Ashworth College Launches General Studies Degree Programs

Sept. 15, 2011 - PRLog -- NORCROSS, Georgia – Commonly referred to as  "generalist degrees," Ashworth College’s (http://www.ashworthcollege.edu) new Associate and Bachelor’s programs in General Studies combine a core set of general education courses with courses from several career-related disciplines.  The online college's new curriculum is nationally accredited and designed to provide students a well-rounded college education.

The program was developed to provide students a solid academic foundation while giving them the flexibility to customize the degree to match their interests and goals. Further, a general studies degree demonstrates to employers that the graduate has the intelligence, self-discipline and commitment to work through a college-level program.

“We developed the General Studies Associate Degree and Bachelor’s Degree programs to give students the opportunity to customize their programs by choosing multiple electives from a variety of specialty areas. It also allows them to apply previously earned college credits towards their Ashworth degree, thereby helping them reach their end goal faster,” said Dr. Leslie Gargiulo, Vice President of Education for Ashworth College.

For example, while developing the General Studies programs, Dr. Gargiulo found that it was possible for an associate degree student to receive between 125% and 400% more transfer credits compared to more career-focused associate degree programs. She also commented that for working adults looking to break into new careers or wanting to advance their current careers, not only can reach their goals faster, but they often find that a general studies degree gives them an added advantage during interviews, when being considered for a promotion or helping them to move into more challenging positions when competing against others who may not have a degree.

The general studies programs lay the foundation for a broad base of knowledge with general education courses in a variety of subject areas.  To customize the program to meet their unique professional and personal goals, students can select a combination of courses from different specialty areas such as business administration, criminal justice, early childhood education, marketing, psychology, etc.  

A general studies degree is a good introduction into the business world. It's appreciated by employers for positions in which specialized knowledge is not required--just a well rounded education, good judgment, critical thinking and analysis, and communication skills. For the graduate, positions such as administrative support and project management are popular for those with a generalist degree, and many more opportunities exist depending on chosen electives and previous experience.

The Ashworth’s Associate Degree program is comprised of a total of 20 courses spread equally across four semesters while the Bachelor’s Degree requires 40 courses over eight semesters. Both programs require a High School Diploma or GED prior to enrolling. Core courses and electives are chosen from a broad range of behavioral and social sciences, humanities, fine arts, math, science and computer science courses.

Students choose a combination of electives from among 14 specialty areas at the associate level and six specialty areas at the bachelor’s level, including business, criminal justice, early childhood education, marketing, etc.

“Like all Ashworth programs, the General Studies programs have been developed with the working adult in mind,” said Deepa Chadha, Degree Program Director at Ashworth. “Many of our students work full-time jobs and have families. We want our programs to be as flexible as possible so that they can incorporate their studies into their work and family schedules. It helps that they can complete their online courses at home and not travel to a classroom.”

Chadha also pointed out that a general studies degree is an ideal next step for those who have yet to complete a degree or want to complete a degree without restricting themselves to a single area of specialization.

A solution for military personnel, military spouses and veterans

One segment that will benefit from Ashworth’s new general studies programs is those with military affiliations. Many military personnel and veterans have amassed various college and military experience credits during their careers. Ashworth’s Associate and Bachelor’s degree programs in General Studies offer the perfect opportunity to apply these credits toward an actual degree.

“This is a huge win for military personnel, especially those who are trying to move up in the ranks or are working toward promotion points,” said Rodney Butler, Ashworth’s Military Education Coordinator.” “Now they can apply these college credits towards a degree that will benefit them while in the service and after they have transitioned to civilian life.”

Butler also pointed out that the General Studies degrees will also appeal to military spouses who may not have been able to complete a degree from a traditional college due to frequent relocations.

# # #

About Ashworth College

As leading online school, Ashworth College has built a tradition of excellence spanning 25 years, offering students worldwide more than 115 online college degrees, online certificate programs and online high school diploma options that are affordable and fit the busy schedules of working adults. Ashworth offers military education as well as specialized programs for corporate partners and homeschoolers.

Headquartered in Norcross, GA, Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of the DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. James Madison High School is further accredited regionally by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). SACS CASI is an accreditation division of AdvancED. For more information, visit http://www.ashworthcollege.edu.