Study Liberal Arts in Ohio
Whether you are a first-time college student or you have a few credits under your belt, getting a degree in liberal arts is a great idea. A liberal arts bachelor’s degree gives you the flexibility of creating a major that fits your specific goals, enabling you to quickly move on from college and start the career you want.
And if you want to finish your degree in Ohio, you get the added benefit of having a lot of programs to choose from, each of which offers a unique liberal arts experience. You can study on campus or online, go to school part-time or full-time, and concentrate your studies on a mixture of fields or zero in on coursework in a specific liberal arts area.
You can use this guide – which features some of the popular liberal arts bachelor’s programs in Ohio – to help narrow your focus and find the school that’s the best fit for your needs.
Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Programs in Ohio
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering liberal arts bachelor’s programs in Ohio:
- Cleveland State University
- Bowling Green State University
- University of Toledo
- Wright State University
- College of Wooster
- Wittenberg University
- Ohio Wesleyan University
- Ursuline College
- Ohio State University
Cleveland State University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Liberal Arts
The Liberal Studies program at Cleveland State University is a four-year, full-time, on-campus degree that culminates with a Bachelor of Arts. Since its inception in the late 1980s, the Liberal Studies program has accepted more than 350 customized majors from students. This long track record of accommodating students’ unique interests continues today and allows you to design your educational experience as you see fit.
Unlike a traditional degree, this B.A. program includes very broad instruction in several key fields, including the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. Though liberal studies has a strong academic emphasis, the focus is on breadth of information rather than depth of study.
As such, this degree gives you the most adaptability for aligning your studies with your future goals. For example, you get to choose 18 free electives as part of the degree requirements. These courses can be in any field – explore areas outside the liberal arts if you like, or use these electives to dive deeper into one of the primary liberal arts fields.
You must complete a certain number of credits in certain fields of study, too. These include the following:
- 16 credits in social sciences
- 16 credits in fine arts and humanities
- 16 credits in natural sciences and quantitative literacy
You must also satisfy the general education requirements outlined by Cleveland State. These courses are designed to help you build a solid academic foundation and include basic coursework like an introductory lab science, basic art or humanities class, and physical education, to name a few.
One of the most interesting features of this program is that graduates have used their studies to prepare for all manner of careers. For example, CSU liberal arts students have gone on to occupations in medicine, guitar repair, and website design. Other successful students have started careers in the following:
- International business
- Freelance writing
- Counseling
- Banking
- Law enforcement
- Landscape design
You must be a Cleveland State student with about two years of studies already completed to apply to this program. When applying, you must meet with the program director to discuss your options. Eligibility requirements are as follows:
- Have a 2.75 GPA or higher
- Submit a letter of application asking for admission to the program
- Include answers to admissions questions in your letter of application, including, but not limited to, the following:
- What is your educational background?
- What kinds of courses do you want to take?
- When do you intend to graduate?
- Why are you interested in a liberal arts degree?
Bowling Green State University
Bachelor of Liberal Studies
The Bachelor of Liberal Studies at Bowling Green State University is designed with your future in mind. On the one hand, you can use this program to build stronger skills in an area in which you already have experience. On the other hand, you can use this program to learn new skills in areas you have never studied to facilitate a career change after graduation.
Either way, you will find this program to be the height of flexibility. You can design your own curriculum (with the guidance of your advisor, of course), and study full-time or part-time either on campus or online. You can use your studies to prepare for a career or ready yourself for additional studies at the graduate level.
In fact, many students in the liberal studies program go on to complete graduate or professional studies, like law, medicine, or dentistry. Ultimately, this degree can be exactly what you want or need, with plentiful options for customization.
This degree does have some structure, though. You must complete 122 credits to graduate, which usually takes about four years to complete if you are just starting out as a freshman. Of those credits, 40 must be at the 3000 or 4000 level. And when designing your degree, you must ensure you take no more than 27 credits in any given department. Other restrictions apply as well.
Some of the courses you might take to satisfy the degree requirements include options like:
- Introduction to Public Administration
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Cultural Pluralism in the United States
- International Communication
- Introduction to Software Security
As you can see, there is great variety regarding the coursework and topics you can select! As such, you can tailor your courses to match your chosen career, which can be anything from urban planning to sales to product management, to name but three.
