What is a Liberal Studies Degree?

Here are some things you might not know about the Liberal Studies major

Before he discovered Portland State University’s liberal studies program, Weston Koyama wasn’t sure where he fit in academically. He started out in pre-med as a freshman, but his passions lay in writing, Japanese culture, and the historical experiences of Japanese-Americans who (like his grandparents) were sent to internment camps during World War II. No single academic department could house all of his interests. But the Liberal Studies program gave him the freedom to learn what he loved.

Tasha Triplett came to Liberal Studies at the end of a long, meandering voyage of discovery. A self-described nomad, she worked and studied all over the world, accumulating experience as she learned about herself. After settling in Portland, she resolved to become a teacher in an urban high school so she could work with students in educationally underserved communities. The courses, credits and experiences she’d picked up along the way gave Tasha a strong foundation for a Liberal Studies degree.

For Christine Vigeant, the liberal studies degree represented a practical way to squeeze an education into a busy life. As a working adult with two young children, she needed a major that offered lots of flexibility, including online courses she could complete from home. She also needed an interdisciplinary degree that allowed her to explore her deep interest in questions of identity, which have played a central role in her life. Only Liberal Studies fit the bill.

Neither Koyama, Triplett nor Vigeant began with the intent to earn a Liberal Studies degree. But all three found—for different reasons—that liberal studies was the ideal program for them.

Details on an Online Liberal Arts Degree

A Quick Guide to Liberal Studies: What It Is, and What It Can Do for You

“Students are usually surprised when they learn what a Liberal Studies degree is able to offer,” says PSU academic advisor Jon Rousseau. “A lot of them don’t even know what Liberal Studies is.”

But there’s no simple definition of Liberal Studies, so you might never learn about it unless you have an inquisitive and independent mind. A full description of the Liberal Studies program would have to address a long list of questions, Rousseau says.

When people do learn what Liberal Studies is, here are some of the things that most often excite them:

• A Liberal Studies degree is a great outlet for transfer credits. It’s defined as a degree-completion program. That means there are minimal lower-division course requirements and prerequisites, allowing you to count most (or all) of your transfer credits toward your bachelor’s degree.
• A Liberal Studies degree is customizable. An interdisciplinary major, it has flexible degree requirements that you can satisfy with courses from multiple academic departments.
• A Liberal Studies degree is academically rigorous. It’s not a “slacker” degree—don’t be fooled by the generic-sounding name. You’ll have the opportunity to explore an area of deep academic focus, then fulfill specific requirements for demonstrating what you’ve learned.
• A Liberal Studies degree is valuable on the job market. Surveys indicate that employers are seeking new hires who have the broad skills and interdisciplinary orientation that lie at the core of the Liberal Studies program.
• A Liberal Studies degree can be earned almost entirely online. You can meet all but a couple of the degree requirements via online courses. Or you can mix and match online and in-person courses, or even earn the whole thing in person—whatever’s most convenient for you.
• A Liberal Studies degree is an excellent foundation for graduate school and pre-professional programs. Graduate admissions committees (including those at medical, law, and business schools) are looking for well-rounded applicants who’ve gained real-world experience as undergraduates.

While a Liberal Studies degree is not for everyone, it has benefits for a wide range of students. Liberal Studies is a particularly good fit for working adults, military veterans, career changers, and students with many transfer credits.