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Academic Catalog '12-'13 | General Studies

General Studies

Description

The General Studies program provides an interdisciplinary approach to academic learning that has grown in popularity and influence over the last hundred years as the Academy has matured to embrace a view of human knowledge as integrated, as related to experience and inseparable into fundamentally different spheres. Pursuit of the B.A. in General Studies provides students with the opportunity to attain skills and knowledge at the intersection of different academic disciplines in an integrated, coherent program of study. General studies students develop well trained minds while honing critical thinking and writing skills. General Studies students also enjoy the flexibility to choose focal areas according to their interests and experience. An undergraduate degree in General Studies prepares students for many post-degree paths including employment in the helping professions, human resources, public relations, public policy, and government related fields as well as post graduate degrees in these areas or in general studies, law and business.

An excellent degree completion program for students with transfer credits, Trinity's Bachelor of Arts in General Studies allows students to specialize in one concentration area or to create an individualized degree program by choosing two areas of concentration ranging from business administration to the humanities.

Major Requirements

The BA in General Studies requires 42 credit hours, which includes two required seminars and major coursework in up to two concentration areas (with at least 15 credit hours in each concentration area, and the remainder of the 42 hours in another concentration area or special concentration electives).

Required Courses: (6 credits)

  • Integrating Seminar: taken at the start of major coursework
    GST 301
  • Senior Seminar: taken at the completion of major coursework
    GST 401

Concentration Areas within the major

Majors can take up to two concentrations with at least 15 credit hours in one concentration.

  • Business Administration (15 credit hours available)
  • Human Resources (between 15 and 36 credit hours available)
  • Communication
  • Humanities
  • Information Systems

Required Concentration Courses within the major (choose up to two concentrations):

Business Administration Concentration
The business administration concentration introduces the field of business and develops the conceptual, analytical, functional, interpersonal, and communication skills that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and global business environment. Students develop the ability to assess and analyze complex situations, determine the relative importance of internal and external variables affecting organizational objectives and think through problem solving strategies. The BADM concentration is useful to students seeking graduate study or advancement in business.

  • GST 101
  • GST 212
  • BADM 101
  • BADM 231
  • BADM 251

Human Resource Management Concentration
The Human Resources concentration introduces this growing field, a specialized blend of management and organizational behavior, psychology, and sociology. Grounded in the recognition that human capital is a key component of an organization's competitive advantage, emphasis is placed on developing a broad Human Resource perspective, as well as familiarity with the technical aspects of the field. Human Resources study prepares individuals to assume positions in the HR profession within business, government, and nonprofit organizations.

  • BADM 371
  • BADM 373
  • BADM 375
  • COM 315
  • PSYC 315
    Students may take up to 27 additional elective credits in this concentration.

Communication Concentration
The Communication concentration introduces the scientific and artistic basis of communication with emphasis on interpersonal interaction and human relationships, organizational and institutional communication, public discourse and mass communication. The communication concentration is recommended for students pursuing employment and graduate study in areas that require demonstrated abilities in oral communication and written communication in different contexts.

  • COM 201
  • COM 265
  • COM 290
  • COM 383
  • COM 488
    Students may take up to 27 additional elective credits in this concentration.

Humanities Concentration
The Humanities concentration introduces students to Philosophy, Art, English, History, and Theology and Religious studies. Study of the Humanities encourages deep reflection on life, and helps students make sense of personal and work experiences as they are situated within the larger context of the meaning of human existence. The Humanities concentration is recommended for students interested in graduate study in humanities-related fields and law school or employment in fields requiring analytical thinking, writing, and communication skills such as business, government, and public service.

  • GST 100
  • FNAR 101
    or
    FNAR 102
  • PHIL 365
  • ENGL 271
  • GST 400

Students may take up to 27 additional elective credits in this concentration.

Information Systems and Technology Concentration
The Information Systems and Technology concentration introduces students to this growing field. Students studying information systems and technology develop the skills and knowledge necessary to function in roles such as project managers, network engineers, and system administrators.

  • ISYS 141
  • ISYS 201
  • ISYS 211
  • ISYS 221
  • ISYS 222
    Students may take up to 27 additional elective credits in this concentration.

Course Descriptions

As an interdisciplinary degree, General Studies includes coursework in many academic disciplines. Descriptions of courses designed for the program with GST designation follow, all other courses in the General Studies degree program can be found in the catalog listed by their disciplinary prefix or on the Supporting Courses for the School of Professional Studies page of this catalog.

GST 100
GST 101
GST 212
GST 301
GST 400
GST 401


Trinity reserves the right to change, without prior notice, any policy or procedure, tuition or fee, curricular requirements, or any other information found on this web site or in its printed materials.

Questions may be directed to Virginia Broaddus, Ph.D., Provost at BroaddusV@trinitydc.edu.

For teacher education courses, check Continuing Education  Archived Course Descriptions and Schedules.

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