Study Liberal Arts in Colorado

Not only is Colorado one of the most beautiful states in the country, but it also has a robust higher education system. Whether you want to study in the big city of Denver, a smaller city on the Western Slope like Grand Junction, or points in between, Colorado has a college or university for you.

Additionally, Colorado’s colleges and universities offer liberal arts undergraduate programs in great numbers. This gives you even more flexibility in finding just the right program for you, whether it’s in person, online, or at a private or public school.

Some of the popular liberal arts bachelor’s degree programs in Colorado are outlined below. Use this list to get familiar with these programs and get your college search underway!

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

Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Programs in Colorado

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

  • Colorado State University
  • Colorado Mesa University
  • Colorado State University-Pueblo
  • Regis University
  • University of Colorado Denver
  • Colorado College
  • Western Colorado College
  • Fort Lewis College
  • Western Colorado University

Colorado State University

Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree

The Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts bachelor’s degree at Colorado State is a 120-credit program offered entirely online. Though the timeframe for completing the degree varies from one person to the next, you can finish your studies in around four years if you study full-time. Part-time options are available if you have other obligations that prevent you from taking a full course load each semester.

The program’s curriculum focuses on five central areas:

  • Humanities
  • The Arts
  • Social Sciences
  • Languages
  • Literature

With this broad curriculum, you will gain a wide range of skills that prepare you for making positive contributions in the workplace. This degree program is also excellent preparation for continuing your education in a master’s degree program.

The core coursework revolves around helping you develop enhanced skills pertaining to communications. To develop these skills, you will take courses in composition, public speaking, and professional and technical communication. You’ll complete a junior seminar course that examines contemporary issues in the liberal arts as well as an interdisciplinary portfolio workshop in which you present artifacts that speak to your knowledge and skills development in this program.

The specific courses you can take to fulfill graduation requirements are largely up to you. As an example, you might take classes on the following topics:

  • Individual and Family Development
  • Social Problems
  • Principles of Microeconomics
  • Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  • Science of Learning

You can supplement your major area studies with a minor if you wish. The minor requires you to take 21-24 credits in an approved minor field. Options include Anthropology, Horticulture, and Media Studies. You can also choose from Sociology, Computer Science, or Creative Writing. In fact, there are 19 approved majors from which you can choose.

The program also requires you to participate in a capstone course. Think of this course as an exit program to prepare you for life after graduation. You will examine a theme-based topic in detail and demonstrate your capabilities as they relate to writing, analyzing information, conducting research, and other core competencies.

To apply you must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a high school graduate or hold an equivalent certificate such as a GED
  • Complete first-year course recommendations or fulfill the transfer mathematics requirement
  • Have a 2.7 GPA or higher as a first-year applicant or a 2.5 GPA or higher

The application deadline for a fall semester start date is June 1st. The application deadline for spring is November 1st, while the deadline for the summer term is May 1st.

Colorado Mesa University

Bachelor of Arts – General Studies Liberal Arts

Colorado Mesa University offers a General Studies Liberal Arts B.A. degree that gives you the flexibility to study multiple content areas to satisfy your interest in the liberal arts. The program requires the completion of 120 credits. At least 30 of the final 60 credits of the program must be completed at Colorado Mesa.

While this degree provides more freedom for you to study the topics you want, there are some requirements you have to fulfill. For example, you must work with an academic advisor to develop your course of study. Your advisor will help you ensure the courses you select meet the requirements for graduation; that way; there are no delays in completing your degree.

Likewise, your program of study must include 40 or more upper-division credits. This requirement ensures you complete an appropriate number of courses that provide a depth of study in the liberal arts beyond the cursory studies often found in lower-division coursework.

