Liberal Arts and Sciences Programs

The Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Offered on the WIU-Macomb and WIU-Quad Cities campuses

English class, professor lecturing.Structure

The LAS program is a 120-semester hour baccalaureate program with a 36-semester hour (minimum) major course of study. Students can complete the degree in several different ways. Students may elect to complete a Multidisciplinary Emphasis or a Paired Minor Emphasis (both are explained below). The major includes introductory and capstone courses. In addition, students in the LAS program will complete the College’s general education requirements as well as a minor program of study in a discipline of the student's choosing. A number of elective courses round out the degree requirements.

Emphases in the LAS degree

The Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences program offers two types of emphases:

Multidisciplinary Emphases

      • People in Context explores human behavior and the interrelated forces (individual, biological, social, environmental, political, and cultural) that influence us.
      • The Environment offers broad study of the environment from scientific, social, political, and humanistic vantage points.

Paired Minor Emphasis

Students can select two existing liberal arts and sciences minor programs that meet his/her academic or career needs. To ensure the integrity of the degree, some restrictions exist regarding which minors may be paired, but there are numerous possibilities.

Faculty

Through participation in the LAS program, students will have the opportunity to study with a highly qualified and diverse faculty, who hold advanced degrees from prestigious institutions from throughout the United States and from around the world.

Scholarships

There are many scholarships for which LAS students are eligible. Visit the scholarships web page for additional information.

Transfer students

The LAS degree is designed to be 'friendly' to transfer students. In most cases, students entering the LAS program with an A.A. or A.S. degree should be able complete the program within 4 semesters. Students pursuing an associate degree who plan to enroll in the LAS program should consult with their advisor to ensure smooth transition to WIU.

Student in bleachers with laptop at mock electionUndergraduate research and creative activity

Undergraduate research and creative activity programs in the College of Arts and Sciences have had a phenomenal effect on students’ learning experiences. In these programs, undergraduates work directly with faculty mentors in numerous areas throughout the College to conduct research and creative activity projects. Through these programs, students learn to seek answers in a logical and methodical way, and to communicate these answers to people who may not be specialists in a particular area. These skills will last students a lifetime. Competitive student undergraduate research and creative activity grants are available.

After college

The LAS degree is designed to prepare students for a productive life, equipping them with the transferrable skills most valued by employers: the ability to think critically, to communicate cogently and persuasively, to analyze situations and synthesize information, and to approach and understand things from a variety of perspectives. The LAS degree can prepare students for careers in journalism, social services, public relations, politics, customer service, advertising, recruitment, personnel, and more. Students who complete the LAS degree may also consider graduate studies in English, history, journalism, law, biology, psychology, sociology, communication, and other professional disciplines. Additionally, our Master of Liberal Arts and Science degree provides the opportunity for further customized graduate education.

For program information and Advising contact:

Dr. Althea K. Alton, Director
Liberal Arts and Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
309/298-1828
las-bacc@wiu.edu