General Studies, BGS, Online
Quick Facts
Credit Hours: 120-126 | Estimated Time to Completion: 4 years | Cost Per Credit Hour: $480.65 | Start Dates: Fall, Spring, Summer
Program Details
- Location
- Wayne Campus, Akron Campus
- Level
- undergraduate
- Degree/Program Type
- Bachelor of General Studies / major
- Format
- online
- Course Info
- Course Sequence
- School/Department
- Interdisciplinary
Program Contact
- Heather A. Howley, Ph.D.
-
Executive Director, UA Wayne College
330-972-8914
Program Overview
The University of Akron Online offers a Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) for students seeking a flexible, personalized path to degree completion. Designed for transfer students, working adults, career changers, and learners with diverse academic backgrounds, the program allows you to build a bachelor's degree around your interests, experiences, and goals.
Unlike traditional majors with a prescribed course sequence, the online BGS gives you the freedom to combine focus areas and electives across disciplines while completing university requirements. This flexibility makes it easier to apply previously earned credits, explore multiple areas of interest, and create a degree plan that reflects your educational and professional objectives.
As you progress through the program, you'll strengthen communication, critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and organizational skills that support career growth across industries. The fully online format provides the flexibility to balance your education with work, family, and other responsibilities while moving steadily toward graduation.
What You'll Learn
Build broad, transferable skills while creating an academic pathway aligned with your interests and goals.
Skills Gained
Written and verbal communication
Critical thinking and analysis
Ethical decision-making
Organizational and goal-setting skills
Research and information synthesis
Adaptability and self-directed learning
Core Practice
Integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines
Evaluate information and solve complex problems
Communicate effectively in professional settings
Apply ethical reasoning to real-world situations
Develop strategies for lifelong learning and career growth
Career Outcomes
The Bachelor of General Studies provides a versatile educational foundation that can support career advancement, professional growth, and preparation for graduate study across a wide range of fields.
Job Titles
Project coordinator
Administrative manager
Operations specialist
Human resources specialist
Community outreach specialist
Program coordinator
Client services manager
Business support professional
Where You’ll Work
Businesses and corporations
Healthcare organizations
Educational institutions
Government agencies
Nonprofit organizations
Community-based organizations
These examples represent just a few of the many industries and career paths that may align with a Bachelor of General Studies. Outcomes vary based on your focus areas, experience, and professional goals.
Additional Program Information
General Studies Curriculum
The curriculum combines general education courses, focus areas, electives, and a senior capstone experience, allowing you to build a degree that reflects your academic interests.
General Education Foundation
Develop a broad academic foundation through coursework in communication, mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, civic literacy, and global perspectives. General education coursework (36 credits) strengthens critical thinking, problem-solving, quantitative reasoning, and communication skills while helping you understand complex issues from multiple perspectives and disciplines.
→ See full general education requirements
Focus Areas
Customize your degree through one to three focus areas that align with your interests and goals. Students complete at least 30 credit hours across concentration areas, including a minimum of 15 credit hours in a primary concentration. Focus areas allow you to build depth in subjects that support your career aspirations, graduate school interests, or personal areas of curiosity while creating an interdisciplinary educational experience.
→ View additional information on focus areas
Electives and Degree Customization
51 elective credits allow you to explore multiple disciplines, apply eligible transfer coursework, and create a degree plan tailored to your educational and professional objectives. Students can use electives to expand knowledge in areas related to business, healthcare, social sciences, public service, communication, technology, and other fields that support their goals.
→ Additional elective information
Senior Capstone
Complete the program with a senior capstone experience that brings together learning from your coursework, professional experiences, and personal interests. Through a self-directed project and portfolio, you'll demonstrate the value of your degree by applying knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines to a meaningful issue, challenge, or area of interest. The capstone provides an opportunity to reflect on your educational journey while showcasing your growth, accomplishments, and readiness for future professional or academic pursuits.
Rankings
Recognized Among Top Online Universities
UAkron Online has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s top online universities, reflecting a strong commitment to quality and student success.
Interdisciplinary Learning
Study What Matters to You
Combine coursework from multiple areas of study to create a degree that reflects your unique interests and aspirations.
Transfer Friendly
Make the Most of Previous Credits
Apply eligible transfer coursework toward degree requirements while creating a personalized path to graduation.
Admissions Information
Explore the admissions process, required materials, and next steps to get started in the general studies degree program.
