Study Liberal Arts in Oregon
Oregon is a richly diverse state. The west coast sports soaring mountains and coastal forests, while the eastern portions of the state are high desert plateaus. The state is home to major metropolitan areas like Portland and Salem, as well as hundreds of small towns and hamlets that dot its landscape.
The educational picture in Oregon is also diverse; there are dozens of options for getting your college degree, be that at a small liberal arts school in the southern portion of the state, a large public university in the Portland area, or somewhere in between.
Many Oregon institutions of higher education offer liberal arts bachelor’s programs, too. This guide highlights some of the popular choices you might consider for your college education.
Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Programs in Oregon
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering liberal arts bachelor’s programs in Oregon:
- Oregon State University
- Portland State University
- Oregon State University-Cascades
- Eastern Oregon University
- Reed College
- Lewis & Clark College
- Corban University
- Willamette University
- Linfield University
Oregon State University
Bachelor’s – Liberal Studies
Oregon State University’s Liberal Studies program is offered online and gives you the option of pursuing either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. It’s a four-year program (provided you start as a freshman and not a transfer student) and requires 180 quarter credits to complete.
This program is highly customizable to fit your specific educational goals. The format is simple: work with your academic advisor to develop a theme that guides your studies. Once the theme is approved, you can set about taking the appropriate courses to graduate.
The theme you choose and the courses you take as part of that theme will be from different disciplines within the College of Liberal Arts at OSU. The possibilities for your thematic studies are virtually endless. A sampling of past approved thematic studies includes the following:
- Cultural studies through literature
- Teaching English in Asia (China, Japan or Korea)
- Writing for film
- Humanities for library sciences
- Social sciences for law enforcement and legal professions
- Environmental arts and humanities
- Creative writing, publishing and editing
No matter what theme you develop for your program, you will need to complete some specific requirements to get your degree. For example, as noted earlier, you need 180 quarter credits to graduate. Included in those credits are OSU’s general education requirements (e.g., introductory courses in math, science, language arts, social studies, and so forth), the B.A. or B.S. requirements for your degree, plus the College of Liberal Arts core coursework.
Additionally, you must complete the Liberal Studies major requirements, which include the following:
- 45 or more quarter credits within your thematic area of study
- 27 upper-division credits from two or more departments inside the College of Liberal Arts
- One or more Writing Intensive Course or WIC (with a C or better)
Furthermore, you must have a 2.0 GPA or higher for your university studies and a 2.3 GPA or higher within the liberal studies major.
This program has four start dates throughout the year, adding to its flexibility and attractiveness as a viable option for your education. To apply, simply fill out an application for undergraduate admission to OSU. When applying as a first-year student, you’ll need to submit the following materials:
- High school transcripts or GED scores
- Official transcripts from any colleges or universities from which you have earned credit
- A personal statement
- An application essay
OSU is test-optional, so you need not submit ACT or SAT scores if you don’t wish to do so. The admissions team will take into account many other factors, including your grades, the rigor of coursework, your life experiences, special talents, and achievements.
Portland State University
Bachelor’s – Liberal Studies
The Liberal Studies bachelor’s degree at Portland State examines subject matter from a wide range of disciplines of your choosing. Over the course of 180 quarter credits and about four years of study, you will have the opportunity to learn about diverse academic fields and challenge yourself to develop stronger communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
This degree is rigorous, too. When devising your customized plan of study, you will consult with academic advisors and faculty to ensure the curriculum is academically strong and prepares you well for the next step after you graduate, be that graduate school, work, or something in between.
Another component of this program worth noting is that it’s available on campus or online – whichever option suits your needs. Additionally, you can choose a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science track, again, whichever is best suited for your goals.
To graduate, you will complete a comprehensive curriculum at Portland State. The basis of your education will be the university’s general education requirements, most of which you will complete in your first and second years. The first-year courses focus on a variety of themes, including:
- Human Nature
- Design and Society
- Race and Social Justice
- Sustainability
- Works of Art
Your sophomore-level courses build on what you learned during your freshman year and serve as a bridge to more advanced studies during your junior and senior years. You’ll gain advanced communication skills, improved understanding of diversity issues, and explore issues related to ethical and social responsibility.
