The College of General Studies welcomes new and returning students for the upcoming 2021 semester. In accordance with university guidelines, we remain committed to the health and well-being of the communities we serve and will continue to provide remote delivery of services and programs throughout the year.
For COVID-19 updates, visit The Power of Pitt.
Our degree programs combine general education courses, such as history and literature, with specific areas of study. This means you will not only achieve mastery in your chosen subject area, but also gain confidence and essential skills in written and verbal communication as well as strategic thinking and planning. At the College of General Studies, we help you prepare not just for a job, but for a career.
Here, you can explore opportunities by subject area and find information about available degrees and concentrations, as well as minors, certificate programs, and advanced degree options.
Earn a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, a related minor, or a certificate by taking courses in such departments as Africana studies, classics, English, linguistics, music, philosophy, religious studies, and theater arts. We also offer a pre-education track to help prepare you for applying to the certificate or Master of Arts programs in the School of Education.
Obtain a health-related degree in dental hygiene or health services. The College of General Studies and School of Dental Medicine collaborate to offer the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, while our Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Health Services majors will provide you with communication and management skills while broadening your understanding of health-related issues.
Pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Administration of Justice or Legal Studies. As an administration of justice student, you can add a specialty in adult and juvenile corrections, cybercrime, law enforcement practice, or forensics. As a legal studies student, you will deepen your understanding of the nature, content, and operation of American law and legal institutions. Advanced degree programs are also possible through our university partnerships.
In our Natural Sciences BS degree program, you can choose from courses in such areas as anthropology, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, neuroscience, physics, psychology, and statistics. Also available are a pre-medicine option, a pre-physician assistant option, and two pre-education optionsto help prepare you for applying to graduate school.
In the Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences degree program, you can create a multi-disciplinary degree program from such departments as anthropology, economics, history, Jewish studies, political science, sociology, urban studies, and women's studies. A pre-education track in this area is a great preparation option for those interested in applying to graduate education programs.
As a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Professional Communications student, you’ll have the opportunity to specialize in corporate/community relations, writing for the professions, or digital media. You will take courses across various departments to strengthen both the knowledge base and practical skills you need for a career where communication with internal and external audiences is critical. Among our more popular programs, this major is designed to help students master the art of media and communication, becoming professional communicators who are sought after in today's competitive job market.
If you are interested in human rights issues and public policies, the Bachelor of Arts in Public Service major can help prepare you for a career in the public sector — focused on the resolution of public problems or delivery of public services — by choosing to concentrate in public administration, nonprofit management, or a self-designed course of study. Degree and certificate programs, minors, and advanced degree options are all available through this major.
