Study Liberal Arts in Connecticut

Connecticut might be one of the smallest states in the U.S., but it packs a punch when it comes to higher education. In addition to being home to Yale University, Connecticut has dozens of other private and public colleges and universities to choose from.

When looking for a school in Connecticut to study liberal arts, you have plenty of choices as well. So the question becomes, which liberal arts program in Connecticut is best?

Let’s narrow your search down by focusing on some of the popular programs for your higher education in liberal arts.

Best Accredited Liberal Arts Bachelor's Programs in Connecticut Online

Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Programs in Connecticut

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

  • Southern Connecticut State University
  • Fairfield University
  • Eastern Connecticut State University
  • Western Connecticut State University
  • Trinity College
  • Wesleyan University
  • Connecticut College
  • Williams College
  • Connecticut State University
  • Bowdoin College

Southern Connecticut State University

Bachelor of Science – Liberal Studies

The Bachelor of Science program in Liberal Studies at Southern Connecticut State University is offered as a second major for certain programs. To be eligible for enrollment, you must already have declared a major in one of the following fields:

  • Early Childhood Education
  • Elementary Education
  • Elementary Education-Bilingual
  • Special Education-Elementary Education

Even though this program is only for education majors, it still serves the purpose of a liberal arts degree – to give you the opportunity to study a wide range of subjects. The specific courses you take vary depending on your primary major.

For example, if you major in early childhood education, the liberal studies second major focuses on subjects like literature and literacy, psychology, and infant development. Likewise, you will take courses in digital technologies, school health, and therapeutic play.

But, let’s assume you are a special education-elementary education major. In that case, your liberal studies program would include coursework in child development, English grammar systems, and mathematics for elementary education. You’ll also take classes in literature, history, and special education.

Regardless of which primary major you have, you must complete 36 credits to satisfy the liberal studies requirements. For the most part, these credits come from specific required courses. However, you are able to choose a few elective courses to focus your studies on areas of interest to you.

Likewise, if you prefer not to complete the liberal studies second major, you can opt for an alternative second major. For example, you can replace the 36 credits of liberal studies courses with two 18-credit concentrations. This might be a preferable option if the required liberal studies courses don’t closely align with your interests.

You can apply to Southern Connecticut State University online. You must provide the following to be admitted as a first-year student:

  • Submit a $50 application fee
  • Submit official high school transcripts or an equivalency diploma
  • Provide official ACT or SAT scores (this is optional, though)
  • Provide letters of recommendation (this is also optional)

It’s also recommended that you complete a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum in high school, including four units of English, three units of math, and two units each of science, social studies, and the same world language.

If you are a transfer student, it’s suggested that you have a 2.5 cumulative GPA for all college coursework. Southern Connecticut State will also consider the length of time you’ve been out of college and your accomplishments outside the classroom as factors in evaluating your transfer admission application.

Fairfield University

Bachelor of Liberal and Professional Studies

Fairfield’s Bachelor of Liberal and Professional Studies is a unique interdisciplinary liberal arts program geared toward returning adult college students. You must have at least 18 credits of previous college coursework to apply, and you can transfer up to 75 credits into the program. Moreover, you can apply whether you were a student last semester, many years ago, or somewhere in between.

You must complete 120 credits to graduate with this degree. The length of time you need to do so depends on the number of transfer credits you have as well as your enrollment status – as a full-time student, you can complete this degree in a couple of years, provided you have the maximum number of credits to transfer. But, if you need to study part-time or if you don’t have as many credits to apply, you will likely need three or more years to finish your studies.

In any case, this program offers plenty of flexibility for getting your education on your terms. There are on-campus, online, and hybrid courses offered during daytime, nighttime, and weekend hours. You can apply any time of year, too.

Additionally, a Fairfield University academic advisor will work with you to design a program that focuses on your academic interests and prepares you for your future career. Better still, if life gets in the way and you need to stop the program, you can do so and rejoin when you are ready.

The curriculum includes 120 semester credits of coursework. In addition to general education courses like history, science, and math, you must complete the core curriculum for the liberal and professional studies degree. This includes taking nine upper-level courses in two or more of the following areas:

  • Humanities
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Math and Science
  • Professional Programs

You can study a wide range of topics within each of these four concentration areas. For example, humanities classes include modern languages, religious studies, and ethics. Professional programs include studies in engineering, marketing, and nursing, to name a few.

