Liberal Arts and General Studies
If you are not sure what you want to study in college, or, alternatively, if you are interested in many different fields, a liberal arts or general studies degree can be a smart choice. In both cases, these degrees provide opportunities to study a broad range of subjects. Likewise, both degrees are typically highly customizable to your needs.
But how do they differ?
Well, that’s what we will explore in this guide! By the end of the article, you will have a firm grasp on what each of these degrees offers – and a better idea of the degree that’s best for you.

Liberal Arts Degree Vs. General Studies Degree
A liberal arts degree offers a broad education in humanities, social sciences, and arts, fostering critical thinking and communication skills. A general studies degree provides a more flexible curriculum, allowing students to explore a wide range of subjects without a specific focus, which can be ideal for those undecided on their career path or seeking a broad academic foundation.
Colleges and universities across the nation offer liberal arts and general studies degrees. As noted earlier, these degrees have a lot in common. For example, both degree types are often 120 semester credits or so, which requires about four years of study to complete.
Another commonality between liberal arts and general studies degrees is that while they are customizable, there is a good deal of structure. For example, as a liberal arts major, you might work with your academic advisor to develop your own major-area curriculum. But the curriculum you design would need to meet specific requirements for graduation, like taking a certain number of math, science, humanities, and other courses.
As we will discuss in a moment, the customizability of a general studies degree is often not quite on par with a liberal arts degree. Nevertheless, you can often pick and choose courses and sequences of courses that meet your interests while also satisfying graduation requirements.
Beyond the curricular requirements, liberal arts and general studies degrees are usually preparatory for one of two pursuits – entering the workforce or preparing for graduate school. How these degrees prepare you for these pursuits varies somewhat though.
Differences in Coursework
As noted earlier, liberal arts and general studies degrees expose you to many different fields of study. In some cases, these fields might be highly similar. But in many cases, the curriculum that’s followed is highly distinct.
What makes the coursework for these degrees so different is you. Remember – many of these programs allow you to choose the courses and sequences of courses you take. So, as a liberal arts major, you might consult with your advisor to develop a curriculum that focuses on environmental science and journalism. Using your studies in these seemingly unrelated areas, you might seek employment as an environmental investigative journalist after you graduate.
Using this example, you might take courses like the following:
- Biodiversity
- Water Resources
- Wildlife Biology
- News Writing
- Media Ethics
Now let’s assume you are a general studies major. In some cases, general studies degree programs lack a concentration area like the environmental science and journalism example above. Instead, you might take a collection of courses in these and other related fields, such as:
- Biology
- Marine Biology
- Conservation
- English
- General Journalism
So, what’s the difference?
In the first example, the liberal arts curriculum is more targeted. The courses you take reflect your specific interests as discussed with your advisor, and help meet specific occupational goals after graduation. By and large, the courses you take in a liberal arts program fall into several categories, including the arts, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
The general studies example might be considered a broader scope of courses. The courses might be less targeted, too – in the general studies example, we are taking general journalism as opposed to the more specific news writing course in the liberal arts example.
Let’s use another example to illustrate this difference further.
Assume you are interested in art history and want to develop a major that focuses specifically on ancient Greek and Roman art. That being the case, a liberal arts degree would likely be your best bet. Why? Because you can pick and choose courses that align with your Greek and Roman art theme. These might include studies of Art of the Roman Empire, Egyptian Art, and Greek Tragedies.
However, a general studies degree in art would likely be far more broad-based. While you might take numerous classes focusing on Greek and Roman art, you would likely also have to take supplemental courses in other areas, like Medieval Art, Art Interpretation, or Museum Studies to fulfill graduation requirements.
It should be noted that these are fairly narrow examples that assume the ability to customize a liberal arts degree and not a general studies degree. In many cases, though, general studies degrees are every bit as flexible as liberal arts degrees.
In fact, colleges and universities often use the terms “liberal arts” and “general studies” interchangeably. Other terms, like “interdisciplinary studies,” “multidisciplinary studies,” and “liberal studies,” are frequently used to describe the same customizable, broad-based programs.
