General Studies

Director: Edward Geist
Email: edwgeist@aol.com or edwgeist@bridgeport.edu
163 Dana Hall
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(203) 576-4956

Degree Programs

There are three degrees offered in the General Studies program: AA (Associate in Arts), AS (Associate in Science) and BS (Bachelor of Science in General Studies). These degrees permit students maximum flexibility in exploring the curriculum of the different undergraduate programs at the University of Bridgeport.

The BS in General Studies requires thirty credits in one of five areas of concentration: Business Studies; Humanities; Natural Sciences and Mathematics; Science, Engineering or Computer Related Fields; or Social Sciences. Students may put together programs that are tailored to their specific needs and goals, for example, combining a Business Studies concentration that focuses on Marketing and Management with a minor in Mass Communications, or combining a Social Sciences concentration that focuses on Psychology and Sociology with a Human Service minor. The Natural Sciences and Mathematics concentration is frequently used to fulfill the science prerequisites for graduate study in the health professions, leaving a student room to explore the undergraduate curriculum in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Human Services. The BS in General Studies is also an excellent program for transfer students bringing in many credits from other institutions since it has room for more free electives than other programs and students do not lose credits in the transfer process.

The First Year Studies Program

The University's First Year Studies Program is also part of General Studies. Prospective college students often believe that they must have a clear idea of what they will study to avoid "wasting their time" once they get to school. Others believe they must immediately qualify for a demanding academic program in order to pursue their dreams. At times, the educational process seems to be impersonal. Educators seem to stand in the way of dreams. Who hasn't heard the view that GPA + SAT = my chances of success?

The First-Year Studies Program is designed with different premises, and it refuses to use the restrictive formula of "success" mentioned above. The Program has three kinds of prospective students in mind:

1. Those who, by standard measures of "success," are under prepared for college work.
2. Those who want to pursue a field that traditional University majors do not address.
3. Those who are unsure of what they would like to do.

1. If you are under prepared, this is the program for you.

This program is framed with the conviction that creativity, initiative, concern, and possibility are not eaily quantified. Some students who will succeed in college-and who will go on to make outstanding contributions to society-do not have high GPAs and do not have stellar scores on the SAT. The First Year Studies program is designed for them.

2. If you hope to pursue a field that traditional University majors do not address, this is the program for you.

Other students are very sure they would like to pursue a career without a predetermined major. Pursuing an MBA (graduate business degree), a JD (hoping to be a lawyer), and going to medical school are among the fields that have open entry requirements. The First Year Studies Program allows students to develop a challenging and focused BS degree. For example, a student who wished to pursue medical school, with the aim of becoming a psychiatrist, could merge the study of biology and psychology to complete degree requirements.

3. If you are unsure of what you would like to do, this is the program for you.

Some students who enter the First Year Studies Program are undecided about what career they will want to pursue five or ten years down the road. The First Year Studies Program encourages these students to pursue an open-ended degree, and to fulfill core requirements, until the moment of clarity comes. College experience itself can lead one to develop the self-understanding necessary to commit to a major.

The First Year Studies Program offers the following resources.

To help you succeed, the First Year Studies Program offers a rich set of resources:

• A specially designed curriculum that is focused and challenging.
• A state-of-the-art Academic Resource Center.
• An excellent (11:1) student-faculty ratio.
• Individual and group tutorial work.
• Caring and committed educators who aim to help you succeed.

Our students have gone on to successful careers.

Our former students have successfully enrolled in Biology, Business, Computer Science, Design, Human Services, Mass Communication, Music, Social Science and mother other major programs at the University. Others have pursued a challenging, self-designed Bachelor's degree in General Studies and continued on to attend professional schools on their way to challenging careers.