Program Description:
Wright State’s liberal studies major allows students to tailor their academic program to their needs and interests across a wide range of disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a more interdisciplinary educational experience than is available with other majors. The liberal studies degree prepares students for a variety of careers. The program can serve as a pre-law curriculum. English, communication, political science, and history courses can help prepare students for careers in journalism or other media. Fine arts courses can be combined with other disciplines to prepare people for careers working in museums or art galleries in research, marketing, or management capacities. Others could use the degree to prepare for careers in library science or in the publishing industry. Because students select from a range of disciplines to individualize their programs, there are many other career possibilities.
The Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies focuses on the core competency areas of communication, critical thinking, understanding society, and self-understanding. Students will complete one course each in the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences, plus an additional course in one of those area (4 courses total). They will then select one of those three as an area of concentration. With help from a faculty advisor, students may choose courses from a variety of disciplines.
This program requires extensive advising and the development of a program of study. Some departments may have specific entrance/audition requirements.
Major Requirements
Core (12 hours): One course in each of the three Liberal Arts areas of specialization: humanities, fine arts, and social sciences plus an additional course in one of these areas. In general, the fine arts area includes courses offered by the departments of art and art history, music, and theatre, dance, and motion picture. The humanities area consists of classics, communication, English, history (which can also be classified as a social science), modern languages, philosophy, and religion. The social science departments are economics, political science, social work, sociology/anthropology, and urban affairs/geography.
Concentration (15 hours): These are upper division courses from within one of the three Liberal Arts areas of specialization. Two of these courses must be writing intensive. These 15 hours may constitute a minor (or equivalent) within a single discipline or come from several disciplines within the area. (At this point, the student’s academic advisor should be from a department within the concentration or in the department offering the minor being sought.)
Related Requirements
Professional Component (3 hours): These are courses that will enhance a liberal studies major’s chances for employment or career advancement, such as courses in business, communication, computer science, education, and public administration.
Interdisciplinary Studies (3 hours): These are courses in African and African American studies, international studies, women’s studies, and other courses of a multidisciplinary nature. These will be selected from a list of courses approved by the liberal studies program director.
Electives (35 hours)
These are courses selected by each student. Included here are any prerequisites needed for courses in the core, concentration, or related requirements.
Portfolio
A portfolio of three term papers from courses taken in the major is also required. Contact the program director for details.
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