Liberal Studies (B.A.)
Liberal studies is unique at Marymount in that it provides a broad general education and the opportunity to gain knowledge in two major fields, designated as concentrations. Some examples of concentration options are biology/physical sciences, business and related fields, communication, English, fine and applied arts, gender and society, graphic design, history, humanities, information technology, mathematics, philosophy/religious studies/theology, politics, and psychology/sociology/criminal justice. Other concentrations may be considered.
Liberal studies can serve as a degree completion program for transfer and nontraditional students with previously earned college credits and full-time work experience. The program provides an efficient way to maximize the number of transfer credits and/or shorten the time required for graduation in a single discipline. The program is also desirable for students who have more than one specialized interest, have altered their career goals, or want to change their major.
The liberal studies program consists of three components: the Liberal Arts Core, the two concentrations, and the liberal studies triad (LS 300, LS 400, and LS 420).
Upon successful completion of the liberal studies program, students will be able to
- demonstrate appropriate levels of knowledge of content from two areas of concentration;
- apply and integrate methods from different disciplines in research and analysis that examine an issue from multiple perspectives, effectively incorporating and synthesizing information from two different disciplines;
- find, use, and evaluate a variety of sources of information and demonstrate competence in a documentation style appropriate to their discipline;
- produce a well-structured and well-written argumentative essay of substantial length that supports students' claims, evaluates opposing and/or alternate viewpoints, and reaches a conclusion logically arising from the discussion;
- communicate ideas clearly in an oral presentation, defending conclusions effectively and responding extempore to questions and critiques; and
- demonstrate an understanding of the value of lifelong learning by articulating how educational experiences relate to careers and daily life.
The e-portfolio contains a collection of experiential and scholarly writings, including a lengthy senior thesis. The topic of this paper involves the student in conducting scholarly research integrating knowledge of the student’s two fields of concentration. The e-portfolio is often sent to prospective employers to demonstrate students' high level of research and writing skills and knowledge of the controversial issues in their fields of concentration.
Degree Requirements — Liberal Studies
This degree requires a total of 120 credits.
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. Liberal studies majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing-Intensive (WI) requirement in the following way: LS 300 Liberal Studies Readings and Portfolio Development, LS 420 Senior Seminar, and one additional WI course from an area of concentration or from the Liberal Arts Core or university electives.
Major Requirements
Major Required Courses
Students will take a triad of liberal studies specific courses:
| LS 300 | Liberal Studies Readings and Portfolio Development * | 3 |
| LS 400 | Liberal Studies Internship * | 3-6 |
| LS 420 | Senior Seminar * | 3 |
Students with significant work history may fulfill the internship requirement through submission of a portfolio (LS 400 PACE Internship), with approval of the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.
Concentrations
Liberal studies majors will complete two (2) concentrations for a total of 36 credits.
Students may take 18 credits in each field or as few as 15 credits in one of the fields, as long as the required total of 36 credits for the two concentrations is met. Of these 36 credits, a total of 18 credits must be completed in concentration courses numbered 300 or above; students may take nine (9) credits in each field, or as few as six (6) credits in one of the fields, as long as the required total of 18 credits of 300-level courses is met.
NOTE: Courses used to fulfill students' requirements in their two concentrations cannot be used to fulfill Liberal Arts Core requirements.
Liberal studies majors who desire a concentration in either gender and society or humanities must satisfy the requirements listed below.
Gender and Society Concentration
Five to seven (5 to 7) courses in a minimum of three academic disciplines from the following:
| AA 410 | Fashion Consulting and Culture | 3 |
| CMD 220 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| EN 340 | Major Women Writers * | 3 |
| EN 230 | American Multicultural Literature * | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
| PSY 220 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 250 | Biological Bases of Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 321 | Psychology of Gender * | 3 |
| SOC 203 | The Global Village * | 3 |
Courses used for this concentration cannot be used to fulfill Liberal Arts Core requirements.
Humanities Concentration
Five to seven (5 to 7) courses in a minimum of three of the following academic disciplines: English, fine arts, history, philosophy, and theology and religious studies. Courses selected for this concentration cannot be used to fulfill Liberal Arts Core requirements.
Sample Degree Plan — Liberal Studies
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
| EN 101 | Composition I * | 3 |
MA
| Mathematics (MT) core course * | 3-4 |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
| DSC 101 | DISCOVER First-Year Seminar * | 3 |
| One (1) elective | 3 |
Year One — Spring
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
HI
| Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
| Natural Science (NS) core course with lab * | |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
| One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Two — Fall
| One (1) first concentration course | |
| One (1) second concentration course | |
EN
| Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
| One (1) elective | 3 |
Concentration courses: Students select two concentrations, as noted in the program description and degree requirements.
Year Two — Spring
| One (1) first concentration course | |
| One (1) second concentration course | |
| Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
| One (1) elective | 3 |
Concentration courses: Students select two concentrations, as noted in the program description and degree requirements.
PH 100: PH-1 core course
Year Three — Fall
| LS 300 | Liberal Studies Readings and Portfolio Development * | 3 |
| Two (2) first concentration courses | |
PH
| Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course * | |
Concentration courses: Students select two concentrations, as noted in the program description and degree requirements.
Year Three — Spring
| Two (2) first concentration 300/400-level courses | |
| Two (2) second concentration 300/400-level courses | |
| Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course * | 3 |
Concentration 300/400-level courses: Students select two concentrations, as noted in the program description and degree requirements.
Year Four — Fall
| LS 400 | Liberal Studies Internship * | 3-6 |
| Two (2) second concentration 300/400-level courses | |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course * | |
Concentration 300/400-level courses: Students select two concentrations, as noted in the program description and degree requirements.
Year Four — Spring
| LS 420 | Senior Seminar * | 3 |
| Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| Three (3) electives | |
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.