The B. A. degree in Liberal Studies fulfills the intent of a traditional liberal arts education and is offered for students who seek a broad, interdisciplinary academic background to reach their undergraduate academic or pre-professional goals. The purpose of the major is to provide qualified students with an opportunity to acquire broad exposure to the Social Sciences, the Humanities, and the Natural Sciences through courses taken on campus. The student pursues the major in this on-campus academic environment by taking courses in these three disciplinary areas that are organized around a theme chosen by the student and approved by a committee of faculty selected by the student and the Liberal Studies advisor.

The Liberal Studies major is a limited access program. To be admitted to the major, the student must (1) have completed no fewer than 20 semester hours and no more than 80 semester hours, (2) have a minimum overall grade-point average of 3.0 at the time of admission, and (3) submit a written proposal. The proposal must include a theme around which the student will organize her or his course of study. The student should (A) identify and elaborate the theme or idea; (B) explain why the theme or idea can best be studied by taking courses offered in the Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Natural Sciences; and (C) present a list of upper level (3000 and 4000) courses in each of these disciplinary areas that the student intends to take to acquire knowledge related to the theme or idea. A roughly equal number of these courses should be taken in each of the three disciplinary areas. This proposal must be submitted to the advisor and approved by a faculty committee of three professors (Chair to be selected by the student in consultation with the advisor) to be assembled by the student and the advisor.

The student must complete the General Education requirements (and all other university requirements), and a minimum of four semesters of one foreign language. In the student's last semester, he or she will write a senior paper under the direction of the Chair of the faculty committee. Normally, the student will enroll in a three credit hour directed research course offered by the department/program of the student's committee chair. The faculty committee must approve the senior paper proposal in the semester prior to the semester in which the student enrolls in the directed research course. The final paper must be accepted by the faculty committee.

For more information, contact the advisor, Dr. Robert Potter, (813) 974-6957, room BEH201 or email potter@cas.usf.edu or fax (813) 974-4075.

Forms

The information, in this document are subject to changes. Please contact the advisor for further updates