Study Liberal Arts in Arkansas

Whether you are originally from Arkansas or not, the state offers many opportunities to get a higher education. This includes liberal arts or a related field from one of the state’s numerous colleges or universities. You don’t even have to live in Arkansas to get your degree, though. With several online options to choose from, you can complete your degree anywhere in the world.

Of course, on-campus options remain popular as Arkansas has many affordable programs offered at beautiful campuses in every corner of the state. The most difficult decision you might have to make is simply choosing which program fits your needs the best. Use this guide to help you narrow your list of possible degree programs!

Best Popular Accredited Liberal Arts Bachelor's Degrees and Colleges in Arkansas Online

Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Programs in Arkansas

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering liberal arts bachelor’s programs in Arkansas:

  • University of Arkansas
  • Arkansas State University
  • Harding University
  • University of Arkansas at Monticello
  • Hendrix College
  • Williams College
  • Bowdoin College
  • Pomona College
  • Claremont McKenna College
  • Wellesley College

The University of Arkansas

Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

The University of Arkansas’ Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies is a fully online program that offers the flexibility of earning a degree from the comfort of your own home. This 120-credit program requires about four years of full-time studies, though you can also take classes part-time to accommodate your work and life schedules.

You will begin the program by consulting with your academic advisor to plan a course of study that both meets your specific needs and fulfills the requirements of graduation. Your first two or so years in the program will mostly be spent fulfilling general education requirements in core fields like science, social studies, math, and English. You will also complete a variety of elective courses.

There are only two specific courses required for the Interdisciplinary Studies degree. The first is an Introduction to Disciplinary Studies that you take at the beginning of the program. This course introduces you to the field and helps you build essential skills like critical thinking, analysis, and effective written and verbal communication.

The second required Interdisciplinary Studies course is a Senior Capstone. This course takes place during your senior year and requires you to reflect on the knowledge and skills you’ve gained throughout the program.

The rest of your studies include at least 45 credits of Interdisciplinary Studies courses. You will choose your courses from various departments and colleges, giving you the opportunity to study a broad range of subjects. Moreover, you must select at least one minor from the Fulbright College. These minors include History, Communication, and Legal Studies. Other options include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Rhetoric and Writing Studies
  • African and African American Studies
  • Geography
  • Child Advocacy Studies Training
  • Substance Use Disorders

You can broaden your course of study even further by pursuing a second minor from another college at the University of Arkansas. For example, you might study Agricultural Business, Human Resource Development, or Child Services as just three options. The University of Arkansas also offers a number of certificates and microcertificates that can be used to fulfill part of the Interdisciplinary Studies major. These include the following:

  • Certificate of Proficiency in Geospatial Technologies
  • Certificate of Proficiency in Music Industry Studies
  • Microcertificate in Equine Management

Admissions guidelines for first-year students are as follows:

  • Submit an application for admission.
  • Pay the $50 application fee.
  • Submit high school transcripts or GED certificate.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you have earned credit.
  • Submit ACT or SAT scores.

Arkansas State University

Bachelor of General Studies

Another online degree option in Arkansas is the Bachelor of General Studies from Arkansas State University. This degree is specifically designed for transfer or returning students who have completed a significant number of college credits and/or have extensive work experience.

The flexibility of this degree program enables you and students like you to finish your degree and gain skills that can help you advance your career or make a career change. Not only are your classes online, but you also get to develop the course sequence you take. That sequence includes 38 credits of general education courses split between two areas of emphasis. The areas of emphasis you can choose from include the following:

  • Industrial Management
  • Communications
  • Criminology
  • Health
  • Physical Education
  • Political Science
  • Sociology
  • Pre-School Education/Childhood Services
  • Education
  • Psychology

In addition to the 38 or more required credits of general studies, you must take nine credits of major courses: Critical Thinking in the Profession, Seminar in Professional Development, and Leadership in the Profession. Together, these courses help you develop critical job-related skills, including critical thinking and problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, and effective communication skills. Rounding out the 120-credit program is 73 elective credits of your choosing.

