Best Liberal Arts Degrees

A Bachelor of Liberal Arts

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A bachelor of liberal arts (BLA) degree provides a broad, interdisciplinary education that includes humanities, social science, art, and math courses. BLA programs cultivate versatile, foundational skills in critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving. Applicants often need a minimum 2.0-3.0 GPA, high school or GED transcripts, and decent test scores.

Liberal arts degree skills prove useful in diverse careers including public relations specialist, technical writer, and social and community service manager. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), social and community service managers earn a $67,150 median annual salary. The BLS projects an extraordinarily high job growth rate of 17% for this career during 2019-2029.

Leveraging Questions Students Ask About Liberal Arts Programs

Most Affordable Bachelor's in Liberal Arts Degrees

Why Get a Liberal Arts Degree?

Liberal arts degrees support diverse career opportunities, professional networking, interdisciplinary knowledge, and foundational skills. See below for descriptions of these liberal arts degree benefits.

What Are the Requirements for a Liberal Arts Degree?

To pursue an online liberal arts degree, applicants typically need high school diplomas or equivalents and a minimum 2.0-3.0 GPA. Many schools require first-year applicants to submit standardized test scores. All applicants submit official transcripts and essays, and transfer applicants usually need recommendation letters.

Completing a bachelor's in liberal arts degree online typically entails about 120 credits. Enrollees take core courses plus specialization classes in a field of choice such as communication, psychology, or English literature. The best liberal arts bachelor's degrees usually require a senior capstone project, thesis, or internship. The nature of this capstone experience depends heavily on the curriculum concentration.

Career and Salary Outlook for Liberal Arts Majors

Liberal arts majors work in many fields, industries, and sectors. Some graduates seek careers as writers, editors, researchers, or media professionals. Many BLAs become communications specialists. Others pursue additional degrees and become licensed social workers, teachers, or social scientists. Several common career paths for liberal arts degree graduates appear below.

• Public Relations Specialist

  These professionals help their organizations generate and sustain a positive public image. PR specialists produce various public communications, including social media campaigns. This career requires advanced skills in writing, interviewing, design, and evaluation.

• Technical Writer

  These writers work in various industries and create articles, manuals, guides, and videos. Technical writers often collaborate with product designers, developers, marketers, and technical staff. These professionals may perform research, conduct observations, and edit others' work.

• Market Research Analyst

  This career involves researching and evaluating markets to guide company decisions. These analysts forecast trends, assess marketing programs, create reports, and give presentations to executives and marketing teams. Market research analysts sometimes create and evaluate methods for data collection.

• Social and Community Service Managers

  Usually working for nonprofit or governmental organizations, social and community services managers oversee organizational staff, assess community needs, design programs, and analyze data. These managers may plan outreach, create funding proposals, and meet with various stakeholders.

Source: BLS

Courses in a Liberal Arts

Liberal arts curricula usually include core courses in composition, mathematics, art, and social science. These classes develop varied skills useful in many potential careers. Participants typically study English, history, and philosophy — subjects that emphasize critical thinking, research, and writing. Many BLA programs require capstone projects that further encourage students to produce and develop their ideas.

Liberal arts bachelor's degrees often feature curriculum specializations in fields such as art, communications, or psychology. See below for a sampling of common liberal arts courses, but remember that BLA curricula vary by program.

• Composition

  Most college students, including BLA candidates, must complete college composition courses. Often called English 101 and 102, these classes cultivate core academic skills in reading, analysis, research, and writing. Participants study and practice various expositional writing, often including rhetorical analysis, comparative argument, and synthesis.

• Introduction to Psychology

  Often a BLA core requirement, introduction to psychology surveys fundamental psychology principles, fields, and research methodologies. Enrollees explore and evaluate key research topics, such as human development, emotion, psychopathology, and memory. This course proves foundational for BLA candidates pursuing psychology concentrations.

• Introduction to Computer Science

  Liberal arts degrees often require quantitative coursework in math or computer science. This introductory class familiarizes participants with programming, algorithms, data structures, and computer science-related problem-solving. Learners study resource management, software engineering, web development, and security.

Scholarships for Liberal Arts Students

Like other college students, liberal arts majors may qualify for scholarships. Scholarship recipients often demonstrate strong academics, financial need, interest in specified fields, and leadership potential. Some scholarships serve members of underrepresented groups. See below for three scholarships available to students pursuing a liberal arts degree online.