General Studies Degree | Trocaire College | Buffalo, NY Skip to content Complete your application for Fall 2026! Priority deadline is May 1, 2026 Apply Today! 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The curriculum provides a solid foundation in the liberal arts and sciences.  Students who already have earned an academic certificate or those students who have spent a good deal of time in a program, but have decided not to continue in the program, may earn a degree in General Studies. Students may enroll in the General Studies program in order to take time to explore their career options, determine which of our health care programs is the best fit, or allow them time to improve academic skills before beginning their chosen career program. Students can also build an individualized program in close consultation with an advisor. Transitional Studies Additional support courses for students who may need to improve their academic skills 5-week intensive courses taken alongside 100 level courses High faculty support Faculty Commitment Full-time faculty members highly trained in area of study In-person and virtual office hours Dedicated to helping you take the next steps to achieve your goals The General Studies courses are available during the fall, spring, and summer. Classes are offered both day and evenings and the program can be completed either on a full or part-time basis. Apply Now Visit Trocaire Request Information Resources General Studies Program Learning Outcomes Program Requirements Admissions Requirements: 1st Time Freshman High School diploma (minimum 75% CGPA) or GED high school equivalency diploma with a minimum score of 145 on all four subjects. Transfer/Program Change/ Readmission Minimum 2.0 college-level CGPA from last institution attended Minimum Degree Requirements: General Education Core Requirements and Program Requirements: Basic Communications (4 credits):   EN101* and GS100* or GS102* Humanities (6 credits):  Literature Elective* and PH103* Natural Sciences (3 credits):  Natural Science Elective must be taken from BIO105, BIO109/109L, or BIO130/130L Quantitative Analysis (3 credits):  Mathematics Elective* must be taken from:  MA107 or MA111 Social Sciences (3 credits):  Social Science Elective must be taken from:  PSY101 or SOC101 General Studies (3 credits):  GS201* and GS212* Program Electives Humanities Elective (3 credits) Free Electives (24 credits) Mathematics or Natural Science Elective (3-4 credits) Philosophy/Religious Studies (3 credits) Social Science (6 credits) A total of at least 61 semester hours with a Quality Point Average of 2.0 *A minimum grade of “C” (2.0) is required Graduation Requirements: Mercy Action Project Courses Semester 1 16/18 EN 101 English Composition The course seeks to aid the communication process by developing the ability to write clear, concise, expository prose, with emphasis on pre-writing and revision. It assists the student in finding a voice and an audience. A research paper is required, thus techniques of writing a formal research paper are reviewed. GS 100 College Seminar* The College Seminar is a course designed to provide students strategies for successful learning in college and beyond. Topics in the course include: learning styles, learning and study strategies, cognitive strategies, time management, goal-setting, note-taking, test-taking strategies, overcoming test anxiety, cultural diversity, and other issues that focus on enabling students to become better achievers. The course is one credit with a one hour laboratory. Students are requires to take this course in their first semester at Trocaire College. (Fall, Spring and Summer Semester) *Students must receive a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher to pass this course. OR GS 102 College Success* The College Success is a course designed to provide students strategies for successful learning in college and beyond. It is part of the Transitional Studies curriculum. Central to the course is students’ intensive work in learning strategies and the use of the diagnostic tool, Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI). Topics in the course include: learning styles, learning and study strategies, cognitive strategies, time management, goal-setting, note-taking, test-taking strategies, overcoming test anxiety, cultural diversity, and other issues that focus on enabling students to become better achievers. This course is three credits and is open only to new Trocaire students who participate in Transitional Studies. They are required to take this course their first semester at Trocaire College. (Fall and Spring Semesters) *Placement is based on participation in Transitional Studies *Students must receive a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher to pass this course. FREL Free Elective FREL Free Elective MAEL Mathematics Elective SOCEL Social Science Elective Semester 2 14 FREL Free Elective GS 201 Information Fluency and Research Skills The course will include in-depth steps in the research process through the learning and application of critical/analytical thinking skills used to formulate effective standard searches, and to understand the organization and evaluation of information in print, electronic, and other formats. The student will learn how to use the OPAC (online public access catalog) at the Trocaire College Library as well as how to locate materials in ANY Library through the use of Dewey Decimal Classification, the Library of Congress Classification and the Library of Congress Subject Headings; how to search a variety of electronic databases and Internet resources and the correct MLA and APA citation styles for a works cited page. Students will evaluate the quality of web-based (including bogus sites) and print information. At the completion of this course the student will be “information fluent” by knowing how information is produced, organized and accessed within the practical and ethical aspects of intellectual freedom and copyright guidelines. ENEL Literature Elective NSEL Natural Science Elective PH 103 Introduction to Philosophy This course is an introduction into the basic issues of philosophy: Being, God, Knowledge, Meaning, Self, Reality, Evil and Death as they are found and presented in the history of Western Philosophy. (Fall, Spring and Summer Semesters) Semester 3 15 HUEL Humanities Elective FREL Free Elective FREL Free Elective MAEL Mathematics Elective OR NSEL Natural Science Elective SOCEL Social Science Elective Semester 4 16 FREL Free Elective FREL Free Elective FREL Free Elective GS 212 College to Career Seminar This course is designed to assist the student in the transition from College to career by developing the knowledge and skills necessary for future success. Topics include: establishing career goals, work-related values, skills and job search strategies. A professional portfolio will be developed in the class. Students will meet individually or in small groups with the instructor. PHEL Philosophy Elective SOCEL Social Science Elective