Study Liberal Arts in Arizona

The lure of a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts is that it’s a flexible way to earn a degree in fields that are of interest to you. In many cases, you can design your own program to fit your specific needs. But, some liberal arts bachelor’s programs are more flexible than others.

This is certainly the case with the four Arizona-based programs listed below. Arizona offers high-quality online degrees from its major universities. This gives you ample choices when it comes to getting a flexible degree in a flexible format – perhaps more than any other state.

Some of the popular programs listed below are just a sampling of the liberal arts degrees you can pursue in Arizona. Each one is summarized for your benefit so you can make an informed decision about which program is the best option for completing your undergraduate studies.

Best Popular Accredited Liberal Arts Colleges and Bachelors Programs in Arizona Online

Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Programs in Arizona

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

  • University of Arizona
  • Arizona State University
  • Northern Arizona University
  • Arizona Christian University
  • Phoenix College
  • Paradise Valley Community College
  • Eastern Arizona College
  • Yavapai College
  • Mesa Community College

The University of Arizona

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts

The University of Arizona’s Global Campus offers a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts that requires 120 credits to graduate. If you are just starting your college education, completing these requirements will take about four years of full-time study.

However, if you have already taken college courses, you might be able to transfer up to 90 credits to apply toward the requirements of graduation for this degree. If that’s the case, you might only need a couple of semesters to finish this degree.

In either case, you must have 43 general education credits, 33 credits of coursework in your major, and 50 elective credits to meet the minimum 120-credit threshold. Your courses will be in an accelerated format – each class is just five to six weeks long. Moreover, you only take one course at a time. This helps you focus your studies and achieve mastery of the subject in a shorter time frame.

This degree program has several areas of emphasis. On the one hand, you will study national and global issues, particularly those relating to diversity and culture. You will also take courses in research methods, literary theory, and you will study the environment, societies, and the human spirit, too.

To fulfill these requirements, you will take courses that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Information Logic
  • Human Questions
  • Historical Contexts and Literature
  • American National Government
  • Research Methods for the Humanities

You can also specialize your studies if you choose. The University of Arizona offers many different specialization options, including:

  • Business Economics
  • Cognitive Studies
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Health and Wellness
  • Real Estate Studies
  • Supply Chain Management

There are three levels of admissions requirements for the University of Arizona’s Global Campus. The first level is “conditional admission,” which requires you to be 18 years of age or older, a high school graduate or equivalent, possess a computer with internet access, and be proficient in English.

The next level of admission is “provisional.” To qualify, you must have a C- in your first course by the sixth day of the third week of that course. You must also attend the fourth week of the course and provide proof of high school graduation by providing an official or unofficial high school transcript, diploma, or documentation of getting a GED. Alternatively, you can submit official transcripts from another college or university upon which your high school name and graduation date are listed. You can also provide proof that you completed a two-year collegiate program with at least 60 credits.

For full admission to the Global Campus, you must meet the following requirements by the end of the fourth course you take:

  • Submit official English language proficiency test scores, if applicable
  • Provide proof that you completed a two-year collegiate program with at least 60 credits.

Arizona State University

Online Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

The online Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Arizona State University is a 120-credit program that requires you to successfully complete 40 classes to get your degree. Each course is in an accelerated format – 7.5 weeks – of which only two are required. The rest of your coursework is in areas that you want to study.

The two required courses are Dimensions of Liberal Studies and Liberal Studies Seminar. The former course explores diverse issues, perspectives, and ideas, and serves to assist you in developing the basic skills needed to be a productive, inquisitive liberal arts student. The latter course is a summative exploration of your studies and involves creative reflection on the broad scope of your coursework while also focusing on one or more specific inquiries into the humanities and social sciences.

