What Is a Liberal Arts Degree?

If you're preparing to start college, you may have questions about the many different types of degrees available. Specifically, you want to know more about liberal arts degrees. What are these degree programs, and are they a good choice for a bachelor's degree?

A liberal arts education provides a broad foundation in many subjects, teaching in-demand soft skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication. Liberal arts majors can pursue careers in many different fields, including those more commonly associated with STEM majors.

Keep reading to learn more.

What Is a Liberal Arts Degree?

A liberal arts degree is a college degree that provides a solid foundation of general knowledge in many different areas.

Common areas of study for liberal arts majors include:

• humanities
• social sciences
• natural sciences
• mathematics
• teaching methods

Liberal arts degrees help students develop their critical thinking skills, teach them how to learn, and provide other transferable skills that are in high demand throughout the job market.

Though liberal arts degrees are sometimes considered useless when compared with more technical degrees, many employers are finding that liberal arts graduates are equipped with the skills they need to succeed in a variety of industries, including more technical fields.

Common Liberal Arts Degrees

Liberal arts is commonly offered as a standalone degree which may or may not offer areas of concentration. However, other types of degrees are commonly referred to as liberal arts degrees, as they fall under the umbrella of what is considered a liberal arts education.

Some common liberal arts degrees include:

• English
• creative writing
• foreign languages
• political science
• art history
• liberal studies

Common Liberal Arts Minors

As noted, liberal arts degrees provide a broad general education in many subjects. For this reason, students often pair their liberal arts degree with a minor to focus their studies toward their particular career interests.

Common minors that pair well with liberal arts degrees include:

• public relations
• human resources
• computer science
• criminal justice

What Will I Learn in a Liberal Arts Program?

Liberal arts degrees will teach you a little bit of everything. You'll take a wide array of general education courses in the arts, sciences, and humanities.

Common coursework in liberal arts degree programs include:

• algebra
• public speaking
• economics
• fine arts
• history
• linguistics
• foreign language
• biology

Specific courses you will be expected to take will vary from school to school and program to program. For example, those majoring in English may take more literature and writing courses, while those majoring in mathematics will take more math and science courses.

What Is the Practical Value of a Liberal Arts Degree?

A common misconception is that liberal arts degrees are useless and not worth the cost. Because they don't prepare you for any one career field, skeptics often consider them to be a poor degree choice. However, liberal arts degrees provide a lot of practical value. They aim to provide freedom of thought and to develop skills that are useful and necessary in every industry.

Liberal arts degrees allow students to explore many subjects, providing foundational knowledge in all of them while giving them the freedom to pursue further studies in areas that interest them. And, because they are so widely applicable in the job market, students have a variety of career options to choose from, which allows them to try different things and find a niche that works for them.

How To Choose the Right Liberal Arts College

There are many schools defined as 'liberal arts colleges.' These schools place a strong emphasis on liberal arts classes and degrees as opposed to more technical degree programs. That said, many public and private schools provide a solid liberal arts education in addition to other types of degrees. With so many options for choosing a college, how do you find the right school for you?

It might be helpful to make a list of what you're looking for in a school. Consider various factors by asking yourself questions such as:

• What type of liberal arts degree do I want to pursue?
• Is cost a factor?
• What financial aid options are available?
• Do I want to study online or in person?
• Do I want to attend a private or public school?

Answering these questions can help you determine your priorities when it comes to your future school. Comparing your list of potential schools against your list of priorities can help you narrow down the options and choose the school that is best for you.

Colleges & Universities with Liberal Arts Degree Programs

Read on as we take a look at some schools that offer online liberal arts degree programs. Note that all the programs mentioned lead to general liberal arts degrees; other types of degrees under the liberal arts umbrella may also be available but are not discussed in this article.

1. Colorado State University

Colorado State University is a public school in Fort Collins, CO. Not to be confused with the Colorado State University Global Campus, this school offers a variety of flexible online degrees and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

One of the online degrees available is an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts. This program provides diverse coursework in:

• economics
• sociology
• humanities
• communication
• political science

The program comprises 120 credit hours and costs $476 per credit.

2. Excelsior University

Excelsior University is a private school offering exclusively online degree programs designed for busy working adults. It is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The following two degrees are available:

• Associate of Science in liberal arts
• Bachelor of Science in liberal arts

The associate degree consists of 60 credits, while the bachelor's degree requires at least 120 credits. The school is very transfer-friendly, and tuition costs $510 per credit hour.

3. Lynn University

Lynn University is a private school located in Boca Raton, FL. It has an enrollment of around 3,500 students. It offers some online degrees and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Students at this school can pursue an online Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts. Highly flexible coursework includes topics such as:

• international communication
• social psychology
• literature
• entrepreneurship

The degree requires at least 120 credit hours for graduation, and tuition costs $375 per credit hour.