Differences in Career Opportunities
As discussed earlier, some liberal arts degrees offer a targeted education that can be linked more directly to specific careers. This type of alignment is helpful if you have a certain career path in mind. The earlier example of a liberal arts degree in environmental science and journalism is a good example of this.
However, you can align a liberal arts degree with any number of careers in the arts and sciences. For example, let’s say you are interested in philosophy and political science. You might use your studies in these fields as preparation for work as a political strategist. Alternatively, you might use those studies to prepare for law school.
As another example, you might be interested in advertising and psychology. Using a liberal arts program focused on these fields can prepare you to be a marketing consultant or advertising associate, or get you ready for a graduate program in cognitive psychology.
Liberal arts programs can be preparatory for many other careers, too, including:
- Novelist
- Sociologist
- Statistician
- Communications Director
- Museum Director
As a general studies student, though, your degree might not be as closely aligned with a certain career. This being the case, your coursework might prepare you for a wider range of jobs, albeit possibly more entry-level positions.
For example, let’s assume you complete a general studies degree that doesn’t have a concentration. Instead, you take a smattering of courses in math, science, humanities, and other core areas. You might use the skills you gained in math courses to become a bank teller. Or perhaps you use your experiences studying science to pursue a career in biological research.
Alternatively, you could use your education in the humanities to seek a career in the arts, perhaps as a museum worker or archivist. Some people with a general studies degree also go into education, like working as daycare workers or teaching assistants in private schools.
Of course, if you complete a general studies degree that does have a concentration option, you can take more specific courses that closely align with your career goals, just as you would in a typical liberal arts degree program. Whatever the case, the career opportunities you have after you graduate often depend more on the courses you take, how well you perform in those courses, and the tangible skills you have than the type of degree you earn.
Can You Switch from General Studies to Liberal Arts?
As an undergraduate student, you are free to change your major as you see fit. This includes changing from general studies to liberal arts. However, colleges and universities place restrictions on when you can switch a major.
For example, you might be restricted to changing from general studies to liberal arts prior to earning a certain number of credits, like 75 credits in a 120-credit program. Alternatively, you might not be able to change majors once you’re classified as a senior.
Changing your major comes with additional risks, too. For example, some of the courses you have taken in a general studies program might not satisfy the requirements of a liberal arts degree. If that’s the case, you’ll have to complete additional courses, which takes more time and money.
Is a Degree in General Studies Worth It?
A general studies degree can certainly be worth your time and effort. The broad scope of your education molds you into a well-rounded individual with knowledge and understanding of many different subjects and topics. This type of preparation can be highly attractive to potential employers who seek someone with many different skills and abilities.
Additionally, general studies graduates can work in a wide range of fields, from entertainment to tourism to finance, and many others. With that kind of choice, you can pursue a career that is of the most interest to you, which, in turn, can lead to higher job satisfaction.
Another reason why a general studies degree is worth it is the financial possibilities. Payscale reports that the average salary for a general studies graduate is nearly $70,000 per year. This is well above the national average for all workers, which stands in the mid-$50,000 range, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Ultimately, though, whether a general studies degree is worth it depends on what you do while you are in the program. If you work hard, get good grades, and acquire new skills, the degree will be worth it because you’ll be ready to enter the workforce and make positive contributions for your employer.
What Do Employers Think of a General Studies Degree?
An employer’s opinion of a general studies degree likely depends on the industry in which they work. For example, some jobs require certain degrees. If you want to be a public school teacher, a degree in general studies won’t suffice. Not only do you need a degree in education, but you also have to complete student teaching and be licensed to teach.
Having said that, the knowledge and skills you gain in a general studies degree program can be quite attractive to many potential employers. A good example of this is critical thinking – a hallmark skill that’s emphasized in many general studies degrees. Employers in virtually every industry want employees who can critically evaluate situations, act responsibly and ethically, and solve problems. This is true of the hospitality, insurance, and retail industries, to name a few.
If you ask employers about other skills they look for in a prospective employee, you will find many of them align with a general studies degree. Effective communication, the ability to evaluate information, and the capacity to collaborate with others come immediately to mind. Employers also look for employees who are reliable, deadline-driven, and have the ability to adapt to changing situations. Again, these are skills you can hone in a general studies degree!