Program Overview

Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies

The Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) degree program at Purdue University Northwest is designed to help students meet their educational needs by pursuing individualized courses of study with broad exposure to the humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and technology.

Program Overview

The BLS program is highly flexible and can be completed on either campus. It is an ideal choice for students seeking a quality, interdisciplinary college education with transferable skills. Students can tailor their unique interests and goals to meet their needs for promotions at current jobs, new careers, or personal fulfillment. Credits can also be transferred from other degree programs or institutions.

Why Study Liberal Studies at PNW?

The BLS program provides students with the opportunity to design their course of study with primary and secondary areas of study, drawn from the various colleges within PNW. Students will also take free electives, the Introductory to Great Issues gateway course, and the two-semester capstone Great Issues I and II.

Liberal Studies Degree Program Curriculum

The BLS curriculum is designed to provide students with a well-rounded education. The program includes:

• Primary area of study (30 credits)
• Secondary area of study (21 credits)
• Free electives (9 credits)
• Introductory to Great Issues gateway course
• Great Issues I and II capstone courses

Sample Courses

Some sample courses in the BLS program include:

• ENGL 10400 English Composition I
• COM 11400 Fundamentals Of Speech Communication
• LBST 23500 Introduction To Great Issues
• Quantitative Reasoning select from Gen Ed Core List
• Natural Sciences select from Gen Ed Core List
• US Traditions select from CHESS College Core List
• Literature and the Arts select from CHESS College Core List
• LBST 43500 Great Issues I
• LBST 43600 Great Issues II

Liberal Studies Degree Program Highlights

The BLS program provides students with the flexibility to pursue their interests and graduate in four years. Experienced academic advisors help students construct their primary and secondary areas of study, while highly qualified faculty teach the Great Issues courses that serve as a gateway and capstones to this degree.

Liberal Studies Degree Program Outcomes

As a BLS graduate, students will enter the job market with college-level expertise in their chosen areas of study, along with the knowledge, understanding, and skills to develop their individual potential.

Liberal Studies Degree Program Career Paths

BLS alumni have gone directly into the workforce in a number of roles and advanced in the jobs they already held. Some graduates have also completed medical and law school.

Liberal Studies Degree Program Accreditation

The Bachelor of Liberal Studies benefits from the full accreditation of Purdue University Northwest by The Higher Learning Commission, according to the Standard Pathway option.

Meet the Faculty

The faculty in the BLS program include experienced professors such as Michael J. Connolly, Ph.D., Professor of History, whose teaching and research involve the politics and political economy of nineteenth-century America.

Related Programs

Related programs at Purdue University Northwest include:

• History (BA)
• History: Social Studies Teaching (BA)
• Philosophy (BA)