general education courses have which of the following benefits

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Articles & Advice > Majors and Academics > Blog

Gen Eds 101: What to Know and How to Pick Them

General education requirements are important to your college career. Here are the basics of what gen eds are and how to choose the right ones for you.

by Ginger Abbot Writer & Editor-in-Chief, Classrooms.com

Last Updated: Mar 16, 2023

Originally Posted: Feb 2, 2022

You're probably wondering what general education requirements in college are all about. At first glance, it may seem like these required courses don’t have much to do with your major. You may be hoping to jump right into your field of study and learn everything you can about it right away. After all, what do English courses have to do with Health Administration or Psychology or Engineering? The truth is that general education courses are significant and important to your studies. Here's why you need to take gen eds in college, what options you can expect, and some tips on how to choose the right ones as you work toward your degree.

The importance of gen eds

General education courses are a requirement for all degrees at most colleges. But they’re required for a reason—they can broaden your knowledge and help you gain valuable skill sets that apply to everyday life, including your major and future career.

They prepare you for a career

General education classes help you adequately prepare for your chosen career. While you need to have a rigorous education, you'll also find that the curriculum can help you focus on developing soft skills . Soft skills are the core skills that give you the ability to succeed in any profession. Employers want to see candidates with certain attributes that keep their company running smoothly. Gen eds can also help you develop skills that are similar to ones you’d gain during internships, which are a great way to show future employers you have experience. Gen eds can do just that by assisting you in certain areas, such as delivering presentations and enhancing critical thinking.

They help you become well versed

You’ll also find that gen eds expose you to a wide range of subjects and ideas, which is important to helping you find a major if you’re undecided or for helping you branch out beyond your field of study—which also looks impressive to future employers. Being well versed in a broad range of perspectives gives you the ability to look at problems from different angles. You'll notice you can navigate through information more effectively and make sound decisions quickly in your more concentrated field of study.

Related: How to Make the Most of Your Education in College

Types of general education courses to consider

What type of classes can you take to fulfill your general education requirements? The sky is the limit at most colleges. Generally, you should choose courses that pique your interest and/or give you an idea of what you'd like to further study in your college career. Gen ed courses include areas such as:

• Arts & Humanities: Classes that satisfy this requirement could include visual arts, theater, writing, dance, and music.
• English Language & Literature: Most colleges require students to take English. This ensures you learn how to write, analyze writing to form educated opinions, and appreciate world literature at a higher level.
• History: History classes offer you the opportunity to learn about worldwide cultures. Specific courses may include Western Civilization or US History.
• Mathematics & Science: Mathematics and science courses are especially helpful if you're interested in a career in the STEM fields. Even if you're majoring in something other than Math or Science, you should still gain basic knowledge of these subjects.
• Social Sciences: These courses teach you how people interact in a society. It can also help you develop meaningful relationships. You might take classes such as public speaking or sociology.

How to choose your gen eds

When choosing which gen eds to take, it helps to think about how they will set the foundation for your future career. Don’t think of them as something you need to “get out of the way.” The purpose is to help you gain transferrable skills that lead to better opportunities later. You should judge them on whether they truly add value to your education. 

You should also avoid choosing classes just because they’re easy . It's vital to find a proper balance between easy and difficult courses. For instance, if you're taking mostly challenging courses, you'll find it harder to succeed in college. On the other hand, easy subjects won't challenge you, and they certainly won't help you learn anything new. Find subjects that speak to you and encourage you to be more engaged so you learn something valuable to take with you. 

Lastly, avoid putting it off ’til the last minute when choosing courses. Gen ed classes are typically taken early on in your college career because students at this stage haven’t yet decided upon a major. But they can fill up fast, and you don’t want to miss out on the ones you really want to take. 

Related: 4 Expert Tips for Choosing Your Best–Fit College Major

If you've completed your search and found a school match already, you're most likely dreaming about your time in college. Figuring out which major you should go for can be overwhelming. However, general education courses will help you with that once you enroll. Remember that gen eds will provide you with wonderful opportunities—and it will be exciting to see where they take you.

Learn more about your educational options in college—and maybe even discover your field of study!—in our Majors and Academics section.

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About Ginger Abbot

Ginger Abbot is an education, learning and student life writer, as well as the Editor-in-Chief of Classrooms.com. Read more of her work for college students on her Classrooms author page .

