Study Liberal Arts in Kentucky

While Kentucky’s rolling hills, farms, and horses have made it famous, the Bluegrass State’s higher education system is worth a good, hard look. After all, Kentucky boasts dozens of public and private colleges and universities. There is also a large community college system, which makes getting an education in Kentucky more affordable.

Another feature of Kentucky’s higher education system is that you can choose from many different liberal arts bachelor’s degree programs. In fact, many of the state’s four-year colleges and universities offer liberal arts, liberal studies, general studies, or interdisciplinary studies options. Some of these options are even available online.

To help narrow your search for the ideal degree program, this guide highlights some of the popular liberal arts degree options in Kentucky.

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

Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Programs in Kentucky

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

  • University of Kentucky
  • University of Louisville
  • Campbellsville University
  • Eastern Kentucky University
  • Centre College
  • Georgetown College
  • Tansylvania University
  • Asbury University
  • Thomas More University
  • Western Kentucky University
  • Wesleyan University

The University of Kentucky

Bachelor of Liberal Studies

The Bachelor of Liberal Studies program at the University of Kentucky empowers you to develop a custom curriculum for your degree. You can choose among many courses in the fields of natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and math. You can also choose to concentrate your studies in any one of these fields.

This non-traditional program is specifically designed for students who have completed a significant number of college credits but have not yet earned a degree. In fact, you must have at least 45 credits of college coursework completed before you are even eligible to apply to this program.

Once admitted, you can begin a tailored program of study. If, for example, your concentration is in the natural sciences, your courses will focus on topics like organic chemistry, physics, and astronomy. Alternatively, if you choose social sciences, you might take classes in human development, abnormal psychology, and social problems.

Regardless of your concentration, there are certain requirements you have to meet to graduate. For instance, you must complete 120 credits to graduate. Of those, 90 credits must be in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Furthermore, you need at least 39 credits of upper-division coursework (300-400 level). These higher-level courses build on the lower-division introductory courses you take during the first couple of years of your studies. Higher-level courses also explore narrower topics in more detail as opposed to the broad overview most introductory courses provide.

Other requirements of this program include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Complete at least 24 credits in your chosen track
  • Complete at least 12 credits in your additional major area track
  • Satisfy the university’s foreign language requirement
  • Complete at least 6 credits of each of the following:
    • Natural Science
    • Social Science
    • Humanities

This program additionally requires you to complete a portfolio. Think of the portfolio as a summative assessment that demonstrates what you’ve learned throughout the program. The portfolio must be submitted to the College of Arts and Sciences and evaluated for completeness before you are allowed to graduate.

You can apply to the University of Kentucky online. As a first-year student, you must provide the following when applying:

  • A $50 application fee
  • A completed application essay (the university provides numerous prompts from which you can choose)
  • High school transcripts showing the completion of a pre-college curriculum
  • Official transcripts from any colleges or universities from which you have earned college credit
  • ACT or SAT scores (this is optional)

The University of Louisville

Bachelor of Arts

At the University of Louisville, you can earn a Bachelor of Arts in an Individualized Major offered by the Liberal Studies Department. As the name indicates, the Individualized Major is specific to your needs and wants. That means the curriculum you develop with your advisor is completely unique – and might have never been explored before at the University of Louisville.

The program requires you to study in three concentration areas. For example, let’s assume you want to prepare for a career as an attorney. In that case, your three concentration areas might be Political Science, Military Science, and Justice Administration. Or, perhaps your concentrations are in English, Psychology, and History.

These two examples highlight how flexible this program is. Two students pursuing the same end goal of going to law school can take two completely different paths to get there. This kind of flexibility simply is not possible in a traditional degree program.

Other examples of an Individualized Major include the following:

  • Medicine, Health, and Wellness
  • Journalism, Animation, Advertising, Web Design
  • Languages, Linguistics, and Cultural Studies
  • Computer-Mediated Communication, Information Studies, and Library Science
  • Pre-Law, Pre-Counseling, and Pre-Forensic Studies

Whatever your concentration areas might be, you will need to satisfy certain requirements to graduate. For example, you must complete the university’s general education requirements, which include introductory studies in math, social sciences, physical sciences, and other core areas.

