Major in Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts

Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts
Clark Building, Room C 124
(970) 491-5421
cla_ilamajor@Mail.colostate.edu
libartsmajor.colostate.edu

Kevin Foskin, Director

The Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts major is a multipurpose, broad-based B.A. degree program specializing in analytical problem-solving, human and cultural knowledge, innovative thinking, and personal reflection. Our curriculum emphasizes broad intellectual understanding, informed cultural awareness, and spacious interdisciplinary perspective, resulting in a unique and personal academic experience. Students design their own individualized program of study, self-selecting courses from the humanities, social sciences, and the visual-performing arts. Equally, students will accrue career enhancing communication and problem-solving skills essential for success in hundreds of careers awaiting them after graduation. The Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts B.A. degree is purposefully designed to be flexible, adaptive, expansive, and responsive to the changing and evolving academic interests and intellectual needs of our students. It is a major ideally suited for the ever-changing and rapidly-evolving 21st century workplace, preparing students for both existing careers and those not yet imagined. As students change and evolve, so does this major.

To further increase depth and focus, and to enhance expertise and career opportunities, Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts students are required to complete a second field of study, which can be any minor, or a second major, or 21 credits (6 upper division) in a foreign language.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

1. Think analytically and follow lines of thinking in both fact-based argumentation and problem-solving.
2. Know and utilize multiple ways of seeing for the purpose of productively living and affecting positive change in the world.
3. Write and speak clearly and persuasively in both traditional and emerging (digital) platforms.
4. Summarize and communicate information in a variety of traditional and emerging information sharing formats.
5. Practice humility, tolerance, and self-criticism and use each to further the fostering of free and flourishing communities and environments, both locally and globally.
6. Understand how to work successfully and collaboratively with a variety of disciplinary perspectives and expertise, and to use this integrative ability to get things done.
7. Empathize with others and act responsibly and collaboratively in ongoing efforts to ensure a better social, political, cultural, and environmental world.
8. Master cultural understanding and sensitivity in the context of informed citizenry, premised on responsible social, democratic, and environmental stewardship locally, nationally, and internationally.

Accelerated Program

The major in Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts includes an accelerated program option for students to graduate on a faster schedule. Accelerated Programs typically include 15-16 credits each fall and spring semester for three years, plus 6-9 credits over two to three summer sessions. Students who enter CSU with prior credit (AP, IB, transfer, etc.) may use applicable courses to further accelerate their graduation. Visit the Office of the Provost website for additional information about Accelerated Programs.

Potential Occupations

Graduates in Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts apply their education in a wide variety of careers--existing and forthcoming--and/or academic professions, including public policy, politics, healthcare, artistic production, mass media, engineering, law, city planning, business, information systems, international business, journalism, publishing, education, sales and marketing, management and administration, government, communications, museum work, entertainment, foreign service, and many others. Many also continue on to graduate or professional schools for more specialized study. To enhance their career, academic or professional opportunities, the Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts majors can take advantage of the widest variety of internships, professional practicums, and/or study abroad opportunities of any undergraduate degree on campus. 

Change of Major

To change your major, you can either call the College of Liberal Arts Academic Advising Center at 970-491-3117, or send an email to cla_advising@colostate.edu. More information is available on the College of Liberal Arts Academic Advising Center website.

 Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:

Second Field Requirement

Students in the Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts major must complete one of the following choices:

• A minor
• An interdisciplinary minor
• A second major
• 21 credits in a single language to include at least 6 upper-division (300- to 400-level) credits. At least 6 upper-division credits in this choice must be completed at CSU. (Completion of this choice is not transcripted.)