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General Education Courses Online Prepare for career success at SNHU

Build enduring skills through your general education courses.

You're pursuing a degree to transform your future, and we believe in empowering you with the confidence to tackle whatever comes next.

Today, being successful in your career requires more than industry knowledge — it takes effective communication, critical thinking, creative problem-solving and decision-making skills.

That’s why we’ve redesigned our general education program, called The Commons, to provide you with the knowledge, tools and skills that can help you thrive in multiple facets of your life and career.

.cls-1 { fill: #0a3370; } Academic Achievement

Gain foundational knowledge that sets you up for success throughout your studies.

.st0{fill:#00244E;} Career Success

Learn highly applicable skills that translate across professional environments.

.st0{fill:#00244E;} Global Citizenship

Identify ways to contribute meaningfully and positively to the world in life and work.

Why “The Commons”?

Our general education program is called The Commons because it offers a core academic experience for all undergraduate students. You'll develop a common set of skills that will help you succeed at SNHU — no matter which program you pursue. And those same skills will be applicable throughout your personal and professional life.

What You’ll Learn

Through your general education courses, you can develop a wide range of skills that are crucial for success in both your SNHU classes and the workplace. Some key learning outcomes include:

• Communication and collaboration. Practice sharing your ideas and working with others in different situations.
• Decision-making. Learn how to create informed, ethical solutions to complex problems.
• Intercultural fluency. Discover how to navigate working with people with different perspectives and backgrounds.
• Using theoretical and practical tools. Learn how to use both big ideas and real-world skills to solve problems and make decisions.

Simply put, these general education classes can help you develop your ability to reason, think critically and communicate effectively across disciplines through a variety of learning experiences.

Course Structure

The Commons is a comprehensive general education curriculum structured around three key categories:

1. Cornerstone Courses

Start your journey by immersing yourself in general education courses that introduce you to fundamental knowledge. These courses will help you understand the basic ideas and concepts that are the building blocks of your education. From writing and math to online learning, cultural awareness and sustainability, you'll gain a well-rounded educational experience.

2. Exploration Courses

Expand your horizons and embrace your civic responsibilities with our range of exploration courses. These courses instill the values and knowledge required to be an engaged individual, both locally and globally. Delve into subjects like Ethical Decision-Making and Problem-Solving, Diverse Historical Narratives, and STEM and the Scientific Mindset.

3. Culmination Courses

Our culmination courses provide you with an exciting opportunity to explore the interconnections between productive citizenship and a variety of fields of study. By bridging academic disciplines, these courses enhance your understanding of how different areas of knowledge contribute to a well-rounded education.

Empowering Your Academic Journey

The Commons is more than just a general education program — it’s a transformative experience that prepares you for a meaningful and successful college career. Our primary goal is to empower you with the tools and abilities to become an effective critical and creative thinker, as well as a confident decision-maker.

Your Path to Career Success

At SNHU, we believe that your success is not limited to the classroom. The Commons prepares you to positively contribute to society, both during your academic journey and throughout your career. By developing enduring skills – such as reasoning, critical thinking, and effective communication – you'll excel not only in your SNHU classes but also in the workplace.

Inspiring Global Citizenship

As part of SNHU’s mission of supporting justice, equity, diversity and citizenship, The Commons also seeks to give deeper meaning and value to your academic pathway. We believe building a more just and equitable society is a cornerstone of education. The Commons breathes life into this vision, helping you not only prepare yourself for success, but inspiring you to positively contribute as a global citizen.

See the full curriculum for online general education courses in our academic catalog.

Ashley Franklin

Instructor, English Composition

In addition to teaching English composition at SNHU, Ashley Franklin is also a published author. Her books include "Not Quite Snow White," published by Harper Collins in 2019, "Better Together, Cinderella" (2021) and "The Little Mermaid: Make a Splash" (2023). Read Franklin's Q&A .

Larry Burns

Instructor, First-Year Experience

Humanities adjunct Larry Burns teaches in SNHU's First-Year Experience program, including the courses Self, Society, and Humanities; Perspectives in Humanities and Applied Humanities. In 2023, he was awarded a year-long grant from Creative Corps Inland Socal to develop "Making Refuge," an interactive exhibit to engage build house-like structures out of discarded materials and toys. Read more about Burns' project .

