You may pursue an associate degree in General Education if you are planning on going into nursing or if you are undecided on the career you wish to pursue. This is a program where you can experiment with different fields so that you identify areas of interest. We advise that you seek courses that would lead to one or more certificates and diplomas. Thus, you will be able to graduate with an associate degree in General Education, a diploma in Medical Office Administration, and a few certificates in Medical Office Administration and Business Administration (See Gen Ed. Student Educational Plan). The choices are yours, but planning is an integral part to your success.  The difference between an Associate in General Education and an Associate in General Education in Nursing is that in the former, you have the flexibility of choosing the courses you wish to take. The Associate in General Education-Nursing has a specified list of courses you need to take. If you wish to purse a degree in Nursing at Bladen Community College, we recommend going into General Education. If you are thinking of pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, you may want to consider taking General Education-Nursing and completing RN before you apply to a nursing school at a four-year institution.

To be successful in General Education, dedicate time to study on a daily basis. You will have multiple opportunities to strengthen your communication, information literacy, critical thinking, and soft skills. Furthermore, you will be able to transfer the content and skills you acquire in each course and build on those skills as you work through your new courses.

As a rule of thumb, you need to spend two hours of studying and preparing homework assignments for every class hour you attend. We want you to be successful in your field. We recommend that you dedicate a half hour per class before class to familiarize yourself with the material. Study right after class. Class material piles up fast. Make sure you submit all your assignments at least one day before the deadline.

A certificate or a diploma in General Education are not an option. However, you may still get one or more certificates or a diploma in other areas as you are pursuing an associate degree in General Education. This may increase your chances of landing a job after graduation. (See Gen Ed. Student Educational Plan)

It should take you two years to complete an associate degree if you are a full-time student. You can take a couple of classes one summer to lighten up your load and still graduate by May of the second year.

This program is offered online, hybrid, and/or fully seated. Many students prefer to take a mixture of online and seated classes so that they gain the flexibility of online classes and a feel for campus life and direct interaction with fellow students, faculty, and staff that seated and hybrid/blended courses offer.

If you are pursuing an Associate in General Education, you do not receive training in any particular area. Therefore, we recommend you plan to complete certificates or a diploma in other areas as you are pursuing an associate degree in General Education. (See Gen Ed. Student Educational Plan)