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: Culture, Health & Society, and Integrative Studies. 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 programs offered at the Pensacola campus or UWF Emerald Coast may require online courses. Please discuss the program requirements and planning with your academic advisor.
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 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 30 semester hours of lead coursework. Students then choose 18 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.
Culture, Health & Society 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: Culture, Health and Society program.
In addition to the University’s general requirements, students must complete a minimum of six (6) semester hours of upper-division “lead” courses from each area of emphasis (Communication, Information Literacy, Problem Solving/Decision Making, and Community Leadership) for a total of 24 semester hours of lead coursework. Students then choose 24 elective semester hours from across the four areas of Communication, Information Literacy, Problem Solving/Decision Making, and Community Leadership. 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 four 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, which may be work- or community-related. This project serves as a culminating experience in the BGS: Integrative Studies program and demonstrates the synthesis of academic contact with personal and professional goals. Students work with their instructor to submit a proposal, choose project requirements, and recommend changes when needed. A presentation of the project is required and options include the UWF Student Scholars Symposium, the Women's and Gender Studies Conference, or other symposium/conference of the student's choice.
The interdisciplinary nature of the online BGS program prepares you to excel in a number of different fields and pursuits while maintaining your personal and professional schedules.