Frequently Asked Questions

General education courses are designed to give you a broad foundation of knowledge across various disciplines. They serve a valuable purpose in providing a well-rounded education, exposing you to diverse disciplines and developing critical thinking skills.

If you’re undecided about your career path but know you want to go to college, taking general education classes is a great way to start your degree program. These courses could be sources of inspiration as they expose you to new ideas and possible fields of study, helping you get on the right track for your college degree and career goals.

Gen eds are usually introductory-level courses, but whether a general education course is easy or difficult may depend on various factors, including the specific courses you take, your background knowledge and your individual strengths and interests. The goal of a general education curriculum is to expose you to a wide range of skills and subjects, so there will naturally be areas that you find easier and those that are more challenging.

General education classes can vary from university to university, but overall, they are designed to set students up for success in their undergraduate studies. These 100- and 200-level courses cover many subjects across the humanities, English, math, philosophy, sciences, social sciences and beyond.

Some examples of gen eds at SNHU include:

• IDS-105: Cultural Awareness and Online Learning
• HUM-102: Self, Society, and the Humanities
• ENG-130: Foundations of Written Communications
• MAT-126: Mathematical Reasoning for Modern Problem Solving
• PHL-218: Ethics in Global Society
• SCI-260: STEM Principles and Problem-Solving
• SCS-260: Social Issues and Decision Making

Yes, general education credits completed at accredited universities are likely to transfer because they cover foundational knowledge. But know that it is ultimately up to your new school to decide how your credits will transfer .

At Southern New Hampshire University, you can transfer up to 45 credits toward your associate degree  — such as our online AA in Liberal Arts  — and up to 90 credits toward your bachelor's degree , including our transfer-friendly online BA in General Studies .

If you've already taken courses covering general education, you may find that they transfer well at SNHU. This gives you the ability to focus on major core courses instead of having to retake foundational courses. You'll receive a free transfer credit evaluation before enrolling so you can see exactly how your credits will transfer.

While there may be some variation in students' general education pathways, you'll likely find yourself taking at least some of the same required gen ed courses as other undergraduate students.

When you enroll at SNHU online, general education courses will be suggested to you based on your academic experience and field of study. If you have questions about your gen ed pathway, you can speak to your admission counselor or academic advisor.

General education courses are part of a student's "regular" education and provide a foundation of skills and knowledge that can serve them throughout their academic career.

Students often take their general education courses at the start of their undergraduate journey, but they are not always required to. Individual pathways can vary — especially for students with transfer credits from previous colleges. If you have transfer credits when applying to SNHU, you’ll receive a comprehensive transfer credit evaluation that outlines how your credits transfer. If you have already covered parts of the general education coursework previously, your transfer credit evaluation will show which credits you are not required to take at SNHU.

General education courses lay the groundwork for developing essential academic and career skills, enabling students to develop a set of skills beyond what's found in their major. This can include communication, critical thinking and analytical skills that hold value in a rapidly changing workforce.

While they may not be as specialized or technical as major-specific courses, general education classes can set the stage in the beginning of your college experience and help you build soft skills and general knowledge across multiple disciplines. The skills and knowledge you gain in these courses are transferable, proving valuable no matter where your career takes you. And with technology transforming many workplaces, the enduring skills provided through general education courses may be more valuable than ever.

A low GPA may negatively affect the progress of your studies. You may need to boost your GPA to take higher-level courses, retain scholarships or financial aid, meet graduation requirements or get into graduate school.

The best way to improve your GPA is to work on your confidence and motivation. You may be able to do this by enrolling in classes that play to your strengths. Take some time to meet with your advisor to look at your course load, degree program progress and upcoming courses. They can help you take classes that you’ll excel at while meeting the requirements of your program.

If your GPA is low and you haven’t already completed your general education courses, you may consider taking them next term. Because gen ed courses are designed to provide foundational knowledge, they can be a great way to start your degree on the right foot. These intro courses (usually 100 and 200 level) often cover fundamental concepts and may not require extensive prior knowledge or technical skills. Kicking off your college degree program with general education classes could help you build confidence and motivation in your studies.

Tips for Online Students , Tips for Students

What is General Education? An Overview

Updated: August 30, 2022

Published: April 23, 2021

Aside from your major, most colleges require all students to take a certain number of general education courses. As a new student, you may be excited to begin learning subjects related to your chosen major, but it’s important not to overlook the general education classes you have to take and their potential value to your education.

