The Associate’s Degree in General Studies
Students are exposed to learning in several disciplines:
- Communication Studies • Humanities Arts • Natural Sciences • Social Sciences • Languages
The Associate’s degree in General Studies offers students the opportunity to earn a traditional two-year degree in as little as four semesters, depending upon life experience. Students gain competencies in writing, verbal communication, problem solving, critical and creative thinking and emotional intelligence – essential skills for the workplace and for life-enhancement in general.
An Associate’s in General Studies has the following advantages: preparation for employment at the entry level, development of career skills and preparation for further study at the bachelor’s degree level.
The General Studies program houses the core curriculum for all matriculated students at Pillar College. The GE curriculum is mandated by The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and our accrediting associations. As such, students in pursuit of the New Jersey State High School Diploma, an Associate's degree, or a Bachelor's degree may be required to complete between 30-60 credits of General Education courses to qualify for their diploma/degree.
There are a number of cases in which a student's prior experience can result in the awarding of the GE credit. Some GE courses can be transferred in from other colleges or acquired through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) or the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Additionally, where permitted, course substitutions are accepted.
In order to ensure that our students are well-rounded and exposed to various fields of intellectual inquiry, the General Studies Curriculum includes courses in the following disciplines: Communications; humanities; arts; natural sciences; social sciences, language studies and science and technology.
GENERAL EDUCATION 45 CREDITS (See Catalog)
| General Education Core Requirements 45 Credits | ||
| GEDU 121 | College Foundations | 3 |
| CISY 101 | Computer Literacy OR Computer Literacy 102 | 3 |
| COMM 150 | Principles of Public Speaking | 3 |
| ENGL 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
| ENGL 200+ | World Literature I OR World Literature II (other options available) | 3 |
| HIST 231+ | Western Civilization I OR Western Civilization II | 3 |
| HIST 222 | Essentials of American Government: History, Policy & Structure | 3 |
| MATH 101+ | Contemporary Math (other options available) | 3 |
| PHIL 101 or 201 | Introduction to Philosophy OR Survey of Worldviews | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Natural Science | Environmental Science OR Earth Science | 3 |
| ECON 201 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| Humanities | Innovation and Creativity OR World Language | 3 |
| Humanities | English Literature OR Media, Tech & Society | 3 |
| Total 45 Credits | ||
FOR EXAMPLE: Pre-School Teacher, Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician, Dental Hygienist, Cardiovascular Technologists & Technician, Dietetic Technician, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical therapist assistants, Paralegals & Legal assistants, Web Developers
Financial Policies and Procedures
Pillar College is committed to providing an excellent cost-effective education for its students. Tuition and fee rates, payable each semester, are set annually according to economic conditions within the college and industry standards.
| $22,056 | Annual Full Time Student Tuition (Domestic) |
| $30,000 | Annual Full Time Student Tuition (International)* |
| $11,028 $15,000 | Block Rate (12-17 credits per semester) *Block rate is not available to LEAD, Online and Independent-study courses International student tuition up to 15 credits maximum |
| $919 | Per credit rate (11 or less; 18 or more credits per semester); all Online and Independent Study Courses are charged at per credit rate |
| $158 | Audit rate per credit |
| $525 $263$306 | Dual Enrollment (DEED) program per course (not per credit), taken at Pillar College Dual Enrollment (DEED) program per course (not per credit), taken at local high schoolDevelopmental Courses (ESL and courses below 100 level) per credit |
Note: For the LEAD program, tuition is determined at the cohort start date and remains the same for the duration of that program. Courses taken outside of the LEAD program are charged at then current tuition rates. Enrollment in a LEAD term financially obligates the student for the entire four class semester. General Semester Fees. All Fees are non-refundable.
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