Liberal Studies

The Liberal Studies program offers the student an opportunity to devise, in concert with the faculty adviser, a program of study matched to the student’s particular needs and interests. Beyond the graduation requirements, the student’s program may consist of either
(1) a concentrated area of study not already offered as a major or
(2) a broad spectrum of courses interdisciplinary in nature and also unique in nature and also unique in the curriculum.

The Liberal Studies Program was devised to meet the needs of two major types of students:
(1) those students on campus who desire to structure their own program of courses from among those available on our campus, with perhaps some course work from other colleges
(2) other students, many of whom are former Gracelanders who for one reason or another desire to graduate with a degree from Graceland by putting together a valid program of accredited course work, experiential learning, non-accredited study such as seminars, workshops, and individual studies. These latter students often are not able to return to campus for sustained course work, but may still be able to work out a program that will earn them a B.A. degree in Liberal Studies. The requirements for the B.A. degree in Liberal Studies are as follows:

1. 128 semester hours.
2. 39 upper division semester hours.
3. 2.00 grade point average in all work and 2.00 average in major. (Major courses are those listed as part of the approved concentration on the "Liberal Studies Proposed Program of Study" form.)
4. 18 semester hours of residence study; 9 of which must be taken after the student has reached senior standing.
5. General education: current Graceland requirements.
6. Successful completion of a program of study approved by the Liberal Studies Committee.
7. Three winter terms.

Programs presented for approval to the Liberal Studies Committee must be submitted one semester or summer session in advance of graduation. Application to this program may be obtained from the Special Programs Office.