Liberal Studies Major (BA)
College: College of Arts & Humanities
Requirements for the Liberal Studies Major
Students complete the major “core” in addition to a concentration.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| LBST 103 | Diversity in the United States | 3 |
| LBST 300 | Identity and Influence: The American Experience | 3 |
| Required Senior Seminar Capstone | ||
| Capstone is to be completed final semester in the major/concentration. | ||
| LBST 498 | Senior Seminar Project | 3 |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Choose one concentration | 32-33 | |
| Total Credits | 41-42 | |
Note: In order to reach the 120 credits, including the 36 upper division credits, minimally required to earn a Bachelor’s degree at UW-Parkside, Liberal Studies majors may need to complete additional coursework in the form of “electives”. Alternatively, students may wish to augment their major with a minor or a certificate from any department on campus as a way to fulfill the remainder of their university requirements.
Concentration Options
Students choose one of five concentrations within the liberal studies major: humanities; leadership and organizational studies; social sciences studies; women’s, gender, and sexuality studies; and individually designed.
Humanities Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements 1 | ||
| Introductory Courses 2 | ||
| Courses must be from at least 2 departments | ||
| Select 3 of the following: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| Communication and the Human Condition | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Studies | ||
| Introduction to the Disciplines: Humanities and the Arts | ||
| Introduction to Humanities: World Cultures to 1500 | ||
| Introduction to Humanities: World Cultures 1500-Present | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Introduction to Psychological Science | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Introduction to Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies | ||
| Skills, Methods, and/or Literacy Courses 3 | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Advanced Composition | ||
| Literature Into Film | ||
| Literary Analysis | ||
| Introduction to the Communication Discipline (Part I) | ||
| Special Topics in Liberal Studies | ||
| Concentration Courses 4, 5 | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
- 1
Each course may only count toward one requirement.
- 2
These courses may be General Education courses and are often 100-level courses. Courses identified as prerequisites for desired, advanced coursework should be prioritized.
- 3
These courses provide foundational skills needed to begin research and exploration required in a concentration.
- 4
18 credit concentration where at least 9 credits occur at the 300/400-level. No more than 6-credits may be earned through Independent Study courses. Selection must include courses from at least two different departments or disciplines.
- 5
In consultation with a Liberal Studies Advisor, design a concentration with specialized focus, where the majority of coursework occurs in recognized Humanities disciplines such as English, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Communication, Liberal Studies, Ethnic Studies, Music, Theatre, Art, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
Leadership and Organizational Studies Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements 1 | ||
| Introductory Courses 2 | ||
| Courses must be from at least 2 departments | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| Introduction to Business | ||
| Communication and the Human Condition | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
| The United States: Origins to Reconstruction | ||
| The United States: Reconstruction to Recent Times | ||
| Introduction to Humanities: World Cultures to 1500 | ||
| Introduction to Humanities: World Cultures 1500-Present | ||
| Introduction to Psychological Science | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Skills, Methods, and/or Literacy Courses 3 | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Technical Writing | ||
| Writing for Business and Industry | ||
| Introduction to Leadership | ||
| Special Topics in Liberal Studies | ||
| Business Statistics I | ||
| Concentration Courses 4, 5 | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
- 1
Each course may only count toward one requirement.
- 2
These courses may be General Education courses and are often 100-level courses. Courses identified as prerequisites for desired, advanced coursework should be prioritized.
- 3
These courses provide foundational skills needed to begin research and exploration required in a concentration.
- 4
18 credit concentration where at least 9 credits occur at the 300/400-level. No more than 6-credits may be earned through Independent Study courses. Selection must include courses from at least two different departments or disciplines.
- 5
In consultation with a Liberal Studies Advisor, design a concentration with specialized focus, where the majority of coursework occurs in recognized Leadership and Organizational Studies areas such as Accounting, Business, Communication, Criminal Justice, Ethnic Studies, History, Liberal Studies, Marketing, Management, Political Science, Professional Studies, and Statistics.
Social Science Studies Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements 1 | ||
| Introductory Courses 2 | ||
| Courses must be from at least 2 departments | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| Communication and the Human Condition | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
| The United States: Origins to Reconstruction | ||
| The United States: Reconstruction to Recent Times | ||
| Introduction to Humanities: World Cultures to 1500 | ||
| Introduction to Humanities: World Cultures 1500-Present | ||
| Introduction to Psychological Science | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Skills, Methods, and/or Literacy Courses 3 | ||
| Select two of the following: | 5-6 | |
| Sources and Methods in History | ||
| Introduction to Leadership | ||
| Report Writing for the Social Sciences | ||
| Statistics for the Social Sciences | ||
| Social Science Research Methods | ||
| Concentration Courses 4, 5 | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 32-33 | |
- 1
Each course may only count toward one requirement.
- 2
These courses may be General Education courses and are often 100-level courses. Courses identified as prerequisites for desired, advanced coursework should be prioritized.
