Liberal Studies

Liberal Studies is a program for students who want to explore beyond one traditional field of study, are interested in pursuing a career in elementary (K-8) education, and/or those who are seeking to maximize previously earned credits to complete their degree. This major program offers a course of study emphasizing the intersections between social sciences and humanities and arts, with the option to complete an emphasis track in one of these areas. This format allows students to design a program of study that is both broad in scope and narrow in concentration. It is, therefore, ideal for students whose interests encompass more than one liberal arts field and who desire greater flexibility in their programs of study.

In this major, students will engage with diverse ideas and perspectives to better understand and address complex issues of self and society. Liberal Studies majors integrate multiple approaches and types of evidence to develop this understanding—from the numbers that gives us the bigger picture to the stories that help us understand individual experiences. Students can tailor coursework to their interests, developing a broad skillset that includes the ability to think critically and creatively, view problems through multiple lenses, research using a variety of methods, and collaborate and communicate effectively across differences.

This broad skillset is valuable across a wide range of career fields, including education, management, human and social services, and health professions, among others. It also provides diverse pathways to graduate school in multiple areas.

Liberal Studies Program Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, students majoring in Liberal Studies will be able to:

1. Compare and contrast how different fields of study ask questions and solve problems;
2. Critically analyze and integrate knowledge and skills across different fields of study to understand complex issues and engage real world challenges;
3. Demonstrate critical thinking, with problem-solving skills from evidence-based reasoning;
4. Recognize complexity, diversity and change in engaging contemporary problems across local and global contexts;
5. Communicate clearly in written, spoken, and visual formats, using evidence to support ideas for a variety of authentic purposes.

Programs

• Liberal Studies, Arts and Humanities Emphasis, B.A.
• Liberal Studies, B.A.
• Liberal Studies, Social Science Emphasis, B.A.