Study Liberal Arts in Illinois
Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies in Illinois means getting a broad-based education in key disciplines that prepares you to be a critical thinker, problem-solver, and an engaged and active member of society. With dozens of liberal arts colleges and universities in the state to choose from, you can truly tailor your learning experience to your specific needs.
The question is, which program is right for you?
Below is a summary of some of the popular liberal arts bachelor’s degree programs in Illinois. In each case, you have the power to customize your degree while benefiting from high-level learning activities, expert instruction, and a well-rounded academic experience that prepares you for a career after you graduate.
Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Programs in Illinois
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering liberal arts bachelor’s programs in Illinois:
- Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
- University of Illinois-Springfield
- University of Illinois-Chicago
- Illinois State University
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Northern Illinois University
- Illinois Wesleyan University
- Southern New Hampshire University Online
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS)
At Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, you can enroll in a Bachelor of Liberal Studies program that is the height of flexibility. You can choose a traditional daytime on-campus program, an online program, or a hybrid on-campus and online option. Courses are also offered in the evenings and on weekends to accommodate your work and life schedule if need be.
To ensure your academic experience aligns with your goals, you can adjust the course requirements to meet your interests and career aspirations. Combined with the flexible course delivery options outlined above, you can truly have a bespoke educational experience.
Several other factors make this program especially attractive for liberal arts students like yourself:
- One-on-one faculty engagement – You can choose what classes you take and what professors teach them. This helps you develop a curriculum that utilizes the expertise of faculty members who specialize in your area of interest.
- Hands-on learning – At Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, you will have many opportunities for hands-on learning and field-based experience that allow you to apply your classroom learning in a real-world setting.
- Global experience – The University offers many courses in liberal arts with a global focus with faculty members from around the world. The University also oversees a robust study abroad program if you wish to complete part of your studies in another country.
In addition to typical coursework for this degree, you also have the chance to complete a senior project. This project serves as a tool for you to integrate your learning from across multiple disciplines and demonstrate your mastery of critical liberal arts skills. The senior project can be extremely specific, too, enabling you to zero in on subject matter that is of particular interest.
For example, you might devise a senior project on Sustainable Living through Food Education, Justice Questions Related to Home Support Services for People with Autism, or Education Policy: Restraint and Seclusion in Educational Settings. Other examples include Military Spending and its Effects on Economic Growth, Mass Incarceration: School to Prison Pipeline, and Portrayals of Women in the Latin Poets Ovid, Propertius, and Tibullus.
These project examples are reflective of the specific focus your degree can have, too. After all, the purpose of a degree like this is to study topics that aren’t traditionally offered by the university in a similar timeline to a traditional degree program, roughly four years if you study full-time.
If this program is of interest to you, you can apply online. To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:
- Complete all academic development courses required by the University
- Complete any required courses to address high school deficiencies
- Achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in courses completed at SIUE
- Meet with the program director to develop a plan of study/degree completion plan
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The University of Illinois-Springfield
Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Liberal Arts
The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies at the University of Illinois-Springfield is another excellent example of a flexible program in Illinois that can meet your educational needs. A good term to describe this program is “well-rounded.” Not only does the degree include studies from various disciplines, but it offers other well-rounded features, like:
- Customized learning activities
- Robust selection of courses
- High-level instruction from expert faculty
- Broad-based development in critical linking, ethics, problem-solving, and other important skills
The first component of getting this degree is completing the general education requirements to graduate from the University of Illinois-Springfield. These requirements encompass the first two years of the four-year program and include coursework in areas like mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, and language arts.
Once the general education requirements are complete, you can move into your major area of study. This is typically done during the spring semester of your sophomore year or the fall semester of your junior year. From there on, you’ll take courses that align with your academic and occupational interests.
This degree program includes coursework in seven core areas:
- Heritage, the living past
- Identity, the search for meaning
- Art, the esthetic dimension
- Language, the crucial connection
- Work, the value of vocation
- Nature, ecology of the planet
- Institutions, the social web
You must take at least one upper-division course in each of these categories to comply with the graduation requirements for an undergraduate degree in liberal arts. You will explore the curricular possibilities available to you in a required course, Self-Directed Study in Liberal Arts. You will take this four-credit course before any other liberal arts classes and use it as a launchpad for designing your individual plan of study.
You will end your degree program with another required course, Senior Seminar. This course includes a symposium that directs you on how to integrate your learning across the various fields you study in the program. You will write a paper elucidating these experiences.
In between these required courses, you are free to take classes of your choosing. Some options you might consider include the following:
- US Women’s History
- Spanish for the Arts
- Introduction to Human Rights
- Introduction to Political Philosophy
- Gangs, Crime, and Justice
You can apply to the University of Illinois-Springfield online. To do so, you must pay a $50 application fee, submit official transcripts from your high school and any colleges you’ve attended, and provide a written statement about your future goals.
The University of Illinois-Springfield is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The University of Illinois-Chicago
Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Liberal Arts
The University of Illinois-Chicago also offers a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies that might be worth a look if you want to complete your college education in Illinois. This is a traditional 120-credit program that is completed on the UIC campus.
Like the other options on this list, the UIC program puts you in the driver’s seat of your education by allowing you to customize what courses you take and the areas in which you concentrate your studies.
For example, you can base your program of study on an existing UIC minor. Since minors are typically about 18 credits, you would need to take supplementary courses in the same field to meet the minimum 30-credit requirement for the major.
So, if you form your degree plan around UIC’s Germanic Studies minor, you might take courses in German history, German culture, and the German language. As another example, you can develop your plan of study around UIC’s minor in Economics, and take courses in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Labor Economics, plus other courses to give your concentration the required breadth.
