Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

University of Illinois Chicago

A BA in Liberal Studies is for students who want to design their own major based on their specific academic and professional goals. This area of study is made with a unique curriculum, or a combination of classes not offered in any of UIC's other majors or minors. The BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences, Major in Liberal Studies is an individualized, self-designed major that serves students whose academic interests and intellectual pursuits do not specifically fit one of the established majors offered by a department or program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The major thus offers the flexibility to design a program that reflects students’ unique academic interests and goals and to focus on an original theme that crosses multiple subjects, fields of study, and disciplines. Students pursuing the Major in Liberal Studies anchor their plan in a single field by building the major around an established minor program. Students then select additional coursework in other subjects and disciplines, creating a coherent, innovative, and individualized plan of study. Students may also pursue a plan of study that incorporates the requirements of two distinct minors. Degree Requirements To earn a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Liberal Studies degree from UIC, students need to complete university and college degree requirements. Students applying for the Major in Liberal Studies must meet the following criteria:A minimum of 45 semester hours completed at the time of applicationSubmission of a proposal that:thoroughly explains the intellectual rationale and the academic and professional goals of the proposed major programoutlines a plan of study that meets the requirements of the programlists all required, selective, and elective courses for the proposed program (indicating which courses have already been completed)explains why the program cannot be pursued in an existing major andis endorses by a faculty member who is willing to serve as mentor for the student in their pursuit of the approved plan of study.Proposals will be evaluated by the LAS Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs and the Executive Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs on a rolling basis. Students will be notified of the outcome of their application within four to six weeks. See the Major in Liberal Studies website for more information and a link to the electronic application. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.Students accepted to the major will be assigned an academic an LAS academic advisor to monitor their progress toward graduation.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences