Liberal Studies BLS

Discover endless career possibilities with an online Liberal Studies BLS degree from The University of Southern Mississippi. Our Liberal Studies program allows you to design an academic pathway focusing on your interests and talents. Take 36 hours of coursework by selecting three of six areas, including:

Arts & Media
Business & Economic Development
Health & Education
Humanities & Communication
Social Science & Interdisciplinary Studies
Science & Engineering

These emphasis areas will guide you toward developing a research project that incorporates aspects of your concentrations.

The learning opportunities are endless at Southern Miss. We want to provide you with an affordable pathway toward earning your bachelor’s degree on your terms while never setting foot in a traditional classroom. Looking for more? Our enrollment coaches are standing by to assist you. Click here for more info! This is your life, plus college.

Scholarship opportunities are available for online students! Our Online Student Scholarship gives first-time, fully online students an opportunity for $500 towards their first semester. To get started with our Online Student Scholarship or to view our list of available scholarships for which you may qualify, visit our Student Scholarship page now!

What can you do with a liberal studies degree?

The broad knowledge base you’ll gain with a Liberal Studies degree will equip you with critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills, making you a versatile asset to many industries.

General Education

Written Communication

Course	Credits
Composition One	3 hrs.
Composition Two	3 hrs.

Natural Science

Select 2 courses with labs:

Course	Credits
General Astronomy I *	3 hrs.
General Astronomy II *	3 hrs.
Biology and Society *	3 hrs.
Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology *	3 hrs.
Principles of Biological Sciences I *	3 hrs.
Principles of Biological Sciences II *	3 hrs.
Human Anatomy and Physiology I *	3 hrs.
Human Anatomy and Physiology II *	3 hrs.
Chemistry and Our Environment *	3 hrs.
General Chemistry I *	3 hrs.
Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biochemistry *	3 hrs.
Weather and Climate *	3 hrs.
Land and Water *	3 hrs.
Physical Geology *	3 hrs.
Historical Geology *	3 hrs.
Introduction to Ocean Science *	3 hrs.
Introductory Physics *	3 hrs.
General Physics I *	3 hrs.
General Physics II *	3 hrs.
General Physics I with Calculus *	4 hrs.
General Physics II with Calculus *	4 hrs.
Living in a Material World *	3 hrs.

Humanities

Course	Credits
World Literature	3 hrs.

Select 2 courses, 1 History required:

Course	Credits
World Civilizations: Beginnings to 1500 C.E.	3 hrs.
World Civilizations: 1500 to the present	3 hrs.
Colloquium on the Pre-Modern World	3 hrs.
Colloquium on the Modern World	3 hrs.
Introduction to Philosophy	3 hrs.
Ethics and Good Living	3 hrs.
Comparative Religion	3 hrs.

Aesthetic Values

Select 1 course:

Course	Credits
Art Appreciation	3 hrs.
Dance Appreciation	3 hrs.
The Enjoyment of Music	3 hrs.
Theatrical Expressions	3 hrs.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Select 2 courses:

Course	Credits
The Human Experience: A Global Perspective on Human Diversity	3 hrs.
Introduction to Cultural & Linguistic Anthropology	3 hrs.
Basic Economics	3 hrs.
World Geography: Dynamics of a Changing Earth	3 hrs.
American Government	3 hrs.
General Psychology	3 hrs.
Understanding Society: Principles of Sociology	3 hrs.
Introduction to Language	3 hrs.

Mathematics

Course	Credits
Quantitative Reasoning	3 hrs.
College Algebra	3 hrs.
Higher-Level MAT course	3 hrs.
ACT Math sub score of 24 or higher
SAT Math score of 560 or higher

Writing-Intensive Requirement

Any WI designated course (WI).

ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites

Speaking Intensive Requirement

Select 1 course:

Course	Credits
Oral Communication	3 hrs.
Interpersonal Communication	3 hrs.
Professional Communication	3 hrs.
Small-Group Communication	3 hrs.

Capstone Requirement

Course	Credits
Liberal Studies Capstone	3 hrs.

Must be taken Senior Year; ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites

Program Curriculum

Major Area of Study Requirements

Select 36 hours, with a minimum of 12 hours each in 3 academic areas chosen from the list below. No more than 6 hours completed under GEC 01-05 can count towards this 36-hour distribution. A minimum of 6 hours in each area must be 300 or 400 level courses for a total of 18 hours.

Select 12 hours from Academic Area 1 (6 must be 300/400 level)
Select 12 hours from Academic Area 2 (6 must be 300/400 level)
Select 12 hours from Academic Area 3 (6 must be 300/400 level)

Course	Credits
Liberal Studies Capstone	3 hrs.

