Study Liberal Arts in Alabama

Though Alabama might not be the largest state or have the most colleges and universities, it makes up for it in the sheer number of opportunities you have to get a liberal arts-related degree.

Where some states only have a handful of options, Alabama has liberal arts, liberal studies, interdisciplinary studies, and multidisciplinary studies degrees available from schools around the state. These degrees come in all sorts of forms, too – Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, and so forth.

What’s more, you can earn your degree in person or online, giving you another level of flexibility for completing your degree program. So, what are you waiting for?! Let’s examine some of the popular liberal arts degrees in Alabama to get you on the path of being a college graduate!

Best Accredited Liberal Arts Colleges and Bachelor's Programs in Alabama Online

Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Programs in Alabama

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

  • University of Alabama
  • Samford University
  • University of North Alabama
  • Alabama State University
  • Faulkner University
  • University of West Alabama
  • Auburn University
  • Spring Hill College
  • Tuskegee University
  • Birmingham-Southern College

The University of Alabama

Bachelor’s – Interdisciplinary Studies

The Interdisciplinary Studies program at the University of Alabama culminates in a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree that you can use to pursue any number of careers. The multidisciplinary focus of the program means you study a wide range of topics, many of which are electives of your choosing.

For example, the Bachelor of Arts track requires just two classes: Introduction to Interdisciplinary and Integrative Study and a Capstone Seminar with a senior project. Outside of that, you need to complete at least eight hours of 200-level courses and six or more hours of 300-level courses of your choosing.

The bulk of the major is in individualized depth study courses. Again, these courses are comprised of topics of your choosing. For example, if you want to study politics and history, your individualized depth study courses might include classes like Political Science, Democratic Systems and Values, and Eastern European History.

As another example, you might wish to study psychology and math. This combination of focus areas might necessitate taking courses like Psychological Research Methods, Descriptive Statistics, and Multivariate Calculus.

Whatever focus area(s) you choose, you will need to complete at least 33 credits of coursework to go along with the required coursework, 200-level studies, and 300-level classes described above. Additionally, you must complete the general education requirements needed for any bachelor’s degree program. Altogether, you’ll need at least 120 semester credits to graduate.

An interesting feature of this program is that you can propose out-of-class learning experiences to gain an even deeper understanding of your focus area of study. Typically, this experiential learning activity is a detailed research project conducted independently. You must get permission from the department to take part in independent study, though the department strongly encourages its students to complete at least one such activity.

Another unique feature of this program is the LifeTrack option. This pathway to a degree is offered to non-traditional students who can develop their program curriculum via distance learning. If you are accepted to the LifeTrack program, you’ll also have the chance to travel and have on-campus learning experiences if you desire.

Regular admission comes with the following requirements:

  • Be admitted to the University of Alabama
  • Be a first-year student or sophomore
  • Have a 2.0 college GPA or higher
  • Provide a self-statement essay
  • Provide the email address of a reference
  • Participate in an in-person interview

Application to the LifeTrack option requires that you:

  • Be an adult student with a high school diploma or a GED score of 500 or higher (50 or higher if you took the test prior to January 2002)
  • Have a cumulative college GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • Have educational goals that you can attain in this program
  • Be willing and able to assume responsibility for independent learning

Samford University

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

Samford University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies that is completely customizable to your specific educational and occupational goals. You will take a course of core classes and electives in liberal studies and supplement that with specific studies in different cognate fields.

For example, let’s assume you choose a Professional Studies focus. You would complete four core courses that might include Race and Ethnic Relations, Personal Growth and Development, Professional Communication, and Research Methods. You would also complete common courses like Intro to the Bible, Contemporary Ethical Issues, and a Senior Capstone.

The largest component of your major studies would be in the Professional Studies Cognate area. These courses, which add up to 27 credits, would span topics from leadership to psychology to criminal justice. Some of the specific courses you might take include the following:

  • Leadership for Organizational Change
  • Theory and Practice in Human Services
  • Family Dynamics
  • Children and the Law
  • Legal Environment of Business

The purpose of taking courses like this is to gain real-world knowledge with skills applicable to many different occupational fields. By completing this degree, you will graduate with the ability to be competitive in the job market and find the niche that’s best for your career.

You can complete this program in one of two ways. First, the program is available as a traditional four-year sequence for first-time students. In that four-year span, you will complete general education requirements plus the requirements of the major, which add up to at least 128 credits to graduate.

A second option is to complete a degree you have already begun with the Completer Degree Path. This track allows you to build on previous studies, like an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree, and complete your bachelor’s degree through Samford University. Doing so still requires you to complete at least 128 credits, but with an associate’s degree already under your belt, you will likely only need about two years to complete this bachelor’s degree.

Once you graduate, you will have relevant skills for many different professions. For example, recent graduates from this program have gone on to work as policy analysts, corporate trainers, and nonprofit directors. Others work in human resources, human relations, and as account executives.

Alternatively, you can use this degree to prepare you for a graduate program. Potential fields for graduate studies include education, social work, or business administration. You might also consider a graduate program in law.

Samford’s application for undergraduate admission is available online. When applying, you must provide the following:

  • Official transcripts from every college or university you have attended
  • A resume
  • One letter of recommendation from a non-family member
  • An essay that explains why you want to study at Samford and what your goals are upon graduation

The University of North Alabama

Bachelor’s – Interdisciplinary Studies

The Interdisciplinary Studies program at the University of North Alabama is offered in two tracks: a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts. Both options are available as traditional on-campus degrees in Florence, Alabama. Alternatively, you can complete either option as a 100 percent online program.