This program is open to students at the sophomore level or higher. To apply, you must meet these requirements as well:
- Have at least 30 semester college credits
- Have at least 12 credits left to complete in your degree
- Have a 2.0 GPA or higher
- Submit a two to three-page essay describing how this degree supports your short-term and long-term goals
The University of Toledo
Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Liberal Arts
This 120-credit Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies is a traditional degree in the sense that it takes about four years to complete and is offered on campus in Toledo or online. However, this is an unconventional degree because, as you would expect with a liberal arts focus, you have a lot of say in what courses you take and when.
Moreover, the University of Toledo has designed the liberal studies option as a competency-based program – you master a topic, then move on to the next topic, mastering each at your own pace. This format allows you to rapidly progress through the degree requirements without sacrificing the quality of education.
The basis of this degree is in three fields of study: social sciences, natural sciences, and the humanities. These areas include coursework in a hugely diverse range of areas, including:
- Geography and history
- Literature
- Art and music
- Drama
- Anthropology
You can also take courses in political science, sociology, and philosophy, among many others. Your studies in these fields are mostly in topical seminars that zero in on critical issues regarding these topics. These seminars are led by professors but driven by students to build higher-order skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and analysis.
This degree includes your choice of concentration areas where you can dive deep into topics that interest you and build relevant knowledge and skills for your future education or career. You will also complete a senior capstone project as a way of summarizing what you’ve learned throughout the program and reflecting on the skills you have gained.
The University of Toledo makes it easy to use this program as a way to complete a degree you have already started. For example, you can transfer credits to the University from earlier studies at another institution. You might also be able to earn military credits or prior learning credits for relevant volunteerism, academic work, your job, or life experiences.
The admissions requirements stipulate that as a first-time student, you must have a 2.5 GPA or higher to apply (if you don’t submit ACT or SAT scores). Alternatively, you can have a 2.0-2.49 GPA if you have an ACT score of 20 or higher or an SAT score of 1020 or higher.
Wright State University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Liberal Arts
Wright State’s Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies is another excellent option for completing your degree in the Buckeye State. You can choose to study on campus in Dayton, Ohio, or you can opt to complete all of the degree requirements online. Either way, you must complete at least 120 semester credits to graduate from this program.
This program’s curriculum reflects the broad-based nature of liberal arts studies. For example, you will take liberal arts courses in three major fields: fine arts, social sciences, and humanities. Within each are courses on more specific topics. For example, the fine arts field includes classes in the theater arts, art history, and music. The social sciences component includes classes in political science, geography, and economics, among others.
The humanities component of the curriculum is also critically important. You can study topics that range from world religions to communication to modern languages, and many others as well.
This degree includes two other important components: interdisciplinary studies and professionalism. The former includes classwork in international studies, African-American studies, and gender and sexuality. The latter focuses on courses for the workplace, like computer science, technical writing, and business.
Other courses available to you include the following:
- Non-Western Art
- British Texts-19th-21st Centuries
- Civil Rights Struggles
- Mind, Body, Consciousness, Reality
- Public Relations
All told, this major includes 33 hours of coursework. This includes 12 hours in each of the three core disciplines of fine arts, social sciences, and humanities. You must complete 15 hours of upper-division coursework in one of these three fields to serve as your concentration area.
You are encouraged to explore hands-on learning opportunities to supplement traditional classroom inquiry. The University of Toledo offers several avenues for doing so, including study abroad programs, student-led clubs and organizations, and internships related to your field of study.
This combination of classroom learning, field experiences, and an interdisciplinary curriculum prepares you for any number of educational or occupational pursuits after graduation. You can use this program of study to finish your undergraduate degree, as a foundation for a master’s degree, or to gain relevant job skills.
You must meet the following criteria to apply to this program as a first-year student:
- Minimum 3.25 cumulative high school GPA
- At least a 22 on the ACT or a 1030 SAT score
You can also apply to this program as a transfer student. To do so, you must:
- Have a minimum 2.0 GPA at your previous school
- Have a grade of C or better in ENG 1100
- Complete two Wright State Core courses offered in the liberal arts
Why are Liberal Arts Colleges So Popular in Ohio?
