Study Liberal Arts in Nebraska
A liberal arts degree has its advantages. On the one hand, it’s a flexible program of study that allows you to tailor your education to your specific academic and professional goals. On the other hand, you get a well-rounded education you can use to start a career in many different fields.
As a student in Nebraska, you get plenty of choices among liberal arts degrees, too. Schools large and small, far and wide offer liberal studies, general studies, interdisciplinary studies, and other similar programs for you to customize. Below is a list of some of the popular options you will find at Nebraska colleges and universities.
Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Programs in Nebraska
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering liberal arts bachelor’s programs in Nebraska:
- University of Nebraska-Kearney
- Doane University
- University of Nebraska-Omaha
- Wayne State College
- Nebraska Wesleyan University
- Creighton University
- College of Saint Mary
- Peru State College
University of Nebraska-Kearney
Bachelor of General Studies
The Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Nebraska-Kearney is a great example of the flexibility you can expect from a liberal arts-centered degree. UNK’s program includes coursework from areas such as the humanities, professional studies, and foreign languages. You’ll also complete courses in the arts, natural sciences, and social sciences.
The result is a degree with wide applicability in the world of work. For example, you might focus your elective courses on a particular foreign language, and use your degree to find work as an interpreter. As another example, you could focus your coursework on history and use your knowledge and skills in that field to find a job working for a museum after you graduate.
Of course, you have to finish the program first! As is typical for a bachelor’s degree, 120 semester credits are required to graduate. You will need four years of full-time coursework to complete these requirements unless you take more than 15 credits per semester or take summer sessions courses. If you go that route, you could be done with the degree in about three years.
The curriculum is divided into three sections: general education requirements, distribution requirements, and a capstone project.
The general education requirements involve introductory-level courses that help you gain critical skills for success in academics and the workplace. Courses focusing on reading, writing, math, and science form the core of the general education requirements. Other areas of inquiry include natural sciences, social sciences, visual and performing arts, and diversity-related courses.
The distribution requirements for this degree include 45 credits of content-specific coursework that meets the requirements of the general studies major. You might take an array of courses from several different fields, or you might choose to concentrate your studies in one or two fields. For example, you might focus primarily on the natural sciences and take lab-related courses like biology, chemistry, and anatomy and physiology. Conversely, you might concentrate on a humanities-focused degree and take courses in civics, government, and philosophy. Whatever areas you choose to explore, you must ensure that at least 30 of the 45 distribution credits are 300-level courses or above.
The final component of this degree program is a required capstone project. The capstone is an experiential learning activity in which you demonstrate what you’ve learned throughout the program. Think of it as a “final exam” of sorts, in which you demonstrate to the university the breadth and depth of your learning through a detailed applied project.
As a result of these activities, you will emerge from this program with the following skills:
- A detailed understanding of the basic principles of your chosen distribution areas
- An ability to conduct research, collect data, and use it appropriately
- An ability to comprehend literature applicable to your chosen distribution areas
- An ability to write at a college level in each of your chosen distribution areas
You must meet the following criteria for assured admission as a first-year student:
- Complete a high school curriculum including four years of English, three years each of math, science, and social studies, two years of a single world language, and one year of academic electives
- Score 20 or higher on the ACT, 1020 or higher on the math and critical reading portions of the SAT, rank in the top 50 percent of your graduating class, or have a 3.0 cumulative high school GPA
- Submit high school transcripts showing your graduation date and GPA or provide evidence of completing a GED program
Doane University
Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts Studies
Doane University’s Liberal Arts Studies bachelor’s degree is excellent preparation for a career, graduate school, or for personal or professional development. The curriculum is adaptable to your specific needs and includes a breadth of studies that help you gain relevant skills for success in work and life.
For example, rather than focusing on a single content area, you will examine topics in a range of disciplines. English courses give you the improved written communication skills necessary in all lines of work. Math courses help you develop critical thinking skills that are applicable to a wide range of careers. Philosophy courses help you develop logical problem-solving skills necessary to be successful in careers of all kinds.
Your quest to master these and other crucial job-related skills begins in your first semester at Doane. You will begin taking courses to satisfy the general education requirements of graduation. These courses – which comprise most of the first two years of your studies – include 100 and 200-level classes that introduce you to the topics of study. An Introduction to Psychology course is a good example of one such class – the course includes a breadth of subject matter, but there isn’t much depth of study on each topic.
This changes in your third and fourth years in this program when you begin taking classes to satisfy the specific major requirements. These requirements are fairly light for this degree, at least compared to more traditional undergraduate degrees. In fact, you only have to take two required courses, both of which are three-credit senior seminars in liberal studies. It’s also recommended you take an Introduction to Research Course.
Aside from that, you are free to take whatever courses you like (so long as they satisfy the requirements for graduation). These upper-level courses (300-400 levels) give you a greater depth of inquiry than the 100-200-level courses taken primarily in your first two years.
An example of this is an Abnormal Psychology class. Where Introduction to Psychology gives you a broad overview of essential psychology topics, an Abnormal Psychology course focuses specifically on mental health disorders, psychopathology, diagnosing disorders, and so forth.