Furthermore, you must complete 72 upper-division credits as part of your major studies. These courses must come from the social science, science, and arts and letters areas of inquiry. You have to take four credits of intensive writing as well.
Other requirements to graduate with this degree are as follows:
- Two years of foreign language studies (B.A.)
- 10 or more credits in arts and letters (B.A.)
- 10 or more credits in science and social science (B.A.)
- One year of science (B.S.)
- Three credits of college-level math or statistics (B.S.)
- 10 or more credits in arts and letters and social science (B.S.)
- Two or more courses designated as race and ethnic studies
- Two or more college-level composition courses
To qualify as a first-year student, you’ll need to submit the following:
- High school transcripts showing a cumulative unweighted GPA of 2.5 for automatic admission
- Evidence you have completed 15 or more units of college preparatory work, including:
- 4 units of English and language arts
- 3 units of science
- 3 units of social studies
- 3 units of the same foreign language
- 3 units of math
- You can also submit ACT or SAT scores if you wish
Oregon State University-Cascades
Bachelor’s – Liberal Studies
At Oregon State University-Cascades, you can complete a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in liberal studies that prepares you for the next phase of your life. On the one hand, you will gain valuable real-world skills you can immediately apply in the workforce upon graduation from the program. On the other hand, the skills you gain pertaining to critical thinking, analysis, and effective communication are handy for pursuing a higher degree.
This program requires about four years to complete the 180 credits for graduation. As with any typical liberal arts-related program, you will have to complete several types of coursework to get your degree.
First, you will take general education courses that help establish you as a strong college student with a broad base of knowledge and skills. This collection of courses is 48 credits of introductory coursework in fields like biological sciences, writing, math, and history.
Next, you will complete 15 credits of liberal arts core coursework. These courses are similarly diverse and include options in the fine arts, humanities, non-western culture, and computer science, to name a few options.
From there, you will take 15-24 BA or BS courses and 45-52 credits in your liberal studies major. This is where you can really customize your degree program by taking courses in a chosen thematic area. OSU offers three thematic areas to choose from: Fine arts, humanities, and social studies. Some of the specific areas in which you can specialize include the following:
- Graphic design
- Psychology
- English
- Anthropology
- American Studies
Of course, you have the power to devise your specific plan of study. On the one hand, you can devise your own thematic area to focus on. On the other hand, you can survey the courses offered by the College of Liberal Arts and choose two fields to specialize your studies.
The remaining credits needed to graduate are comprised of your chosen elective courses. These courses can reinforce your specialization area courses or supplement those studies with knowledge and skills acquisition in related or adjacent fields.
You can apply to OSU-Cascades at any time. As a first-year student, you will need to provide the university with the following:
- High school transcripts or GED scores
- Official transcripts from any colleges or universities from which you have earned credit
- A personal statement
- An application essay
OSU-Cascades takes a holistic approach to evaluating prospective students. Other factors considered in the admissions process include, but are not limited to, your special skills or talents, diverse perspectives, grades in high school and any college-level coursework, and ACT or SAT scores (though submitting test scores is optional).
Eastern Oregon University
Bachelor’s – Interdisciplinary Studies
Eastern Oregon’s Interdisciplinary Studies degree program gives you the option of earning a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science. But this is only part of the program’s flexibility; it’s also offered entirely online.
What’s more, you can choose from three distinct degree paths:
- Combine two minors to finish your degree
- Select one minor and combine it with an individualized plan of study to complete the program
- Transfer credits from another university that fulfill a minor, then complete a second minor at Eastern Oregon University to satisfy the requirements for graduation
While these pathways are all slightly different, each requires you to complete a core of required coursework. For instance, you will take an Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies course that helps prepare you for the unique challenge of studying diverse subject matter. You will also take a methods course pertaining to your specific discipline or a library course that helps you develop the research skills needed to finish this degree.
At the end of the program, you must also complete a capstone course. This course requires you to compile a portfolio of work that highlights the research skills you’ve gained during your course of study. If you choose the B.A. option, you are further required to complete foreign language studies. If you choose the B.S. option, you must take 12 additional credits of science classes.
