Liberal Studies Schools and Programs in The United States

Liberal Studies Studies in The United States

Liberal studies is a broad, interdisciplinary degree that combines courses from the humanities, the social sciences, the natural sciences and the arts instead of concentrating on one discipline. It grows out of a central idea of American higher education: according to EducationUSA, the US State Department's study advice network, US undergraduate education is based on the concept of liberal arts and sciences. The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) describes a liberal education today as a general education curriculum that provides broad learning in multiple disciplines, along with more in-depth study in a major.

How the degree is organised

The subject is taught at two levels:

• Associate degrees at community colleges: two-year Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) programmes in liberal arts, general studies or liberal arts and sciences
• Bachelor's degrees (BA) in liberal studies, interdisciplinary studies or general studies at universities and colleges, usually completed in four years of full-time study

Most US bachelor's programmes work with credits. Courses are split between a "core" of general education and the courses of the major, and the academic year usually runs from September to May in two semesters of 16 to 18 weeks. EducationUSA notes that students at liberal arts colleges take 25 to 50% of their courses in their major, that bachelor's degrees are flexible and sometimes let students create their own programme, and that students usually declare a major only at the end of their second year.

The schools' own pages show how varied the degree is. Oregon State University in Corvallis lets liberal studies students design their own plan of study by combining courses from any discipline of its College of Liberal Arts around a theme. At Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, liberal studies students also complete cornerstone, capstone and professional development experiences. Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, combines a liberal arts core with a professional component in business, communication, computer science, education or public administration; it offers the Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies at its Dayton Campus and an Associate of Arts in general studies at its Lake Campus.

Starting at a community college

Liberal arts is the most common field for associate degrees in the United States. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), US institutions conferred 1.0 million associate's degrees in 2021-22, of which 383,300 (38 percent) were in liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities. These programmes are designed for transfer. At Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York, the Liberal Arts and Sciences AA parallels the first two years of a bachelor's programme in the liberal arts, and students choose courses that give them junior status in the programme they transfer to.

EducationUSA describes this "2+2" route: two years at a community college followed by two years at a university to complete a bachelor's degree. Credits from a community college are usually less expensive, which can lower the overall cost of the degree.

Admission and visa

Applicants usually send their secondary school diploma and transcripts, with translations into English, and may have to submit test scores to show academic ability and English proficiency. To study full time, most international students need an F student visa, which covers study at an accredited US college or university. The school must be certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and sends the admitted student a Form I-20 for the visa application. A school that can issue these forms may still lack national or regional accreditation, EducationUSA warns, so check both.

Where to study liberal studies in the United States

The schools listed on this page range from community colleges to research universities across the country. They include San Diego State University and Saint Mary's College of California on the West Coast, the University of North Carolina Wilmington and West Virginia University in the South and East, the University of Minnesota and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the Midwest, and community colleges such as Allan Hancock College in California, Eastern Maine Community College and the Community College of Vermont. EducationUSA notes that most liberal arts institutions are private and that liberal arts colleges offer a smaller setting.

Careers

A liberal studies degree does not lead to one specific profession, so there are no official employment figures for the major as a whole. The AAC&U argues that a liberal education prepares students to deal with complexity, diversity and change. Oregon State University reports that its liberal studies graduates have become attorneys, business entrepreneurs, writers, school teachers, actors, nurses, graphic designers and administrators, and that the degree can be a springboard for certain graduate degrees. Regulated careers such as law, teaching or nursing require further study or a state licence after the bachelor's degree.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between liberal studies and liberal arts?

Liberal arts is the broad tradition of studying the humanities, sciences and social sciences that shapes most US bachelor's degrees. Liberal studies is a specific interdisciplinary major in which students combine courses from several of these fields, often around a theme they choose.

How long does a liberal studies degree take?

An associate degree at a community college takes two years and a bachelor's degree usually four years of full-time study. Many students combine the two through the "2+2" transfer route.

Which visa do I need to study liberal studies in the United States?

Full-time degree students usually need an F student visa. After admission, the SEVP-certified school issues a Form I-20, which is used to apply for the visa.