Admission to the online Bachelor of General Studies program requires meeting The University of Akron's general undergraduate admissions requirements.
Applicants must:
- Submit an undergraduate application
- Submit official transcripts from previous schools attended
- Demonstrate readiness for college-level coursework
Additional considerations:
- Transfer credits may apply toward degree requirements
- The program is designed for students with diverse educational backgrounds
- Students returning to college are encouraged to discuss transfer pathways and degree-completion options with an advisor
→ View admissions requirements
Need help? An Enrollment Advisor can guide you through each step.
Tuition and Cost Considerations
- Tuition is charged on a per-credit-hour basis of [PLACEHOLDER]
- Online students pay in-state tuition, with a $1 per credit hour out-of-state surcharge
→ View tuition and fees for undergraduate students
→ Estimate your cost of attendance
Financial Aid Options
Students may be eligible for a variety of financial support options, including:
- FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
- Federal and state grants
- Student loans
- Scholarships
- Employer tuition assistance programs
The University of Akron awards significant financial aid annually, with a large percentage of undergraduate students receiving some form of assistance.
→ Learn more about financial aid
Scholarships
The University of Akron offers scholarship opportunities to help make your education more affordable. Online General Studies students may be eligible for a variety of university scholarships based on academic achievement, financial need, and other criteria.
→ View undergraduate scholarships
Get Help
The Office of Student Financial Aid provides support throughout the process, including help with FAFSA, scholarships, and understanding your aid package.
Admission to the online Bachelor of General Studies program requires meeting The University of Akron's general undergraduate admissions requirements.
Applicants must:
- Submit an undergraduate application
- Submit official transcripts from previous schools attended
- Demonstrate readiness for college-level coursework
Additional considerations:
- Transfer credits may apply toward degree requirements
- The program is designed for students with diverse educational backgrounds
- Students returning to college are encouraged to discuss transfer pathways and degree-completion options with an advisor
→ View admissions requirements
Need help? An Enrollment Advisor can guide you through each step.
Tuition and Cost Considerations
- Tuition is charged on a per-credit-hour basis of [PLACEHOLDER]
- Online students pay in-state tuition, with a $1 per credit hour out-of-state surcharge
→ View tuition and fees for undergraduate students
→ Estimate your cost of attendance
Financial Aid Options
Students may be eligible for a variety of financial support options, including:
- FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
- Federal and state grants
- Student loans
- Scholarships
- Employer tuition assistance programs
The University of Akron awards significant financial aid annually, with a large percentage of undergraduate students receiving some form of assistance.
→ Learn more about financial aid
Scholarships
The University of Akron offers scholarship opportunities to help make your education more affordable. Online General Studies students may be eligible for a variety of university scholarships based on academic achievement, financial need, and other criteria.
→ View undergraduate scholarships
Get Help
The Office of Student Financial Aid provides support throughout the process, including help with FAFSA, scholarships, and understanding your aid package.
Online Bachelor of General Studies FAQs
Salary outcomes for general studies graduates vary based on industry, occupation, experience, and area of focus. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, project management specialists earn a median annual salary of approximately $100,000, human resources specialists earn approximately $73,000, training and development specialists earn approximately $66,000, and administrative services managers earn approximately $107,000. Because the degree can support many career paths, earning potential ultimately depends on the field you choose and your professional experience.
Yes. The Bachelor of General Studies is designed to help students apply eligible transfer credits toward degree requirements whenever possible. Many students choose the program because its flexible structure can help maximize previously earned college credits and create a more efficient path to degree completion.
Yes. The online Bachelor of General Studies offers the flexibility many working adults need to balance education with work, family, and other responsibilities. Students can customize their coursework, complete classes online, and create a degree plan that fits their schedule while continuing to make progress toward graduation.
A general studies degree can prepare you for careers across business, healthcare, education, government, nonprofit organizations, and many other fields. Because the program is highly customizable, students can align coursework with their interests, professional goals, or previous experience. The degree may also support career advancement, degree completion, and preparation for graduate or professional study.
A general studies degree offers greater flexibility than many traditional majors. Instead of following a highly prescribed curriculum, students can combine focus areas and electives across disciplines to create a personalized academic plan. This makes the degree particularly attractive for transfer students, working adults, and learners with diverse interests.
Earn Your Bachelor’s in General Studies Online
Ready to finish your degree on your terms? Build a bachelor's degree that reflects your interests, supports your goals, and helps you move forward with confidence.