You can take just GE classes at a community college; you need a minimum of 60 (24 of which are GE) credits/units for an Associate Degree. You declare a major during your Junior year of college. The advantage to declaring one earlier is you can take many of the lower division courses at a community college prior to transfering to a 4 year school, whereas if you take your GE and a bunch of elective courses to make up your 60, you may be in college beyond the ‘traditional’ 4 years b/c many of the electives you took at community college may have absoutely nothing to do with your major.

Yes and it is a good thing. I did this. It worked out great for me. Good luck.