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Degrees and Careers in Liberal Studies

 

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Liberal Studies; Liberal Arts; Interdisciplinary Studies; General Studies

Answers to Questions about Liberal Studies Degrees

  • What can I do with a Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies Major?
    A wide variety of careers is available to students who complete a Liberal Studies (Interdisciplinary and/or General Studies) major. Graduates of this major find entry into careers in business, government, and social service agencies like adult and family services, criminal justice, and health and welfare. Some Liberal Studies majors combine this study with teacher training programs at either the undergraduate or graduate level to become K-12 educators; others find this interdisciplinary major appropriate for graduate school studies in law. The major, though somewhat different at each of the providing Oregon institutions, is broadly based, yet flexible and is available to students whose educational objectives might not be attained through the universities' traditional majors. A strength and attraction of the Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies major are the many options it provides for students to organize a study program that is both personally interesting and professionally relevant. All of the providers' majors in this degree involve ways to combine two or more subject areas into a unified degree program and are characterized by enhancement of the student's critical thinking skills and the cross-discipline excitement of understanding how different disciplines present knowledge and challenge students to learn.


  • Which four-year colleges or universities in Oregon offer a baccalaureate degree with a major in Liberal Studies in any mode (on campus and/or distance education)?
    The major in Liberal Studies is sometimes also referred to as Interdisciplinary and/or General Studies. This multi-disciplinary major exists at Eastern Oregon University, Oregon State University, Western Oregon University, Southern Oregon University, and Portland State University.


  • What is the recommended Associate Degree preparation from the Community College system?
    An Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) is the best associates degree for preparing students to transfer and pursue a baccalaureate in Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies at the Oregon universities offering such a major (EOU, OSU, WOU, SOU, PSU). Students who pursue either an AAS or an AS may lack some credits in the universities' general education requirements, and by communicating early on with an advisor from the baccalaureate provider's Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies program, community college transfer students can be advised into appropriate community college electives that will satisfy such categories and make the transfer to the university more satisfactory.


  • What specific courses are required or recommended at the lower division level for admission to a baccalaureate program in Liberal Studies?
    The AAOT degree provides the best transferability of credits to a university major in Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies. The AAOT is available via distance education from Central Oregon Community College, Chemeketa Community College, Lane Community College, and Portland Community College. Through the Oregon Community College Distance Learning Council (former name OCCDEC or Oregon Community College Distance Education Consortium), courses for the AAOT can be accessed and transferred to an Oregon community colleges which may not, independently, yet be offering the AAOT via distance education. Contact the Council Office at 1-800-806-2282, Ext. 474 or access the website for the most current information.


  • Which Oregon community colleges offer an Associate Degree that includes all the courses that will be needed for admission to the Liberal Studies baccalaureate?
    All Oregon community colleges offer the AAOT which is the preferred associate degree for students transferring into a Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies major at EOU, OSU, WOU, SOU, or PSU. Central Oregon Community College, Chemeketa Community College, Lane Community College, and Portland Community College currently offer the AAOT via distance education. Contact the Oregon Community College Distance Learning Council at 1-800-806-2282, Ext. 474 or access the website for the most current information.


  • What is the total number of credit hours required for the baccalaureate degree?
    The Oregon universities offering a major in Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies require a minimum range of 180-192 quarter hours of credit for a baccalaureate degree in the Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies major. Each institution has requirements associated with the maximum number of community college credits which may transfer (usually from 108-126), on the number of on-site "residency" credits that are required for the baccalaureate; and on the number of professional-technical and/or similar type of credits that can apply toward the baccalaureate. Consult with the baccalaureate provider for further information by calling the university's admissions office and/or accessing the university's WEB page (all addresses given at the end of this overview).


  • Which OUS institutions offer dual admission or provisional admission, from associate to baccalaureate programs?
    As these flexible and convenient arrangements are increasing in volume and popularity, the reader is referred to either the specific community college provider's admissions office or to the WEB addresses given at the end of this overview for the latest information. There are many opportunities for Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies students to combine their coursework from an Oregon Community College provider with the Oregon University providers (EOU, OSU, WOU, SOU, PSU) who offer a baccalaureate in Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies.