Another example is History and Systems of Psychology. This course focuses specifically on the development of psychology as a science and the pioneers in the field that paved the way for it to become a legitimate academic and professional pursuit.
This program further requires you to declare a specialization area in which you must take at least 15 credits. Specializations include the following:
- Business
- Fine Arts
- Health Professions
- Humanities
- Math and Technology
- Natural Science
- Social Science
You have great leeway regarding the courses you take to meet the 15-credit requirement. For example, you can take biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, physics, and many other courses to fulfill the 15-credit minimum for a natural science specialization. Likewise, you can take history, criminal justice, sociology, and education-related courses (among many others) to meet the 15-credit minimum in social science.
All told, you must complete 120 semester credits or more to graduate with this degree. You can apply to Doane University online at any time. The university prioritizes the following when making admissions decisions:
- High school class rank, performance in college preparatory classes, and high school GPA
- ACT or SAT scores
- Your personal abilities and character
To apply, fill out an application, submit high school transcripts, and request official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit. You must also request official ACT or SAT scores be sent to Doane.
University of Nebraska-Omaha
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science – Individualized Studies or Integrative Studies
The University of Nebraska-Omaha offers two different liberal arts-related degrees: Individualized Studies or Integrative Studies. Both options are also available as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science.
The Individualized Studies option is the most flexible. Working with an advisor, you will design a customized curriculum for your specific needs. The program must have an intentional academic focus, but cannot duplicate any existing undergraduate majors at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Likewise, the Interdisciplinary Studies option must have a connective theme that joins the coursework together.
For example, your theme might be “equal justice,” in which you study how minorities, women, religious minorities, and other groups have fought to obtain equal rights throughout history. As another example, your theme might be “effects of climate change,” in which you study the environmental, scientific, social, and economic ramifications of a changing climate.
The beauty of the Individualized Studies option is that there really isn’t a limit to what you can study. The above examples are just the tip of the iceberg – if you and your advisor can dream up a theme, you can likely turn it into a degree!
The second option is Integrative Studies, which is still a flexible approach to getting your degree but offers a more structured curriculum. If you select this option, you wil choose two minors currently offered by UNO to develop an interdisciplinary course of study. You can choose from dozens of minor options, including the following:
- Ancient Mediterranean Studies
- Physics
- Biomechanics
- Management Information Systems
- Gerontology
There are dozens more options, too! You can choose to complete two closely related minors or combine unrelated minors for a unique degree.
For example, you could combine minors in computer science and cybersecurity to prepare for a career in the IT field. Likewise, you might combine a psychology minor with gerontology as preparation for graduate studies in gerontology psychology.
On the other hand, unique minor combinations are possible. You might use studies in economics and latino studies to examine the economic development of Central and South American countries over the last 100 years. You could also combine minors in communications and non-profit management as preparation for a career working for non-profits like Habitat for Humanity, the United Way, or the American Red Cross.
The only required courses for this degree are as follows:
- Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies
- Research Methods
- Advanced Writing
- Senior Capstone
These courses and your major-specific coursework total around 50 of the 120 credits needed to graduate. If you opt for a Bachelor of Science, you must complete 15 hours of cognate work. The Bachelor of Arts option substitutes the cognate work with 16 hours of world languages.
You must provide the following to apply as a first-year student:
- A completed application for admission
- High school transcripts
- Transcripts from every college or university from which you have earned credit
- ACT or SAT scores
Wayne State College
Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science – Interdisciplinary Studies
The Interdisciplinary Studies program at Wayne State College can be completed as either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science. The degree requires 120 credits to graduate and can be completed as a full-time, four-year program or a part-time program. If attending part-time, you might need as little as an additional semester or as much as a couple of years of additional studies.
This degree is simple: you develop your own major using coursework from two or more existing disciplines. Wayne State offers more than 130 undergraduate majors, so you have an immense number of possibilities for creating a major that works for you.
Additionally, by focusing on two or more disciplines, you get a unique perspective on the subjects you study. For example, you might combine biology and psychology, and learn how biological factors affect human behavior. As another example, you might study agribusiness and human resource management to acquire the skills necessary to manage a farm or ranch operation with dozens of employees.
The curriculum consists of three sections: general education requirements, major requirements, and minor requirements. As discussed earlier, general education requirements are introductory-level courses in a broad range of studies that help you establish crucial skills related to communications, critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership. You must take 30 or more credits in this area to graduate.
The major requirements include 48 credits of coursework in your chosen focus areas. Your focus areas must include a primary field from one academic department with supplementary coursework in a field from a complementary department (or multiple departments if you wish). Of the 48 credits required for this component of the curriculum, at least 24 must be in one field.
Using the biology and psychology example from above, you might take 30 credits of psychology courses and complement those with 18 credits in biology. Of course, the combination of disciplines and the division of coursework between them must be approved by your advisor.