You have to complete the College of Arts and Sciences requirements, too. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Studies in three or more areas (up to five concentrations can be selected, including one from outside the Arts and Sciences)
  • One concentration must be an approved College of Arts and Sciences minor
  • Complete no more than 30 credits of courses outside the College of Arts and Sciences
  • Complete at least 50 credits at the 300, 400, or 500 levels

All told you must complete 120 credits to graduate.

Like many liberal arts programs, you have to apply to the program in addition to applying to the university. You can apply to the University of Louisville online. First-time students must pay a $30 application fee and provide high school transcripts along with the application.

Once admitted to the university, you must complete several steps to apply to the Individualized Major program. This includes developing a major proposal and meeting with members of the College of Arts and Sciences to gain approval for your proposal.

Campbellsville University

Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree at Campbellsville University is an online or on-campus program offered at numerous locations around the state. This flexibility is supplemented by a choice of numerous concentration options:

  • Business Administration
  • Christian Studies
  • Criminal Justice Administration
  • Mass Communications
  • Social Sciences

Each concentration requires you to complete 21 credits of studies. The courses you take vary depending on your chosen field. For instance, the criminal justice administration concentration requires you to take Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to the Criminal Justice System, Criminology, and Corrections. You must also take nine credits of criminal justice electives. These courses represent studies at varying levels, from introductory 100-level courses through 400-level upper-division coursework.

But, let’s say you choose the mass communications concentration instead. You would then take Introduction to Broadcasting and Digital Media, Mass Media and Society, and Public Relations, along with either Fundamentals of Speech or Introduction to Communication. Again, you would supplement these courses with various electives at the 100-400 levels.

You can apply to this program whether you are a traditional or non-traditional student. For example, it’s an ideal option if you have interests that span multiple fields of inquiry. Likewise, this program works well if you want a program that prepares you for advanced studies in graduate school.

Transfer students are also encouraged to apply. Campbellsville University works with you to ensure as many credits transfer as possible. However, if your credits don’t fit well with a traditional major, they might fit well within this program.

All first-year students must provide the following:

  • A completed application for admission
  • High school transcripts
  • Official college transcripts if you’ve earned credit in high school

If you are transferring to Campbellsville and have 23 or fewer credits, the same admissions requirements apply, with the additional requirement that you submit official ACT or SAT scores. However, if you have earned 24 or more credits, you don’t have to submit your high school transcripts or test scores.

Eastern Kentucky University

Bachelor of Arts in General Studies

Eastern Kentucky University’s Bachelor of Arts in General Studies is an online program requiring 120 credits to graduate. If you study full-time, you can complete the program in about four years.

However, Eastern Kentucky has a generous transfer policy. You can use up to 90 credits earned from other institutions to satisfy the requirements of this degree. This is an attractive option if you’re a returning student who has not yet completed an undergraduate degree program.

EKU helps you get on the right track to graduation by offering a host of amenities. For instance, you get a personalized graduation plan, free textbooks, and reduced tuition if you are an active-duty servicemember. And since this program is entirely online, you can study any time, any place, so long as you have a laptop and internet.

The program includes 8-week terms that help you focus on the content. There are just two required courses for the major. The first required course is Foundations of Learning, which helps you build the skills needed to be successful in a general studies curriculum. The second required course can be any of the following:

  • Professional Skill Development
  • Co-op
  • Service Learning
  • Study Abroad

Each of these courses helps you apply what you learn in your general studies curriculum to real-world situations. These experiences are also useful for putting the knowledge and skills you gain in the general education curriculum to good use.

The rest of the major-area courses you take – 78 credits in all – are electives of your choosing. There are no restrictions on the type of courses you take; instead, they are free electives that allow you to explore as many different fields of study as you like, provided you meet the requirements for upper-division studies.

EKU also offers a variety of minors and certificates you can pursue alongside your general studies degree. For example, you can minor in psychology, criminal justice, or political science, to name a few. Available certificate programs include Public Administration, Social Intelligence and Leadership, or Veteran Studies.

There is no application fee to apply. If you are a first-year student, you must provide your high school transcripts. You can also submit your ACT or SAT scores, if you feel they help make your case for admission. If you provide your test scores, the university will use them in helping you determine placement in certain courses, such as English and math.

