Liberal Studies B.A. (Individualized Concentration)

Information about the Department of Philosophy, Religion, and Liberal Studies can be found on the department page.

The Liberal Studies Individualized Concentration is available by admission only. Since students wishing to pursue this cross-disciplinary major are seeking freedom from the requirements normally set by disciplinary majors. They must demonstrate their academic maturity by meeting the following admission requirements:

The student must have completed a minimum of 30 (overall) semester hours.
The student must have a minimum cumulative academic grade point average of 3.3.
The student must identify one or more advisors (referred to as program advisors) drawn from the disciplines included in the proposed program of study, who will provide them with guidance required to complete their program of study.)
The student must submit and have accepted a prospectus formed in three parts:
1. A list of a minimum of 2 disciplines to be used in the major
2. A list of courses and time-line for taking the courses, developed in consultation with the program advisor(s) and approved by the department chair of the disciplines represented in the student's major of study
3. A typed essay of 500-750 words in length describing why the student has chosen this program of study, how (s)he plans to coordinate the disciplines and why. The prospectus must be approved by the Coordinator before the student can be admitted to the major. Any change of disciplines or courses listed must be approved by the program advisors and registered with the Liberal Studies coordinator.

Degree Requirements

Core Areas A-E

Satisfactorily complete core Areas A-E, as listed in the Core Curriculum section of this catalog.

Total Credit Hours:

Area F

Interdisciplinary Methods

Satisfactorily complete the following course:

IDST 2000	Interdisciplinary Exploration	3
Total Credit Hours:		3

Humanities

Satisfactorily complete one or more 1000-2000 level course(s) in ARTS, DANC, ENGL, FREN, GRMN, ITAL, LING, MFLG, MSCM, MUED, MUSC, PHIL, RELI, RHET, SPAN, THEA. A total of 18 hours is required in Area F.

Total Credit Hours:

3-9

Social Sciences

Satisfactorily complete one or more 1000-2000 level course(s) in AFST, ANTH, BLST, CRJU, ECON, GEOG, HIST, INST, POLS, PSYC, SOCI, WMST. A total of 18 hours is required in Area F.

Total Credit Hours:

3-9

Natural Sciences and Math

Satisfactorily complete one or more 1000-2000 level course(s) in ASTR, BIOL, CHEM, CSCI, ENSC, GEOG, GEOL, MATH, PHYS. When selecting from the sciences, both the lecture and the companion laboratory course (when it exists) must be successfully completed to apply the credits from either course to this degree requirement. A total of 18 hours is required in Area F.

Total Credit Hours:

3-9

Major/Concentration

Satisfactorily complete 24 hours of 3000-4000 level courses in two or more distinct disciplines, determined in consultation with the faculty advisor(s), the department chairs of the disciplines represented, and the Philosophy, Religion, and Liberal Studies department chair.

A minimum of 15 semester hours are required in one discipline and a minimum of 9 semester hours are required in a second discipline.

Total Credit Hours:

Foreign Language Requirement

Satisfactorily complete one (1) of the following courses:

FREN 2002	Interm Fren Lang & Culture II	3
GRMN 2002	Inter German Lang & Culture II	3
ITAL 2002	Interm Ital Lang & Culture II	3
SPAN 2002	Interm Span Lang & Culture II	3
Total Credit Hours:		3

Additional pre-requisite language courses taken to meet this requirement will count toward elective hours.

Electives

For students who must take the 1001, 1002, and/or 2001 foreign language courses, these courses will be applied to electives and will reduce the total number of elective credits available.

Total Credit Hours:

24-33

Capstone

Satisfactorily complete an appropriate 4000-level course that includes a senior research paper/project that shows the convergence betwen the disciplines included in the student's program of study. The capstone should be selected in consultation with the faculty advisor(s) and approved by the Philosophy, Religion, and Liberal Studies department chair.

Total Credit Hours:

Additional Degree Requirements

Satisfactorily complete all graduation requirements listed in the academic policies section of this catalog.

Earn a grade of C or higher in all courses that count toward major/concentration requirements.

Total Credit Hours: 120