It’s up to you whether the focus of your general studies degree is narrow or broad. For example, you might have a narrow focus on human services by selecting psychology and health as your two areas of emphasis. Alternatively, you could choose fields like industrial management and political science that are much less closely related.

Other features of this program include a generous transfer policy of up to 90 credits, year-round program start dates, and the ability to apply to the program year-round, too.

The requirements for admission are as follows:

  • Submit the online application for admission.
  • Pay the $30 application fee.
  • Submit official high school transcripts if you are a first-year student.
  • Submit ACT or SAT scores if you are a first-year student.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit showing a 2.0 cumulative GPA or higher.

Harding University

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science – Interdisciplinary Studies

Harding University’s Interdisciplinary Studies program is offered as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. The University describes it as a program for students who know exactly what they want to study but for whom Harding does not have a specific major. Instead, Harding provides a selection of courses from which you and your academic advisor can create a customized program of study.

The program encompasses 128 credits of coursework. This includes 53 credits of liberal arts courses, 45-54 credits within the major, and four credits of coursework in an integrative core. The remaining 12-21 credits are Bible-related classes and electives.

The major-area requirements can be fulfilled with a number of different courses from a variety of fields. In fact, the University offers ten distinct study areas, from which you must choose two or three. Available study areas include Arts and Humanities, Communication and Language, Social Science, and Health Science. Other options include the following:

  • Business
  • Bible
  • Education
  • Natural Science
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Behavioral Science

Alternatively, you can choose two or three University minors to fulfill part of the major-area requirements for this degree. Minors are available in dozens of academic areas, from Women’s Studies to Media Production to Greek.

The emphasis areas you choose are entirely up to you. Like other liberal arts-related programs, you determine how narrow or broad your studies are. For example, if you want to use this degree to start a career in journalism, you might choose Communications and Language as one of your emphasis areas and the Writing Minor for Non-English Majors as your second area of study.

Alternatively, you might combine studies in the Arts and Humanities, Health Science, and Behavioral Science to prepare for graduate studies in psychology and a career as an art therapist. With so many combinations of concentrations available, you can create a truly bespoke program that meets your specific needs.

Harding’s Interdisciplinary Studies program also gives you the chance to learn outside the classroom. You can participate in internships to get real-world work experience. You can also take part in service-learning activities that enhance your learning while improving the local community. Travel opportunities are also available so you can make the world your classroom.

You can apply for admission to Harding University online. You must follow these steps to apply as a first-year student:

  • Submit an online application for admission.
  • Pay the $50 application fee.
  • Submit unofficial high school transcripts.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you have earned credit.
  • Submit a confidential reference.
  • Submit official ACT, SAT, or CLT scores.

Transfer students must satisfy the same requirements, though unofficial high school transcripts are not required. You do have to complete a transfer credit evaluation, though.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Arkansas at Monticello is traditional in the sense that it’s a 120-credit program that requires about four years of study to complete. It’s also an on-campus program requiring you to attend regular classes throughout your academic career.

But where this program is not traditional is in its structure and focus. Like other liberal arts-related degrees, UAM’s Interdisciplinary Studies program gives you the curricular flexibility to focus your studies on more than one major. Instead, you will select two thematic areas of study – one primary field and one secondary field.

A total of eight themes are available:

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Business Technology
  • Education
  • Health Care
  • Natural Resources
  • Math and Science
  • Social Sciences
  • Professional Studies

Your primary theme must include a minimum of 36 credits of coursework. At least 15 of those credits must be in courses with the same prefix, and nine of these credits must be at the 3000 level or above. Furthermore, 21 additional credits must be earned from a variety of courses with different prefixes. Nine of these 21 credits must be at the 3000 level or above.

Your secondary theme includes 18 or more credits of coursework. These classes can be any combination of course prefixes, though at least nine credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 levels.

Additionally, you are required to complete a 35-hour general education curriculum and a one-credit capstone experience. The capstone can be in general studies, during which you complete various written and oral projects to reflect on your learning in the program. If you prefer, the capstone can be specifically on your chosen areas of emphasis.