Furthermore, you must complete the following courses as part of your program:

  • Health and Wellness
  • Maverick Milestone (an interdisciplinary course that enhances your ability to use multiple intellectual tools to solve problems)
  • Essential Speech (a course to help you improve verbal communication skills)
  • Two semesters of the same foreign language
  • A capstone experience

Outside of these requirements, you are free to take electives of your choice. You need to take 37 or more elective credits to meet the 120-credit threshold for graduation. As you might expect, CMU offers a host of elective courses in a wide range of liberal arts-related fields. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Economics
  • History
  • Psychology
  • Philosophy
  • Creative Arts

Regardless of your chosen focus area, you will emerge from this program with improved communication skills, quantitative reasoning abilities, and critical thinking skills. You will also have improved information literacy and a higher degree of specialized knowledge that will assist you in finding success in a career after you graduate.

The application for CMU is available online. First-year applicants with a 3.2 high school GPA or higher are guaranteed admission. Whether you meet this criteria or not, you must submit the following when you apply:

  • A completed application for admission
  • A $40 application fee
  • Official high school transcripts or GED scores
  • Official transcripts or test results for any courses you have taken for college credit (e.g., AP or IB courses)
  • ACT or SAT scores are optional

Colorado State University-Pueblo

Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies

The Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies at CSU-Pueblo is an interdisciplinary program designed for students interested in a career as an elementary school teacher. The wide variety of disciplines you study in this program prepare you for success in teaching a broad range of topics to children in kindergarten through the sixth grade.

The program is divided into four areas: General Education, Liberal Studies Core, a Liberal Studies Concentration, and an Education Minor.

The general education component includes basic instruction in courses like math, social science, English, and history. These courses are introductory-level and cover a breadth of information as opposed to a depth of detail. The Liberal Studies Core adds depth to your studies, specifically in the K-6 content standard areas of math, science, social science, and humanities.

Your Liberal Studies Concentration includes 15 credits of coursework in one of the following areas:

  • Art
  • English
  • Health
  • Language and Linguistics
  • Music
  • Reading
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education

By adding a concentration, you will have a greater level of expertise in one of these fields. This might allow you to specialize in your elementary education career. For example, you might qualify for a music-only teaching position or a special education-only position in an elementary school.

Lastly, you must complete an Education Minor. The minor requires 40 credits and the completion of an Elementary Teaching Endorsement. This includes courses like Teaching Diverse Learners, Teaching Elementary Social Studies, and Teaching Reading. You must also complete a capstone seminar in education and complete a student teaching placement.

Since this program prepares you to be a teacher, you must pass multiple special assessments along the way. For example, you must pass a Proficiency Profile during your sophomore year and pass the PRAXIS Elementary Education Content Exam during your senior year. Furthermore, you must obtain faculty recommendations that speak to your progress and maintain a portfolio that will be assessed before you graduate.

Your student teaching experience will also be evaluated by your mentor teacher. You will be assessed on a wide variety of skills, from classroom management to the application of your content-area knowledge in the classroom.

First-year admissions requirements are as follows:

  • Have a 2.0 GPA or higher (though if your GPA is 2.3 or below, you must submit a Statement of Academic Performance).
  • Have at least a 14 on all subsections of the ACT or a 380 on all subsections of the SAT
  • Complete the following high school requirements:
    • Four years of English
    • Four years of math, including one year of geometry and two years of algebra
    • Three years of natural and physical sciences, including two years of lab science
    • Three years of social sciences, including at least one year of U.S. history
    • One year of foreign language
    • Two years of academic electives

Regis University

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Art

Regis University’s Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts offers you the choice of on-campus or online studies. In addition to this flexibility, you can also transfer as many as 90 credits toward the 120 credits needed to graduate.

Whether you study on campus or online, you will benefit from 5-week or 8-week course terms. By taking one intensive class at a time, you can focus your attention more thoroughly on each topic, master it faster, and continue building your understanding of key liberal arts topics in future courses.

This program offers a number of other benefits, too. For example, you will enjoy small class sizes that provide the benefit of a deeper connection with your professors and classmates. You will also take part in a rigorous curriculum developed by experienced faculty who know what skills and knowledge are necessary for success as a liberal arts graduate.