If you apply as a transfer student, you must submit your high school transcripts only if you’ve earned 23 college credits or less. All transfer students must submit official transcripts from each college or university attended.

Is University of Kentucky a Liberal Arts School?

The University of Kentucky is not primarily categorized as a liberal arts school. It is a public research university offering a wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including the sciences, engineering, health fields, business, and the arts.

While the University of Kentucky includes a College of Arts and Sciences, which offers liberal arts education, the university as a whole encompasses a much broader range of academic and professional fields. Therefore, it’s more accurately described as a comprehensive research university with a strong liberal arts component, rather than exclusively a liberal arts institution.

Are Liberal Arts Colleges as Good as Universities?

The comparison between liberal arts colleges and universities isn’t a matter of one being inherently better than the other; rather, they offer different types of educational experiences, each with its own strengths. The best choice depends on your needs, goals, and preferences. Here are some key differences you should consider:

  • Size and Scope: Liberal arts colleges are typically smaller and offer a more intimate educational experience, with smaller class sizes and more personalized attention from faculty. Universities are usually larger, can have larger class sizes, especially in lower-division courses, and offer a wider range of programs and specializations.
  • Focus of Education: Liberal arts colleges emphasize a broad, interdisciplinary education, encouraging students to explore various fields within the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Universities often provide more specialized programs, particularly in fields like engineering, business, or other professional studies, along with a broader range of research opportunities.
  • Research Opportunities: Larger universities are often more research-focused, with extensive resources for scientific research, including labs, funding, and graduate programs. Liberal arts colleges may offer more undergraduate-focused research opportunities, which can be more accessible to undergraduate students.
  • Graduate and Professional Training: Universities typically offer a range of graduate and professional degree programs (like law, medicine, business, etc.), while liberal arts colleges usually focus on undergraduate education.
  • Community and Campus Life: Universities, with their larger student bodies, can offer a wider array of extracurricular activities, clubs, and events.
  • Career Paths and Graduate School: Graduates from both liberal arts colleges and universities are well-prepared for various career paths and graduate school opportunities. Liberal arts colleges are known for fostering strong critical thinking and communication skills, which are highly valued in many fields. Universities usually provide more direct paths into certain specialized careers, especially in technical or professional fields.

So, whether a liberal arts college or a university is “better” for you depends on what you are looking for in an educational experience. Both can provide excellent education and opportunities, but they do so in different ways and environments.

What are the Liberal Arts Career Opportunities in Kentucky?

A unique opportunity available to you as a liberal arts graduate in Kentucky is to work as a grant writer. This position requires you to have an excellent command of written English, be persuasive, and have superb research skills – all of which are commonly emphasized in a liberal arts program.

You can use these skills to work for any number of non-profit organizations in Kentucky that rely on grant funding to carry out their mission. You can also work as a grant writer in educational settings. For example, you might work for a public school district in the Lexington area and apply for grants to update the district’s facilities, offer after-school programs, and pay for faculty training.

Another option to consider is working for a city municipality. Some liberal arts programs offer courses in public administration, organizational leadership, and related fields, which are helpful when working entry-level jobs that help cities run smoothly. For example, you might work in the city manager’s office as a community liaison and engage residents in the decision-making process about city funding for improvements, activities, and events.

Some liberal arts majors work in higher education, too. For instance, colleges and universities employ admissions counselors and academic advisors to help students enroll in classes and stay on track to graduate. With a broad-based education in liberal arts, you can draw on many different skill sets (e.g., interpersonal communication, problem solving) to provide students the support they need to be successful.

If education isn’t of interest, you can use your liberal arts education to start a career in copywriting. Copywriters are just what they sound like – they write copy or content for websites, newsletters, social media posts, and so forth. As a copywriter in Kentucky, you have the option of seeking employment with a marketing firm or starting your own business. As a freelance copywriter, you could be based in Kentucky but have clients around the nation and the world.

In other words, there are many career paths you can take after graduating with a liberal arts degree. By aligning your studies in college with your occupational goals, you will emerge from your undergraduate liberal arts program with the specific knowledge and skills you need to be successful. That, in turn, will help you find a better job in Kentucky – and in less time!

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