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Liberal Studies

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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. 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 will be considered.

This program is especially appropriate for transfer and nontraditional students with full-time work experience and previously earned college credits, who desire an efficient way to use these credits to complete a bachelor’s degree. 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 this program, students will be able to

demonstrate liberal learning by exhibiting analytical original thought, empathetic judgment, and mature values in their current writing, critical thinking, and independent decision making; and
demonstrate applied learning through experience documented in a personal e-portfolio and an oral presentation that provide evidence of competent scholarly research, mature writing and speaking, and effective use of technology.

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 the student’s high level of research and writing skills and knowledge of the controversial issues in his/her fields of concentration.

Degree Requirements — Liberal Studies

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

To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor.

LS 300 Liberal Studies Readings and Portfolio Development

LS 400 Internship

LS 420 Senior Seminar

In addition, liberal studies majors will complete two concentrations for a total of 42 credits. Students may take 21 credits in each field or as few as 15 credits in one of the fields, as long as the required total of 42 credits for the two concentrations is met. Of these 42 credits, a total of 18 credits must be completed in concentration courses numbered 300 or above; students may take 9 credits in each field, or as few as 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.

Gender and Society Concentration

Concentration Requirements

15 – 21 credits

IS 200 Approaches to Gender and Society (to be taken before other courses in the concentration)

Four (4) to 6 courses in a minimum of three academic disciplines from the following: AA 410 Clothing Selection and Behavior, COM 220 Intercultural Communication, EN 340 Major Women Writers, EN 230 American Multicultural Literature, PSY 110 Human Growth and Development, PSY 220 Social Psychology, PSY 250 Biological Bases of Behavior, PSY 321 Psychology of Gender, SOC 203 The Global Village, SOC 303 Development of Social Thought. Courses used for this concentration cannot be used to fulfill Liberal Arts Core requirements.

Humanities Concentration

Concentration Requirements

15 – 21 credits

Five (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.

Marymount University

Liberal Studies

Liberal Studies (B.A.)