Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (Flex)

INT 150: Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies (3 credits) 
This course serves as the cornerstone or gateway to several degree programs in the School of Continuing Education (SCE).  The course introduces students to an interdisciplinary approach to describing, analyzing, and researching current themes, problems, and projects.  Because students come from a variety of professional careers and backgrounds, the course will embrace varied texts, assessments, and activities.  By the end of the course, each student will be able to define interdisciplinarity and to engage in reflective, critical reading and writing on interdisciplinary topics and to connect their academic pursuits with their professional interests. 

LDR 101: Leadership Theory (3 credits) 
This course examines the development of leadership theory and practice from a contemporary and historical perspective. Emphasis is placed on new models of “adaptive” leadership emerging in 21st century work, community, and civic contexts. Students will develop a leadership learning plan to guide their study of leadership. 

GST 101: Introduction to Global Studies (3 credits) 
Explores the concepts and practices of citizenship in an age of globalization, and how best to promote economic development, democracy, community, and social justice. Students discuss globalization issues and the socio-economic, political, and cultural interconnections of the world by combining community experience and academic study. Particular attention will be drawn to perspectives on globalization beyond the Euro-American framework. Fulfills SCE Civic and Global Engagement core requirement. 

SOC 310: Society, Culture and the Individual (3 credits) 
Explores the ways in which individuals process and then either adopt or reject competing norms and values. Scholars have used different concepts to explain this basic fact of human behavior: social psychology, symbolic interaction, culture, ideology, hegemony, interpellation, discourse, and habitus. Students will learn the advantages and disadvantages of each. 

Courses Fulfilling Key Thematic Areas (18 credits) 
For the Liberal Studies degree, students will choose two courses from each of these three thematic areas: Self, Society, and World. There are approx. 60 courses to choose from to fulfill this need. As you’ll see, there’s a great deal of flexibility to choose topics that complement your intended career goals and certificate pairing with this degree program. 

INT 480: Capstone in Interdisciplinary Studies (3 credits) 
The Capstone course for several degree programs is a culminating experience in which students complete their educational plan (initially created in the introductory course and further developed throughout their program), reflect on their ePortfolio, and design and complete their capstone project. This final piece, the capstone project, is designed by the student, in conjunction with the instructor, is tailored to the student’s professional development, and addresses issues and topics of particular concern to that student.  In-depth individualized work, peer-critique and collaboration, presentations and a final update to the student’s e-portfolio are all incorporated into an in-depth individualized experience.   
 

Like most PCSCE programs, tuition for the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies is a very competitive $404 per credit, which is $1,212 total per course as of the 2022-2023 academic year. To further reduce cost, we accept up to 75 credits for prior college experience, as well as credits for military, job training, and other life experience.

The Liberal Studies degree’s broad curriculum is purposeful. It helps students build the “soft skills” that are increasingly critical for today’s (and tomorrow’s) workplace. In fact, a 2018 study conducted by The Association of American Colleges & Universities found that “employers overwhelmingly endorse broad learning and cross-cutting skills as the best preparation for long-term career success,” citing oral and written communication, critical thinking, ethical judgment, teamwork, and the real-world application of skills and knowledge as being the most critical skills for success – all of which form the basis of a Liberal Studies degree. 
 
Bottom line: This program instills the skills that are critical to adapt and grow in an ever-changing job market

Professor Lucas Duclos 
Professor Duclos holds an Ed.M. in Learning Design and Innovation from Harvard University. He teaches  INT 150 (Cornerstone in Interdisciplinary Studies) and various writing courses. 

Professor Jess Geier, Ph.D. 
Dr. Geier is the Director of Special Projects at New Heights Charter School, as well as a founding member. Her seminar-style courses cover issues of race, class, and gender. She teaches various Sociology and Gender Studies courses as well as INT 480, the Capstone course for the major. 

Professor Sean Kenny 
Professor Kenny offers more than 25 years of experience coaching work teams in the medical device, pharmaceutical, nonprofit, and retail sectors. He teaches LDR 101 (Leadership Development and Theory).