Liberal Studies

Liberal Studies

Degree Type
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science
Honors Bachelor of Arts
Honors Bachelor of Science
College
College of Liberal Arts

Description

Our world is increasingly complex. The people who understand and communicate about it best often have the well-rounded education that a liberal studies degree can provide.

As a liberal studies major, you’ll design your own program of study choosing from subjects offered in the OSU College of Liberal Arts disciplines — fine arts, humanities and social studies. You’ll choose from classes that broaden and deepen your knowledge in American studies, anthropology, art, English, communication, graphic design, new media communication, political science, psychology, social science sociology and writing.

You’ll organize your plan of study around a theme. You can select a pre-designed theme or work with an advisor to choose courses and design a theme to support your personal and career goals.

Your custom curriculum will give you critical thinking skills that can help you make a big picture relevant or a small example powerful. It’s a background that will give you a leg up in your career — whether it’s teaching, public relations, business, or even law. Employers want people who can collaborate, write and speak well. They need individuals like you who can translate our complex world into stories that can move and persuade, and make a positive impact.

 

Program Information

A total of 180 quarter credits are required to graduate, including 60 upper-division credits. Requirements include:

  • Baccalaureate core: 48 or more credits
  • College of Liberal Arts Core: 15 credits
  • Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science requirements: 15-24 credits
  • Liberal studies major: 45-52 credits
  • Electives if need to complete 180 total credits

Degree Guides

Liberal Studies Degree Guide (PDF)
Liberal Studies 4-Year Sample Plan (PDF)
Plan of Study and Theme

Transfer Guides

COCC Liberal Studies Transfer Guide

Oregon Community College Liberal Studies Transfer Guides

 

The liberal studies major allows students to design their own plan of study. Students mix and match courses from any combination of disciplines in the College of Liberal Arts to design their own major organized around a theme.

Designing your own Liberal Studies Plan

Theme: Do you have a theme in mind already? If yes, skip to the plan.  When you are trying to decide how to shape your interdisciplinary degree, it’s important to think about your outcome first.  Do you have a career field in mind? Are there certain subject areas or ideas that you are drawn to? Start by writing those ideas down and then look for common themes across those concepts or career goals.  If there is not a common theme, select the one that seems to interest you most.

Plan: Look at all of the College of Liberal Arts courses taught at OSU-Cascades, which ones stand out to you as fitting in well with your proposed theme?  You need at least two discipline areas from the college, but you can have as many as you like, so write down all of the ones that stand out to you.  Meet with your advisor to continue to develop a final list of courses that meet the Plan of Study guidelines found in the degree checklist and plan of study form below.

Essay:

The primary purpose of the essay is to indicate:

  1. Why you chose this theme and why it interests you
  2. How the classes you have chosen relate to your theme
  3. What you hope to do with this major in the future

This is your chance to explain why you are doing what you are doing with your Liberal Studies major. When you graduate from Oregon State, you will leave with either a B.A. or B.S. in Liberal Studies.  Your family, future employers and graduate programs will not know what coursework you took to pursue your Liberal Studies degree.  It is important for you to be able to articulate how you pursued your academic focus and interests.

Tools for creating Themes and Plans of Study

Plan of Study Form (PDF)
Plan of Study Form (Word)
Sample Essay
Sample Plan of Study

Using the following course forecast information students will plan ahead and work with their advisor to create and update academic plans.

OSU Course Catalog

OSU Class Search

College of Liberal Arts Courses

College of Liberal Arts Core Courses

 

Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:

  • Competency and knowledge in multiple fields.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking.
  • Reflect on pluralism and cultural legacies.
  • Engage in active collaboration.
  • Employ written communication.
  • Preparation for global citizenship.

  

Choose from pre-designed themes. Or design a curriculum that will get you where you want to go.

  

See public relations, teaching or law school in your future? Liberal Studies is a great place to start.

 

  

Stories matter. Top global economists say we need more people who can translate complex information into human stories.

 

Student Spotlight

Where she thrives

Alexa Tawzer loves writing and reading science fiction and fantasy. But one communications class proved to this Honors College student that what fascinates her is human conversation. So much so that she joined Professor Natalie Dollar’s Community Dialogue project to research how people discuss and debate — and find agreement. It’s been a journey from being homeschooled, to attending community college, to finally landing at OSU-Cascades. Now with a Finley Academic Excellence Scholarship and a passion for how people connect, this Bend Beav’s future is launching.

Alumni Spotlight

OSU Fulbright student

Marichelle Gurski graduated in 2021 with a bachelor of arts degree in Liberal Studies with a focus in Psychology from OSU Cascades. With the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Germany, Marichelle will use her five years of German language study, TEFL certification, and prior teaching experience in special education to build relationships with her students in a German classroom. She hopes to further explore German values, policies, art, and literature and expand on her abilities as a culturally competent educator. Upon return, Marichelle plans to earn a master’s degree in German and Psychology and make steps towards becoming a professor with a global perspective.

Sample Courses

  • History of Design
  • Small Group Communication
  • Studies in Nonfiction
  • Introduction to Rhetorical Theory
  • Community Dialogue
  • Peoples of the World-Africa Anthropology
  • 20th Century Europe
  • Modern Political Thought
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Writing for the Web
  • American Women Writers
  • American Culture and Vietnam
  • Cultural Codes in Communication
  • The American Novel - Beginnings to Chopin

Course Listing

Where do our graduates work?

  • Aspen Skiing Company
  • Bend La Pine School District
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Columbia Distributing
  • Deschutes Public Library
  • Heathman Hotel
  • Hill Shadow Pictures
  • Mt. Bachelor, Inc.
  • Newport Veterans Medical Center
  • National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
  • Oregon Corporate Accountability Act
  • U.S. Tax Court

Careers

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We're here to help! Future students can connect with an OSU-Cascades admissions advisor for admission and program questions.