Liberal Studies Concentration

(also see Individualized Studies)

This concentration is composed of traditional liberal arts disciplines found in the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences and mathematics. Like the Individualized Studies concentration, the Liberal Studies concentration provides the opportunity to integrate a broad range of accumulated knowledge and new learning into an interdisciplinary program which will meet the student's career and/or personal needs.

Like the Individualized Studies concentration, the Liberal Studies concentration is not meant to serve merely as a convenient repository for a collection of assorted credits. The credits proposed must form a cohesive, coherent program of study. Students who anticipate pursuing graduate studies upon completion of the baccalaureate degree should incorporate the necessary prerequisites into the concentration. For example, a course in research methods is frequently such a prerequisite.

The number of credits and distribution by level are the same as those for the Individualized Studies concentration: a minimum of 36 credits with a minimum of 18 at the upper level. The 18 upper level credits must represent a logical distribution from the various disciplines in the concentration.

The key to receiving approval for this concentration is the same as that for the Individualized Studies concentration: the student's ability to explain the rationale underpinning the proposed concentration and its relation to his/her career and/or personal goals. The rationale lays the foundation for the capstone requirement.

Some sample combinations are:

• Literature/Religion
• Music/Literature/Art
• History/Political Science
• Political Science/Geography
• Biology/Chemistry
• Physics/Geology
• Literature/Sociology
• Psychology/Sociology
• Literature/Psychology/History
• Biology/Sociology
• Chemistry/Biology/History

Note: Only grades of C of higher may be included in the concentration.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate with a concentration in Liberal Studies will be able to:

1. demonstrate factual and conceptual knowledge in each of the linked fields;
2. demonstrate the interrelationship and coherence of the linked fields by integrating such knowledge from each of them;
3. apply such integrated knowledge to scholarly and/or policy questions and problems;
4. demonstrate the ability to think critically and construct an argument in the fields studied; and
5. engage in effective written communication and presentation of ideas/concepts specific to the fields studied.