanding academic achievements during the 2013 spring and fall semesters on February 25. The event honors those Pitt student-athletes who achieved a 3.0 grade-point average or better during the last two semesters.
Among the awardees were 32 CGS students, including three who achieved the highest honor, a 4.0 GPA award: Zenel Demhasaj, Jarred Holley, and Lamar Patterson.
Congratulations to all of our Scholar-Athletes:
Haley Bodenheimer | Mary Frank | Charles Ross |
Loliya Briggs | Brittney Harris | Haley Sedgewick |
Laura Brouse | Brianna Kiesel | Holly Stevens |
Ethan Brown | Cory King | Patrick Tasser |
Alexa Campbell | Adam Lazenga | Joseph Uchebo |
Delaney Clesen | Cora McManus | Taylor Washington |
Mariame Conde | Carvin Nkanata | Kevin Weatherspoon |
Ashley Cuba | Katie O’Rourke | Andrew Wright |
Luke Curtis | Jenna Potts | Brett Zuck |
Brendon Felder | Casey Roche |
The McCarl Center for Nontraditional Student Success is the heart of the College of General Studies. It is a gathering place and a resource center. Come here for peer mentoring, academic assistance and resources, student organizations, and career services and counseling.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Pittsburgh is a membership-based community of adults, age 50 and older, who are passionate about learning. Because there are no test, no grades, and no degree requirements, it is the perfect environment for exploring new topics with other interested adults.
