Associate of Science in General Education
Are you ready to broaden your horizons, expand your knowledge, and develop your skill set? The Associate of Science in General Education program will allow you to gain writing & mathematical skills and explore subject matter disciplines such as humanities, information literacy, science, and social science. Within the curriculum, you will address the cultural diversity of contemporary society and focus on writing & speech communication. Students will also explore mathematical and other formal systems to develop abstract reasoning abilities and take a course in informational literacy.
The program focuses on core competencies that address the soft skills a person needs in the workplace. These soft skills include, but are not limited to writing, oral communication, quantitative reasoning, information literacy, and critical thinking.
The AS in General Education program serves as a feeder program to many scientific tracks and pathways such as a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, public health, clinical science, and radiation therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Kind of Jobs Can You Get with a General Education Degree?
The growing medical services sector is always in need of technicians and assistants with foundational training in the sciences. Your career path could include a variety of nursing, pharmaceutical, radiological, or patient care opportunities, as well as teaching assistant, computer support, or paralegal professions.
Is General Education a Good Major?
General education studies provide essential self-development skills in literacy, math, science, and humanities that form a foundation for lifelong learning. These studies also help prepare students with the fundamentals necessary for more advanced education.
Degree and Course Requirements
To receive the AS degree in General Education, students must complete at least 90 quarter units, 18 of which must be taken in residence at Berkshire University. Of the 90 units required, 78 must fall into the areas of General Education as listed below. A list of courses for each category can be found in the General Education section of the Catalog under General Education for Bachelor Degrees. In the absence of transfer credit, additional general elective courses may be taken to fulfill the total unit requirement for the degree.
The General Education Program consists of a minimum of 78 quarter units. Of the 78 units, students must complete at least 4.5 units at the upper-division level and 4.5 units in diversity-enriched coursework. A plus [+] indicates a diversity-enriched offering.
Students are urged to meet English and Mathematics requirements as early as possible in their college studies to avoid serious difficulties in other coursework. Refer to the section on Undergraduate Admission Procedures for specific information regarding application and placement evaluation.
AREA A: English Communication (Minimum 13.5 quarter units)
AREA B: Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning (Minimum 9.0 quarter units)
AREA C: Information Literacy (Minimum 4.5 quarter units)
AREA D: Arts, Humanities & Languages (Minimum 9 quarter units over at least 2 areas)
AREA E: Social & Behavioral Sciences (Minimum 13.5 quarter units)
AREA F: Physical & Biological Sciences (Minimum 18 quarter units required)
AREA G: Lifelong Learning & Self Development (Minimum 4.5 quarter units)
AREA A-G: General Education (Minimum 4.5 quarter units)
Program Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this program, you’ll be able to demonstrate:
A capacity for responsible citizenship in a diverse society
Skills for self-development that contribute to lifelong learning
Literacy in written and oral communication
Information literacy skills in developing research projects and presentations
Awareness of past and present human and cultural diversity
The ability to identify ethical issues raised in different disciplines
Scientific and quantitative literacy skills in appraising information and solving problems
The ability to use the elements of critical thinking to analyze issues, solve problems, and make decisions
The ability to work successfully in a team
Admissions
Enrolling in a university is a big decision. That’s why our dedicated admissions team is here to guide you through the admissions process and help you find the right program for you and your career goals.
To that end, we’ve simplified and streamlined our application process, so you can get enrolled in your program right away. Because we accept and review applications year round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program and location of choice.
Learn more about undergraduate, graduate, military, and international student admissions, plus admissions information for transfer students. You can also learn more about our tuition rates and financial aid opportunities.