What are the Top Reasons to Get a Liberal Studies Online Degree?

The liberal studies degree offers benefits to a diverse range of students

“It’s not easy to summarize the reasons for getting a liberal studies degree.” says Jon Rousseau. “Everyone has their own reasons, because liberal studies is such a personalized program. That’s one of its main advantages. The liberal studies degree is so flexible that all kinds of different students can make it work for them.”

Rousseau, an academic advisor in Portland State University’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, considers the interdisciplinary liberal studies degree to be one of PSU’s best-kept secrets.

“It’s attractive if you’re finishing up a bachelor’s degree that you started a while ago,” he says, “or if you’re transferring from a community college. Maybe you’re working full-time or raising a family. Maybe you live outside of Portland and need to take courses online. Or maybe you’re just an independent-minded person who can’t find everything you need in a single-subject major.”

Any or all of these might be good reasons to major in liberal studies, Rousseau says. But he stresses that it’s important to understand why you’re making the choice.

“Ask yourself: What are my reasons for choosing liberal studies? You need to have a good answer, because you might get asked when you’re interviewing for a job or a graduate school slot. When you can articulate the reasons for your educational choices, it makes a very strong impression.”

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Seven Reasons Why a Liberal Studies Degree Might Work for You

People choose liberal studies for all sorts of reasons, but certain ones are more common than others. Here’s a quick introduction to some of the most frequently cited benefits of a liberal studies degree. Most students who choose liberal studies cite more than one benefit.

REASON #1: Complete My Degree

• Who you are: You’ve started college programs before, but life keeps getting in the way. Now you’re ready to complete a bachelor’s degree.
• Why you chose liberal studies: Its flexible degree requirements enable you to build on the credits you’ve already earned, rather than starting from scratch.
• How You Benefit: You need fewer courses to graduate, giving you a practical and affordable path to a bachelor’s degree.

REASON #2: Keep My Options Open

• Who you are: You have a wide range of interests and aren’t sure which one(s) to focus on for your major.
• Why you chose liberal studies: It allows you to explore many courses from a wide range of departments while still making progress toward a bachelor’s degree.
• How You Benefit: You can take time to learn about yourself, and adjust your academic emphasis as you go.

REASON #3: Move Ahead in My Career

• Who you are: You have a job and you like your career, but you need a bachelor’s degree to get ahead.
• Why you chose liberal studies: You can mix-and-match courses that relate to your industry, diversifying your knowledge and your abilities.
• How You Benefit: You develop skills and expertise that make you a more valuable professional. 

REASON #4: Prepare for Graduate School 

• Who you are: You want strong preparation for an advanced degree in medicine, law, business, government, or another field.
• Why you chose liberal studies: It lets you build a broad and deep body of expertise on a single subject, synthesizing courses from multiple departments.
• How You Benefit: Graduate schools tend to favor well-rounded applicants with diverse skill sets who can work across disciplines.

REASON #5: Stand Out in the Job Market

• Who you are: You want to build a broad, versatile skill set that you can market almost anywhere.
• Why you chose liberal studies: It helps you sharpen universally valued skills such as communication, writing, oral presentation, teamwork, research, and critical thinking.
• How You Benefit: You enter (or re-enter) the workforce with skills that employers are looking for, giving you an outstanding foundation for long-term career growth.

REASON #6: Manage My Schedule

• Who you are: You have a busy life that requires you to balance college classes with job, family, and community responsibilities.
• Why you chose liberal studies: The flexible degree requirements and online course options give you plenty of latitude to schedule courses that don’t conflict with your other commitments.
• How You Benefit: You can fit an education conveniently into your life, with a minimum of stress and disruption.

REASON #7: Follow My Passion

• Who you are: You’re deeply interested in a subject that’s not encompassed by a single academic department.
• Why you chose liberal studies: You can customize the degree and fulfill the major with courses from multiple disciplines.
• How You Benefit: You get to learn what you love, and love what you learn.

One More Reason to Consider Majoring in Liberal Studies

Jon Rousseau believes the Liberal Studies program’s benefits are amplified at an institution like Portland State University.

“I think it reinforces our core strengths,” says Rousseau. “We have a reputation for innovative, creative approaches to education, and liberal studies gives you tremendous freedom to experiment. We’re also known for being at the forefront of economic trends, and there’s a lot of evidence that liberal studies and other interdisciplinary degrees have increasing value in the job market.”

In addition, PSU has emerged as a leader in online education, and the Liberal Studies degree can be completed almost entirely online. So if you’re considering a liberal studies degree, there’s no reason to wait any longer. Contact PSU Admissions today to speak with an advisor.