Liberal Studies Major*

*This program is not accepting incoming students as new majors.

The liberal studies major is designed for students who desire a broad-based education that provides general knowledge in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.

In today’s rapidly changing world, a majority of the careers needed in the next decade will be in areas no one has even imagined today.

The critical-thinking, analytical, and writing skills that liberal studies majors acquire will prepare them well for the dynamic workforce of the future and careers not yet in existence.

Students will meet with their advisors to develop a written plan, listing the sequence of courses that will provide in-depth study toward a definable set of learning objectives.

Requirements for the major in Liberal Studies 

• Two courses from the LIS/PHI list (6 credits)
• R-LIS 466 - Research Project (3 credits)
  • Setting up this project in a Liberal Studies area with an appropriate faculty member is the responsibility of the student.
• Focus Area (12 credits)
• Elective Areas (15 credits)
  • Four courses, at least one at 300/400 level
  • Focus area is a liberal studies discipline—Biology, English, Fine Arts, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish (other disciplines by petition)—or a specialized interdisciplinary theme combining courses from several disciplines.
  • Examples include the Renaissance, the African American experience, etc.
• Five courses
  • 200-level or above
  • in two Liberal Studies disciplines other than the focus area
  • split 3/2
  • Two courses must be at the at 300/400 level.
• General Electives: 36–56 credits

Total Credits for Major: 36

Learning Outcomes 
Liberal Studies majors will:

• demonstrate knowledge of the major ideas/concepts/key events in their chosen focus field and in one of the elective fields
• analyze an issue or problem using more than one disciplinary approach
• demonstrate ability to synthesize material from several disciplines around one issue or problem 
• write a clear and coherent paper with a sustained analysis that uses knowledge from more than one discipline