Liberal arts colleges are popular for several reasons, each contributing to their appeal among students and educators:
- Holistic Education: Liberal arts colleges emphasize a well-rounded education. Students are encouraged to explore a variety of disciplines, including humanities, sciences, and social sciences. This broad educational approach helps develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills, which are highly valued in various career paths.
- Small Class Sizes and Personalized Attention: These institutions often have smaller class sizes compared to larger universities, allowing for more personalized attention from professors and a closer-knit community feeling. This environment can enhance learning and provide more opportunities for mentorship.
- Emphasis on Critical Thinking and Communication Skills: Liberal arts education prioritizes critical thinking and effective communication. These skills are essential in any field and are particularly valuable in a rapidly changing job market where adaptability is key.
- Preparation for Diverse Careers: Graduates of liberal arts colleges often enter a wide range of fields. The broad skill set they acquire allows them to adapt to various careers, including those that might not exist yet.
- Focus on Lifelong Learning: Liberal arts education fosters a love for lifelong learning, encouraging students to continue seeking knowledge and personal growth beyond their college years.
- Community and Campus Life: The close-knit campus communities at many liberal arts colleges provide a supportive and engaging environment for personal and academic growth.
- Career and Graduate School Preparedness: Despite the myth that liberal arts degrees are less practical, many employers and graduate schools value the diverse skill set that liberal arts graduates bring. These students often excel in fields that require analytical thinking, effective communication, and the ability to quickly learn and apply new information.
- Cultural and Intellectual Exposure: These colleges often offer rich cultural and intellectual programs, ranging from guest lectures and workshops to arts and cultural events, which can enhance the overall educational experience.
The popularity of liberal arts colleges stems from their commitment to providing a holistic education that develops versatile skills, fosters personal growth, and prepares students for a wide range of careers and life paths.
Is Ohio University a Liberal Arts School?
Ohio University is not exclusively a liberal arts school; it is a comprehensive public research university. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields, including business, engineering, health sciences, and education.
However, Ohio University does have a strong liberal arts component through its College of Arts and Sciences, which offers programs in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and fine arts. This college embodies the principles of a liberal arts education, emphasizing critical thinking, effective communication, and a broad, interdisciplinary approach to learning.
Is Ohio State University a Liberal Arts School?
Like Ohio University, Ohio State University (OSU) is not primarily a liberal arts school. It is a large, comprehensive public research university known for offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in various disciplines, including engineering, business, medicine, and law.
However, through its College of Arts and Sciences, OSU offers programs in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, reflecting key aspects of a liberal arts education.
What are the Liberal Arts Career Opportunities in Ohio?
The liberal arts careers available to you in Ohio are as varied and diverse as the state itself. You might work in a small rural community as a probation officer after focusing your liberal arts studies on topics like criminal justice, law, and psychology. Alternatively, you might work in a large city like Columbus or Cleveland as a community organizer after using your undergraduate degree to learn more about communication, minority studies, and nonprofit management.
But let’s say you have an interest in education and helping high schoolers find the right college for their needs. You must use your liberal studies experiences to find a job as a college recruiter, where you visit Ohio high schools to discuss college and career readiness with high school seniors.
Another possibility is to work in the banking and finance industry. Perhaps you are passionate about mortgage lending and use your studies in finance and economics as a springboard for starting a career as a bank loan officer in Toledo. You might go another route, too, and work as a loan officer in a bank in a Cincinnati suburb.
Politics could be in your future in Ohio, too. Ohio plays an important role in national politics, and local, state, and federal office-seekers place a lot of importance on meeting constituents and campaigning in the Buckeye State. With a liberal arts degree that focuses on political science, sociology, and mass communications, you might be able to pursue a career as a political analyst, campaign coordinator, or fundraiser for a political candidate.
These are just a few options you might consider – many others exist. And with a customizable degree, the knowledge and skills you gain will help you forge your own career path, perhaps even exploring new and emerging careers that aren’t yet part of the mainstream.
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