The remaining credit requirements are fulfilled with electives. You are free to choose the courses to fulfill the elective component. These classes can support your learning in the primary and secondary emphasis areas, or they can explore adjacent or completely different fields of study.

You can apply to the University of Arkansas at Monticello online. As a first-year applicant, you will need to complete the following steps:

  • Submit the application for admission.
  • Provide an unofficial seven-semester high school transcript.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you have earned credit.
  • Submit final high school transcripts upon graduation.
  • Provide ACT, SAT, or ACCUPLACER scores.
  • Submit records showing you’ve received two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.

The same general requirements are required if you are a transfer student, though you don’t have to submit a seven-semester high school transcript or immunization records.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Bachelor’s Degree in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, the standard duration to complete a bachelor’s degree is typically four years for full-time students. This timeframe is based on a traditional academic structure that divides the year into two main semesters (fall and spring), with students usually taking around 15 credit hours per semester. Most bachelor’s degree programs require completing about 120 credit hours to graduate.

However, several factors can affect the actual time it takes to earn a degree:

  • Program and Major: Some programs or majors, especially those in engineering, architecture, or other specialized fields, may require more than 120 credit hours, potentially extending the time to graduation.
  • Transfer Credits: Students who transfer from another institution or who have earned college credits in high school through Advanced Placement (AP) courses, International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, or dual enrollment programs may be able to complete their degree in less than four years.
  • Part-time Enrollment: Students who enroll part-time will take longer to complete their degree. Part-time students often balance their studies with work or family commitments.
  • Accelerated Programs: Some colleges and universities offer accelerated programs that allow students to complete their bachelor’s degree in less time, sometimes within three years, by taking more courses per semester or attending additional sessions during the summer.
  • Online and Evening Courses: For students who need flexibility, some institutions offer online or evening courses, which can help accommodate different schedules and potentially speed up the time to graduation if students take additional courses throughout the academic year.
  • Cooperative Education Programs: Some degrees incorporate cooperative education (co-op) programs, where students gain work experience as part of their education. These programs can extend the time to graduation but provide valuable work experience and networking opportunities.

What are the Liberal Arts Career Opportunities in Arkansas?

The primary purpose of a liberal arts-related degree is to allow you to tailor your studies to future academic and occupational goals. As such, you will emerge from your degree program with relevant knowledge and skills that open many doors to jobs in Arkansas.

For example, you might use your liberal arts education to pursue a career in advertising. With coursework in marketing, graphic design, and psychology, you could be well-prepared for an entry-level position in this field. Likewise, you could use your learning experiences from inside and outside the classroom to start your own advertising or marketing firm in Arkansas.

Some of the liberal arts degrees available in Arkansas have a religious component, which you could use to pursue a career as a minister. While you’ll need additional schooling and training to be a minister, a liberal arts degree is a good place to start. You could use your training to find a job as an associate pastor, youth minister, or an administrative role within a church, too.

One of the principal advantages of a liberal arts degree is the focus on developing real-world skills like effective communication. This skill, in particular, is highly sought-after for many different careers. For example, you might seek a career as a customer service representative. Jobs in this field are available in virtually all industries and can be either in-person or remote. As a customer service rep, you can also draw on other liberal arts skills, like analytical thinking, problem-solving, and creative thinking.

The broad nature of liberal arts degrees exposes you to many different fields of study and allows you to have a wide range of academic experiences, too. This can come in handy for a career as a college recruiter. Every college employs recruiters to travel the country and sing the institution’s praises to potential students. Your familiarity with so many different programs and departments can go a long way in helping you be a highly effective salesperson for your employer.

Yet another possibility is to use your education to start a career in the convention and meeting planning space. This job requires attention to detail, impeccable planning, and high-level communication skills – all of which you’ll gain in your liberal arts program. If you take business, marketing, and management courses as part of your degree, you’ll have an even more robust set of skills to draw upon to be successful in this field.

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