Study Liberal Arts in Michigan

Getting your undergraduate degree doesn’t mean you have to study one subject in depth. With a liberal arts degree – sometimes called liberal studies, interdisciplinary studies, or integrative studies – you can explore multiple fields and emerge as a graduate with a deep understanding of many different topics.

In Michigan, as is the case in other states, there is a large selection of liberal arts programs to choose from. Some are available from large state universities; others are offered by small, private colleges. In either case, studying liberal arts gives you a broad base of knowledge you can use to pursue a variety of careers.

Best Accredited Liberal Arts Bachelors Degrees and Colleges in Michigan Online

Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Programs in Michigan

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

  • Oakland University
  • University of Michigan-Flint
  • Northern Michigan University
  • University of Michigan-Dearborn
  • Kalamazoo College
  • Aquinas College
  • Hillsdale College
  • Central Michigan University
  • Hope College

Oakland University

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

Oakland University’s Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies emphasizes the development of academic and intellectual skills, such as creative thinking, effective communication, and analytical skills. You will develop these skills as you complete four years of coursework in this on-campus program.

This program is designed for highly motivated students who wish to customize their learning experience. If that describes you, you’ll find this program to be extremely flexible and fulfilling while also providing you with many academic challenges that fuel your growth.

In addition to studying broad disciplines like the physical sciences, social sciences, visual arts, and humanities, you will also take specific courses that prepare you for your chosen career path. For example, you are required to take two liberal studies courses – Exploration of the Arts and Sciences and Interdisciplinary Approaches to Liberal Studies – which assist you in developing a strong approach to academic inquiry, such as being a good consumer of information.

These types of skills are critical for your success in college and are also helpful in a host of occupational settings. Likewise, the analytical skills you develop as part of a required senior thesis are widely applicable in many workplace settings.

In between these liberal studies courses and your senior thesis, you must complete a program core of courses that you design (with the help of an advisor). You can choose one of two paths: An interdisciplinary College of Arts and Sciences concentration or a combination of minors from two intellectually distinct areas. For example, you might study biology and music or environmental studies and religion.

This program requires approximately 124 credits to graduate. In most cases, four years are needed to complete these requirements, though if you take extra courses each semester, you might be able to graduate in three to three-and-a-half years.

You can apply to Oakland University online for free. First-year admissions requirements are as follows:

  • Complete and submit an application for admission
  • Provide evidence of a high school GPA of 3.2 or above (conditional admission might be granted if your GPA is 2.5 or above)
  • Submit ACT or SAT scores (if your GPA is below 2.5
  • Outline the number and type of college prep courses you have taken in high school

Furthermore, it’s highly recommended that you take four years of English, three years of math, three years of social science, three years of biological and physical sciences, and two years of a foreign language in high school. Though not required, letters of recommendation are recommended as part of your application.

The University of Michigan-Flint

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Michigan-Flint gives you two options for completing the degree requirements:

  • A traditional, self-directed pathway that includes studies in at least two disciplines.
  • An Accelerated Online Degree Completion (AODC) Pathway with online courses you engage with at your leisure over the course of a seven-week term.

Aside from the type of instruction, the difference between these paths is the time it takes to complete. The traditional, self-directed pathway might take you four years, just like any other traditional undergraduate degree. The AODC option, however, is intended for returning college students who already have coursework on their transcripts. If this applies to you, the time needed to complete the degree might be significantly less than a traditional four-year program.

These programs are structured a little differently as well. For example, the traditional pathway requires you to complete 39 credits within your major area of study. You must also successfully finish a six-credit senior project in which you synthesize what you’ve learned throughout the program. The remaining 75 credits needed to graduate include electives and general education classes.

The AODC curriculum requires you to complete 30 total credits, most of which are composed of two 12-credit certificate programs. UM-Flint offers three certificates: Data Science, Cybersecurity, and Digital Communication.

As noted earlier, the AODC pathway includes online courses that give you maximum flexibility for completing your studies. These courses are taught by UM-Flint faculty and guide you through the learning process, just as would be the case if you took the courses in person.

UM-Flint requires you to complete 120 or more credits to graduate. If you complete the AODC pathway’s 30 credits and have 90 credits from previous studies, you can receive your degree. If you lack 90 additional credits, you can work through elective courses and any required general education classes to get your diploma.

The application for undergraduate admission to UM-Flint is available online. When you apply, you will need to provide official high school transcripts and transcripts from every college or university you have attended, if applicable. UM-Flint does not require you to provide ACT or SAT scores.

Northern Michigan University

Northern Michigan University offers numerous interdisciplinary programs, each of which has a unique focus. For example, there are several education-related interdisciplinary programs of study that prepare you to become a teacher:

  • Secondary Education General Science Major
  • Secondary Education Industrial Technology
  • Secondary Education Social Studies Major

In each case, you take a wide range of courses within the specialty as preparation for teaching at the middle and high school levels. So, if you choose the Secondary Education Social Studies Major option, your coursework will revolve around courses like U.S. history, American government, and world religions. In fact, you must take multiple courses in each of the following four areas: economics, geography, history, and political science.

But, NMU offers many more interdisciplinary options. For example, you can study Biochemistry, Environmental Science, or Sports Science. Other options include Technical Communications, Social Science, and International Studies.

Perhaps the most interesting interdisciplinary degree option at NMU is the Individually Created Program or ICP. As the name indicates, this degree pathway is a bespoke program designed by you and your academic advisor. Not only do you have the choice of what your degree’s concentration will be on, but you can also decide if you want to pursue a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts degree.

