The Bachelor of General Studies at the University of West Florida is designed to meet the needs of every student. With course offerings spanning 14 departments and four colleges and a choice of in-person classes in Pensacola or Fort Walton Beach or online, you can shape your studies to best fit your career goals.
Why Get a Degree in General Studies at UWF?
The General Studies program is extremely flexible and accessible for any student, including working adults, members of the military or those with family obligations.
The program is open to all and offers admission to students with a wide range of academic backgrounds. Your advisor will help you build a course of study that best fits your unique goals.
We offer classes online and face-to-face at the Pensacola campus or UWF Emerald Coast in Fort Walton Beach.
What You Will Learn
Our program offers a broadly based liberal arts education rather than a single academic focus or vocational track.
The degree revolves around two areas of emphasis: the Society and Health specialization and the Integrative Studies specialization. Each area includes at least six or more options and includes multiple disciplinary options.
This unique design teaches you marketable skills in several disciplines, preparing you for entrance into an increasingly diverse, fast-paced workforce.
Some students choose to complete an internship as part of the required senior capstone course. The capstone provides great freedom for you to choose a final project. Students have created websites, podcasts or training manuals, depending on their area of interest.
You can build on your associate of arts degrees from another institution or return to college study after an absence.
UWF offers classes through various delivery methods, including face-to-face, hybrid, and online. Though UWF makes every effort to provide on-campus classes in face-to-face programs, there is a possibility that some classes will have limited availability and may be offered online only. For more information, review the modes of delivery and instructional methods.
Areas of Emphasis
Design your program of study around two areas of emphasis.
In addition to the University's general requirements, students must complete a minimum of three (3) to six (6) semester hours of upper-division "lead" courses from each area of emphasis (Communication and Community Leadership; Ethics, Rights, and Legal Perspectives; Research and Data Fluency; Social, Cultural, and Global Perspectives; and Risk Management and Problem Solving) for a total of 21 semester hours of lead coursework. Students then choose 21 elective semester hours from across the five areas of emphasis (Communication and Community Leadership; Ethics, Rights, and Legal Perspectives; Research and Data Fluency; Social, Cultural, and Global Perspectives; and Risk Management and Problem Solving). Students individualize their program when choosing their electives; they may be from one area or may be spread across multiple areas, depending on their concentration.
Society & Health students consult with their advisor and choose appropriate courses within each of the five proficiency areas. They do not have to be from the same department or even the same college. As with traditional majors, students take a series of classes in the chosen area(s), including any prerequisites.
In the second-to-last or last semester, students must complete a three-semester-hour, upper-division Capstone course or Internship, which may be work- or community-related. The Capstone or Internship serves as a culminating experience in the BGS: Society & Health program.
In addition to the University's general requirements, students must complete a minimum of six semester hours of upper-division "lead" courses from each area of emphasis (Communication, Leadership, and Professionalism) for a total of 18 semester hours of lead coursework. Students then choose 27 upper-division elective semester hours. Students individualize their program when choosing their electives; they may be from one area or may be spread across multiple areas, depending on their concentration.
Integrative Studies students consult with their advisor and choose appropriate courses within each of the three lead areas. They do not have to be from the same department or even the same college. As with traditional majors, students take a series of classes in the chosen area(s), including any prerequisites.
In the second-to-last or last semester, students must complete either a three-credit, upper-division capstone course or an internship. The capstone course includes a work- or community-based project that serves as the culminating experience in the BGS: Integrative Studies program, demonstrating the integration of academic learning with personal and professional goals. Students selecting this option work with their instructor to submit a proposal, establish project requirements, and make adjustments as needed. Students who choose the internship option complete a supervised field experience that applies academic learning in a professional setting.
