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Liberal Arts and Sciences Programs of Study.

"As a part-time student working full-time, I found the Master's of Liberal Arts and Sciences Program to be a great way for me to broaden my educational horizons. My classes were taught by exceptional professors, and I immersed myself in challenging academic material. An added bonus is that I forged lifelong relationships with fellow students in the program. I can't think of a better way to have spent the last three years."

-- Gretchen Steil Weiss, MLAS Summer 2013

Why Get a Degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences?

A degree in the Liberal Arts and Sciences is an interdisciplinary degree emphasizing comparative critical thinking, communication, and the creative application of a broad range of methodologies and applied skills. Students choosing this option truly embody the spirit of a liberal arts education. A grounding in the liberal arts and sciences, combined with the development of skills and knowledge for a lifetime of learning, empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change. The curriculum provides students with a broad knowledge of the wider world, so crucial in our global society, and provides opportunities for in-depth study in specific areas of interest.

Our Programs at a Glance

The Bachelor of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS)

The Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences is offered at both the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses of Western Illinois University. Involving focused study in the traditional areas of liberal education (Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences/Mathematics), the degree can be tailored to meet students’ academic needs and interests.

The Bachelor of LAS equips students with the transferable skills most valued by employers; it is also excellent preparation for graduate education. The degree is especially attractive to transfer students; in most cases, students entering the LAS program with an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science degree should be able to complete the program within four semesters.

The Integrated BLAS/MLAS Program

The Integrated BLAS/MLAS Program is for students on the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses who are interested in completing their bachelor and master degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. An integrated baccalaureate and master’s degree program provides the opportunity for outstanding undergraduates to earn both degrees in five years. Typically, a baccalaureate degree requires four years to complete and a master’s degree requires an additional two years. However, the integrated degree programs are intended to be accomplished over a period of five years. In addition to earning both degrees a year early, the integrated programs may include additional opportunities to participate in a variety of experiential educational activities such as a master’s project or thesis.

The Master of Liberal Arts & Sciences (MLAS)

The Master of Liberal Arts and Sciences is for students on the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses who need or desire advanced education but do not require a specific specialized content area. This interdisciplinary degree stresses critical thinking, comparative analysis, and highly flexible content rather than a more traditional advanced specialization in a fairly small content area. LAS is designed especially for students seeking a master’s degree as an occupational qualification and for those who wish more in-depth inquiry into the liberal arts and sciences as a step toward greater personal fulfillment. LAS promotes an advanced level of critique, analysis, and comparison; students explore the broad questions faced by human beings, as well as the specific means by which individual disciplines in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics have addressed these questions.