Liberal Studies
Mission
The
Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) is a broad-based interdisciplinary approach
to a liberal education designed for students who may not wish to seek a major
in a single field of study, but prefer choice and flexibility in the selection
of courses for a degree. It encourages students to integrate ideas from social
sciences, humanities, sciences, mathematics, and fine arts. Students are provided
with a sound liberal arts education and develop attitudes and skills needed for
life-long learning.
The
liberal studies major is ideal for students with broad interests who wish to
design their own program of study outside of traditionally-defined areas of
interest, or for those seeking a bachelor’s degree to meet pre-professional
goals, such as the entrance requirements to law school. It also accommodates
the use of students’ credits from an Associate of Arts degree program or from
an incomplete bachelor’s degree program.
In
addition to fulfilling the core curriculum requirements for all major programs
at Viterbo University, the liberal studies student will work with his or her
advisor to complete 32 credits of course work in the major, according to the four
requirements below.
Policy
The
Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree may be selected as a double degree only if
the other major field is not one of the disciplines listed in Requirement II
and if the 32 credits obtained are in addition to the required courses in the
other degree.
Liberal Studies Major (Bachelor of Liberal
Studies)
- core curriculum and mission seminars – see
the core curriculum section of this catalog
- requirement I – UNST
310, LBST 499
- requirement II – three
upper division courses (with a minimum of six credits) from each of two of the
following disciplines – art, dance, English, history, mathematics, music
(including applied music,) philosophy, political science, psychology, religious
studies, science (biology, chemistry, environmental studies, physics,)
sociology, theatre arts (including music theatre,) world languages, women’s
studies (six courses total)
- requirement III – one
upper division course in each of two other disciplines from the following
disciplines – art, dance, English, history, mathematics, music (including
applied music,) philosophy, political science, psychology, religious studies,
science (biology, chemistry, environmental studies, physics,) sociology,
theatre arts (including music theatre,) world languages, women’s studies (two
courses total)
- requirement IV – Enough
further credits from the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, or fine arts
to bring the total in the major to 32
At least 21 credits of the 32 must be
upper division.
- final degree requirements – see
the degree requirements section of this catalog
The total credits of the
core and major requirements are 35. The core curriculum and mission seminars
require 38-52 credits. A total of 128 credits, 43 of which need to be at the
300/400 level, are required to graduate. Transfer course and waivers and/or
substitutions could modify these credit totals.