The Liberal Studies major allows students to combine learning opportunities and courses from multiple disciplines.  Working with an academic advisor, the LS major designs a study plan to explore personal interests and professional aspirations, drawing together skills such as professional and media writing, or topics such as history, literature, cultural studies, the arts, philosophy, religion, and social sciences. This major provides a meaningful way for transfer students to incorporate prior coursework and experiential learning in order to move efficiently to degree completion.

A Liberal Studies degree provides exceptional preparation for careers requiring initiative, critical thinking, organizational management, problem-solving, effective communication, and innovation.  It can also be excellent preparation for graduate school, law school, medical school, or teaching credential programs. 

As a Liberal Studies major, the student chooses an individualized path or follows one of the identified optional concentrations in literature, philosophy, religion studies, writing, or pre-law. 

Study begins with introductory seminars focusing on ways of knowing, humanities, and social sciences.  Courses are then chosen from across the university to develop an individual study plan.  Nearing completion, the student undertakes: a directed study to provide in-depth understanding of a particular topic; and an internship to provide real-world application.  The program culminates in the senior project which combines knowledge gained with the skills to apply that knowledge to real situations.

Learning Outcomes

As a graduate, a student will earn an Bachelor of Arts degree with realized proficiency in APU’s Core Competencies:

1. Effective Communication [EC]:  Demonstrate the ability to get one’s point across in writing, presentations, and organizations in order to share information, teach others, and foster collaboration
2. Critical Thinking [CT]:  Demonstrate the ability to compute, analyze, make sense of information or data, and reach reasoned conclusions cognizant of possible bias or fallacies
3. Cultural & Historical Perspective [CH]:  Demonstrate the ability to effectively consider tradition and heritage in relation to decision-making in a world shaped by diverse cultures and abiding histories
4. Scientific Inquiry [SI]:  Demonstrate the ability to reach verifiable conclusions based on documented observations, findings, and recognized methods in order to know how things work in our world
5. Ethical Engagement [EE]:  Demonstrate ability to raise needed questions and apply ethical and effective problem-framing and problem-solving to make things better