Liberal Arts
Advisor: Kate Sawaya
Office: 513 Allen Hall
The College of Arts and Sciences recognizes that students' interests may include more than one discipline and that some majors are not formally available at MSU. Students who prefer to specialize in more than one field of study may earn a B.A. degree in Liberal Arts (BALA). Through BALA, students can pursue a major that crosses two or more disciplines offered in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The BALA degree requires satisfactory completion of the following:
- University General Education and College Core curriculum;
- College of Arts & Sciences B.A. requirements;
- Satisfactory completion of the BALA major core;
- A total of 121 semester hours;
- A 200-word minimum exit essay
The BALA major core consists of IDS 2111, GLA 4001, and a program of study consisting of at least 36 upper-division hours in approved emphasis areas.
Each BALA program of study must consist of a broad, but coherent pattern of courses in 2-4 disciplines within the College of Arts and Sciences. These disciplines make up the emphasis areas within a student's program of study. Students may propose an individualized combination of emphasis areas, or they may select a preestablished concentration pathway that specifies the emphasis areas they must complete.
Each emphasis area must comprise at least 9 hours of upper-division coursework in that discipline, and a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in each area of emphasis.
Students seeking admission to the BALA major will be required to submit an application to be reviewed by the Liberal Arts committee. BALA applications must contain the following: completed BALA application form (see BALA advisor); student's proposed program of study; a 100-word entrance essay.
To ensure an orderly progression of work toward the degree, interested students should meet with the program’s advisor as early as possible.
Liberal Arts is not suitable for students who are uncertain about their choice of a major; these students should see the Undeclared listing in the Academic Affairs section.
Political Communication Concentration
The Political Communication Concentration combines coursework in Political Science and Communication and Media Studies. It prepares students for careers in campaigning, public address and public affairs, and any public-facing roles related to governmental agencies and policymaking. The Political Communication Concentration is particularly useful for students who want to pursue law school or professional careers in legislation, campaigning, lobbying, and community outreach.
Environmental Justice Concentration
Environmental Justice explores the causes and consequences of inequitable distributions of environmental benefits and hazards. It investigates the ethical, political, economic, legal, and sociological aspects of environmental issues, a s well as provides students with sufficient natural science background to understand and explain huma impacts on the natural world. Our course of study aims to give students an interdisciplinary perspective on the environmental harms meaningfully, effectively, and fairly. The Environmental Justice concentration is particularly useful for students pursuing careers in fields relating to sustainability, environmental planning, environmental law, and environmental policy.
International Studies Concentration
The International Studies concentration combines coursework in the social sciences, humanities, and foreign languages to give students a well-rounded understanding of how political, economic, and social changes around the world impact our lives. International Studies is an increasingly popular area of study for students interested in careers in business, national security, politics, and the non-profit sector. It equips students with extensive knowledge of international institutions, the history, cultures, and politics of different regions of the world, and training in languages spoken around the world.
Linguistics Concentration
Linguistics is the study of language, including the structure of sounds, words, and sentences, how our brains process it, how people learn it, and the roles it plays in our societies. Studying linguistics teaches students to analyze patterns in the language of their daily lives and can contribute to careers such as language teaching, editing and publishing, speech therapy, advertising, and more. Only grades of C or higher will be accepted for courses in the emphasis areas for the Linguistics concentration.
Gender Studies Concentration
This concentration emphasizes different approaches to understanding gender and sexuality from different disciplinary perspectives. Students take courses in communication studies, English, world literatures, psychology, sociology, and sports studies. Courses emphasize how gender and sexuality are social constructions subject to change and interpretation over time and across cultures, and how inequalities tied tot gender and sexuality are explained and addressed from different vantage points. This concentration also emphasizes empirical studies of gender as a form of identity, lived experience, and social inequality. Students draw upon course work in communication studies, criminology, history, political science, sociology, and social work. Courses emphasize the role of media, crime and the criminal justice system, historical constructions of gender, politics, and social problems and the responses to these problems in articulating how key social institutions and culture shape individual lives and societies.
General Education and College Requirements
| English Composition | ||
| EN 1103 | English Composition I | 3 |
| or EN 1104 | Expanded English Composition I | |
| EN 1113 | English Composition II | 3 |
| or EN 1173 | Accelerated Composition II | |
| Foreign Language | ||
| Foreign Language I | 3 | |
| Foreign Language II | 3 | |
| Foreign Language III | 3 | |
| Humanities | ||
| Literature - A&S core | 3 | |
| History - A&S core | 3 | |
| Philosophy - A&S core | 3 | |
| Humanities Electives 1 | 9 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| A&S core 2 | 3 | |
| Fine Arts | ||
| A&S core | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Physical Science w/Lab - A&S core | 3-4 | |
| Life Science w/Lab - A&S core 2 | 3-4 | |
| Natural Science Elective - A&S core | 3-4 | |
| Social Sciences | ||
| A&S core 2 | 6 | |
| Social Sciences Electives 3 | 12 | |
| Major Core | ||
| IDS 2111 | Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies | 1 |
| GLA 4001 | Senior Project | 1 |
| Emphasis Area Courses 4,5 | 36 | |
| Oral Communication 3 | ||
| CO 1003 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking 6 | 3 |
| or CO 1013 | Introduction to Communication | |
| Jr/Sr Writing | ||
| Consult advisor - may be specified in emphasis areas or concentrations | 3 | |
| General Electives | ||
| Consult advisor 7 | 5-11 | |
| Total Hours | 121 | |
Note: Students must complete 31 upper-division hours in A&S in residence at MSU.
- 1
Humanities electives must be courses in A&S and must cover two disciplines.
- 2
Concentrations may require specific courses; see concentration and consult advisor.
- 3
Social Science electives must be courses in A&S. The total 18 hours in Social Science must cover four disciplines; maximum of 6 hours per discipline; only one EC and one CO from A&S core list allowed
- 4
Concentrations require specific courses; see concentration and consult advisor. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in each area of emphasis.
- 6
Concentration may require CO 1003; consult advisor.
- 7
Concentrations may require other prerequisite coursework. Students should consult advisor and plan to take additional prerequisite courses as general electives.
- 5
Courses under concentrations may be substituted with a related course not listed with permission from the concentration sponsor.
Political Communication Concentration
| Mathematics | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Social Science | ||
| American Government | ||
| Introduction to Communication Theory | ||
| Oral Communication | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
| Jr/Sr Writing | ||
| Political Analysis | ||
| Emphasis Area - Communication | ||
| Choose 18 hours: | ||
| Principles of Public Relations | ||
| Public Relations Case Problems | ||
| Public Relations Multimedia | ||
| Interviewing in Communication | ||
| Communication and Leadership | ||
| Nonverbal Communication | ||
| Political Communication | ||
| Elements of Persuasion | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Mass Media Law | ||
| Emphasis Area - Political Science | ||
| Choose 18 hours: | ||
| Political Leadership | ||
| Gender and Politics | ||
| Constitutional Powers | ||
| Civil Liberties | ||
| Law and Politics | ||
| Legislative Process | ||
| Public Opinion | ||
| Political Behavior | ||
| Principles of Public Administration | ||
Environmental Justice Concentration
| Life Science w/ lab | ||
| Biology I | ||
| Social Science | ||
| American Government | ||
| Human Geography | ||
| Introduction to Public Policy | ||
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Jr/Sr Writing | ||
| Satisfied by BIO 3104 in Ecological Studies emphasis area | ||
| Emphasis Area - Justice Studies | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Environment and Society | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
Choose 9 hours from the following: | ||
| Social and Political Philosophy | ||
| World Environmental History | ||
| U.S. Environmental History | ||
| History of Gender and Science | ||
| Religions and Environment | ||
| Introduction to Ecolinguistics | ||
| International Economics | ||
| Public Finance | ||
| Political Ecology: Space, Nature, and Justice | ||
| Emphasis Area - Ecological Studies | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Conservation of Natural Resources | ||
Choose 12 hours from the following: | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Behavioral Ecology | ||
| Community Ecology | ||
| Living with Global Change | ||
| Primate Behavior | ||
| Biology and Culture | ||
| Environmental Chemistry I | ||
| Geography of North America | ||
or GR 4213 | Geography of Latin America | |
or GR 4223 | Geography of Europe | |
or GR 4233 | Geography of Asia | |
or GR 4243 | Geography of Russia and the Former Soviet Republics | |
or GR 4253 | Geography of Africa | |
or GR 4263 | Geography of the South | |
or GR 4283 | Geography of Islamic World | |
| Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Sustainable Communities | ||
| Applied Ecology | ||
| Natural Hazards and Processes | ||
| Community Engagement in Environmental Geosciences | ||
International Studies Concentration
| Literature | ||
| World Literature After 1600 | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Social Science | ||
| Introduction to World Geography | ||
| Introduction to International Relations | ||
| Comparative Government | ||
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
or EC 2123 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
| Additional Foreign Language | ||
Foreign Language IV | ||
| Jr/Sr Writing | ||
Satisfied by PS 4323 in Global Affairs emphasis area | ||
| Emphasis Area - Global Affairs | ||
| International Organization | ||
| International Conflict and Security | ||
Choose 12 hours from the following: | ||
| U.S. Foreign Policy | ||
| Politics of the Third World | ||
| Gender and Politics | ||
| International Terrorism | ||
| Democracy and Democratization | ||
| Ethnic Conflict | ||
| National Security Policy | ||
| Civil Wars and Intra-State Conflicts | ||
| Anthropology of International Development | ||
| Principles of International Law | ||
| Theories of International Relations | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| International Peacekeeping | ||
| The Global Context | ||
| Postcolonial Literature and Theory | ||
| The World Novel Since 1900 | ||
| English Literature and the World before 1800 | ||
| Emphasis Area - Area Studies | ||
Choose 9 hours from the following: | ||
| African Politics | ||
| Western European Politics | ||
PS 4583 | ||
| Latin American Politics | ||
| Geography of North America | ||
| Geography of Latin America | ||
| Geography of Europe | ||
| Geography of Asia | ||
| Geography of Russia and the Former Soviet Republics | ||
| Geography of Africa | ||
| Geography of Islamic World | ||
| Societies of the World | ||
| Anthropology of Latin America | ||
| Modern Africa | ||
| The African Diaspora | ||
AN 3153 | ||
| Islam | ||
| World Religions I | ||
| World Religions II | ||
| Hinduism & Buddhism | ||
| Anthropology of the Middle East | ||
| African Cultures | ||
| Rise of Civilization | ||
| Near Eastern Archaeology | ||
| Caribbean Geography | ||
| History of England | ||
| Modern Latin America | ||
| The United States and Latin America | ||
| Diplomatic History of the U.S. | ||
| History of Grand Strategy & International Security | ||
| Intelligence Gathering in the 20th Century | ||
| Terrorism in America | ||
| China Since 1800 | ||
| Japan Since 1600 | ||
| History of the Soviet Union | ||
| Europe, 1789-1914 | ||
| Europe: The First World War to Hitler | ||
| Europe: The Second World War to the Common Market | ||
| Tudor and Stuart England | ||
| History of Britain Since 1688 | ||
| War, Diplomacy, and Statecraft in Europe, 1648-1989 | ||
| History of Russia | ||
| History of Modern Germany | ||
| History of Modern France | ||
| Modern Mexico | ||
| The Far East | ||
| Emphasis Area - Language Studies | ||
Choose 9 hours | ||
In addition to completing the fourth level of a foreign language, students must complete 9 hours of upper division coursework in one target language or language area. | ||
Linguistics Concentration
| Additional Foreign Language | ||
Foreign Language IV | ||
| Jr/Sr Writing | ||
Satisfied by either EN/AN/SO/LIN 4623 or EN/AN/SO/LIN 4633 in required emphasis area | ||
| Up to 6 hours of humanities and 6 hours of social sciences may be satisfied with courses in the Linguistics concentration; 121 total degree hours will still be required | ||
| Required Emphasis Area | ||
| Introduction to Linguistics | ||
| Language and Culture | ||
| Language and Society | ||
LIN Upper Division Electives - 12 hours | ||
| Choose 2 of the following emphasis areas: | ||
| Emphasis Area - Cognitive Science | ||
Choose 9 hours from the following: | ||
| Philosophy of Cognitive Science | ||
| Psychology of Learning | ||
| Cognitive Psychology | ||
| Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Cognitive Science | ||
| Emphasis Area - Culture & Society | ||
Choose 9 hours from the following; | ||
| Anthropological Theory | ||
| Ethnographic Methods | ||
| Anthropology of International Development | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Culture and Psychology | ||
| Social Inequality | ||
| Society and the Individual | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Inequality | ||
| Gender, Race, and Social Movements | ||
| Emphasis Area - Language Studies | ||
In addition to completing the fourth level of a foreign language, students must complete 9 hours of upper division coursework in one target language or language area. | ||
Gender Studies Concentration
| Fine Art | ||
| Women in Music | ||
| Social Science | ||
| Introduction to Gender Studies | ||
| Jr/Sr Writing | ||
Satisfied by EN/SO/GS 4133 in Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality emphasis area | ||
| Emphasis Area - Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality | ||
| Feminist Theories | ||
Choose 15 hours from the following: | ||
| Gender and Media | ||
| Gender Issues in Counseling | ||
| Women and Literature: Selected Topics | ||
| Modern Spanish Women Writers | ||
| Psychology of Gender Differences | ||
| Sociology of Gender and Sexuality | ||
| Gender and Work | ||
| Gender and Sport | ||
| Emphasis Area - Gender in Society and Culture | ||
Choose 18 hours from the following: | ||
| Gender Communication | ||
| Gender, Crime, and Justice | ||
| History of African American Women | ||
| Women in American History | ||
| History of Southern Women | ||
| Issues in Women's History | ||
| History of Gender and Science | ||
| Gender and Politics | ||
| Gender and Food | ||
| Gender, Race, and Social Movements | ||
Courses
GLA 4000 Directed Individual Study in General Liberal Arts: 1-6 hours.
Hours and credit to be arranged
GLA 4001 Senior Project: 1 hour.
(Retricted to GLA majors or permission of the instructor) One hour lecture. Cohesive capstone course that draws together the diverse threads of the liberal arts. This course encourages analysis and criticism of social, ethical, and related issues that challenge the modern world
GLA 4990 Special Topics in GLA: 1-9 hours.
This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not coverd in existing courses