You are limited to no more than four courses in any single concentration. This helps ensure that your degree remains well-rounded and that you have opportunities to explore as diverse a range of classes as possible.

Another consideration is this: at least 30 of the final 45 credits you earn must be from Fairfield University. To graduate, you must maintain a 2.0 GPA throughout the program as well.

The application to Fairfield University can be filled out online. You must provide the following as a first-year applicant:

  • A $60 application fee
  • Official high school transcripts
  • A Secondary School Report Form and a Recommendation Form from your high school or college counselor
  • A personal statement
  • ACT or SAT scores (this is optional, though)
  • English proficiency test scores (if applicable)

If applying as a transfer student, you must also provide official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended, a college report, and course catalog descriptions of all courses you’ve taken.

Eastern Connecticut State University

Bachelor of Arts – Liberal Studies Major

At Eastern Connecticut State, you can major in Liberal Studies and customize your learning to benefit you in a future career in education. The wide-ranging curriculum is ideal for helping you build the knowledge and skills necessary for teaching multiple subjects in early childhood and elementary school settings.

There are five concentrations to choose from:

  • Earth Science
  • English
  • History and Social Science
  • Math
  • Natural Science

As with other programs, the courses you take depend on the concentration you choose. So, for example, the earth science concentration includes classes in sustainable energy, ancient environments, and mineralogy. You can choose from a number of electives, too, including geographic information systems, global climate change, and sedimentology.

However, if you choose the English concentration, your courses will include Introduction to Writing Literary Criticism, Survey of American Literature, and electives of your choice in each of the following areas: creative writing, reading culture, and rhetoric.

There are some similarities between the five available concentrations, though. For example, each requires you to complete 18-24 credits. Additionally, each concentration requires you to complete an exit portfolio. The portfolio is a non-graded collection of your best work from throughout the program. The purpose of collecting this work in a portfolio is to demonstrate the knowledge and skills you’ve gained that will help you be a competent educator.

Of course, this degree also requires you to complete a common core of courses no matter which concentration you choose. This core sequence includes studies in everything from history to English to math, along with studies in numerous other areas, too.

The application for admission to Eastern Connecticut State is available online. Admission to the university is competitive. To ensure the highest-quality students are admitted, the university takes a holistic approach to evaluating your application. Some of the criteria the admissions committee might use includes the following:

  • Your high school GPA
  • Your performance in rigorous college preparatory coursework
  • Your ACT or SAT scores

When applying, you must submit a $50 application fee, official high school transcripts or high school equivalency diploma, and one letter of recommendation from a high school counselor or teacher. If you’re a transfer student, you must submit a final high school transcript or copy of your GED, along with official transcripts from every college or university you have attended.

Western Connecticut State University

Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

The Interdisciplinary Studies degree at Western Connecticut State University allows you the freedom to study two or more fields of interest to prepare for a career after college. Of the two fields you study, one must be a traditional liberal arts subject. While this might sound restrictive, the liberal arts are extremely broad.

For example, your liberal arts concentration can be in art, math, or biology. You might choose philosophy, psychology, or chemistry, too. Then, you can pair your liberal arts concentration with any other subject offered at Western Connecticut State. This can lead to some intriguing subject combinations.

Let’s say you are thinking about law school. In that case, you might concentrate your interdisciplinary studies degree on philosophy and criminal justice. Or, let’s say you envision a career in business administration. To prepare, you might choose management and professional writing as your two areas of emphasis.

Of course, there are dozens of other possible combinations of concentrations, including the following:

  • Biology and sociology
  • Psychology and marketing
  • Math and computer science
  • Justice and law administration
  • Biology and English

Whatever combination of specializations you choose, you have to complete at least 18 credits of coursework in each discipline. At least six credits in each concentration must be at the 300 or 400 level to gain more specific and higher-level knowledge and skills.

Likewise, all interdisciplinary studies students must take a “gateway class,”  – Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies – which will help you develop the study tools needed to be successful in the program. At the end of the program, you’ll take a capstone course – Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies – that allows you to synthesize what you’ve learned in your chosen concentrations.

