Navigating Freshman Year at SNHU: A Guide to Required Courses and Opportunities

Starting college is a significant step, and Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) aims to make the transition as smooth as possible for its first-year students. This article provides an overview of the required courses, the application process, and the resources available to help students succeed during their freshman year at SNHU.

Admission to SNHU as a Freshman

SNHU is committed to making the admission process easier. The Office of First-Year Admission is available to answer any questions about application requirements. SNHU seeks well-rounded students with a variety of interests in and out of the classroom.

The application process at SNHU is designed to be straightforward. SNHU has a no-commitment application to help you decide if SNHU is the right college for you and your career goals. There is no application fee, no test scores are required, and no college essay is necessary. Just a simple form with basic information is needed. Whether you're applying for an undergraduate or graduate degree, you’ll fill out a form to verify your previous education experience. SNHU will help you request transcripts from your previous school(s) to see if you can transfer any credits into your SNHU program. After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you!

Here are the general steps you'll take when applying to Southern New Hampshire University as a first-year student:

Complete the Application Form.
Submit Transcripts.

General Education Courses: The Commons

SNHU's general education program, known as "The Commons," provides a core academic experience for all undergraduate students. Through these courses, students develop a common set of skills crucial for success at SNHU and in the workplace. The Commons consists of general education courses, exploration courses, and culmination courses.

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Skills Developed Through General Education Courses:

Communication and collaboration: Practice sharing your ideas and working with others in different situations.
Decision-making:
Intercultural fluency: Discover how to navigate working with people with different perspectives and backgrounds.
Using theoretical and practical tools:

The Three Stages of The Commons

General Education Courses: These courses introduce you to fundamental knowledge and help you understand the basic ideas and concepts that are the building blocks of your education.
Exploration Courses: These courses instill the values and knowledge required to be an engaged individual, both locally and globally.
Culmination Courses: These courses provide you with an exciting opportunity to explore the interconnections between productive citizenship and a variety of fields of study.

Individual Courses

Individual courses at SNHU are built to move you forward. Whether you’re a high school senior, have received a high school equivalency diploma (like a GED) or you graduated from high school and haven’t taken any college classes, Southern New Hampshire University is here to make the process as smooth as possible. Individual courses are a great way to get a feel for the online experience, and see if an online degree is right for you.

Choose from nearly 500 transfer-friendly classes, and in as few as 8 weeks, earn college credits that may be applied toward a degree at SNHU or another university.

Examples of Individual Courses Offered at SNHU:

Math Courses: Develop your passion for numbers and problem-solving.
Psychology Courses: Understand psychological principles and develop insight into human thought and behaviors. Explore the complexities of the human mind, and examine the science behind why we think, feel, and do what we do. Students will experience the evolution of psychology through the early schools of thought, major branches, and core theories that guide contemporary perspectives.
Business Courses: Dive into courses like marketing, financial accounting, and microeconomics to learn skills you could apply to the business world.
Medical Coding Courses: Learn about the central technologies, terminologies, and systems involved in Medical Coding, building the skills you need to create and maintain a central hub for all patient data in a healthcare setting.
Cybersecurity Courses: Gain familiarity with foundational cybersecurity concepts and terms. Learn the difference between adversarial and environmental threats and analyze how security practitioners respond to each.
Design Courses: Dive into the basic elements and principles of design and how they're used to create visual communications. Explore the relationship between these elements and principles and learn how they're used to accomplish effective compositions.
Data Analysis Courses: Examine the impact of data analysis - and the role of data analysts - within organizations.
Artificial Intelligence Courses: Learn practical applications and ethical considerations of artificial intelligence through hands-on experience with some of the most popular AI tools, preparing you to use AI responsibly in your career and daily life.

General Studies Degree

Southern New Hampshire University's general studies degree curriculum includes general education classes, elective classes and classes to help you earn a concentration in 1 area of study. To earn a general studies degree at SNHU, you’ll need to earn 42 credits of core general education courses.