You will supplement these courses with inquiry into a diverse range of topics. You will take general education courses in fields like English, math, and natural sciences. You will also complete a host of courses in the liberal arts, including those in the following categories:

  • Humanities, Art, and Design
  • Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • Literacy and Critical Inquiry

These broad categories hold many possibilities for your studies. For example, you can take courses like The American Southwest in Literature and Film or Literature and Society in Modern Spain as part of the Humanities, Art, and Design requirements. Courses like Precolonial Africa and Society, Drugs, and Health count towards the Social-Behavioral Sciences requirements. And classes like Research Methods and Writing Art and Design Criticism can fulfill the Literacy and Critical Inquiry requirements.

As a result of your coursework, you will exit this program with essential skills that are widely applicable in many different career fields. This includes:

  • Organizational skills
  • Data and information analysis skills
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Creative thinking skills

Furthermore, you will have improved writing and communication skills and possess the ability to teach and train others as well.

You can apply to ASU online. You must satisfy the following requirements to be considered for admission as a first-year student:

  • Complete a comprehensive high school education with four years of math and English, three years of lab sciences, two years of social sciences, two years of the same foreign language, and one year of fine arts or career-technical education.
  • Graduate in the top 25 percent of your high school class
  • Have a 3.0 GPA in your high school competency courses
  • Score 22 or higher on the ACT (24 for non-residents) or 1120 on the SAT reasoning test (1180 for non-residents)
  • Pay a $70 application fee
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you have attended, if applicable

Northern Arizona University

Online Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts

The online Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from Northern Arizona University is a personalized learning experience that offers you maximum flexibility for completing your degree. Not only is this degree offered online, but the personalized learning format means you can complete your coursework at your own pace.

The program works like this: You enroll in courses using six-month subscriptions. During those six months, you work as quickly or as slowly as you like. You will take your courses in a competency-based learning environment, which enables you to move from one segment of the program to the next as you demonstrate mastery of critical knowledge and skills.

Though this program is non-traditional in many ways, the areas of inquiry are typical liberal arts topics. For example, you will explore broad studies in literature, history, philosophy, and the arts. In doing so, you will learn crucial skills like critical analysis, how to interpret information, and how to evaluate ideas, information, and artifacts.

Some of the courses you might take include the following:

  • Cross-Cultural Communication
  • The Sociological Aspects of Education
  • Interdisciplinary Cultural Aesthetics
  • Writing Across the Disciplines
  • Western Art History

This degree is also traditional in the sense that you must complete 120 units to graduate. These credits are earned in various fields, including at least 54 units in liberal arts, 12 units in science, and general education units, the number of which varies depending on your academic standing. For example, if you are a first-year student, you will need to take more electives than third-year students who transfer 24 units into the program.

Speaking of transfer credits, NAU has a generous transfer policy. You are allowed to use up to 75 credits from an accredited community college toward this degree. Not only does this help you reduce the amount of time needed to complete your bachelor’s degree, but it’s also a more affordable option to complete courses at a community college.

To apply as a first-year student, you must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Complete a comprehensive high school education with four years of math and English, three years of lab sciences, two years of social sciences, two years of the same foreign language, and one year of fine arts or career-technical education
  • Have a 2.75 GPA or higher core high school GPA (for guaranteed admission)
  • Have a 2.5 GPA or higher core high school GPA (for admission consideration)
  • Submit unofficial high school transcripts
  • Submit ACT or SAT scores (for financial aid consideration – scores are not required for admission)
  • Pay a $40 application fee

Arizona Christian University

Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies

Arizona Christian University offers a Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies that you can tailor to your specific interests and occupational goals. Both B.A. and B.S. options are available, each of which includes detailed studies in the following areas:

  • Logic
  • Professional Writing
  • Contemporary Ethics
  • Humanities

The four-year program includes general education courses like math, science, and English, elective courses of your choosing, a core of 30 credits, 15 Biblical and Theological credits (including at least three upper-division credits), and either eight credits of a foreign language (for B.A. students) or eight credits of science courses (for B.S. students).

The core credits explore a breadth of topics. You will take one course in logic, one course in professional writing, and one course in contemporary ethics. You’ll then choose two courses among the following online options to fulfill the humanities requirement:

  • Behavioral Health
  • Communication
  • Biblical Studies Intensive
  • Secondary Education
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Elementary Education
  • Christian Ministries
  • Family Studies
  • Business

There is an even larger pool of humanities courses to choose from if you decide to study on campus. In fact, there are 23 available courses on campus in addition to those listed above.