General education classes cover a wide range of topics, and while they’re not always related to your main focus of studies, they do help by rounding out your knowledge and your education.

Let’s take a closer look at general education, including its purpose, classes you can take, and how to choose them.

What is General Education?

Just like you had required classes in high school, like math, science, and history, there are also similar required courses in college.

General education, often abbreviated as gen ed or GE, are courses that are part of your required curriculum that are necessary in order to complete an undergraduate degree.

What are General Education Credits?

General education credits are the credits you earn upon completing your gen ed requirements. Some schools treat these as elective credits, so you have a lot more freedom to choose which types of classes you take to complete your gen ed credits.

In other cases, schools will require you to acquire gen ed credits from specific fields of study, such as English, humanities, math, or foreign languages. Even if these subjects are completely unrelated to your field of study, these gen ed credits are necessary if you want to finish your degree.

Additionally, some students start their studies by completing general education classes before they declare a major. That way, they’re able to work towards earning their degree while studying different topics and deciding what they want to study long-term.

Purpose of General Education Courses

General education classes are meant to round out every student’s degree by exposing them to more topics that are relevant to society. Gen ed helps students become better members of society and more well-informed citizens.

It may seem counterintuitive to have to study something like English or social studies if you’re in a field like business or biology, but learning these subjects can have an impact on your future career.

For example, learning the basics of a foreign language can help if your career involves working with the public. Additionally, understanding things like socioeconomic backgrounds and history can make you a better doctor, lawyer, or employee in almost any other field.

A lot of colleges use general education courses to promote culture diversity and acceptance, as well as to instill an appreciation of arts and culture in the student body. This can be especially important for students with majors that don’t touch otherwise upon these issues so that they’re more aware of social issues that can impact them and their work.

What Courses are Considered General Education?

Normally, general education courses are more or less standardized across most colleges. However, there are some colleges that offer some different or unique gen ed classes based on things like their location, the background of their student body, or even current events.

The subjects listed here are ones that you’ll usually find in most gen ed course lists, so you can expect to take classes in a few of these concentrations:

Whether or not you enjoyed English lessons in high school, completing your GE requirements with credits in English can be one of the best things you do for your degree. Since most degrees will require you to submit some form of written work, either as an exam, essay, or written assignment, it’s important to understand how to write well and structure your work properly.

Gen ed English classes often cover topics like composition and essay structure, so taking this course can really help you develop your writing skills and earn higher grades in other classes.

Math may not be everyone’s favorite subject, but it’s definitely a topic that will follow you throughout your life. Developing your math skills, even basic ones, can be extremely helpful when you work in a business or even run your own. While it doesn’t equate to accounting, studying math will make your life easier whenever you need to work with numbers.

Even if you plan on a career in the arts, everyone has to deal with math and managing finances in their lives, so taking this general education course is a win-win.

Natural Sciences

Natural sciences covers a variety of different courses and interests. Most general education science courses aren’t very technical and don’t have strict prerequisites, making these ideal introductory classes for anyone who is curious about the field but doesn’t want it to be their main area of study.

Some natural science classes include biology, astronomy, physics, environmental sciences, astronomy, and more.

Social Sciences

Anyone can benefit from studying social sciences. Social sciences refers to the study of human society and relationships. While some people choose this as their major and make entire careers out of social science-related subjects, classes in their field are often of interest to a lot of students just because of sheer curiosity.

Social sciences classes can include courses in psychology, sociology, anthropology, political sciences, archaeology, geography, history, and more.

While social sciences focuses more on humanity in society, the humanities are more focused on studying human culture and expression in all its forms. Studying humanities can give you a closer insight into how humans express themselves in different cultures and often includes the study of different mediums of art.

Some general education courses in humanities include music, art, literature, ethics, philosophy, or religion. Since these classes tend to focus more on creativity, it can be a welcomed break to take humanities courses if your major is very analytical or demanding.

Foreign Languages

Foreign languages courses are often found as part of social sciences or humanities departments, however, the benefit of taking a language course to fulfill your general education requirements has its own set of benefits.

If you plan on traveling or moving abroad for an exchange or even for your career, then studying a language, even just an introductory course, can be very practical. Even if you don’t intend to use your second language skills right away, learning a new language is always fun, challenging, and can come in handy when you least expect it.