Major-area studies in your selected minor or minor fields are required, too, as are electives of your choosing. All told you must complete 180 quarter credit hours. If you start your studies as an incoming freshman, you can expect to take about four years to complete these requirements. If you are a transfer student, the time needed to complete the degree will vary depending on the number of credits you’ve already earned.
The application for undergraduate admission to Eastern Oregon University is available online. You must provide the following with your application when applying as a traditional first-year student:
- A $50 application fee
- Official high school transcripts or GED scores
- Official transcripts from every college or university from which you have earned credit
- Proof of completing the following high school curriculum with a C- average or higher:
- 4 units of English
- 3 units of math
- 3 units of science
- 3 units of social studies
- 2 units of a second language
Is Oregon State University a Liberal Arts College?
Oregon State University (OSU) is not primarily known as a liberal arts college. It is a public research university that offers a wide range of programs, including science, engineering, forestry, agriculture, business, and liberal arts disciplines.
While it does provide liberal arts education through its College of Liberal Arts, OSU is more broadly recognized for its research capabilities and diverse range of academic disciplines beyond just the liberal arts.
Is Portland State a Liberal Arts College?
Portland State University (PSU) is also not classified as a liberal arts college. It is a public research university with a diverse range of programs and departments. PSU offers studies in various fields, including liberal arts, sciences, business, education, engineering, health, and urban public affairs.
Like OSU, PSU also offers a strong liberal arts education through its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, however, the university’s scope is much broader than that of a typical liberal arts college.
What Makes Any College a Liberal Arts College?
Liberal arts often refers to studies in a broad range of disciplines including the humanities (like literature, philosophy, and history), social sciences (like sociology, psychology, and political science), natural sciences (like biology and physics), and sometimes fine arts. The focus is on developing versatile skills like writing, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving.
Colleges and universities that emphasize this broad-based, interdisciplinary approach to education are often referred to as “liberal arts colleges.” These institutions prioritize undergraduate education and tend to have smaller class sizes to facilitate discussion and student-faculty interaction.
What are the Liberal Arts Career Opportunities in Oregon?
If your liberal arts degree focused on management, education, or perhaps both, you might consider seeking employment as a program coordinator. This unique job is available in many different industries in Oregon. For example, you might work for a small non-profit agency and oversee the development and implementation of a new outreach program that helps the community better understand the services the non-profit provides.
Alternatively, you might work in an education setting where you help devise and carry out support programs for students, such as after-school academic offerings. Program coordinators also work in the public sector, human resources, and advertising, to name a few options.
You might instead consider a job as a communications manager after you graduate. Communications managers are responsible for creating, directing, and carrying out diverse programs that connect businesses, industries, or individuals with the public at large. A good example of this is to work for an Oregon politician and develop ways to familiarize the public with the politician’s platform. You might do this through email lists, advertisements in newspapers, social media features, and interviews on TV and radio.
Yet another option to consider is working as a graphic designer. With a focus on graphic design and related fields like marketing, photography, and video production, you could very well find a job for a major Oregon-based corporation like Nike. Even if you don’t land high-profile clients, Oregon has no shortage of small and medium-sized businesses and organizations that could benefit from your graphic design and content creation expertise.
Corporate training is a good landing spot for liberal arts graduates as well. As a corporate trainer, you’re responsible for the growth and development of a business or organization’s employees. For example, you might offer a workshop about improving on-the-job performance to employees of an Oregon manufacturing company. Alternatively, you might teach employees about a new company-wide harassment policy.
Even with just these few examples, it’s easy to see how diverse the employment options might be for you after completing a liberal arts bachelor’s program. You might also consider going to graduate or professional school, as the knowledge and skills you gain in your undergraduate studies are widely applicable to those pursuits as well.
Related Reading
- Accredited Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degrees in Alabama
- Accredited Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Kentucky
- Popular Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Louisiana
- Accredited Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Programs in Minnesota
- Accredited Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Oklahoma
- Popular Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degrees in South Carolina