  • What are the admission requirements to the baccalaureate program?
    Students desiring to pursue a major in Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies from one of the Oregon University providers (EOU, OSU, WOU, SOU, PSU) are generally admissible to the major if they are admitted to the University upon transfer from the community college. As each provider's specific requirements for entry into the major is slightly different, the reader is referred to the baccalaureate provider's WEB page/phone numbers which follow this overview, and/or is invited to call the University and request information from the Liberal/Interdisciplinary/ General Studies department.


  • What credit-by-exam or credit-by-articulation provisions are available?
    Students who pursue a Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies major at one of the Oregon university providers (EOU, OSU, WOU, SOU, PSU) are usually able to pursue several accelerated means of acquiring credit. Included among these are CLEP (college-level examination program), ASL (agency sponsored learning), CPL (credit for prior experiential learning), AP (advanced placement from high school curricula/testing), as well as specific college course challenge opportunities. Some testing/transcripting fees may be charged, and varying requirements associated with university admission and/or current enrollment may be necessary. The reader is encouraged to contact the university's Liberal/Interdisciplinary/ General Studies provider at their WEB address or by calling their phone numbers, provided at the end of this overview.


  • Which courses must be successfully completed to complete the baccalaureate degree in Liberal Studies?
    The common characteristic which is evident in each of the Oregon University providers' Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies majors is the presence of two or more disciplines. Because of this unique interdisciplinary feature, there is no single list of courses which a Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies major must complete. Specific institutional graduation requirements will apply as well as major requirements. Since these are different at each university offering this major, the reader is referred to the WEB addresses and phone numbers provided at the end of this overview.


  • Which four-year colleges or universities offer a baccalaureate degree with a Liberal Studies major that includes at least 50% or more of the courses for the major in a distance education mode?
    Eastern Oregon University offers the full baccalaureate degree with a major in Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies entirely through distance education modes. Other providers (OSU, WOU, SOU, PSU) offer a significant number of the Liberal/ Interdisciplinary/General Studies coursework via distance education and/or in live formats, including sites distant to the main university campus. Since the providers vary in their distance and residency offerings and requirements, the reader is referred to the WEB addresses and phone numbers provided at the end of this overview.


  • Which courses are required or recommended outside the Liberal Studies major for the baccalaureate degree?
    Each of the university providers offering a major in Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies will have, in addition to requirements of the major, specific institutional requirements for obtaining the baccalaureate. These may include, but not be limited to, math competency, computer literacy competency, writing competency, and a capstone project. The reader is referred to the WEB addresses and phone numbers provided at the end of this overview for more specific information.


  • Are there licensing requirements in Oregon for entry into a Liberal Studies profession?
    Though there are no licensing requirements, per se, associated with obtaining a Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies degree, there may be certain professions for which a license is required of graduates with this major. For example, certain types of counselors may enter their profession with a Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies degree, but must either already have or quickly obtain a license for certain certification and/or counseling privileges. Likewise, though this major might be part of the curriculum for some types of teacher preparation, it does not provide a license or certification for teaching, rather, teacher licensure comes through the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) upon recommendation of the University following the student's completion of the appropriate curriculum.


  • How does financial aid work for a Liberal Studies major?
    Students wishing to pursue a major in Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies at one of the Oregon University System providers (EOU, OSU, WOU, SOU, PSU) are eligible for financial aid under the same rules and provisions as any other major. Because of the variety of delivery modalities with which the distance education student may access the major and the provisions/limitations regarding financial aid that may be associated with a particular delivery type, the student is strongly encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office of the community and university provider of the Liberal/Interdisciplinary/General Studies curriculum to obtain the specific, current information pertaining to the provision of financial aid for dual admission arrangements, distance learning enrollments, and part-time/full-time policies. See the WEB addresses and phone numbers provided at the end of this overview for further communications.
Important Links

Oregon Community Colleges:

Oregon Universities with Liberal Studies Degrees:
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