The final component of this degree is an 18-credit minor. The minor represents another opportunity to explore additional fields. It cannot be in the same area as your primary or supporting concentrations. So, if psychology is your primary concentration and biology is your supplementary concentration, you might minor in sociology to get a different perspective on human behavior.
Previous students in this program have created highly unique majors including the following:
- Child Life Studies
- International Studies
- Construction and Business
- Gerontology
- Science Communications
You must provide the following when applying as a first-year student:
- A completed application for admission
- Submit high school transcripts
- Submit transcripts from every college or university from which you have earned credit
- Submit ACT or SAT scores
Wayne State strongly recommends that you complete a college preparatory curriculum in high school. This includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of science, and three years of social studies. It’s also recommended you complete high school coursework in computer literacy, a foreign language, and fine or performing arts.
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Bachelor’s – Integrative Studies
You can chart your own course to graduation with an undergraduate degree by enrolling in Nebraska Wesleyan’s Integrative Studies program. This custom degree allows you to combine studies in multiple fields, the result of which is a program that helps you build skills, expand your knowledge, and deepen your understanding of critical topics.
Moreover, an Integrative Studies degree enables you to consider key questions from multiple points of view. This isn’t just a valuable skill for the workplace – it also aids in achieving a better understanding of the world and your place in it.
This degree is like traditional undergraduate programs in that it takes four years to complete the 120 semester credits needed to graduate. But, rather than choosing a traditional major, you will work with an academic advisor to select courses from two or more majors relevant to your academic goals.
For example, you might wish to study international relations and U.S. minority studies in preparation for a career as a grassroots organizer for a voting rights non-profit. As another example, you might propose a curriculum that includes criminology, finance, and accounting in preparation for graduate studies in forensic accounting.
There is a lengthy process to get a custom Integrative Studies major approved, though. You will meet with the Integrative Studies Program Coordinator to discuss your learning goals and to identify if an existing major fulfills those goals. If an Integrative Studies approach is deemed best, you must recruit at least two faculty members to join the Program Coordinator on your Integrative Studies Advisory Committee. The faculty members must be from at least two distinct disciplines.
You will submit your major proposal to the committee, which retains the right to approve, disapprove it, or send it back to you for revisions and resubmittal. If approved, your request will be submitted to an Executive Committee, which holds the final say in whether your studies can proceed.
With the Executive Committee’s approval, you can commence with your program of study and begin working towards the requirements of graduation. These requirements include the following:
- Maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher throughout the program
- Coursework must come from at least three disciplines
- Complete all university requirements for graduation
- Complete all curricular activities for the major
You must also complete a capstone project that highlights what you have learned throughout the program and demonstrates your ability to apply what you’ve learned. The capstone can focus on one of the disciplines you’re studying or be an integrative project that explores each one.
Furthermore, you are required to meet with the Advisory Committee at least once per semester to provide an update on your progress. You will maintain an ePortfolio of your work in which you document and reflect on what you learn. This ePortfolio is not only helpful for demonstrating your progress to your Advisory Committee, but it also provides you with concrete evidence of your training to show potential employers after you graduate.
You can apply to NWU online to start the admissions process. The following are required to apply:
- A completed application for admission
- Submission of high school transcripts
- Submission of ACT or SAT scores (though this is optional)
You might be granted automatic admission if you have a 3.0 high school GPA or higher as well as a 1030 SAT or 20 ACT composite score. If you don’t meet these thresholds, your application will still be reviewed and you may still be offered admission. The application review is holistic and considers factors like the quality of courses you took in high school, the coursework you completed during your senior year of high school, and your level of community engagement, to name a few.
What are the Liberal Arts Career Opportunities in Nebraska?
With a liberal arts degree, the sky’s the limit for your career in Nebraska. Focus your degree on finance to gain employment as a low-level manager for an equity firm in Omaha. Alternatively, you can use your degree to study human services to prepare for a job as a case manager working with a religious non-profit providing assistance to families in need.
In the field of education, you have the opportunity to contribute significantly as a teacher, educational coordinator, or administrator within Nebraska’s public and private schools, as well as higher education institutions. Your skills in critical thinking, communication, and understanding of cultural and social dynamics are highly valued in these settings.
The state’s vibrant non-profit sector also presents a fertile ground for your talents. Organizations focused on social services, arts, culture, and community development are often in search of individuals with strong analytical, writing, and interpersonal skills to manage programs, conduct outreach, and oversee fundraising efforts.
Nebraska’s government and public policy sphere is another area where your liberal arts background can shine. Roles in local, state, and federal government, ranging from policy analysis to legislative assistance and community planning, can benefit from your ability to research, write, and engage with diverse communities effectively.
In the business world, especially within Nebraska’s growing industries such as healthcare, finance, and technology, companies seek liberal arts graduates for roles in human resources, marketing, public relations, and sales. Your ability to understand and communicate complex ideas, along with your adaptability and problem-solving skills, makes you a valuable asset in these fields.
As another example, you can tailor your degree to focus on the arts and open an art studio in Lincoln. Or you might focus on communications and start a career in journalism. With a customized degree, you can pursue virtually any job you wish!