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Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

371 Varner Hall
Varner Hall Room 217
Rochester, MI 48309-4485
(location map)
(248) 370-2154

Advising
Dr. Joe Shively
Interim Director, BALS Program
Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
shively@oakland.edu

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

371 Varner Hall
Varner Hall Room 217
Rochester, MI 48309-4485
(location map)
(248) 370-2154

Advising
Dr. Joe Shively
Interim Director, BALS Program
Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
shively@oakland.edu

Program Requirements

Courses
LBS 1000: Exploration of the Arts and Sciences

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the major discipline groups that traditionally comprise the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), as well as the methods of inquiry employed within the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

There will be general overviews provided by the instructor of record as well as discipline-specific sessions provided by faculty colleagues from the three areas. Class format will be lecture and discussion. Students will be able to see how diverse disciplines can relate to an overarching interdisciplinary topic.

Will count for:

  1. CAS Exploratory requirement
  2. Western Civilization general education requirement
  3. 4-credit elective

Themes:
Sifonis - Creativity
Sifonis - Zombies
Hickey - Death
Bennett-Carpenter - Creativity
Bennett-Carpenter - Spirits, gods, and aliens
Coon – Kindness

LBS 2000: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Liberal Studies

The purpose of this course is to prepare students for interdisciplinary study. In the course, students will develop knowledge, skills and methods in interdisciplinary research on focused topics.

This course draws upon methods of inquiry within the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and fine arts to prepare students for advanced work in liberal studies.

Will count for:

  1. Writing Intensive in General Education
    OR
  2. Writing Intensive in the Major

Prerequisite:

  • LBS 1000 with a GPA of 2.5 or higher and completion of the university writing foundation

Classroom activity:
In addition to our service learning work, LBS 2000 features a variety of engaging classroom activities such as learning through games, student-led discussions, multimedia and collaborative learning. Students will work on a self-selected semester-long interdisciplinary research project throughout the course.

Themes:
Hansen - Feeding the world
Lorca - Writing across the disciplines

LBS 4998: Senior Thesis I

Participatory, interdisciplinary seminar in which students develop topics, establish research parameters and prepare a thesis proposal. First course in a two course sequence.

Prerequisite:

  • LBS 2000, senior standing and permission of instructor
LBS 4999: Senior Thesis II

Continuation of LBS 495. Students complete the research and writing of their liberal studies thesis papers and presentations, which synthesize their preceding liberal studies work

Prerequisite:

  • LBS 4998 and permission of instructor
Interdisciplinary Core

The Liberal Studies major is unique in that the courses making up the core content of the major are selected by the student.

How is this accomplished? In one of two ways:

  1. Students choose an interdisciplinary concentration from the College of Arts and Sciences and take the courses required for that concentration as the core content of their Liberal Studies major. 
    1. For example, student interested in becoming a forensic scientist could choose to take the courses that are required for the criminal justice concentration as the core courses of their Liberal Studies major.
    2. A student interested in becoming a lawyer could take the courses required for the pre-law studies concentration as the core courses of their Liberal Studies major.
    3. Students choosing the interdisciplinary concentration as their Liberal Studies core must be sure the concentration they choose is: (a) offered in the College of Arts and Sciences and (b) requires at least 28 credit hours, of which 20 credits must be 300-level or above
  2. Students choose two minors within the College of Arts and Sciences and take the courses required for each of those minors as the core content of their Liberal Studies major.
    1. For example, a student interested in Art therapy could choose to take the courses that a required for the minor in psychology as well as the courses that are required for the minor in studio art as the core courses in their Liberal Studies major.
    2. A student interested in a career in advertising could choose to take courses that are required for the minor in graphic design as well as the courses that are required for the minor in advertising as the core courses in their Liberal Studies major.
    3. Students choosing the minor-minor option as their Liberal Studies core must be sure their that the minors chosen: (a) are from two intellectually distinct areas, (b) together the minors must have at least 20 credits at the 300-level or above, (c) each minor must require at least 8 credit hours at the 300-level, and (d) both minors must be in the College of Arts and Sciences (unless an exception request is approved).
Pre-Approved Minor - Minor Combinations

Several minor-minor combinations have already been approved by the Liberal Studies executive committee for use as the core content courses for the Liberal Studies major.  Minor-Minor combinations can be chosen for several interdisciplinary careers and professions for which Oakland University does not currently have majors or minors including: