Liberal Studies Program  

The Liberal Studies Program prepares you to live a responsible, productive life in a dramatically changing world.

In this program, you will:

• deepen your understanding of the natural environment
• learn to appreciate the diversity of other cultures
• explore the traditions and events that have created the dynamics and tensions of the world
• learn to practice ethical and responsible living
• acquire a broad range of knowledge and develop skills for professional success and life after graduation

More specifically, the program enables you to develop skills in:

• critical thinking
• effective writing
• persuasive oral communication
• scientific inquiry
• quantitative reasoning

Degree requirements 

All students seeking their first baccalaureate degree from Northern Arizona University must take thirty-five credit units of liberal studies.

You will take courses to satisfy both the Foundation and Distribution requirements. Make sure to choose classes from the approved list of liberal studies courses with the help of an academic adviser.

Foundation requirements (7 units) 

• 4 credits of English
• 3 credits of math

Distribution requirements (28 units) 

• 7 credits of Science and Applied Science, to include at least one lab science
• 6 credits of Social and Political Worlds (SPW)
• 6 credits of Aesthetic and Humanistic Inquiry (AHI)
• 6 credits of Cultural Understanding (CU)
• 3 additional credits of any liberal studies distribution course