A degree from Georgia Southern University soon will be within reach for many adults who thought it was too late to return to college because of career or family obligations. Beginning in January the university will offer a Bachelor of General Studies major offered completely online.
      "The online Bachelor of General Studies degree has been designed specifically for people who have always wanted to earn their college degree, but life got in the way," said GSU President Brooks Keel. "We wanted to provide students including working adults, members of the military and stay-at-home parents with access to a respected university without having to travel to campus."
      Keel noted that the degree is not only perfect for working adults, but also is a great option for members of the military and students at two-year colleges and technical schools that want to earn a four-year degree.
      "The program is already attracting interest from students that have always wanted to earn a bachelor's degree, but are either deployed or working and cannot travel to campus."
      In addition to being taught fully online, one of the most popular features of the degree is the ability to choose three separate areas of study. The program allows students to customize a program by choosing three concentration areas from a list that includes business, justice studies, and sociology and writing.
      "Being able to customize your degree to your personal or professional interests is definitely an added benefit of attending Georgia Southern," said Mike Smith, dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. "This new program is ideal for those that want to earn a degree on their schedule and take the next step in their career."
      "As we began designing this program, we realized that there are a lot of people that are working and either have a two-year college degree or no degree at all," Smith said. "Their main problem is that they cannot stop working to pursue their degree and they want to attend a well-known and respected university. This new online degree program was designed to provide students with opportunity, choice and flexibility."
      The deadline to apply for the new online bachelor of general studies degree is Dec. 1.
      "We are expecting quite a bit of interest and encourage students to apply as early as possible to ensure that they are admitted on time," said Smith.