Humanities and arts - Liberal and interdisciplinary studies

With an emphasis on the humanities and social sciences, this program cultivates a love of learning and empowers you to become a creative thinker and problem solver. The multidisciplinary aspect of this program develops your historical, global and cultural awareness through a diverse and integrative approach to learning. No matter the path you take to graduation, you’ll develop a broad and transferable skill set you apply to many different jobs.

This program is exceptional for students who want to explore multiple areas of study or have career goals that don’t fit into one discipline. The flexibility this degree offers is also valuable for transfer students because a wider variety of credits are eligible for transfer.

• You may transfer up to 75 credit hours from an Arizona community college or tribal institution.
• A maximum of 64 semester hours of credit will be accepted as lower-division credit when transferred from a regionally-accredited community, junior or two-year college, with the exception of some special programs.
• An unlimited number of credit hours will be accepted from four-year institutions.

How the program works

As a liberal studies major, you’ll spend most of your time exploring your intellectual and professional interests through your choice of humanities and social sciences courses as well as various electives.

As with most bachelor’s programs, you must complete 120 credit hours to earn your degree.

• You’ll select four humanities classes and four social science classes, choosing from hundreds of options within each.
• Additionally, you’ll complete two core liberal studies courses.
• You’re free to complete the remaining 90 credits with general studies courses of your choosing, transfer credits, a second major or a couple of minors and undergraduate certificates.
  • For example, you could complete minors in global studies and sustainability, with each minor counting as 18 credits.

Upskill with a master’s degree

This bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master’s degrees include:

• Master of Liberal Studies
• Master of Project Management
• Master of Science in organizational leadership

This program allows you to build a custom degree by combining two academic disciplines into one major.

You’ll select two concentrations from more than 40 available options, with advisors available to help you choose the ones best for you. It's an ideal program for those who are undecided on a major or want to pursue multiple areas of study.

One of the most popular combinations is to pair a concentration in business with a second focus in psychology. Other complementary options include:

• Applied business data analytics and business
• Business and project management
• Business and real estate
• Counseling/applied psychology sciences with family studies
• Family and human development and communication
• Personal health and integrative health
• Project management and sustainability
• Science, technology and society with technical entrepreneurship and management
• Sales and marketing essentials and organizational leadership

A culminating experience with a focus on experiential learning

IDS 401 is the program’s culminating experience in which you’ll arrange, plan and execute a learning project. Throughout this course, you’ll be guided in applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating interdisciplinary concepts to a real-world problem.

You’ll choose from one of the three options below. The College of Integrative Sciences and Arts will work with you to help you find a project that fits your interests. No matter which you choose, the experience will integrate both your concentrations in a meaningful way:

• Applied study: The applied study is a traditional work experience where you’ll spend 120 hours at a site of your choosing putting your integration and concentration area knowledge into practice. In addition to the hours completed onsite, there will be an online class component where you’ll reflect on your internship work.
• Directed study: A directed study is a thesis, creative or research project that you’ll design in consultation with a faculty member. This option is best suited for you if you’re interested in graduate school or have a creative project you’re interested in pursuing. This can be a great way to start a CV, create a portfolio or design your own project.
• Research fellows: You’ll partner with School of Applied Sciences and Arts faculty to assist them with research and ongoing faculty-led projects. This option is highly competitive, so you should begin planning for this option early.

Upskill with a master’s degree

This bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master’s degrees include:

• Master of Liberal Studies
• Master of Project Management
• Master of Science in organizational leadership