Liberal Studies, BLS

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The Bachelor of Liberal Studies, offered through the College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences, allows students the opportunity to tailor their primary and secondary concentrations to meet their specific needs, whether these needs involve promotions at current jobs, new careers, graduate study, or personal fulfillment.

Areas of concentration can include but are not limited to technology, pre-law, pre-medicine, pre-physical therapy, behavioral sciences, communication, business, organizational leadership and supervision, and natural sciences. Students may also transfer credits from other accredited institutions toward the Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree requirements, making the plan of study even more unique. Students may transfer, for example, courses in paralegal studies, criminal justice, interior design, medical assisting – just to name a few.

Degree Requirements

PNW General Education Core (30 Credits)

English Composition (6 Credits)

Speech Communication (3 Credits)

COM 11400 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication

Quantitative Reasoning (3 Credits)

Natural Sciences (3 Credits)

Select from the Natural Sciences Core list

Technology (3 Credits)

CNIT 10700 - Computers and Software Packages

Humanities (3 Credits)

Select from the Humanities Core list

Social Sciences (3 Credits)

Additional Credits (3 Credits)

Select a course from any Core list except FYE

First-Year Experience (FYE) (3 Credits)

GS 19100 - First-Year Experience I

Supplemental Core (21 Credits)

Foreign Language (6 Credits)

U.S. Tradition (3 Credits)

Global Cultures (3 Credits)

Literature and the Arts (3 Credits)

Racial and Ethnic Diversity (3 Credits)

Gender Issues (3 Credits)

Liberal Studies Gateway Course (3 Credits)

IDIS 23500 - Introduction to Great Issues

Primary Area of Study (30 Credits)

A minimum of 30 credits is required (ordinarily distributed among three or more disciplines) taken beyond core requirements. The primary area of study must be agreed upon by the student and the academic advisor. The primary areas of study include but are not limited to:

Humanities: creative arts, foreign literature, literature, philosophy, history
Social and behavioral sciences: economics, political science, psychology, sociology
Natural science and mathematics: biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics
Various technology and interdisciplinary areas

Secondary Area of Study (21 Credits)

A minimum of 21 credits is required (ordinarily distributed among two or more disciplines) taken beyond the core. The secondary area must be agreed upon by the student and the academic advisor.

Liberal Studies Capstone Courses (6 Credits)

Free Electives (9 Credits)

Total 120 Credits Required

Other Requirements and Limitations:

Students must have a completed plan of study on file with the Department of History and Philosophy by their junior year. Otherwise, on-time graduation cannot be assured.
A minimum of 30 credits must be taken at the 300 level or above
A minimum of 30 credits must be taken at the North Central campus
A minimum of 32 credits must be taken at a campus of Purdue University at the junior level or above
A maximum of eight courses from any one discipline may be counted toward the fulfillment of the degree requirement