There are many other minors upon which you can build your individualized program. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Biological Sciences
- Anthropology
- Global Asian Studies
- Math
- Political Science
Of the 30 credits you need to complete the major, you must take 18 hours of advanced courses, six hours of which must be at the 300 level or above. Furthermore, you must take a writing course and at least one semester of career exploration and preparation coursework. Alternatively, you might be able to satisfy the career exploration component by completing an approved practicum or internship.
You can apply to the University of Illinois-Chicago online at any time. To do so as a first-year, you must pay a $60 application fee and provide the University with official high school transcripts. You can choose to submit ACT or SAT scores if you wish.
To be admitted to the liberal arts program, you must complete at least 60 semester hours of coursework and have a GPA of 2.0 or higher. You must also submit a major plan that outlines the proposed coursework for your program. This plan must be endorsed by your assigned Liberal Arts Studies advisor.
The University of Illinois-Chicago is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Illinois State University
Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies
The undergraduate program in liberal studies at Illinois State is your chance to create your own major. You will work with an academic advisor to develop a plan of study that focuses your work in a department or school that aligns closely with your future plans. So, for example, if you are interested in history, you can use the course offerings in ISU’s history department as a basis for planning your degree program.
However, ISU gives you additional pathways for completing your degree. You might choose a theme for your coursework, such as modern American politics, climate change in the 21st century, or the psychology of sales. You can also combine coursework from two or more minors offered by ISU. This option allows you to follow a predetermined sequence of courses, but combine your interest in several fields to create a customized degree.
For example, you can combine Children’s Studies, Exercise Science, and Music into a unique degree that enables you to work in a preschool environment as a teacher’s aide. As another example, you might use a course of study in Urban Studies, Sociology, and Philosophy as a stepping stone to a career in community organization.
Whatever plan you devise, it must include at least 36 credits from a single department or theme, or 18 credits each from two separate disciplines. You must also complete the general education requirements for ISU students, which includes coursework in the following areas:
- Communication and Composition
- Math
- Humanities
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Social Sciences
Courses in several other fields are required as well. These and other courses help give you a well-rounded education and develop the skills you need to undertake advanced coursework in your degree program.
In all, you must complete 120 semester credit hours (at least 42 of which are at the 200-300 level) to graduate. If you choose the Bachelor of Arts option, you must meet a foreign language requirement. If you choose the Bachelor of Science option, you must satisfy the university’s Science, Math, and Technology degree requirements.
To apply, you must pay a $55 application fee, submit unofficial high school transcripts, and provide self-reported ACT or SAT scores. If you are a transfer student, you must additionally provide the following:
- A list of courses you are taking or will take before you come to Illinois State.
- Your intended major or program, if you have chosen one.
- An optional personal statement.
Illinois State University is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
What are the Most Popular Majors at Liberal Arts Colleges?
At liberal arts colleges, where the emphasis is on a broad, interdisciplinary education, certain majors consistently emerge as popular choices among students. These majors reflect the colleges’ commitment to a well-rounded education, critical thinking, and effective communication.
Some of the most popular majors include:
- Psychology: This field studies human behavior and mental processes, and it’s often a top choice due to its relevance in understanding ourselves and others, which is valuable in any career.
- English and Literature: These majors focus on reading, analyzing, and interpreting various forms of literature. They are popular for their emphasis on critical thinking and communication skills.
- Political Science: Given the focus on civic engagement at many liberal arts colleges, political science is a popular choice. It explores government systems, political behavior, and public policies.
- Economics: This major offers insight into how societies allocate resources and make financial decisions. It’s a blend of quantitative analysis and social science theory, making it a versatile choice.
- Biology: For students interested in the natural sciences, biology is a common pick. It provides a foundation for careers in healthcare, research, and environmental science.
- Sociology: This major examines social behavior and society, including groups, institutions, and social change. It’s popular for its relevance to a wide range of social issues.
- History: Studying history helps students understand the past, which in turn informs their understanding of the present and future. It’s valued for its development of research and analytical skills.
- Environmental Science: As awareness of environmental issues grows, this interdisciplinary major that combines biology, chemistry, and earth science becomes increasingly popular.
- Art and Art History: These majors appeal to students interested in creative expression and the study of visual culture across history.
- Philosophy: Known for fostering critical thinking and ethical reasoning, philosophy remains a staple in liberal arts education.
These majors are popular because they provide students with a broad base of knowledge, critical thinking skills, and the ability to adapt to various career paths.
What are the Liberal Arts Career Opportunities in Illinois?
The career opportunities you can pursue in Illinois as a graduate from a liberal arts program are virtually endless. On the one hand, the breadth of studies you complete gives you applicable experience in a broad range of subject matter with a wide range of skills. This can help you seek employment in areas ranging from education to journalism to healthcare, depending on your specific program of study.
On the other hand, the ability to focus your studies on a special area of interest gives you more specific knowledge and skills that relate to your intended occupation. So, you might focus your studies on written communication and use those studies to find work as a technical writer for a publishing company.
A completely different example is if you focus your studies on sociology and use your undergraduate experience to work in the sociological research sector as a research assistant. You might use your knowledge of sociology to help design experiments, record and analyze data, and assist with writing research proposals for a research firm in the Chicago area.
Public relations is another field you might explore after you graduate. With coursework in public speaking, psychology, and marketing, you could find a job with a large firm based in Springfield where you help mold the company’s marketing materials and generate a positive public image of the company.
Though these potential career opportunities in Illinois are very different, they all require the same basic liberal arts skills – creativity, a dedication to ethics, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving skills, to name a few. You will gain these skills (and many others) in your Illinois-based liberal arts program!
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