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

Embarking on your freshman year at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is an exciting step towards achieving your academic and career goals. Understanding the required courses and the purpose of general education is crucial for a successful start. This article provides a comprehensive overview of what you can expect during your freshman year at SNHU, focusing on general education courses, also known as "The Commons," and how they contribute to your overall development.

Introduction to General Education at SNHU: The Commons

At SNHU, general education courses are referred to as "The Commons," signifying that these courses are applicable to all undergraduate students, regardless of their chosen major. Thinking about general education courses as "extra" is a common misnomer, according to Hobbs. While their connection to your career goals may not be as obvious as the courses within your field of study, they're still relevant. These courses provide a foundation that promotes successful behaviors that lead to lifelong learning. They aim to provide a holistic approach to learning and developing, ensuring you gain a wide breadth of learning opportunities and skills applicable to everyday life.

The Value of General Education Courses

General education courses at SNHU are designed to provide you with a well-rounded education, fostering critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. These courses go beyond specific career training and aim to develop your understanding of the world and your role in it. Here are four key ways general education courses can help you succeed:

1. Broadening Perspectives and Critical Thinking

General education courses introduce you to a diverse range of subjects, from history and philosophy to art, literature, science, and mathematics. This exposure broadens your perspectives and allows you to look at problems from different angles. As Dr. Priscilla Hobbs notes, "We may look at an issue historically, or we may put on the hat of social scientists." This ability to see through different lenses helps you critically navigate the vast amount of information you encounter daily and make informed decisions.

2. Developing Essential Interpersonal Skills

To impress employers and prove yourself as a member of a team, it’s important you learn interpersonal skills. These include things such as empathy, conflict resolution and being able to communicate effectively. General education courses encourage an aptitude for empathy infused with objectivity and curiosity. They also develop a strong sense of self in one’s capabilities and the ability to reflect and learn from one’s experiences. Hiring employees with these attributes is essential to keep a company running smoothly. These are skills employers seek in the people they hire. As Hobbs points out, many self-help books and professional development opportunities are designed to help employees develop their soft skills, highlighting the importance of these skills in the workplace.

Read also: Do Colleges Care?

3. Fostering Cultural Understanding and Collaboration

"These courses tend to be filled by a very diverse set of students, who have very different backgrounds, perspectives and aspirations," Healow said. General education courses bring together students from diverse backgrounds, fostering cultural understanding and collaboration. This exposure to different perspectives enhances your ability to work effectively in diverse teams and navigate intercultural situations. It's possible you'll also develop personal and professional relationships with people that you otherwise may not have met.

4. Building a Foundation for Lifelong Learning

The general education curriculum is designed to provide a foundation that promotes successful behaviors that lead to lifelong learning. By exploring various disciplines, you develop a curiosity and a thirst for knowledge that will serve you well throughout your academic and professional journey.

Types of General Education Courses at SNHU

SNHU's general education program, The Commons, is structured to guide you through three key stages:

1. Immersion Courses: Foundational Knowledge

Start your journey by immersing yourself in general education courses that introduce you to fundamental knowledge. These courses will help you understand the basic ideas and concepts that are the building blocks of your education. These courses introduce you to fundamental knowledge, providing the building blocks for your education.

2. Exploration Courses: Civic Responsibility

Expand your horizons and embrace your civic responsibilities with our range of exploration courses. These courses instill the values and knowledge required to be an engaged individual, both locally and globally. These courses instill the values and knowledge required to be an engaged individual, both locally and globally.

Read also: A Prequel's Party Problems

3. Culmination Courses: Interconnections

Our culmination courses provide you with an exciting opportunity to explore the interconnections between productive citizenship and a variety of fields of study. These courses encourage you to explore the interconnections between productive citizenship and various fields of study.

Examples of SNHU Courses

SNHU offers a wide array of courses designed to meet the general education requirements and spark your intellectual curiosity. Here are a few examples:

Math Courses: Develop your passion for numbers and problem-solving.
Psychology Courses: Understand psychological principles and gain 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 applicable to the business world.
Medical Coding: 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-from the lab, to surgery, insurance, registries and more.
Cybersecurity: 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 and AI: Examine the impact of data analysis - and the role of data analysts - within organizations. 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: An Alternative Path

While general education typically refers to the common curriculum that undergraduate students complete, it's also a type of degree. A general education degree is usually called a bachelor’s in general studies. You can often choose an area of focus within your general studies degree. If you have previously earned college credits, an online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in General Studies from Southern New Hampshire University could be your fast track to a 4-year degree. With 63 elective credits, it's easy to maximize your transfer credits and get a degree in the shortest amount of time - especially if you're already working in a field you love.

Benefits of a General Studies Degree

Flexibility: A general studies degree allows you to explore a variety of courses and tailor your learning toward subjects that align with your career goals.
Transfer Credits: It is particularly helpful if you've already completed some college coursework and want to finish your degree. Southern New Hampshire University accepts up to 90 transfer credits toward a bachelor’s program. This means you could take as few as 10 courses - or 5 terms - to get your degree.
Career Skills: In a general studies degree program, you can gain career skills that are sought after by employers, including communication, critical thinking and problem-solving.
Accelerated Timeline: The bachelor of general studies was designed to help you leverage past college credits and earn a degree. It can be a faster path to graduation if you’ve already completed some college courses.
Further Education: 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.

Transferring to SNHU

SNHU is committed to making the admission process easier. The Office of First-Year Admission can answer any questions about application requirements along the way. Some schools offer free transfer credit evaluations so prospective students can find out how many of their existing credits will be accepted. Here are the steps:

Complete the free 5-minute online application.
Get your transcripts requested - for free.
Receive your free evaluation. Soon after all your transcripts are in, you'll get your official evaluation.

Applying to SNHU as a First-Year Student

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. Here, you’ll explore the steps to apply, including key deadlines, required documents, optional standardized test scores, options for financial aid and even what we look for in our applicants, like your academic background and extracurricular interests. Here are the steps you'll take when applying to Southern New Hampshire University as a first-year student.

When evaluating applicants, the first thing we look at is your academic background, but we don’t stop there. SNHU looks for well-rounded students with a variety of interests in and out of the classroom. Have a pastime you’re passionate about? Let us know! Did a volunteer experience change your life? Share it with us! Dreams of traveling near and far?

Admission Requirements

No application fee.
No test scores.
No college essay.
Just a simple form with basic information.

As part of our admissions process, we'll 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!

Financial Aid and Tuition

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. Most bachelor's degrees require 120 credits. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 90 credits, requiring a minimum of 30 credits to be taken 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.

The Online Learning Experience at SNHU

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. 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. As an online student, you’ll still have access to networking opportunities and learning services.

Faculty Support

Our instructors are at the heart of SNHU's mission of student success. With passionate dedication to our students and their learning, our faculty are with you every step of the way.

Academic Advising

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.

Career Prospects with 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.

Job Market

Bachelor’s degrees are in high demand. 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. 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.

tags: #freshman #year #snhu #required #courses