Furthermore, you can choose between two program focus areas. The first is an individualized degree based on one of eight concentration areas:

  • Arts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Humanities
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Technology
  • Women’s Studies

So, assuming you choose the Social and Behavioral Sciences option, you would complete general education courses first, which number 44 credits. Then, you would complete nine credits of interdisciplinary courses that promote the necessary skills to be successful in a multidisciplinary program like this. These courses include Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies, Interdisciplinary Research, and a three-credit Capstone Project.

The final component of this track is the emphasis area, which is 42. Let’s assume you are interested in Social and Behavioral Sciences. That being the case, you might take upper-level courses in fields like psychology, sociology, or social work. You would also take enough elective courses to reach the 120-credit threshold for graduation.

The second program option focuses specifically on Applied Entrepreneurship. This track omits the general education component because an Associate of Applied Science or an Occupational Technology degree typically includes enough credits to satisfy general education requirements for a bachelor’s degree. You would then complete interdisciplinary studies courses and at least 42 credits in an emphasis area.

For example, you might enter this program with your AAS degree, complete the nine interdisciplinary studies credits, and begin your focus studies in Technology. With a focus on Technology, you might take courses in computer programming, website design, or cybersecurity, to name a few.

While you have the freedom to choose your focus area with this degree, there are some requirements you must meet. You have to complete at least 24 credits of coursework at the 300 and 400 level within your major. A total of 36 credits of upper-level courses are needed to graduate. Additionally, you must take upper-level courses in a variety of disciplines – no more than 24 credits can be in any one field.

You can apply to the University of North Alabama as a first-year student online. You must provide the following when applying:

  • Official high school transcripts
  • Official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit
  • ACT or SAT scores (this is optional, though)

Alabama State University

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

Alabama State University’s Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies is a traditional program in the sense that it’s on campus and requires 120 credits to graduate. If you attend school full-time, you can complete this program in about four years.

What’s non-traditional about this program is that you are in charge of designing your course of study. Rather than exploring a single major area, you can select a range of courses from many different fields of study. You’ll do so with the guidance of your academic advisor, who will ensure your desired coursework meets the requirements for graduation.

You can choose to earn your degree as a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts. In either case, you must complete 42 credits of general studies courses like science, English, social studies, and humanities. Then, you must take three specialized interdisciplinary studies courses:

  • Elements of Writing: A Seminar for Developing Writing
  • Interdisciplinary Cornerstone Experience
  • Interdisciplinary Capstone Experience

These courses help you build a foundation of understanding of how to effectively study multiple subjects. Additionally, the capstone experience, which occurs toward the end of the program, helps you review what you have learned and identify how your newfound knowledge and skills can be applied in the real world.

An additional 18-26 credits are required in pre-professional or concentration courses. For example, if you intend to use this degree to go to law school, you might take pre-law, criminal justice, and other related professional courses.

The final component of this degree is 43-51 credits of coursework in your concentration area. These courses can be of your choosing, but as noted earlier, your advisor must approve the courses before you enroll in them. Using the law school example from above, your concentration courses might include the following:

  • Criminology
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Philosophy
  • Political Science
  • Public Speaking

These are just a few samples, of course. You will need to take around 14 concentration courses to fulfill this part of the degree requirements.

When applying, you must indicate your desired major on your application. You must also submit official high school transcripts, a $30 application fee, and ACT or SAT test scores.

Is Alabama State University a Liberal Arts College?

Alabama State University (ASU) is not primarily a liberal arts college. It is a comprehensive public historically black university located in Montgomery, Alabama. ASU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields, including liberal arts, business, health sciences, technology, visual and performing arts, and education.

While Alabama State University’s focus is broader than a typical liberal arts college. Liberal arts colleges are generally characterized by their emphasis on undergraduate education in the liberal arts and sciences, often with smaller enrollments and a focus on a broad, interdisciplinary education. In contrast, ASU, like many larger universities, provides a diverse array of professional and specialized programs in addition to liberal arts studies.

Is Auburn University a Liberal Arts School?

Auburn University is not primarily classified as a liberal arts school. Like ASU, it is also a comprehensive public research university known for a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across various disciplines, including engineering, business, agriculture, and veterinary medicine.

However, Auburn does have a College of Liberal Arts, which is an integral part of the university. This college offers a variety of programs in the humanities, social sciences, and arts.

While students at Auburn University can pursue specialized degrees in numerous fields, they also have the opportunity to engage in a liberal arts curriculum, particularly through general education requirements and elective courses.

What are the Liberal Arts Career Opportunities in Alabama?

The job opportunities that await you in Alabama are as diverse as the topics you study in your liberal arts programs. No other degree prepares you for as wide a range of career possibilities as studying liberal arts!

Let’s assume you are interested in business and focused on business administration as part of your liberal arts degree. That being the case, you might find an entry-level management position after you graduate. Bachelor’s-level managers usually start out in junior positions, like assistant manager of a retail store. However, as you gain experience and undergo additional training, you can work your way up to a senior management position.

If your focus is on human services, you might explore working for a social services agency, like the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. With a background in human services, you will have the skills needed to work as a case manager who helps connect veterans with needed services. For example, you might assist a client in finding career counseling services to help them transition into a civilian career.

Many liberal arts graduates use their training to go into the public relations and marketing fields. This might be a good choice if you want to work in Alabama because of the diverse range of businesses and industries in the state.

On the one hand, you might find a job with Regions Bank, an Alabama-based company, and develop public relations campaigns that highlight the bank’s community service programs. On the other hand, you might use your training in public relations to work for Encompass Health, another Alabama-based company, to craft an image that the company has a caring focus on its patients.

Ultimately, your ability to find employment in Alabama isn’t just based on your liberal arts training. Your performance in college, work experience, and unique skills and talents will factor into your ability to find a job upon completing your degree.

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