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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. Some examples of 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 can serve as a degree completion program 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 the liberal studies program, students will be able to

demonstrate appropriate levels of knowledge of content from two areas of concentration;
apply and integrate methods from different disciplines in research and analysis that examine an issue from multiple perspectives, effectively incorporating and synthesizing information from two different disciplines;
find, use, and evaluate a variety of sources of information and demonstrate competence in a documentation style appropriate to their discipline;
produce a well-structured and well-written argumentative essay of substantial length that supports students' claims, evaluates opposing and/or alternate viewpoints, and reaches a conclusion logically arising from the discussion;
communicate ideas clearly in an oral presentation, defending conclusions effectively and responding extempore to questions and critiques; and
demonstrate an understanding of the value of lifelong learning by articulating how educational experiences relate to careers and daily life.

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 approval of the dean of Arts and Sciences.

Liberal studies majors who desire a concentration in either gender and society or humanities must satisfy the requirements listed below.

Gender and Society Concentration

Four (4) to 6 courses in a minimum of three academic disciplines from the following: AA 410 Fashion Consulting and Culture, 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

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.)