Liberal Studies

Why choose a Liberal Studies degree?

Flexible Learning Format with convenient, accessible scheduling through online or classroom adult-oriented learning environments. Regional Accreditation — The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. Affordable Tuition — Full-time financial aid availability and reasonable costs. Faculty — Academic credentials and real-world experience.

The liberal studies major allows students the flexibility to design a program around their own interests. Other students, who are not quite sure what they want to study, choose liberal studies as a major so they can explore various subjects in order to discover where their interests may be.

Still other students combine a professional degree - Physical Therapist Assistant (A.S.) or Occupational Therapy Assistant (A.S.), for example - with a B.S. in Health Sciences to further their educational and employment opportunities.

Students will develop an area of concentration with the assistance of an advisor to design and complete a specific program.

What can I study?

• A student majored in liberal studies communication studies while also earning an associate degree in meteorology from another school. She combined the relevant meteorology into her communications studies degree as preparation to go into the field of weather forecasting for a news station.
• Many students combine criminal justice courses into their social sciences degree requirements in preparation for careers in counseling in the criminal justice system. 
• Many students use the natural science concentration to prepare for medical school. The natural sciences concentration is also used as preparation for entry-level positions in such agencies as U.S. Dept. of Soil and Conservation.
• Health promotions is often used as preparation for jobs in pharmaceutical sales.
• Social and behavioral sciences concentrations are both used in preparation for careers at social service agencies, mental health clinics, and state-run agencies administering social programs.
• Some liberal studies majors with a concentration in English and literature design their degrees around graduate school requirements, while others use the degree to refine their writing skills for creative writing careers.
  

The liberal studies curriculum has two primary components, one focused on the concentrations in humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences, and the other on career-specific studies.

The liberal arts component comprises 63 hours of general studies and liberal arts electives.

For General Studies, you will complete 36 hours in the following areas with an overall average of C or better:

Computer proficiency 3
English 6
Communication skills 3
Humanities and fine arts 6
Mathematics 3
Natural sciences 6
Social sciences 9

The liberal arts electives encompass 18 semester hours, with an overall average of C or better, in areas commonly associated with the liberal arts. Elective areas may include art, composition, humanities, literature, music, philosophy, speech, communication, criminal justice, economics, entrepreneurship, geography, history, political science, social sciences, social work, sociology, astronomy, natural sciences, chemistry, ecology, geology, mathematics, meteorology, physical science, physics, statistics.

The career component consists of 66 hours in four categories:
Core courses: 24 hours of advanced courses, typically 300- and 400-level, that reflect the focus and goals of a specific career plan.

• Related courses: 21 to 24 hours of lower- and upper-division courses that supplement and relate to the selected core and follow its logic and goals.
• These may include:
  • LS 301 Focus and Design (3),
    typically taken during the sophomore year
  • LS 450 Capstone Seminar (3), taken during senior year
• Career elective courses: 9 hours of courses that supplement career-related knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Senior-level courses: 9 to 12 hours of practica (internship) or senior projects that synthesize earlier learning. Enrollment in these courses requires the approval of the student's advisor.

Why choose MSU?
MSU offers great flexibility in the LS major. The following are some of the concentrations that students have recently focused on:

Liberal Studies, Natural Sciences (B.S.)
Liberal Studies, Communication Studies (B.S.)
Liberal Studies, Ecology (B.S.)
Liberal Studies, English and Literature (B.A.)
Liberal Studies, Environmental Studies (B.S.)
Liberal Studies, Hazardous Materials / Occupational Health and Safety (B.S.)
Liberal Studies, Health Promotion (B.S.)
Liberal Studies, Health Sciences (B.S.)
Liberal Studies, Health Services Management (B.S.)
Liberal Studies, History (B.S.)
Liberal Studies, Humanities and Fine Arts (B.A.)
Liberal Studies, Media Studies (B.A.)
Liberal Studies, Natural Sciences (B.S.)
Liberal Studies, Pre-medicine (B.S.)
Liberal Studies, Social sciences (B.S.)
Liberal Studies, Social and Behavioral Sciences (B.S.)

Career options
At MSU, approximately one-half of our students continue their education in graduate school and the other half enters the workforce after graduation. The senior practicum (internship) experience often serves as a bridge between studies and future employment.