The degree is broken down into the following requirements:

  • 45 credits of General Core Courses
  • 18 credits of Foundational Courses
  • 24 credits of Upper-Division Courses
  • 12 credits in a Minor Program (optional)
  • 33 credits of Electives

The General Core Courses include studies in communications, humanities, literature, and social sciences, among many others. Meanwhile, the Foundational Courses explore areas like research writing, philosophy, ethics, and history.

Among the upper-division courses required to graduate, you will take part in either a capstone experience or an experiential learning activity. These courses are intended to help you synthesize your learning throughout the program and aid in reflecting upon the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired.

Your studies in this program can be specialized to fit your specific career goals. In fact, graduates of this program at Regis have gone on to have careers in such diverse areas as business, science, social services, and government, to name a few.

Regis offers multiple start dates throughout the year, including in January, March, May, July, August, and October. Additionally, Regis offers a FastForward program that allows you to complete this bachelor’s degree program and a master’s degree simultaneously. This option helps save you both time and money so you can enter the workforce sooner.

The admissions requirements are as follows:

  • Complete an online application
  • Submit a copy of your high school diploma or equivalent
  • Provide official transcripts from every college or university you have attended

Is Colorado College a Liberal Arts School?

Yes, Colorado College is indeed a liberal arts school. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, it is known for its distinctive academic program and commitment to a liberal arts education.

The college offers a wide range of majors and minors in the liberal arts and sciences, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and the arts. Colorado College primarily focuses on undergraduate education, providing a broad, well-rounded educational experience emphasizing critical thinking, creativity, and interdisciplinary learning.

While the college is grounded in the liberal arts, it offers a diverse range of courses and interdisciplinary programs, allowing students to explore various fields of study.

Is CU Boulder a Liberal Arts School?

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) is not a liberal arts school in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s a comprehensive public research university that offers a wide range of academic programs, including liberal arts disciplines, but its scope and approach are broader than that of a typical liberal arts college.

Within its College of Arts and Sciences, CU Boulder offers programs in liberal arts disciplines such as literature, history, languages, and social sciences. Students can pursue a liberal arts-focused education within this broader university context.

Is CU Denver a Liberal Arts School?

The University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) is also not a liberal arts college, but rather a comprehensive public research university. Like its sister institution in Boulder, CU Denver offers a wide array of academic programs including liberal arts.

CU Denver offers courses and programs in traditional liberal arts disciplines such as literature, history, social sciences, and natural sciences. Students can pursue a liberal arts-oriented education within the broader context of the university.

What are the Liberal Arts Career Opportunities in Colorado?

The advantage of majoring in liberal arts is that it offers you so many career options. For example, let’s assume you focus your liberal arts studies on business. A program with a business emphasis helps you develop skills like leadership, relationship-building, and negotiation, all of which are essential for jobs in areas like real estate and finance.

But let’s say you are interested in science and focus your liberal arts program on that field. You might find a job working for a research lab in the Denver area where you can use your research, information literacy, and ethics skills to help oversee human or animal research for drug testing.

Science isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, though, so you might pursue a job in education. As discussed earlier, some liberal arts programs are excellent preparation for a career as an elementary school teacher. Colorado has hundreds of public and private elementary skills where you can put your knowledge of topics like science, math, social studies, and the arts to the test each and every day.

Some liberal arts programs in Colorado offer the opportunity to specialize in technology. This is a smart move, given the increasingly important role technology plays in so many aspects of our lives. You might use your expertise to land a job in Fort Collins as an IT specialist or in Colorado Springs as a web designer.

Better still, you might use your education in the liberal arts to start a business of your own. With skills relating to leadership, effective communication, and critical analysis, you can conduct a market study to determine if your business idea can gain traction in your local community. You will also have the skills needed to research locations for your business, hire employees, manage payroll, and so forth.

In other words, your liberal arts education can lead you down many different paths in Colorado. You can work in a small town or a large city, in any number of industries, or for yourself or someone else!

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