Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

Who We Are

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (BALS) is a program for creative, motivated individuals interested in exploring the intersections between disciplines or in a combination of disciplines.

This program provides students with a firm understanding of how broad categories of disciplines (e.g., humanities, social sciences, hard sciences, performing and visual arts) ask and answer questions about the world.  It also teaches students how to identify connections between disciplines. 

A commitment to developing critical thinking, creative thinking and communication skills means that students in the program learn how to combine discipline-specific approaches to pursue cross-discipline connections and communicate that knowledge both within and between disciplines.

What Makes Us Unique

Early introduction to interdisciplinary topics and methods of inquiry (LBS 100, LBS 200)

Early training in research methods

Core education made up of existing minors or concentrations in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

How To Get Started

Because BALS is a new program, we have less than twenty majors. This means that you can receive very individualized attention and advising from our advisers and instructors. Schedule an advising appointment and learn about how to create an interdisciplinary degree plan that best fits your academic and career goals

You can examine the list of pre-approved minor-minor combinations that our students are already exploring or explore our list of minor-minor combinations that would be well suited to a variety of interdisciplinary careers.

Enroll in the Exploration of the Arts and Sciences (LBS 100) course or Interdisciplinary Studies (LBS 200) in the SS12/F12/W13 semesters!