10 Exciting Careers You Can Pursue with a General Studies Degree

A general studies degree isn鈥檛 focused on a specific industry, so it suits students with a range of interests.

With a general studies degree, you can customize your courses to your passions. This type of degree allows you to gain a wide cross section of knowledge and experience. You鈥檒l enjoy courses in literature, history, foreign languages, and more to expand your knowledge. 

If you want skills that can help you in many career paths, a general studies degree may be for you.

You can focus your general studies degree in a specific area to pursue a career in multiple industries, including:

  • Business
  • Technology
  • Math
  • Science
  • Literature and Composition
  • Social Sciences or Human Resources
  • Marketing
  • Media

When you鈥檙e working toward your general studies degree, you can choose a concentration based on your career goals. Even if you don鈥檛 have a specific path in mind, your interests can guide your education.

Here are some exciting careers you can pursue with a general studies degree under your belt.

1. Public Relations Director

A director of public relations may work as the head of a department or of a firm.

The job includes various forms of public relations for a company, customer relations, media relations, and community relations. To reach this level, you鈥檒l need years of experience working in PR and strong technical skills.

2. Brand Manager

Brand managers are specialized marketing managers who deal with the management and control of the company鈥檚 trademarks and visual portrayal.

Brand managers handle market research, polling demographics, and demand for products and services. They use this data to guide objectives for the marketing team to increase the value of a brand. This may include new marketing strategies, brands, and looking at how brand marketing is affecting company sales.

3. Technical Writer

A technical writer usually works for a company writing complex technical content that's easy to understand.

Technical writers may be responsible for writing user manuals, white papers, project plans, design details, and more. Excellent writing skills are a must, along with the ability to meet tight deadlines.

4. Social Worker

Social workers help clients cope with everyday problems in places like child welfare, schools, hospitals, and mental health clinics.

Social workers assess the needs of clients, work on coping strategies, and offer resources for clients. They may also advocate for clients to receive basic needs through programs like Medicare or food stamp programs.

However, if you want to be a clinical social worker, you'll need an advanced degree beyond a bachelor's.

5. Software Consultant

Another exciting career you can pursue with a general studies career is that of a software consultant.

Software consultants are part of a team working to create or improve software programs. They meet with clients to figure out what they need improved and take this information back to the software team.

6. Copywriter

Copywriters create content to promote the products and services of a given company. They may work for a single company or freelance for multiple.

Copywriters usually work on a team with other people specializing in public relations, marketing, and advertising. They often have a degree in general studies, English, communications, or other related fields. They must have excellent writing skills and great attention to detail. 

7. General Manager

General managers head a single business, overseeing employees to ensure tasks are carried out on time.

A store manager may record daily income, calculate daily deposits, create weekly schedules, and more. These managers often have general studies, human resources, or business management degrees. They need excellent written and oral communication skills, are very organized, and know how to offer superior customer service.

If you鈥檙e a natural leader with a creative side, this can be a great path after earning your general studies degree.

8. Administrative or Executive Assistant

Admin assistants schedule meetings, coordinate travel, and more for executives and directors.

Nearly every area of business needs admin assistants, including schools, nonprofits, large corporations, and more.

9. Risk Management Specialist

Risk management specialists minimize the risk to a company鈥檚 financial standing by focusing on material loss or safety. This involves using financial and math skills to identify potential risks that can reduce the cash flow for the business.

The job involves finding risks, creating solutions to those risks, then implementing those solutions.

10. Nonprofit Program Manager

Working for a nonprofit can be very rewarding, especially if you鈥檙e working with one you鈥檙e really passionate about.

Program managers work on projects within the nonprofits, supervising management teams to coordinate program planning. They may also manage donor relations and press inquiries about projects.


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Hope has worked with online students for more than five years, telling their stories and sharing tips for succeeding as an online student.

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