General Studies May Be the Path to a Degree 

Sometimes life just gets in the way and a student may stop going to college before earning a degree. It’s not too late to finish with a general studies degree from McNeese State University. Students may be closer to graduation than they think, according to Jodi Willis, department head of interdisciplinary studies.  

Erin Willis, McNeese police lieutenant, wanted to finish her degree.  

“I spoke to my co-worker, Jodi Willis, last fall, stating that I wanted to complete my degree, but I still had about a year and a half of classes for my criminal justice degree,” Erin explained. “That afternoon I received a message from her stating that if I switched to general studies in behavioral sciences I would only have four classes left.” 

Erin, from Sulphur, started at McNeese in 1998 but says her life has had a fair share of trials and tribulations and school became a low priority. 

“One thing I always say is that it’s not that you get knocked down but how you get back up that matters,” Erin said. “And here I am getting back up.” 

Shayne Laughlin, from Lake Charles, started at McNeese in 1991 and is now a State Farm agent. When she started her college career, Shayne took only a few classes at a time because she was supporting herself by working two or three jobs. Before she completed her degree, she got married and moved to Texas. 

“In 2000 we moved back to Lake Charles. After our third baby in 2004, I started thinking about going back to school, but being a mom and working full time didn’t leave me much extra time,” Shayne said. “However, I did take courses here and there.” 

In 2023 Shayne received a call from a friend who attended a McNeese Alumni Association meeting.  

“She let me know that McNeese has a program for people with less than 30 hours left for a bachelor’s degree and wanted to finish. So, I called Jodi Willis and she jumped right on it,” Shayne explained. 

The University of Louisiana System Office has a program called CompeteLA for students that have stopped going to college and now would like to return to complete their degree. Visit www.competela.org to register and get more information. 

A bachelor’s degree in general studies offers students the opportunity to personalize their course of study to develop a broad knowledge base and skill set. According to Jodi, general studies majors at McNeese can individualize their classes around a busy lifestyle or focus on specific interests or career goals, all while gaining the skills and experience needed to adapt to rapid changes in the workforce. 

Becoming a student again can be a struggle with a full adult life. Erin and her family created a workspace for her in the living room so that she could still be present for her family and study at the same time.  

“It was a delicate balance! Along with the State Farm agency, my husband and I have several commercial properties we manage. We have five children ages 24-15 and four still living at home. My wonderful husband knew how important getting this degree was to me and my team at the office did as well, so they all stepped up to help me any way they could,” Shayne said. “My family sacrificed a year’s worth of homecooked meals but they were pretty understanding.” 

General studies students can take classes part time or full time and online or in person.  

“In most cases, the general studies degree is the fastest path to graduation for students who have accumulated a lot of college credits,” Jodi said. 

The degree prepares students to succeed in many different career paths and serves as a strong foundation for graduate or other professional studies. 

“My goal is to obtain a doctorate in psychology and teach when I retire from law enforcement. I have already started taking a few prerequisites this summer and fall before applying to graduate school in psychology,” Erin said. 

Both Erin and Shayne chose to come back to McNeese because that’s where they started. 

Shayne said McNeese is a family affair. She wanted to finish where she started and attend the same university where her two oldest children earned degrees and her other children are attending or plan to attend.  

Erin originally chose McNeese because it was close to home and her family and friends. She finished the degree at McNeese because she had the support of her coworkers and friends.  

Both Erin and Shayne say that their adviser, Jodi, was there for them every step of the way. She answered questions and offered guidance at a moment’s notice. 

“Students in the general studies program are usually working full time, overcoming a low GPA or have other concerns that make being a student challenging,” explained Jodi. “My students are heavily advised and given explicit and frequent instructions regarding registration and advising requirements. 

Both Shayne and Erin offer encouragement to others whose life got in the way of finishing their degrees.  

“What are you waiting for?” Shayne asked. “Yes, it’s hard, but anything worth doing takes effort. The satisfaction and pride of achieving your dream of a degree are indescribable!” 

For more information about the general studies program, contact Jodi Willis at jwillis2@mcneese.edu. To apply to McNeese, visit www.mcneese.edu/apply.  

“All the stress and emotions were worth seeing my children smile and cheer as I walked across the stage,” Erin said.