Study Liberal Arts in Iowa
Iowa is known for its Midwest charm, agriculture, and friendly people. But those outside of Iowa might not realize that it’s a hotbed of higher education, too. With flagship institutions like the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, the state is responsible for cutting-edge research in fields from biology to zoology to psychology.
And if you are a future liberal arts major, you are in luck, too! Iowa has numerous universities offering liberal arts, liberal studies, interdisciplinary studies, and related programs that enable you to get a well-rounded, broad-based education. Below are some of the popular programs to consider as you get ready for your collegiate career.
Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Programs in Iowa
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering liberal arts bachelor’s programs in Iowa:
- University of Iowa
- Iowa State University
- University of Northern Iowa
- Grandview University
- Upper Iowa University
- Grinnell College
- Luther College
- Central College
- Wartburg College
The University of Iowa
Bachelor of Liberal Studies
The University of Iowa’s Bachelor of Liberal Studies program offers you flexibility in a variety of ways so you can customize your education. For example, the program is available online, meaning you can complete your degree from the comfort of your home, if you wish. Additionally, the University offers multiple Liberal Studies tracks to choose from:
- Global Studies
- Expression in Writing and Arts
- Organizational Studies
- Family, Community, and Social Support
- Justice and Ethics
- Health and Human Studies
An additional flexible component is that you can choose to add a certificate or multiple certificates to your degree program. For example, if you choose the Family, Community, and Social Support track, you might consider adding the Certificate in Aging and Longevity Studies. Or, if you choose the Organizational Studies track, you might pursue the Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership and Philanthropy to expand your learning even further. Additional certificates are available in the following areas:
- Entrepreneurial Management
- Leadership Studies
- Museum Studies
- Writing
Regardless of the track you choose, you will complete 30 credits of coursework. This coursework is divided between foundational and upper-level courses. For example, if you choose the Global Studies track, you will take foundational courses like Roman Civilization, Introduction to Human Rights, and Introduction to Comparative Politics. You will then take upper-level courses like Archaeology of Ancient Cities, Authoritarian Politics, and Medical Sociology. These and other upper-level courses narrow the focus of study, highlighting much more specific topics than the foundational courses you will take.
Of course, you must also complete the remaining graduation requirements at the University of Iowa. This includes completing general education courses and free electives, among other coursework requirements.
This program is only open to transfer students with at least 24 semester credits of college coursework already completed. It is specifically designed for community college graduates who are transferring to the University of Iowa with an associate’s degree.
Provided all your credits transfer, you would have around 60 of the 120 credits to graduate with this degree. You could complete the remaining 60 credits in about two years if you study full-time.
To apply, you must complete the following steps:
- Submit an application for admission.
- Pay a $55 application fee.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you have attended.
If you are transferring fewer than 24 credits to the University of Iowa, you must also submit official ACT or SAT scores along with official high school transcripts.
Iowa State University
Bachelor of Liberal Studies
The Bachelor of Liberal Studies at Iowa State University is a traditional four-year, 120-credit, on-campus program. However, unlike most majors, the Bachelor of Liberal Studies doesn’t focus on just one academic field. Instead, you can explore five broad areas of study:
- Humanities
- Communication and Arts
- Natural Sciences and Computational Disciplines
- Social Sciences
- Professional Fields
You are required to take courses that address at least three of these five areas. You are free to choose which courses you take to fulfill each component.
For example, you can take classes in history, art, literature, philosophy (and others) to meet the Humanities requirement. As another example, you can take business, agriculture, education, and other courses to meet the Professional Fields requirement. Courses that meet the other requirements are as follows:
- Communication and Arts: writing, art, public relations, journalism, etc.
- Natural Sciences and Computational Disciplines: physics, math, computer science, environmental science, etc.
- Social Sciences: psychology, anthropology, economic, political science, etc.
These fields of study are called “Distribution Areas.” You must take at least 12 credits in three of the five areas. At least half of those credits must be at the 300 level or above.
The coursework you choose to meet these requirements must be approved by your academic advisor. This consultation is necessary to ensure the courses you wish to take address both your interests as a student and the University’s requirements for graduation.