- 3
These courses provide foundational skills needed to begin research and exploration required in a concentration.
- 4
18 credit concentration where at least 9 credits occur at the 300/400-level. No more than 6-credits may be earned through Independent Study courses. Selection must include courses from at least two different departments or disciplines.
- 5
In consultation with a Liberal Studies Advisor, design a concentration with specialized focus, where the majority of coursework occurs in recognized Social Science disciplines such as Communication, Criminal Justice, Economics, Ethnic Studies, Geography, History, Liberal Studies, Political Science, International Studies, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements 1 | ||
| Introductory Courses 2 | ||
| Courses must be from at least 2 departments | ||
| Required Course | ||
| WGSS 110 | Introduction to Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Human Biology | ||
| Media and Society | ||
| Introduction to International Relations | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Women In Literature | ||
| Skills, Methods, and/or Literacy Courses 3 | ||
| Select two of the following: | 5-7 | |
| Literary Analysis | ||
| Research Methods and Sources | ||
| Psychological Statistics | ||
| Social Science Research Methods | ||
| LGBTQ Representation on Stage and Screen | ||
| Gender and Society | ||
| Concentration Courses 4 | ||
| Select six of the following: | 18 | |
| Communication and Gender | ||
| Communication and Social Movements | ||
| Gender, Race, Class and Sexualities in the Media | ||
| Women, Crime and Criminal Justice | ||
| Literature of Diversity | ||
| Shakespeare | ||
| Studies in Literature or Culture | ||
| Women's Health Issues | ||
| Politics, Law, and Society | ||
| Women, Power and Politics | ||
| Cross Cultural Psychology | ||
| LGBTQ Studies | ||
| Women and Work | ||
| Topics in Latin American Literature and Culture: | ||
| LGBTQ Representation on Stage and Screen | ||
| Internship in Women's, Gender Studies and Sexuality Studies | ||
| Total Credits | 32-34 | |
- 1
Each course may only count toward one requirement.
- 2
These courses may be General Education courses and are often 100-level courses. Courses identified as prerequisites for desired, advanced coursework should be prioritized.
- 3
These courses provide foundational skills needed to begin research and exploration required in the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies concentration. Choose two courses from two different departments.
- 4
18 credit concentration where at least 9 credits occur at the 300/400-level. No more than 6-credits may be earned through Independent Study courses.
Individually Designed Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements 1 | ||
| Introductory Courses 2 | ||
| Courses must be from at least 2 departments | ||
| Select 3 of the following: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| Introduction to Business | ||
| Communication and the Human Condition | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Studies | ||
| The United States: Origins to Reconstruction | ||
| Introduction to the Disciplines: Humanities and the Arts | ||
| Introduction to Humanities: World Cultures to 1500 | ||
| Introduction to Humanities: World Cultures 1500-Present | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Introduction to Psychological Science | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Introduction to Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies | ||
| Skills, Methods, and/or Literacy Courses | ||
| Select two of the following: 3 | 5-6 | |
| Introduction to the Communication Discipline (Part I) | ||
| Writing for Business and Industry | ||
| Literary Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Leadership | ||
| Special Topics in Liberal Studies | ||
| Report Writing for the Social Sciences | ||
| Statistics for the Social Sciences | ||
| Social Science Research Methods | ||
| Business Statistics I | ||
| Concentration Courses 4, 5 | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 32-33 | |
- 1
Each course may only count toward one requirement.
- 2
These courses may be General Education courses and are often 100-level courses. Courses identified as prerequisites for desired, advanced coursework should be prioritized.
- 3
These courses provide foundational skills needed to begin research and exploration required in a concentration.
- 4
18 credit concentration where at least 9 credits occur at the 300/400-level. No more than 6-credits may be earned through Independent Study courses. Selection must include courses from at least two different departments or disciplines.
- 5
In consultation with a Liberal Studies Advisor, design a concentration with specialized focus, where the coursework uniquely targets an interdisciplinary concept or project.
General University Degree Requirements (Bachelor's Degree)
In addition to individual program requirements, students must also fulfill the following requirements:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Skills | 7-8 |
| General Education | 36 |
| Foreign Language** | 6-8 |
| Ethnic Diversity | 3 |
| Total | 52-55 |
** Transfer students in sustainable management, and health information management and technology collaborative, online degree-completion programs, the business management online degree-completion program, and the flexible option degree-completion program will be exempt from the university’s foreign language requirement. See appropriate academic section for further information.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | ||
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Reading | 3 |
| Computational Skills | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| Survey of Mathematics | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| College Algebra I | ||
| Total Credits | 7-8 | |
Degree Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Minimum Total Credits | 120 |
| Upper Level Credits (300 level or above) | 36 |
| Residency | 30 of final 60 |
Cumulative Degree GPA: 2.0 minimum