You must also complete two minors. Arizona Christian University makes it easy to choose minors that fit your educational or job-related goals with more than 32 minor options. For example, you might choose related minors, like Sport Management and Sport Psychology. Or, you might select minors that explore differing areas, like Political Science and Biology. Other minor options include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Family Studies
  • Physical Education
  • Sociology
  • Mathematics
  • Behavioral Health

Whether you study in person or online, your coursework prepares you for success in the next chapter of your life, be that getting a job or continuing your education in a master’s degree program. For example, the coursework in this program will help you develop skills like:

  • Logic, critical thinking, and creative thinking
  • The ability to evaluate major ideas and philosophies
  • High-level research skills
  • The ability to synthesize information and ideas from many different sources

You can apply to Arizona Christian University online. You must meet the following requirements to apply as a first-year student:

  • Have a 2.5 cumulative unweighted high school GPA
  • Submit a personal essay
  • Provide ACT or SAT scores (optional)

Is Liberal Arts an Easy Major?

The perception of a liberal arts major as “easy” is subjective and can vary greatly depending on individual interests, strengths, and the specific program. Here are some key considerations:

  • Diverse Subjects: Liberal arts encompasses a wide range of disciplines including literature, history, philosophy, social sciences, and arts. The breadth of subjects offers variety but can also be challenging as it requires students to be adaptable and engage with multiple disciplines.
  • Critical Thinking and Analysis: Liberal arts courses often focus heavily on critical thinking, analysis, and writing. These skills can be challenging to master and require significant intellectual effort.
  • Reading and Writing Intensive: Many liberal arts majors involve extensive reading and writing, which can be demanding in terms of time and intellectual engagement.
  • Subjective Assessment: Unlike more technical fields where answers are often right or wrong, liberal arts assessments can be more subjective, based on essays and discussions. This can be challenging as it requires a deep understanding and an ability to articulate complex ideas effectively.
  • Self-Directed Learning: Liberal arts education often encourages independent thought and self-directed learning, which can be challenging for those who prefer more structured learning environments.
  • Comparison with STEM Fields: Liberal arts are sometimes perceived as easier compared to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. However, this comparison is not entirely fair as each field has its unique challenges and demands different skill sets.
  • Personal Interests and Strengths: What is “easy” or “hard” can depend greatly on a student’s personal interests, strengths, and learning style. A subject that is easy for one student might be challenging for another.

In short, whether a liberal arts major is easy or not can depend on various factors including your abilities, interests, and the specific requirements of your program. Like any field of study, achieving excellence in liberal arts requires dedication, effort, and a commitment to learning. 

What are the Liberal Arts Career Opportunities in Arizona?

A growing career field for liberal arts-trained graduates is corporate communication. Many organizations and businesses strive to put a good foot forward in the community through positive messaging about their products, services, initiatives, and so forth. With a liberal arts degree, you will likely take communications courses that can help you craft appropriate messaging for corporate needs. You can prepare for a career in this field even further by taking courses in business, marketing, and management, to name a few.

Arizona has experienced rapid growth over the last few decades, and that means the state needs qualified workers at many of its agencies. You can use your liberal arts degree to pursue a career for the state, such as a case manager for the Arizona Department of Child Safety. With courses in psychology, sociology, child development, and criminal justice, you can work to protect Arizona’s children from abuse and neglect.

Sustainability is a growing field of work in the U.S., but especially in states like Arizona that have experienced crippling droughts in recent years. If this is an area of interest to you, you might tailor your liberal arts degree to the physical sciences and take courses like biology, conservation, and environmental science as preparation for a career in this field.

Many other avenues are available for employment in Arizona as a liberal arts graduate. Whether you want to work in education, journalism, finance, or something in between, an Arizona-based liberal arts degree can prove valuable for pursuing your occupational goals!