In addition to the coursework outlined above, you must also complete the University’s other course requirements. For example, you must complete general education courses that are required of all undergraduates at Iowa State. You must also meet world languages and cultures requirements in addition to career proficiency requirements.
Though many of the courses you can take are at the 100 and 200 levels, you must complete at least 39 upper-level credits (300 and 400-level classes). You can count pass/fail classes toward your degree, but only as electives.
Other coursework requirements are as follows:
- Earn 30 or more credits from Iowa State during your junior and senior years.
- Complete upper-level coursework with a 2.0 GPA or higher.
- Carry a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Take no more than nine independent study courses.
Application information for Iowa State is available online. The following admissions requirements apply for first-year applicants:
- Complete a high school curriculum including four years of English, three years of math, three years of science, and two years of social studies.
- Submit an application for admission.
- Pay the $65 application fee.
- Submit official high school transcripts, GED, or HiSET scores.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you have earned credit.
The University of Northern Iowa
Bachelor of Liberal Studies
At the University of Northern Iowa, you can pursue a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree that’s customizable to your specific academic and career goals. This program can be completed in person, online, with Guided Independent Study Courses, or a combination thereof – whatever works best for your situation.
Regardless of where you complete the degree, you must take 120 credits to graduate. This includes the typical undergraduate general education courses (e.g., math, science, history, English) as well as elective courses of your choosing. You must also complete the 36-credit Bachelor of Liberal Studies sequence, which includes coursework in the following fields:
- Humanities
- Communications and Arts
- Natural Sciences and Math
- Social Sciences
- Professional Fields
Just like at Iowa State University, these fields are referred to as “Distribution Areas.” You must take at least 12 credits in three of the five areas listed above. Of those, at least six credits must be upper-division in each of the three areas.
Traditional online and on-campus courses are in a semester-based format and have set meeting times. These are good options if you need a structured learning environment to succeed. However, if you are adept at working on your own, you can utilize Northern Iowa’s Guided Independent Study courses to fulfill a large part of the degree requirements.
These courses allow you to enroll at any time throughout the year. You can also study at your own pace and complete each course in a timeframe that fits your schedule. You have up to nine months to finish each class, of which there are more than 40 offered. All classes can be completed entirely online, too.
This degree is also a good option if you are a transfer student. Northern Iowa only requires that you complete 30 or more credit hours during your junior or senior year to graduate. The rest of your credits can be transferred in from a community college or another university.
You can apply as a first-year student, provided you complete the following steps:
- Complete a high school curriculum that includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of science, three years of social studies, and two years of electives.
- Submit an application for admission.
- Pay the $40 application fee.
- Share an unofficial high school transcripts.
ACT or SAT scores are optional. If you choose not to submit test scores, a review committee will evaluate your high school GPA and the core classes you took as a high schooler.
Grandview University
Bachelor of Arts – Liberal Arts Major
The Liberal Arts Major at Grandview University allows you to develop your own curriculum so you gain knowledge and skills that are pertinent to your future academic and career goals. The purpose of doing so is to help you develop a broad range of skills that emphasize your ability to communicate effectively, be creative, and think critically. Graduates of this program are also adaptable, conduct themselves ethically, and have respect for diversity.
Your studies are guided in part by University requirements that you take courses in four broad fields:
- The Human Condition
- Aesthetic Appreciation
- Faith and Reason
- The Natural World
Though the University requires you to take courses in these areas, you can decide which courses you take. For example, the University offers many classes in political science, psychology, history, economics, and other fields that satisfy the requirements of the Human Condition area. Likewise, you can take any number of courses in liberal arts, theology, humanities, and other fields to meet the Faith and Reason requirements.
You must take at least six credits in each of these four fields but no more than 12 in any one area. In all, 42 credits are required within the major, with 24 upper-division credits necessary. This is in addition to the university general education requirements and electives needed to meet the 120-credit threshold to graduate.
You must consult with an academic advisor to help develop your major curriculum. Your advisor will help you identify courses that satisfy major requirements and that also meet the University’s requirements for graduation.
