EIU B.A.in General Studies Blog

Do you own your own business? Do you sell real estate?  Do you write books? Do you schedule big events?   If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions have we got exciting news to share with you!   The B.A. in General Studies (BGS) at Eastern Illinois University provides the opportunity for you to earn credit for what you know, through a variety of prior learning assessment opportunities.  Read more below to see if this is something you’d be interested in! What is Prior Learning Assessment? Prior Learning Assessment is the process of evaluating a student’s college level learning that has occurred outside the traditional classroom.  Many adults have learned things through trial and error.  Examples of prior learning include work experiences, volunteerism, and military trainings. Why is prior learning assessment important? There are several valid reasons to pursue prior learning assessment.  First, it validates knowledge learned th...

EIU B.A. in General Studies Alumni  Monica Schaffer We asked EIU BGS students: How does the BGS program benefit the adult learner in achieving their goal of earning a degree? Here is what Monica Schaffer shared with us: The BGS program at EIU makes it possible for adult learners to return to the educational theatre in a welcoming environment that promotes growth in learning. Adult learners have many different motivations to return to college.  These motivations could be a new job, promotion, marriage or even a divorce. Another driving motivation to return is to increase or even maintain self-esteem with self-direction. Not only are there motivations, but there are roles that adult learners have in common over the traditional age learner. The characteristics that seems to represent many adult learners are being a single parent, having dependents, spouse, financially independent or just attending part-time. The curriculum that is provided through EIU is broad in ...

Written by Dr. Carrie Johnson, Director of EIU B.A in General Studies Program   As the administrator of a degree-completion program designed for adults wishing to complete their bachelor’s degree, I repeatedly have prospective students tell me they did not finish their degree when “I should have done it.” I reply by telling them “I would not have a job without people like them and I love my job!” Let us take a moment to discuss adult learners returning to college and dispel the myth that they are doing this at the “wrong time.”   Although most of us think of a college student as being between the ages of 18-23, this is not currently accurate in the United States; the truth is that close to 40% of today’s college students are 25 and older.  What does an adult student bring into the college classroom?  Here is a short list of pros and cons I have developed from my experience: As you can see, the strengths and challe...

We asked B.A. in General Studies graduates to share their continuing education story, in hopes of inspiring others to pursue their college degree, and accomplish their dream of being a college graduate. Through the BGS adult degree program, students can take advantage of online classes as well as multiple locations throughout Illinois, offering adults the ability to continue working, and sharing responsibilities of family while they continue their education. Here is what Lauren Raef had to say about her experience going back to school as an adult at Eastern Illinois University as part of the BGS program at the School of Continuing Education .  Read her advice for adults considering returning to college, how she overcame fears and challenges so that she could proudly say she was a college graduate.   Why did you choose EIU BGS to continue your education and get your college degree as an adult? I chose EIU BGS because I had been a traditional student at EIU 2 ...

Juanta Griffin My favorite part of the BGS program is being able to complete my degree with Eastern Illinois University. I left EIU in 1997 in my senior year to get married. I had 105 credit hours. Having "almost a degree" wasn't enough to obtain adequate employment. I thought of transferring to another university closer to home, however most universities require that you complete 60 credit hours from their institution in order to become degree eligible. The BGS program will allow me to complete my degree close to home, in face to face classes, from Eastern Illinois University.      After graduation I plan to continue my education by applying to graduate school and obtaining an MFA, Master of Fine Arts Degree. I am passionate about theatre! I've worked with young people from preschool to high school, teaching basic acting skills, coaching speech team, directing gospel choir and producing summer theatre productions. I would like to continue to work wit...

Get motivated & let the  staff in the  School of Continuing Education Eastern Illinois University   help you get started.  I recently saw the above quote posted on a friend’s Facebook page and immediately thought of the adult learners I work with at Eastern Illinois University. I direct the B. A. in General Studies degree, an adult degree-completion program offered at various locations in Illinois and online. New and prospective students often feel the need to explain why they did not complete their bachelor’s degree “when they should have” or at the “right time.” What does that mean exactly? Is there a “right time” to earn your college degree? I would argue that time is different for each of us. We speak of “traditional’ and “non-traditional” learners in higher education. What does that mean? At one time the typical college student was between 18-22 years of age.   Most students lived in residence halls where they were immersed in campus life. ...

"You have worked hard as a police officer and have attended many training courses. Take a prior learning portfolio class, create a professional resume, and receive college level credit that you deserve for the time and effort you put in serving your community." -Mario Sankis A very big congratulations to B.A. in General Studies student Mario Sankis who was just accepted into the Northern Illinois University Law Program!  Mario recently earned about 20 credits for prior learning through his police training and military. He was recently accepted into the Northern Illinois University Law Program and is set to graduate in May 2016 with a B.A. degree in General Studies. Currently, Mario is an applicant for the ACE Scholarship American Council on Education Award. He has worked incredibly hard to accomplish his education goals and we hope that he receives this scholarship and able to complete his degree with the help of this award.  A very big cong...

Earning your degree may seem like an impossible feat, especially if you are a war veteran. Below is a story written by Jean, a veteran of the Iraq War. Upon returning from the war, she started taking classes at Parkland College  in Champaign, Illinois. Shortly before completing her associates degree from Parkland, she learned of the adult degree-completions program offered through Eastern Illinois on Parkland's campus.  Due to the support and flexibility offered by EIU to their adult students, Jean was able to juggle the responsibilities of motherhood and being a college student. Read on to learn how Jean turned her struggle into success, thanks to Eastern Illinois University’s adult degree completion program .   Battlefield inside the Hallways The difficulties countless veterans deal with can be engulfing; however, the struggles are not unmanageable with the help of other veterans, students, and instructors.  All that is needed to un...