Liberal Studies

Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies

For specific course and program requirements, please consult the current undergraduate catalog.

Pursue an individualized education based in the tradition of the liberal arts. Courses may include the humanities, the arts, languages, mathematics, and natural and social sciences. Many two-year students develop the academic skills and perseverance to transfer to and graduate from a baccalaureate program.

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Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

For specific course and program requirements, please consult the current undergraduate catalog.

The Bachelor of Arts Program in Liberal Studies is designed to foster creativity among students with established learning goals and validate the previous learning of students who opt to pursue this option late in their academic journey. Liberal Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide an individualized education, based in the tradition of the liberal arts (the humanities, the arts, languages, mathematics, and natural and social sciences). This program is available either online or on campus.

Completion of the Liberal Studies Program prepares students as effective and productive citizens and leaders in a challenging and rapidly changing global society. This program is committed to the development of the independent lifelong learner.

This program provides a unique opportunity for students to combine fields of study and self-construct specialty programs in areas for which the university does not grant degrees. This enables the student to pursue broad interests or to develop specialized program in a discipline unavailable as an undergraduate degree at the University.

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Careers

A wide variety of careers are available to students who complete a Liberal Studies degree. Many of our graduates have found successful careers in the following areas:

• Social Services
• Criminal Justice
• Business
• Event Planning
• Government
• College Recruitment
• Training Specialist
• Food and Beverage Management
• Retail Management

For a listing of available jobs and internships in your field, visit the Career Center at Mansfield University!

MU Career Outcomes

Black Studies Minor

The Black Studies Minor is an 18-credit minor that uses an interdisciplinary approach to analyze historical and current issues of people of African descent in the United States. The minor affords students the opportunity to explore multiple academic disciplines through the lens of the Black experience and consider personal views about race and racism, using anti-Black racism as a framework for understanding. Students will consider ways to promote racial equity and become leaders and social activists within their respective communities. The Black Studies Minor is designed to attract students from all fields of study and complement all majors.

COURSES AND CURRICULUM:

3 required courses (9 credits):
ISTD 120—Antiracism, Equity, and Social Responsibility
ISTD 220—An Introduction to Exploring Black Studies
ISTD 320—Special Topics in Black Studies

Electives (3 courses, 9 credits):

SOWK 200 Diversity and Social Justice
SOC 202 Racial and Ethnic Relations
PSY 331 Psychology of Race
ENG 281 Civil Rights Novel 
ENG 282 African American Literature 
POL Race and Politics in the US 
HIS African American History
HIS History of Africa 
HIS Pre-colonial Africa
PHIL Philosophy of Africa
ANT Race and Human Variation
COM Communicating Identity and Difference
(TBD) Art of Africa and Oceana

If you have additional questions about the Black Studies Minor, please contact Kerrie DeVries, Ph.D., Assistant professor of Psychology, at kdevries@commonwealthu.edu or 570-389-4957.