Can You Transfer Gen Ed Courses?

You might be surprised to learn how easily transferable gen ed courses are. Since a lot of colleges offer the same or similar general education classes, it’s quite easy to transfer credits if you decide you want to switch schools at any point.

Not only that, but if you decide during your degree that you want to switch majors, you might even be able to use relevant general education courses towards your new major, if it’s part of that degree’s curriculum.

Can You Take Gen Ed Courses Online?

Yes, you can.

If you’re working full time but you want to start a degree, or if you simply want to complete courses from home for any reason, a lot of general education classes are available online as well.

The online gen ed courses available to you will depend on your university. However, since it’s so easy to transfer general education credits, you can always complete your GE requirements elsewhere before starting at your chosen university.

University of the People offers tuition-free online general education courses so that you can study at your own pace and from your preferred location.

What Should You Consider When Choosing Gen Ed Courses?

Aside from your interests or passions when it comes to your education, there are a few other things to think about before choosing a gen ed class.

For starters, if you know you’re going to be transferring schools next year or next semester, then you might want to take as many general education classes as you can since you know they’ll transfer easily.

Furthermore, you should check the requirements for the program you’re applying to at your new school to see if you can start earning credits with gen ed classes.

From a more practical standpoint, you want to make sure your general education courses don’t cause too much of a burden on your studies. Your main focus is still your major, so you want to choose gen ed courses that are easy enough to ensure you’ll get a good grade.

Some students select their general education classes based on their academic strengths so that they’re more likely to get a good grade and increase their final GPA. While this shouldn’t be the only factor you consider when making your GE choices, it’s certainly an important one.

To Summarize

General education classes can be a fun addition to your time at university, but to ensure you’re getting the most out of your degree, make sure you’re studying something that can be relevant to your major and that aligns with your overall academic goals.

Finally, don’t be afraid to explore online learning , especially when it comes to general education credits. You can save yourself a lot of time and money by switching to online courses for your GE requirements. Pursuing a specialized certificate program online can also be potentially beneficial.

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What is General Education? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Highlights:

• General education courses cover a broad range of subjects to ensure a well-rounded education.
• These courses are one-third to one-half of an undergraduate degree.
• They’re designed to enhance critical thinking , communication skills, and appreciation for diversity.
• You may be able to save money by taking these courses at a community college .

Congratulations! You have been accepted to the university of your choice, and you are signing up for your first semester’s classes. You can hardly wait to get into your major and well on your way to your future career.

But, wait. Your academic advisor tells you that you need to first take gen ed courses.

What are these gen ed classes?

Why are they required?

What can be gained from them?

Most colleges and universities require their students to take general education courses, such as psychology, social sciences, and foreign language. You may be thinking gen ed courses are a waste of time, and honestly, some of them may feel like that. But, there are important reasons why college students are required to take gen ed courses.

Let’s explore this topic in depth.

Here is everything you need to know about general education courses .

See Also: What is a Bachelor’s Degree?

What are General Education Courses?

First, let’s look at the general education requirements’ definition:

General education courses are a broad range of classes in specific categories that meet specific criteria. These categories are your school’s general education requirements.

General education requirements are categories of knowledge your school requires you to gain a working knowledge of before you graduate.

These categories are usually include subjects like:

• Natural Science
• Social Science
• World studies
• Communication

Most of the time, gen ed requirements cover one-third to one-half of an undergraduate degree and are completed before you start working on the core curriculum of your major.

Related Resource: What is an Associate’s Degree?

Why Is General Education Required?

Colleges and universities want “well rounded” graduates. Higher education institutions require these general education courses to help students gain a comprehensive education which they hope will serve you throughout your life after graduation.

Gen ed classes are also a great opportunity for you to try out different topics to see if you like them. Some students don’t decide on their major until after they have taken a fabulous gen ed course. Some students may prepare to study one major, but then take some gen ed courses and decide to change their whole course of study.

Also, gen ed classes teach you valuable skills such as critical thinking and communication. Let’s face it: gen ed courses are ones you may not choose to take if they were not required. However, think of them as a comprehensive set of classes that each add something unique to your skill set. For example, diversity courses teach students how to appreciate and embrace differences and lead to working well in a diverse workplace. 

Many general education courses also afford students the opportunity of expanding their chosen field of study to gain an emphasis in a related aspect of their chosen majors. For example an English major can take some great in-depth general education classes on poetry. Or an engineering major could take general education courses on bio-mechanics.

