Liberal Studies, B.A.

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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.

1. Core Curriculum Requirements (42 hours)

Core Curriculum Requirements are listed here .

2. College Requirements:

Foreign language proficiency

Foreign language proficiency through the SFA 232 level (SPH 479 for American Sign Language).

Three hours of humanities coursework from:

ENG 200 -ENG 233H
HIS 151 - Western Civilization to 1500 Credit(s): 3
HIS 152 - Western Civilization Since 1500 Credit(s): 3
HIS 161 - World History to 1500 Credit(s): 3
HIS 162 - World History Since 1500 Credit(s): 3
PHI 153 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit(s): 3
PHI 163 - Introduction to Logic Credit(s): 3
PHI 223 - Introduction to Ethics Credit(s): 3

Note:

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

3. Liberal Studies Concentration (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 (300 to 499). 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 LBA 398 during their final semester of undergraduate coursework.

4. Minor (18-24 hours):

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

5.

Undergraduates must complete at least 120 semester credit hours.

6.

Forty-two or more semester hours of advanced work (courses numbered 300 to 499), at least 36 at SFA.

7.

A minimum of 42 semester hours in residence at SFA.

8.

A grade of C or higher is required in each freshman English course; a C average or higher at SFA; and a C average in all specified work completed in the academic concentration and the minor field of study. These required averages are based on those courses in each category that are included in the student’s official degree plan.

9.

Students must complete nine semester hours that follow the division’s writing-enhanced policy.