General Studies Major
Contact Information
Beth Stewart
Interim Dean of Arts and Sciences
731-424-3520 ext. 607
bstewart@jscc.edu
Program and Career Description
The General Studies Major is the most flexible degree program Jackson State offers. If you aren’t sure what you want to major in, if we don’t offer the specific degree you want, or if you need an associate degree to further advance your career, this is the degree for you. Working with an advisor, you will be able to customize 16 or more hours of your studies in addition to taking the General Education Courses needed for transferring to a four-year school.
Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that people with an associate degree will earn on average $6,656 more a year than those with a high school degree alone. An associate degree will give you an advantage for many jobs. Unemployment rates for people with an associate degree is under 3%. The associate degree can help you advance at your current job and prepare you for a bachelor’s degree at the institution of your choice.
Transfer Options
At Jackson State, we work hard to make sure you graduate with your associate degree and arrive at a university prepared to start junior-level courses. That’s why we have special agreements with Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) schools that allow students completing the Associate of Arts/Science degree to transfer as juniors. Check with the school you plan to attend to see which major courses you need to take for your field of interest. TBR schools include:
- Austin Peay State University
- East Tennessee State University
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Tennessee State University
- Tennessee Tech University
- The University of Memphis
Other four-year schools in West Tennessee include Bethel, Freed Hardeman, Lambuth University, Lane College, Union University, and the University of Tennessee at Martin. Students attending one of these schools may be required to take additional courses prior to becoming a junior.
Accreditation Information
Jackson State Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Requirements
(Students may require additional Basic and Developmental courses.)
Communication Requirement (All required)
ENGL 1010 English Composition I
ENGL 1020 English Composition II
SPE 211 Fundamentals of Speech
Choose THREE Humanities Courses (One must be a literature Course)
ART 1010 Art History I
ART 1020 Art History II
ART 1030 Art Appreciation
COM 1030 Intro to Film
ENGL 2111 American Lit: Pre-Colonial - 1865
ENGL 2121 American Lit: 1865 - Present
ENGL 2210 British Lit: Beginnings - 1785
ENGL 2220 British Lit: 1785 - Present
ENGL 2310 World Lit: Beginnings - 1650
ENGL 2320 World Lit: 1650 - Present
HUM 1010 Introduction to the Humanities I
HUM 1020 Introduction to the Humanities II
MUS 1030 Music Appreciation
PHIL 1030 Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 2110 Introduction to Ethics
THEA 1030 Introduction to Theatre
Choose TWO Social and Behavioral Science Courses
ECO 211 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECO 212 Principles of Microeconomics
GEO 201 Survey of World Regions
PHED 2050 Health and Wellness
POLS 1100 U.S. Government and Politics I
POLS 1200 U.S. Government and Politics II
PSY 101 General Psychology I
PSY 102 General Psychology II
SOC 201 Introduction to Sociology
SOC 202 Social Problems
Choose TWO History Courses (American History is required for TBR Schools.)
HIST 1110 Survey of World Civilizations I
HIST 1120 Survey of World Civilizations II
HIST 2010 Survey of American History I
HIST 2020 Survey of American History II
Choose TWO Natural Science Courses
BIOL 1110 General Biology I (Recommended)
BIOL 1120 General Biology II (Recommended)
BIOL 2010 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
BIOL 2020 Human Anatomy & Physiology II
CHEM 1110 General Chemistry I
CHEM 1120 General Chemistry II
PHYS 2010 Non-Calculus Based Physics I
PHYS 2020 Non-Calculus Based Physics II
PSCI 1010 Survey of Physical Science I
PSCI 1020 Survey of Physical Science II
Choose ONE Mathematics Course
MATH 1010 Math for Liberal Arts
MATH 1410 Topics in Contemporary Math I
MATH 1420 Topics in Contemporary Math II
MATH 1530 Statistics and Probability
MATH 1630 Finite Mathematics
MATH 1710 Precalculus Algebra
MATH 1720 Trigonometry
MATH 1830 Applied Calculus
MATH 1910 Calculus I
General Studies Major Courses
See your advisor.
Two Foreign Language Courses are required for the Associate of Arts.
The Associate of Arts/Science General Studies Major requires 60 college level credits. Some courses have prerequisites and co-requisites. See JSCC Academic Catalog and Student Handbook for further information.
Sample Schedule
| First Year | Fall Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 1010 | English Composition I | 3 |
| HIST | History Course | 3 |
| MATH | Mathematics Course | 3 |
| Major Course | 3 | |
| Natural Science Course | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 16 |
| First Year | Spring Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 1020 | English Composition II | 3 |
| HIST | History Course | 3 |
| Major Course | 3 | |
| Major Course | 3 | |
| Natural Science Course | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 16 |
| Second Year | Fall Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPE 211 | Fundamentals of Speech | 3 |
| ENGL | Literature Course | 3 |
| Humanities Course | 3 | |
| Major Course | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Science Course | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 15 |
| Second Year | Spring Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Course | 4 | |
| Major Course | 3 | |
| Humanities Course | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Science Course | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 13 |