With a general studies degree, you can explore a variety of courses and apply them to a bachelor’s degree. A general studies degree is particularly helpful if you've already completed some college coursework and want to finish your degree. With a general studies degree, you can gain career skills and a broad base of education. A general studies degree is a type of liberal arts degree and is often a direct extension of an associate of arts degree. Liberal arts also encompasses a number of other majors, usually focused on literature, humanities and social sciences.

Absolutely - it's especially worth it if you're a transfer student, because it could be your fastest path to completing your degree. Thanks to Southern New Hampshire University's (SNHU) generous transfer policy, which accepts up to 90 transfer credits toward an online bachelor’s degree program, you could take as few as 5 terms - or 10 courses - to earn your general studies degree after transferring.

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Other names for general studies degree include interdisciplinary studies, liberal studies and liberal arts.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Concentrations

Aviation Management: The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in aviation management combines general academic preparation with the development of business management skills and specialized knowledge of aviation. Subject material in this concentration includes airport and airline management, air traffic control and aviation operations and management. When graduating from this program you will have skills in communications, quantitative reasoning and critical thinking, as well as an understanding of general business practices and core knowledge of the aviation industry.
Business Analytics: A Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in business analytics from Southern New Hampshire University will build the skills you need to help organizations grow and compete in a data-driven world. With classes taught by experienced professors who care about the success of their students, this business analytics program could help position you for a successful business career.
Entrepreneurship: The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship allows you to apply principles and knowledge from various functional areas of business, such as accounting, finance, human resources and marketing, within entrepreneurial contexts.
Finance: The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in finance helps you develop the analytical and quantitative skills necessary for corporate and individual financial management. Understanding the nuances of business finance is important for companies across many industries. Graduates from this program may pursue jobs in various financial organizations - including banks and insurance companies - as well as roles in private and public sectors.

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Hospitality: This concentration incorporates knowledge regarding the planet, people, profit, ethics and equity of the hospitality world. You'll learn from experienced faculty who bring with them specialized knowledge across various sectors of the hospitality industry.
Management Information Systems: When you pursue a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in management information systems, you'll learn how to analyze and communicate information system solutions that optimize business operations.
Marketing: When you pursue a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing, you'll learn how to implement innovative marketing and business strategies that help grow companies. Earning a marketing-focused business degree can help prepare you for a variety of careers in the dynamic, creative, results-oriented field of marketing.
Operations and Project Management: This concentration provides a comprehensive overview of business operations, including planning, coordinating use of materials, budgets and timelines.
Professional Sales: SNHU's Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in professional sales has been recognized as a top 100 sales program in the country.
Sport Management: With SNHU's Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in sport management, you can take your passion for sports and turn it into an exciting career. Majoring in business administration with a focus on sport management can help set you up for success.

Financial Aid and Tuition

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 90 credits, requiring a minimum of 30 credits to be taken at SNHU. Transfer up to 90 credits toward your bachelor's degree program at SNHU. Fill out the FAFSA to see if you’re eligible for grants or work-study. Take advantage of an online tuition discount through your organization’s partnership with SNHU.

Benefits of a Bachelor's Degree

Earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in General Studies can help you find a new career or advance in your current job. In a general studies degree program, you can gain career skills that are sought after by employers, including communication, critical thinking and problem-solving. And you’ll be able to tailor your learning toward subjects that align with your career goals.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), bachelor’s degree holders earned about 51% more than workers with some college experience but without a 4-year degree.1 Unemployment rates for workers with a bachelor’s degree were 2.2% in 2023, compared to 3.3% for workers with some college courses but no degree and 3.9% for workers without education beyond a high school diploma.1 A general studies degree can also act as a stepping stone to a more advanced degree. You can earn your undergraduate degree faster and move on to a more specialized online master's degree - boosting your salary and career prospects even more.

Flexibility of Online Learning

Earning a general studies degree online means you’ll have 24/7 access to course materials. You can complete your coursework when it’s convenient for you, whether that's noon or midnight. Southern New Hampshire University's online general studies degree was designed for flexibility. Six 8-week terms each year mean you can earn your degree at your own pace, even while balancing a career and family obligations. Academic advisors can ensure you make the most of any prior education and professional experience. Their guidance can help you earn your bachelor’s degree in the shortest amount of time possible. As an online student, you’ll still have access to networking opportunities and learning services.

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