Grandview offers a handful of minors that complement the Liberal Arts major nicely. These include psychology, sociology, English, and history. Combining your Liberal Arts major with one of these minors will expand your understanding of high-level topics and can help you develop additional skills that are attractive to potential employers upon graduation.
Admissions information for Grandview University is available online. To apply as a first-year student, you must fulfill the following requirements:
- Submit the application for admission (which is free).
- Submit official high school transcripts (or a GED certificate).
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you have earned credit.
You can also submit ACT or SAT scores, though this is optional.
The same general admissions requirements apply if you are a transfer student. However, if you transfer more than 24 credits, you don’t have to provide high school transcripts. Instead, you must affirm in writing that you graduated from an accredited high school. The University allows you to transfer as many as 75 credits toward completing this degree.
What Does It Mean to Major in Liberal Studies?
Majoring in Liberal Studies means embarking on an interdisciplinary academic journey that include a wide range of subjects across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and sometimes even the arts and mathematics.
Liberal Studies major is designed for students who are intellectually curious, seek a broad understanding of the world, and wish to develop a versatile set of skills. Here are some key aspects of what it means to major in Liberal Studies:
Interdisciplinary Approach
- Broad Curriculum: You will explore a variety of disciplines rather than focusing on a single subject area. This approach encourages a holistic understanding of how different fields intersect and influence each other.
- Customizable Education: Many programs allow you to tailor their coursework to your interests or career goals, making it a flexible option for those with diverse interests.
Skill Development
- Critical Thinking and Analysis: Courses in Liberal Studies foster critical thinking, enabling you to analyze issues from multiple perspectives.
- Communication Skills: You will develop strong written and verbal communication skills, preparing you for roles that require articulating complex ideas clearly and effectively.
- Problem-Solving: The interdisciplinary nature of the program teaches you to approach problems creatively, using insights from various fields.
Preparation for a Wide Range of Careers
- Versatile Career Paths: As a graduate with a degree in Liberal Studies, you can pursue careers in education, business, public service, non-profit organizations, and many other fields. The broad skill set you acquire is valued in roles that require adaptability and the ability to deal with complex issues.
- Graduate Studies: Liberal Studies major also provides you a strong foundation for graduate studies in numerous disciplines, including law, business, education, and the humanities.
Personal Growth
- Cultural Awareness: You will gain insights into different cultures and perspectives, fostering empathy and global awareness.
- Lifelong Learning: The diverse curriculum encourages a love of learning and the ability to continue acquiring new knowledge and skills throughout your life.
What are the Liberal Arts Career Opportunities in Iowa?
Sports are big in Iowa, and as a liberal arts graduate, you can work in the field of athletics. As a bachelor’s degree holder, you might pursue a job as an activities director at a sports complex or after-school program for children. Jobs in this field don’t necessarily require you to possess excellent athletic abilities. However, you do need to be highly organized, efficient, and communicate well – all skills you can develop in a liberal arts program.
Another option you might consider after graduation is to pursue a career in writing. Many liberal arts programs have strong communications components, and you can use that to seek employment as a technical writer for an Iowa-based research company, a journalist for an online magazine or newspaper, or even start your own business and write on a freelance basis.
Since many of Iowa’s liberal arts programs have social services options, it might be prudent to explore careers in social services after graduation. With a degree that focuses on psychology, sociology, human services, or a related area, you can work for a social service agency and help people obtain food and shelter or job training. Alternatively, you might work for a non-profit agency that seeks to help the less fortunate, perhaps as a non-profit director, communications director, or advocate.
Politics is yet another field you might consider with your liberal arts degree. Many political offices don’t require you to have a certain college education, but if you choose to run for office, having a broad-based degree like liberal arts might help you have a better understanding of the local and state communities and the world at large.
Moreover, having a liberal arts background can help you be an effective political strategist for a candidate if you aren’t the candidate yourself. You might also work for a political campaign as a publicist or communications director, a fundraising coordinator, or a speech writer.
Many liberal arts majors use their broad education to explore careers in education, too. On the one hand, you might use your degree to get an entry-level job as a teaching assistant or paraprofessional in an elementary classroom. On the other hand, you might seek a job as a behavioral intervention aide, library aide, or special education aide in an Iowa high school.
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