See Also: Most Popular College Majors

What Can I Gain From Gen Ed Courses?

So much can be gained from taking gen ed classes. General education can give you the foundation you need to become highly intelligent in your field of study and in life after college. 

Gen ed courses can pave the way for you:

• To be better at your chosen field
• To provide you with new hobbies
• To develop meaningful relationships
• To perhaps even change your mind about your chosen field of study

Try to lose the mindset that taking gen ed courses is wasting time. First of all, all university programs require gen ed courses, so you are working your way toward your final goal. Secondly, you will learn new subjects, and you may develop a new passion.

You may also like: Picking a Major

What Is a Good Way to Take General Education Courses?

College is expensive, and some universities have quite lengthy general education requirements. However, there are smarter ways to complete your gen eds.

If you’re going to an expensive university, you might just want to hold off attending until you’ve completed your gen ed courses at an in-state community college . Just make sure you can transfer general education credits before you take them and pay for them.

You can make sure the credits transfer by working with an advisor at both your university and your in-state community college.

Your school may require you to fulfill general education requirements that you know will not interest you or advance your career in any way. When you encounter these types of situations, take the easiest class you possibly can.

For example, if you know you will not ever become a fine arts major, but your school requires a fine arts general course, then pick the fine arts course that will be the simplest to complete for you. There is no reason to bog down your already busy schedule with a class that is more difficult than necessary.

Check out: 10 Best Careers for the Future

What Gen Ed Courses Should I Take?

Choosing gen ed courses can be a fun part of attending college. If you have chosen a field of study, look to see if there are any requirements that overlap with your gen ed courses (it happens sometimes), and then fill in the gaps with classes that interest you.

If you have not chosen a major, then it would be wise to take general education classes that cover subjects that interest you and could be potential majors.

Common gen ed courses include:

• English composition
• Mathematics
• Natural Sciences
• Social sciences
• Foreign languages
• Diversity and Inclusion

However, take a wide variety of courses so that you can experience as many possible fields of study as you can.

Remember, your college or university requires a certain number of general education credits. There’s no way of getting out of them, so you might as well have fun with them.

How Can I Know If A Gen Ed Class Will Work For Me?

When signing up for a gen course , you will see a description of the class. Additionally, there are many websites you can find that rate your professor, the course, and the course load. Do your research before committing to a class to make sure that you will be able to complete your gen eds, work well with your professor, and handle the course load.

Also, most colleges and universities make professor and course evaluation results available for you to see if the class would work well for you.

Do I Have to Complete Gen Eds Before Declaring My Major?

You do not have to complete all of your gen eds before declaring your major. In fact, if you know your major it would be good to check to see if any of the required courses in our major double as courses for your general education requirements.

If you do not have a chosen major, don’t worry. Most students don’t choose their majors right away. It is good to explore your options to be sure of your path.

Where Can I Get Advice On Which Gen Ed Courses Would Be Good For Me?

Your school will provide you with an academic advisor. These professionals can help you discuss your general education requirements, and if you would like they can suggest some great general education courses that will help you explore your options. Your advisors are also great resources on gaining information on specific classes.

When Should I Complete My General Education Classes?

For most majors, there is no specific time frame for completing your general education credits. Some students don’t complete them until their last semester, while others have them completed by their junior year.

Talk to your advisor to see if your major has any time frame requirements for completing your general education requirements.

Keep in mind that college majors with time frames for completing your general education are highly specified. For example, Med school, law school, and some teaching programs require you to have completed all generals before your senior year, or before a completion of an internship, or practicum.

How Do I Know If A General Education Course Is Worth the Effort?

Some general education courses are more difficult than others, but often they are all worth the effort. If a gen ed course interests you, advances your career, or makes you feel passionate about the work you are doing, then the extra effort is definitely worth it.

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General Education Courses: What's In It For Me?

When it’s not obvious how your general education courses relate to your major or career goals, you may feel reluctant to sign up for them. When you  become a student  and you’re  selecting classes , on paper these classes can seem generic and not particularly useful. However, they offer you the opportunity to build a broad range of skills that are applicable to dozens of career opportunities. Since these skills are less tactile, “soft skills,” many overlook their value. But in the job market, these skills are what can help set you apart form other candidates vying for the same position.

