Liberal Arts & Sciences
The major requires students to take three disciplinary concentrations in the form of minors. The three disciplinary concentrations offer students curricular flexibility and an opportunity to explore a broad background emphasizing interdisciplinary thought and cross disciplinary action. In the case of an academic department in which a minor does not exist, a selection of 18 credit hours of coursework from that academic department can be substituted for a minor, in consultation with the associated Department Head or Chair. Students majoring in liberal arts and sciences will also complete a senior capstone component that will provide an opportunity to integrate their chosen three areas of knowledge in an academically robust independent study experience.
Students majoring in liberal arts and sciences (LAS) must choose a lead advisor from one of the three concentrations being pursued. Together with the assistance and approval of their lead advisor, LAS students will create a B.A. in LAS academic plan that lists the proposed coursework from each of the three selected academic concentrations. This should be done in coordination with the relevant academic departments. The vice president for academic affairs will give final approval to the proposed B.A. in LAS academic plan. A copy of the B.A. in LAS academic plan will be retained by both the main advisor and the vice president for academic affairs. The lead advisor will also be the instructor for PREP 499 for their LAS student.
A Student’s Liberal Arts & Sciences Major Story
Sally completed a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences with minors in Political Science, Leadership Studies, and Sustainability Studies. She was also a member of the service-learning team, Leadership Southwestern.
Sally started college with openness to activism, advocacy, and social justice. She explored a variety of opportunities to get a taste of what her passions might require of her in terms of foundation knowledge and leadership skills. She pursued leadership projects that promoted living in a more sustainable world. She studied abroad in Spain and Peru, which helped her broaden her worldview. She spent a semester in an internship with The Washington Experience and Sierra Club Legislative Office, which put her in the midst of policy discussions at the federal level.
Sally’s capstone course for her major required her to integrate her three areas of concentration, which were political science, leadership, and sustainability. She designed an active learning experience related to a bill addressing renewable tax energy credits, which was before the Kansas state legislature. She is gathered information, followed the bill’s path, she participated with a grass roots local organization protesting the latest pipeline construction through a lobbying effort at the nations’ capital, and helped build local awareness for citizens to contribute their voice.