Academic Area Options (choose 3 of the following 6 options):

Art and Media

ARE Art Education
ART Art
DAN Dance
DED Dance Education
EI Entertainment Industry
FLM Film
ID Interior Design
MEA Media and Entertainment Arts
MED Music Education
MUP Music Performance
MUS Music
THE Theatre

Business and Economic Development

ACC Accounting
BA/GBA Business Administration
ED Economic Development
ENTR Entrepreneurship
FIN Finance
MER/FM Merchandising
HTM/TM Hosp/Tourism
HRM Human Resource Management
IB International Business
LDR Leadership
MGT Management
MIS Management Information Systems
MKT Marketing
REI Real Estate & Insurance
SM Sport Management

Health and Education

CED Cooperative Ed. Work Term
CHS/DPH Community Health/Public Health
CIE Curriculum Instrut. Elem Ed.
CIP Curriculum & Instr. for Primary
CIR Curriculum & Instr. Reading
CIS Curriculum & Instr. Secondary Ed.
CISE Curriculum, Instr. & Special Ed.
EDU Education
HE Higher Education Administration
HHS/COH Health and Human Services/College of Health
HPR (old) Human Performance & Recreation
HPR (new) Health Professions and Rehabilitation Science
ITD/IT/BTE/BED Instructional Technology
KIN Kinesiology
LIS Library & Information Sciences
NFS/FN Nutrition & Food Systems
NSG Nursing
REF Research and Ed. Foundations
SHS Speech & Hearing Sciences
SME Science Education
SPE Special Education
THY Therapy
TOE Technical & Occupational Ed.

Humanities and Communication

CMS Communication Studies
COM Communication
ENG English
FL Foreign Languages
FRE French
GER German
HIS History
HON Honors College
HUM Humanities
IS International Studies
LS Learning Skills
MCJ Mass Comm & Journalism
PHI Philosophy
REL Religion
SPA Spanish
UNV University Studies

Social Science and Interdisciplinary Studies

ANT Anthropology
AIS American Indian Studies
AMS American Studies
AOS Aerospace Studies
APT Applied Technology Leadership
BLKS Black Studies
CD Child Development
CJ Criminal Justice
ECO Economics
FAM Family Relations
FCS Family & Consumer Science
HCD Human Capital Development
IDS Interdisciplinary Studies
LGL Legal Studies
MSL/MS Military Science
NPS Nonprofit Studies
PLS Paralegal Studies
PS Political Science
PSY Psychology
SEC Security Studies
SOC Sociology
SSGS Social Science
SUS Sustainable Studies
SWK Social Work
WL World Languages
WS Women’s Studies
WGS Women’s and Gender Studies
WTD Workforce Training Development

Science and Engineering

ACT Architectural Engineering Technology
AEC Architecture Engineering-Construction
AST Astronomy
BCT Construction Engineering Technology
BEE Biological, Eniv. & Earth Sciences
BSC Biological Sciences
CE Computer Engineering
CET Computer Engineering Technology
CHE Chemistry & Biochemistry
COA Coastal Sciences
COS Computational Sciences
CS Computer Science (Gulf coast)
CSC Computer Science
CSS Computer Science and Statistics
SEC Security Studies
ECET Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology
EET Electronics Engineering Technology
ENT Engineering Technology
ESC Environmental Sciences
FSC Forensic Science
GHY Geography
GLY Geology
HYD Hydrographics
IET Industrial Engineering Technology
ITC Information Technology
MAR Marine Science
MAT Mathematics
MLS Medical Laboratory Science
OE Ocean Engineering
PHY Physics
PSC Polymer Science
PSE Polymer Science & Engineering
TOX Toxicology

Additional Requirements

One concentration of 18 hours minimum approved by program Director.

Electives

Choose electives as needed with adviser’s approval.

Hours to Degree

120 hours are needed to graduate with a BLS in Liberal Studies. Of the total hours applied to this degree, 30 hours must be in courses numbered at the 300 level or above. The student must earn at least 21 of the last 30 hours of course work and at least 12 hours in the major area of study from Southern Miss. See Residence Hour Requirements for more information.

Additional Note

Please note that the above information is meant to be a guide and is not official. For further information regarding courses for this degree, see the University Bulletin. Please be aware that not all course choices listed in the University Bulletin are available online. However, sufficient online options are available to complete this degree.

* Requires additional 1 hour lab

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the advisor for this program?

The advisor for this program is Morgan Lawrence. You can reach Morgan Lawrence at morgan.m.lawrence@usm.edu.

How can I apply?

To get started with the application process, start here.

What skills will I learn in the liberal studies program?

In this program, you can earn a wide range of skills catered toward your career interests, including analytical reasoning, applied experience, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork.

What industries hire liberal studies graduates?

Liberal studies graduates are prepared to work in a variety of industries due to the unique makeup of the program. So as you and your advisor work through your degree plan, be sure to keep your interests and goals in mind, that way you get the most out of your time with USM.

What if I still have questions about the university?

If you have questions about tuition, transfer credits or anything else about the university, please visit our FAQ page, or take a moment to fill out our form at the bottom of the screen, and we will reach out to you!

Admission Requirements

The following is required from all undergraduate applicants:

Application for Undergraduate Admission
$45 non-refundable application fee
An official high school transcript for freshman (high school) applicants OR official transcripts from all institutions attended after high school for transfer applicants
Submission of ACT or SAT scores for freshman (high school) applicants

Students should be mindful of admission deadlines. For a full list of admission requirements, see the University Admission Policies.

Program Academic Policies and Requirements:

- See University Academic Policies and Requirements

The University of Southern Mississippi is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools of Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). That means you can expect a program with the highest standards and quality.

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