Liberal Studies, B.A.

University General Education Requirements  

Department Chairperson: Concetta Williams

The Liberal Studies major at Chicago State University is an interdisciplinary liberal arts program that integrates fundamental aspects of knowledge in the humanities, fine arts, the social and behavioral sciences, and the natural sciences and mathematics. The core course requirements within the major ground all students in the basic and essential knowledge of a liberal arts education.

The concentration provides a foundation for cross-disciplinary knowledge and expertise in the humanities, the social and behavioral sciences, or the natural sciences and mathematics. The program graduates students with competence in many disciplinary perspectives, an appreciation of the unique characteristics of the various liberal arts disciplines, and integration of these diverse approaches into an organized, creative, and insightful set of skills and knowledge. The Liberal Studies major is a traditional degree program in the sense that the core courses address specific learning outcomes, while the concentration permits focused study in an area of interest. However, the program is exceptional in the sense that each of the core learning outcomes can be met with a choice of courses and the concentration remains interdisciplinary.

The program is appropriate for students interested in a career where broad, rather than specific, knowledge and research skills are required. The program is best suited for students who are intellectually focused and who can work with an advisor to plan their specific curriculum within the liberal studies framework. Built into the program are tools to help facilitate the planning and maintenance of an integrated set of courses: regular advisement and program review each academic year, a foundations course to help develop an interdisciplinary outlook, a portfolio containing course syllabi, graded materials and reflective essays, and the Liberal Studies Capstone Seminar.

Educational Outcomes

Educational outcomes in the general education courses are addressed in the university’s assessment plan. Educational outcomes within the Liberal Studies major address a series of goals and objectives consistent with a liberal studies education. Upon completion of the Liberal Studies major, students will be able to:

• study, analyze, interpret, and enjoy a wide range of literary texts;
• critically analyze ideas and texts using the foundational tools of a philosophical education;
• appreciate and articulate the diversity of human experience, with regard to race and ethnicity, gender, social class, age, human identity, and personality;
• apply the basics of the scientific method, including the formulation and testing of hypotheses, the use of empirical observation, and data collection and analysis;
• articulate how artistic expression and the creative processes are developed in the fine arts, including those of non-Western cultures;
• effectively communicate ideas through written expression;
• employ fundamental elements of history and/or political thought to demonstrate an awareness of the interconnectedness of the political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of society and the role these connections play in the local, national, and global community;
• exhibit personal responsibility, competence, and confidence in the development of the whole person as a component in the liberal education of the individual;
• exhibit a deeper knowledge and appreciation of a general area within the liberal arts, chosen from the humanities, the fine arts, the social sciences, the natural sciences and mathematics;
• Apply those skills in a comprehensive project that demonstrates analytical thinking, research ability, and writing proficiency.

General Requirements

Admission to the program is contingent upon good academic standing. The program will not accept transfer courses with a grade of D or below. A grade of C is required in all major courses. Completion of 120 credit hours: 36 hours of general education (see the University’s official list); Liberal Studies core courses, 24 hours; required Liberal Studies courses, 6 hours; concentration, 18 hours, and 36 hours of university electives.