By building these skills in college, you’re helping to set yourself up for a more successful job search. Here’s more insight that just may convince you to ramp up your courseload with your “gen eds” next term!”

Gen Eds in the Job Market

When searching for a job, you may notice that employers from diverse organizations use the same language to describe the qualities they hope to attract from prospective employees, such as: critical thinking, communication, problem solving, collaboration, teamwork, and analytical skills. So are these just buzzwords that everyone repeats or are they critical workforce skills that are needed in almost every industry?

As you read through the posts, your first thought may be:  these qualities sound nice in theory, but how does one obtain and prove they have these intangible sounding qualities? Are they just words to populate your resume?

The fact is, these skills are real. They’re needed in every industry and as a college student, you have the opportunity to build your level of skill while in school with your general education courses. General education courses are designed to help you gain and improve these skills through very specific learning outcomes, assignments, and projects. In fact, your college has spent a lot of time planning and ensuring that your general education courses will help you improve these skills as you progress through your degree program.

Relating Assignments to Your Career

An excellent way to hone your skills for your future career is to take advantage of opportunities to relate general education projects and writing assignments to your future or current career industry. Doing so will help you build these critical skills in relation to the actual tasks and experiences you’ll need for your career.

An example of a general education course assignment that everyone dreads is the generic “research paper.” Our  faculty  are subject matter experts working in their respective fields. They encourage students to focus on their real-world experience during course assignments and apply theory to real-world scenarios and problems.

One example assignment asks students to imagine they’re a consultant who has been asked to help a company solve a problem. Through evaluation, research, and analysis using reliable sources, students write their findings and recommendations.

Knowing how to tackle a real-world problem through research and preparing a proposal is important in many sectors of the business world, so having this kind of experience can boost your employability and give you a great case study to discuss during an interview.

Explaining Skills On your Resume and During an Interview

When writing your resume you’ll want to try to avoid using vague buzzword statements. Instead, create descriptive resume bullet points and job stories that actually describe how you have these critical skills. Your bullet points and job stories can refer to past work experience, volunteer positions, coursework, or other experiences.

Secondly, you’ll want to relate your bullet points to the skills and experience they’re looking for in the job posting. Doing so isn’t always easy, as employers don’t always spell out exactly how you’ll use critical thinking or problem-solving in the position. However, almost all positions require some level of skill in these areas, so taking time to read between the lines in the job description and understand how the position might solve problems or use critical thinking to synthesize information will help you look like a great candidate.

Use the following examples to get you thinking about how you’ve used each of these skills in your coursework or other past experiences:

CRITICAL THINKING | EVALUATING INFORMATION AND IDEAS | RESEARCH

• Develop a budget using information from various sources
• Plan a strategy to tackle a complex problem
• Coordinate various information to create a specific outcome
• Review data, ideas, or information and determine their validity or usefulness
• Find errors or inconsistencies in information, data or plans
• Compile and analyze information from various sources

PROBLEM-SOLVING | ANALYTICAL THINKING

• Troubleshoot a technical issue
• Handle a difficult situation or customer
• Create a new process or procedure for efficiency
• Investigate a problem and determine a solution
• Detect patterns in data or information and draw conclusions

WRITTEN, ORAL, AND VISUAL COMMUNICATION

• Write a proposal
• Present information to a group using visuals such as images or graphs
• Speak to a group or individual to make a case for something
• Persuade your superiors of the benefits of a certain solution or action

TEAMWORK | COLLABORATION

• Communicate/Report findings or other information to members of a team
• Participate in group brainstorming sessions to solve problems
• Maintain regular communication with team members on the status of a project
• Mediate or negotiate with team members to settle a dispute

The college provides a great opportunity to become a better critical thinker, problem solver, communicator, and team player. Honing these necessary career skills during your general education courses can help you do better academically and provide valuable skills for your resume. Taking your education to the next level by strategical using coursework to seek out and solve real-world problems can boost your chances of landing a job in your field.

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College of Professional Studies

The Value of General Education

General education courses are a crucial component of a sound college education..

Posted April 13, 2011 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

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While many students take general education to be at best an inconvenience, and at worst a waste of time, there are several reasons for thinking that such courses are valuable for students, and that a reduction of general education hours is usually a very bad idea.