You can apply to Western Connecticut online. First-year applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Rank in the top one-third of your high school class and have a high school diploma (or an equivalency diploma).
  • Have a B average in English (4 units), math (3 units), social sciences (2 units), lab sciences (2 units), and world languages (2 to three units are recommended).
  • An ACT composite score of 21 or higher or an SAT score of 1080 or higher.

If applying as a transfer student, you must have at least 12 college credits and a 2.0 cumulative college GPA.

Is Liberal Arts Better than STEM?

Determining whether liberal arts is better than STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) depends on your interests, career goals, and personal strengths. Both fields have their unique advantages and can lead to successful and fulfilling careers. Here’s a comparison to help you understand the differences and potential benefits of each:

Liberal Arts

  • Broad Knowledge Base: Liberal arts education covers a wide range of subjects including humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, fostering a well-rounded knowledge base.
  • Critical Thinking and Communication: Liberal arts education emphasizes critical thinking, communication skills, and the ability to analyze and solve complex problems from multiple perspectives.
  • Flexibility in Career Paths: Liberal arts graduates can pursue careers in various fields such as education, law, politics, public relations, and business, benefiting from their broad skill set.

STEM

  • Specialized Knowledge: STEM education focuses on specific areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, providing in-depth knowledge and technical skills.
  • High Demand: STEM fields are in high demand globally, often offering higher starting salaries and better job security compared to many other sectors.
  • Innovation and Impact: Careers in STEM often involve innovation and directly contribute to technological advancements, healthcare improvements, and solving environmental challenges.

Which is Better?

  • Interest and Aptitude: Your personal interests and aptitudes should guide your choice. If you are passionate about technology and science, STEM might be more suitable. If you are interested in understanding human culture, societal structures, or enjoy critical thinking and creative problem-solving, liberal arts could be a better fit.
  • Career Goals: Consider your long-term career goals. STEM careers are often more directly linked to specific job roles, while liberal arts careers can be more varied and flexible.
  • Interdisciplinary Opportunities: The boundaries between STEM and liberal arts are becoming increasingly blurred. Many successful careers now require a combination of skills from both areas. For example, technical roles with a strong emphasis on communication and problem-solving or roles in science communication, digital humanities, and technology policy.

Ultimately, neither field is inherently better than the other; they are simply different paths that cater to different interests and career aspirations. The best choice depends on what you are passionate about, your strengths, and where you see yourself in the future.

What are the Liberal Arts Career Opportunities in Connecticut?

Completing your liberal arts degree in Connecticut can open many different doors to employment. On the one hand, a general liberal arts education can help you secure an entry-level position in virtually any field, from education to research to accounting, and many more.

On the other hand, since many liberal arts degrees are customizable, you can use your studies to prepare for a specific career. For example, let’s say you are interested in environmental science and marine biology. You can use your studies in these areas to go to work for state or federal organizations in Connecticut, like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Alternatively, you can use your skills to work for a non-profit agency seeking to help protect natural resources in Connecticut.

But let’s say that education is your passion. That being the case, you might use your education-focused liberal arts degree to prepare for an early childhood education career in one of Connecticut’s many public or private preschools. You might work as a classroom teacher, a teaching assistant, or a daycare provider, to name a few options.

Higher education could be a possibility with a liberal arts degree, too. For example, you might seek employment as an admissions counselor at one of Connecticut’s colleges or universities. These positions require you to have excellent communication skills, problem-solving skills, and analytical skills, all of which are a central component of liberal arts degrees. You might even specialize, too, like working with first-year students, transfer students, or veterans.

Your liberal arts degree can also help you find employment in Connecticut’s finance industry. Many positions, from bank teller to loan officer to financial consultant might be available to you. Lower-level positions like bank teller are likely accessible with a general liberal arts degree, but a more specific position like a financial consultant might require you to concentrate your studies in finance and have on-the-job training as well.

Of course, many liberal arts graduates use their education to explore careers in writing. You might seek employment as a journalist with one of Connecticut’s print or online newspapers. Or, you might focus on technical writing and use your skills to assist companies in writing everything from user manuals to marketing reports to white papers.

As mentioned earlier, Connecticut has many colleges and universities that can help you prepare for a career. Fortunately, Connecticut’s economy provides great flexibility in terms of job opportunities as well. By succeeding in your degree program, getting good grades, taking part in internships, and securing letters of recommendation from your professors, you can set yourself up for success in your job hunt.

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