The process for creating your own ICP degree is straightforward. First, you identify the areas you wish to study and submit your proposal to the ICP Committee. Once your proposal is approved, you will select an advisor who will work with you to ensure your program of study meets the graduation requirements of the university. You are then free to begin working on your degree!

Since this option is self-designed, any changes you wish to make must be approved by the ICP Committee. Furthermore, the ICP Committee reserves the right to withdraw its approval of your program if you begin to struggle academically. Nevertheless, if you are a strong student who works well in self-directed situations and is able to meet deadlines consistently, this might be a good option for you.

The undergraduate application for admission to NMU can be found online. You must meet the following criteria to be considered for admission as a first-year student:

  • Have a 2.25 high school GPA or higher
  • Successfully finish a high school core program of study for secondary school preparation (or complete a GED program)
  • Submit official high school transcripts
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended, as applicable

The University of Michigan-Dearborn

Integrative Studies

The University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Integrative Studies option is a flexible liberal arts program that allows you to customize your degree to your specific interests and needs. This type of degree is excellent preparation for furthering your education in a graduate program or professional course of study, such as law school or medical school (depending on the focus of your integrative studies program).

Rather than focusing your studies on a single major, the Integrative Studies option allows you to choose three separate minors, each of which includes at least 12 credits of coursework. You must also complete a capstone course during which you will integrate the knowledge and skills you have learned in your different concentration areas. When complete, this degree leads to a B.A. or B.S. degree, depending on the concentration areas you completed.

There is a large number of potential concentration combinations, broken down into three distinct categories:

  • College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters (CASL) Disciplinary Concentrations include minors focusing on individual topics (e.g., history, philosophy, and sociology).
  • College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters (CASL) Interdisciplinary Concentrations include blended courses that examine multiple fields of study (e.g., the Society and Technological Change concentration might include coursework in computer science, sociology, and graphic design)
  • Concentrations outside of CASL include options from other departments, such as public health, finance, or human services, to name three options.

You can mix and match courses and concentrations from each of these three broad areas to devise a highly specialized course of study. For example, you might choose to focus on STEM studies and create a pathway that includes concentrations in Artificial Intelligence, Environmental Studies, and Statistics. As another example, you might choose a Media-related pathway that includes concentrations in Journalism and Media Production, Digital Marketing, and Psychology.

No matter what path you choose, your integrated education will position you well for job opportunities after graduation. The Media pathway, for example, might open doors for becoming a print journalist, a broadcast journalist, or a digital marketing consultant.

You can apply to UM-Dearborn at any time online. You must meet the following criteria to be considered for freshman admission:

  • Have a 3.5 high school GPA or higher
    • If your GPA is between 2.5 and 3.5, the number and type of college prep courses you have taken and the trend of your grades will be considered
  • Provide ACT or SAT scores (this becomes optional in 2024)
  • Provide letters of recommendation and/or essays if requested

What is the Most Useful Liberal Arts Major?

Determining the “most useful” liberal arts major depends on various factors, including your personal interests, career goals, and market demands. However, some liberal arts majors are often highlighted for their versatility and applicability in numerous fields. Here are a few that are frequently mentioned:

  • Economics: Provides a strong foundation in understanding market dynamics, financial principles, and data analysis, skills valuable in business, government, and non-profit sectors.
  • Communications: Focuses on effective oral and written communication skills, crucial in virtually every profession, particularly in media, marketing, public relations, and corporate communications.
  • Political Science: Offers insights into government, politics, and international relations, beneficial for careers in law, public policy, international affairs, and journalism.
  • Psychology: Teaches about human behavior and mental processes, useful in fields like counseling, social work, marketing, human resources, and user experience design.
  • English: Develops strong writing and critical thinking skills, essential for careers in writing, editing, publishing, education, and many others.
  • Sociology: Provides understanding of social dynamics and structures, useful in social services, community work, public policy, and diversity and inclusion roles.
  • History: Fosters analytical and research skills, relevant in education, research, archival work, and roles requiring a deep understanding of historical contexts.
  • Computer Science (Liberal Arts): Some liberal arts colleges offer a computer science major focusing more on the broader social, ethical, and practical implications of computing, blending technical skills with a liberal arts perspective.

The utility of a liberal arts major often lies in its broad applicability and the critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills it fosters. These skills are highly valued across many sectors. The most useful major will significantly depend on how an you leverages these skills in your chosen career path.

What are the Liberal Arts Career Opportunities in Michigan?

The advantage of getting a liberal arts degree is that you can pursue virtually any career you like, provided your studies align with your career goals. For example, if you enjoy reading and writing and designed a liberal arts degree focusing on these areas, you might use that experience and training to pursue a career as an editor at one of the dozens of daily newspapers published in Michigan.

Alternatively, you might use a liberal studies degree in finance, economics, or business administration (or a similar area) to prepare for a career as a professional fundraiser. Non-profit organizations, in particular, require the services of fundraisers to keep their doors open, and your training in finance, along with the typical liberal arts skills like effective communication and problem-solving, could make you an excellent candidate for this type of career.

Let’s now assume that your interests are in higher education. With a liberal arts degree, you might pursue various positions at a Michigan college or university. A good example is working as a student affairs specialist. Again, this job draws on liberal arts skills like being an effective communicator and someone who is compassionate, empathic, and able to solve complex problems. You might also find a job as an admissions counselor, student advocate, or housing director, depending on your specific education.

The point is that there are likely to be many career paths you can take upon graduating with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. Rather than being tied to one profession, you can explore all the options you wish and choose the career that not only works best with your knowledge and skills but also provides you with a challenging, satisfying job you can enjoy for years to come.

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