The liberal studies major allows students to design their own plan of study. Students mix and match courses from any combination of disciplines in the College of Liberal Arts to design their own major organized around a theme.
Designing your own Liberal Studies Major
Theme: Do you have a theme in mind already? If yes, skip to the plan. When you are trying to decide how to shape your interdisciplinary degree, it鈥檚 important to think about your outcome first. Do you have a career field in mind? Are there certain subject areas or ideas that you are drawn to? Start by writing those ideas down and then look for common themes across those concepts or career goals. If there is not a common theme, select the one that seems to interest you most.
Thematic Courses: Review the , which ones stand out and compliment your proposed theme? You need at least two discipline areas from the college, but you can have as many as you like. Meet with your advisor with a draft and continue to develop a final list of courses that meet the Liberal Studies major guidelines found in the degree guide and Liberal Studies major form below.
- Use the to get started.
Essay:
The primary purpose of the essay is to indicate:
- Why you chose this theme and why it interests you
- How the classes you have chosen relate to your theme
- What you hope to do with this major in the future
This is your chance to explain why you are doing what you are doing with your Liberal Studies major. When you graduate from Oregon State, you will leave with either a B.A. or B.S. in Liberal Studies. Your family, future employers and graduate programs will not know what coursework you took to pursue your Liberal Studies degree. It is important for you to be able to articulate how you pursued your academic focus and interests.