Mar 28, 2024  
2021-22 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2021-22 Undergraduate Bulletin ARCHIVED

Liberal Studies, BA


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Joyce Johnston, coordinator
Ferguson Building, Room 273AA
Phone: (936) 468-6722
Email: jjohnston@sfasu.edu
Web: sfasu.edu/oidp

The Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies offers students an opportunity to create individualized majors that draw courses from several SFA departments. This major is distinguished from the traditional academic program in that students are required to integrate two or more areas of study into a focused degree plan.

Students who are interested in designing an individualized program of study are encouraged to meet with an advisor in the Division of Multidisciplinary Programs  to discuss their interests. The possible areas of study are limited only by the courses taught at SFA; among the many possibilities are international affairs, personal entrepreneurship, social engagement, and art and society.

Students who seek admission to the liberal studies program should have completed at least 24 semester credit hours at the time of application. A short essay outlining the course of study is required. The degree coordinator will serve as the primary advisor for the student’s work. The core and college requirements for students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies are listed below.

University Core Curriculum Requirements


Core Curriculum Requirements are listed here . 

College Requirements:


Foreign language proficiency


Foreign language proficiency through the SFA 2132 level (SGNL 2302  for American Sign Language).

Note:


The course chosen must have a different prefix than that selected in line D-2 in the university core linked above.

Liberal Studies Major


An approved curriculum of 39 credit hours chosen from disciplines or academic departments. No more than 20 credit hours may be from any single discipline. (For purposes of this requirement, academic discipline is distinguished from academic department. For example, geography and sociology count as two distinct disciplines although they are taught within a single department at SFA.) At least 24 of the required credit hours must be upper-division courses (3000 to 4999). Each discipline comprising the major must be represented by either (a) nine credit hours or (b) six upper-division hours. At least half of the upper-division credits must be completed in disciplines within the College of Liberal and Applied Arts , the College of Fine Arts  and the College of Sciences and Mathematics . All students completing this degree program are required to take LBAS 3198  during their final semester of undergraduate coursework.

Minor


An academic minor of 18 to 24 hours with at least nine advanced hours of which at least six are completed at SFA.

General Electives


Students may be required to complete additional courses to meet 120 hour requirement.  To be discussed with advisor.

Total hours: 120


Double-dipping Rule


Double-dipping is using the same course to fulfill two different requirements in a degree plan. Normally, students may not double-dip more than six to seven hours across their degree plan. Anything beyond that must be approved by the dean.

Writing Requirement


All students completing a degree program in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts must meet the standards for writing in the discipline set by their major. Students should see their departmental advisor for those standards.

College Advanced Hours


A minimum of 33 hours of advanced coursework (courses numbered 3000-4999) is required.

Grade Requirements


  • A grade of at least C in each first-year English course (ENGL 1301 , ENGL 1302 )
  • A C average in work completed in the major field
  • A C average in work completed in the minor field

The required averages are based on those SFA courses taken in each category that are included in the student’s official degree plan (CAPP). Transfer and advanced placement coursework are not included in GPA calculations.

In-Residence Requirement


Undergraduate Degree Programs

Undergraduate degrees require at least 25% semester credit hours completed in-residence.

Undergraduate degrees with 120 hours total degree program hours require a minimum of 30 advanced (upper level) in-residence semester credit hours. The in-residence hour requirement will be fulfilled as part of the individual discipline major, which includes as least 12 advanced in-residence semester credit hours. Minor requirements also may contribute to the total in-residence hours as at least six advanced in-residence semester credit hours are required. The balance of in-resident hours will be fulfilled through additional advanced semester credit hours and may include further major and minor coursework.

Undergraduate degrees with more than 120 total degree program hour requirements will ensure semester credit hours for the specific discipline include at least 25% of total semester credit hours in-residence.

View the In-Residence Requirement, Policy 6.15.

Texas Success Initiative Program


All students must satisfy provisions of the Texas Success Initiative program. See the TSI information  bulletin page.

Degree Map


The following is the recommended sequence of course completion for this degree.

Freshman Year


Fall


Spring


Sophomore Year


Fall


Spring


Junior Year


Fall


Spring


Senior Year


Fall


Spring


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