Liberal Studies

The major in liberal studies is an interdisciplinary curriculum pathway for a bachelor’s degree that is flexible, responsive to student needs, and allows for a degree completion option at Salem State. This major serves current and prospective students in both the day and evening/continuing education divisions.

The liberal studies major ensures that students are broadly trained in areas that are tied to their academic interests or professional goals, and specifically trained in how to integrate these areas of study to produce new knowledge and make sense of our complex world. Data show that the region, the nation and the world have high demand for students with the skills provided in a liberal studies major.

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Program Requirements

Program Overview

This major is appropriate for:

  • first-time full-time students with varied academic and professional interests
  • transfer students who wish to maximize their previously earned credits and/or are in the “Liberal Arts” transfer pathway from a community college in MA
  • current SSU students who change their plan of study in a way that makes it difficult to complete a 4 year degree in four years in an existing major
  •  adult students with some college credit who desire a degree completion program.

Curriculum 

1) A set of two required 3-credit interdisciplinary studies courses:

  •  mid-level research and methods course, and
  • a capstone seminar designed to provide students with the 21st century tools, skills and knowledge to integrate and synthesize varied disciplinary approaches, insights, and interests

2) A carefully selected set of 8-9 additional courses (24-27 credits) drawn from any department’s course offerings and clustered into two or three focus areas to align with student academic or professional goals.

The focus areas are chosen in consultation with and approved by an interdisciplinary studies department faculty advisor. Clusters must reflect 2 or 3 discrete disciplinary or thematic foci (such as gender, race, global affairs, religion, policy, law).

Students will cluster courses in ways that follow either an interdisciplinary thematic approach or existing patterns as laid out broadly by programs/majors/minors/concentrations offered at Salem State, e.g. one cluster in gender studies, one in business administration, one in Spanish.

Questions about the Liberal Studies major

What does this major do for me? What can I do with it?

In general, the liberal studies major allows you to complete your bachelor’s degree in a flexible and timely way. In particular, the liberal studies major ensures that you are both broadly trained in areas that are tied to your academic interests or professional goals, and specifically trained in how to integrate these areas of study to produce new knowledge and make sense of our complex world.

As such, this major provides you with 21st century skills in high demand. Employers in all sectors want employees who are broadly educated and who can integrate, synthesize and innovate. Additionally, these skills are precisely those that position you to be a strong candidate for a variety of graduate programs and a leader in your community.

What is Liberal Studies? What is a Cluster?

When you become a liberal studies major at Salem State, your major is “liberal studies”. Your programs of study (your clusters) are whatever you decide to study. We call them “clusters” officially, but you can think of them as sub-concentrations within your major. The BLS in liberal studies is one of the official majors at Salem State and one of two majors offered by the department of interdisciplinary studies.

How will I show my degree on my resume?

It's easy to represent your degree on your resume.  Here are some examples:  

Example 1
BLS, Salem State University, Liberal Studies
Degree concentrations: X, Y, and Z

Example 2
BLS, Salem State University
Major: Liberal Studies // Concentrations in: X, Y, and Z

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Interdisciplinary Studies

Mailing Address:
352 Lafayette St.
Salem, MA 01970
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