by our College Data Analytics TeamFor the student who has a broad interest in many different areas, a major in Liberal Arts and General Studies may be for you.
This major will not put you on a specific career track; rather you will become skilled in many different areas such as reading, writing, research and critical thinking. You will build a broad education base and will learn skills that will become accessible in any career. Students may be able to choose a concentration where they can delve into a particular subject that interests them. Examples of this would include the humanities, natural sciences, or the social sciences.
Some courses you may take with this major include: biology, biological concepts, foreign language, English literature, environmental science, social and political movements, music history, mathematics, art, introduction to theater, fundamentals of economics, psychology, and religion.
Liberal Arts General Studies was the 1st most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 556,813 degrees in this year alone. This represents a small change of only -0.5% from the prior year's total of 559,661 liberal arts degrees awarded.
This year's Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools ranking compares 1114 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom liberal arts rankings further below.
This is a very interdisciplinary subject. You will be asked to be self-disciplined and work hard to accomplish all of your assignments. Not only will you be engaging in various subjects at the same time, but you will also make connections between different subjects. Curiosity and an open mind are critical as you will regularly delve into new content. By experiencing an abundance of courses you will determine what you enjoy and shape your focus.
It is also important that you are able to work with people. You will be asked to participate in class discussions and work with your peers for group projects. This will let you to gain different perspectives and will also sharpen your oral communication skills. Reading and writing skills will also be improved. You should be ready to do a lot of reading and write a lot of research papers and response journals.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most liberal arts degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic liberal arts general studies program qualifications, to serve in some liberal arts careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Liberal Arts degree levels vary. Liberal Arts General Studies programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest liberal arts degree you can get. The type of liberal arts degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
With a degree in Liberal Arts and General Studies your career opportunities will seem endless. You will learn many important skills while in school that can transfer to just about any career. One option is to go to graduate school to obtain a Master's in business, law or education. You can also go right into the work force and work in advertising, business, marketing, project management, journalism, or public relations.
The career opportunities are vast. Salary will depend greatly upon what career you choose and how much effort you are willing to put in as an undergrad developing your skills.
Want a job when you graduate with your liberal arts degree? Liberal Arts General Studies careers are expected to grow 9.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to liberal arts general studies.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Professors | 258,700 | 9.4% |
Recently graduated liberal arts general studies students earned an average of $28,357 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $4,992 to as high as $101,331. As you might expect, salaries for liberal arts graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for liberal arts general studies graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers liberal arts grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Professors | $76,990 |
With over 4,790 different liberal arts degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased liberal arts school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Liberal Arts General Studies that might interest you.
Maximize your transfer credits and complete your bachelor's degree faster with this flexible online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Liberal Arts General Studies is one of 0 different types of Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts | 366,996 |
| General Studies | 129,869 |
| Individualized Studies | 37,634 |
| Humanities | 22,314 |
