Section Home
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 may be considered.
Liberal studies is especially appropriate for transfer and nontraditional students with previously earned college credits and full-time work experience. The program provides an efficient way to maximize the number of transfer credits and/or shorten the time required for graduation in a single discipline. 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
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 students' high level of research and writing skills and knowledge of the controversial issues in their 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
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.
In addition, students will take a triad of liberal studies specific courses:
LS 300 Liberal Studies Readings and Portfolio Development
LS 400 Internship
LS 420 Senior Seminar
Students with significant work history may fulfill the internship requirement through submission of a portfolio (LS 400 Pace Internship) with requires approval of the dean.
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, CMD 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. 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.
Sample Degree Plan — Liberal Studies
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
EN 101 Composition I (WR core course)*
Mathematics (MT) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*
One (1) elective
Year One — Spring
EN 102 Composition II (WR core course)*
Introductory History (HI-1) core course*
Natural Science (NS) core course*
TRS 100 Theological Inquiry (TRS-1 core course)*
One (1) elective
Year Two — Fall
Two (2) first concentration courses § **
One (1) second concentration course § **
Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
Year Two — Spring
One (1) first concentration course § **
Two (2) second concentration courses § **
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*
PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy (PH-1 core course)*
Year Three — Fall
LS 300 Liberal Studies Readings and Portfolio Development § *
Two (2) first concentration courses § **
Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course*
Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course*
Year Three — Spring
Two (2) first concentration 300/400-level courses § **
Two (2) second concentration 300/400-level courses § **
Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course*
Year Four — Fall
LS 400 Internship § *
Two (2) second concentration 300/400-level courses § **
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course*
Year Four — Spring
LS 420 Senior Seminar § *
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course *
Three (3) electives
§ Requirement for the major
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.
** Students select two concentrations, as noted in the program description and degree requirements.
Catalog Links