While it is true that college is intended to provide students with the necessary credentials for the career of their choice, it has other important functions as well, especially in this era of globalization.

First, it can and should help one become a better person. From my own experience, my undergraduate and graduate education has helped me to be a better citizen, employee, spouse, and parent than I would otherwise be. We need scientists, lawyers, medical professionals, business people, educators, law enforcement professionals, and others who have cultivated the skills of critical thinking and are familiar with some of the most important elements of human thought. The trend towards narrow specialization at the expense of a general education does not take this into account.

Second, in a democracy, it is essential that citizens vote and participate on the basis of good reasons, and not be at the mercy of the political spin doctors who try to use non-rational and even irrational persuasion to manipulate voters. A solid foundation in the arts, humanities, and sciences can help prevent this. Even if you don't remember much in ten years from a philosophy , psychology, or physics class, the skills in critical thinking that you acquire in these different fields will stay with you and serve you well. And these same skills can also prevent you from being at the mercy of the subtle manipulation used by some advertisers.

Third, while I understand the desire to take more classes and develop more expertise in one's major field of study, there are some problems with this line of thinking. First, many people change careers several times over the course of their lives. The foundation of knowledge and critical thinking skills cultivated in general education classes will serve one better over a lifetime than three or four more courses in one's major. Second, in recent years, both the Harvard Business Review and The Atlantic have published articles making the case that companies ought to hire individuals with a humanities education, because they are trained to think in innovative ways. If you want to succeed in business, rather than getting an M.B.A., you should study philosophy, says Matthew Stewart ( The Atlantic , June 2006). The CEO of Cellcom, the leading cell phone provider in Israel, put it this way: "The knowledge I use as CEO can be acquired in two weeks ... The main thing a student needs to be taught is how to study and analyze things (including) history and philosophy."

Fourth, while many colleges and universities have reduced or gutted their general education requirements, it is not necessarily in their best interests to do so. Perhaps universities who maintain rigorous general education requirements could become known as places to provide students with a truly broad and deep education, so that they are better placed to be successful over the entire course of their lives.

In summary, general education requirements have many important purposes. It is in the interests of students, employers, colleges and universities, and society at large to keep this important element of a college education.

Follow me on Twitter , and check out my personal blog .

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/03/want_innovative_thinking_hire.htm

Michael W. Austin, Ph.D. , is a professor of philosophy at Eastern Kentucky University.

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A prescription cannabidiol (CBD) oil is considered an effective anti-seizure medication. However, further research is needed to determine CBD 's other benefits and safety.

CBD is a chemical found in marijuana. CBD doesn't contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana that produces a high. The usual CBD formulation is oil, but CBD is also sold as an extract, a vaporized liquid and an oil-based capsule. Food, drinks and beauty products are among the many CBD -infused products available online.

Currently, the only CBD product approved by the Food and Drug Administration is a prescription oil called Epidiolex. It's approved to treat two types of epilepsy. Aside from Epidiolex, state laws on the use of CBD vary. While CBD is being studied as a treatment for a wide range of conditions, including Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and anxiety, research supporting the drug's benefits is still limited.

CBD use also carries some risks. Though it's often well-tolerated, CBD can cause side effects, such as dry mouth, diarrhea, reduced appetite, drowsiness and fatigue. CBD can also interact with other medications you're taking, such as blood thinners.

Another cause for concern is the unreliability of the purity and dosage of CBD in products. A recent study of 84 CBD products bought online showed that more than a quarter of the products contained less CBD than labeled. In addition, THC was found in 18 products.

If you plan to use products containing CBD , talk to your doctor.

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• Miller B. Labeling accuracy of cannabidiol extracts sold online. JAMA. 2017;318:1708.
• FDA approves first drug compromised of an active ingredient derived from marijuana to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm611046.htm. Accessed Nov. 20, 2018.
• State medical marijuana laws. National Conference of State Legislatures. http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx#2. Accessed Nov. 27, 2018.
• Devinsky O, et al. Effect of cannabidiol on drop seizures in the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2018;378:1888.
• Cannabidiol. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed Nov. 5, 2018.
• Cannabidiol. Facts & Comparisons eAnswers. http://www.wolterskluwercdi.com/facts-comparisons-online/. Accessed Nov. 5, 2018.
• Portenoy RK, et al. Cancer pain management: Adjuvant analgesics (coanalgesics). https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 14, 2018.

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