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See how CSU’s online liberal arts degree helps you develop a broad set of communication and analytical skills that will benefit you professionally and personally.
The world is a diverse and complex place, so it's important to understand people, cultures, events, and concepts from multiple perspectives. CSU's online liberal arts degree gives you the broad foundation to explore a variety of conceptual frameworks with interdisciplinary coursework in communications, economics, political science, sociology, and the humanities.
Versatility is a major asset in the modern workplace, and this program equips you with knowledge and tools to fill a wide range of multidimensional job roles across numerous industries. Gain the credentials you need to move forward in your career as you hone your abilities in:
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), many employers rank “soft skills” like communication, writing, and critical thinking (three skills you learn in a liberal arts program) above technical skills.
Employers understand that it’s easier to teach someone new technical skills if they already have a solid foundation in communication, collaborative group work, and critical thinking. On the other hand, it can be more challenging to work with a tech savvy person who lacks fundamental soft skills.
Creativity, versatility, and a well-rounded knowledge base make motivated liberal arts majors highly employable. Depending on the specific courses and minor you choose, there are many potential career avenues you can take, including:
Learn more about putting your liberal arts degree to work.
CSU is the first institution in Colorado to offer an online liberal arts bachelor's degree. Online programs broaden your opportunities to get a quality education that is flexible enough to fit into your life — no matter where you live, what your schedule is, or where you are in your life and career.
This flexible program allows you to select courses that best suit your interests and career objectives. You can pursue an educational experience that is driven by your interests in the subjects you most enjoy. In addition to foundational coursework, a minor is required for completion of the program.
You can choose from nine minors, including:
A liberal arts degree will not only increase your employment marketability, it will advance and refine your competencies for new employment responsibilities. Graduates from this liberal arts degree program apply their education in a wide variety of careers, including public policy, mass media, law, city planning, business, information systems, journalism, publishing, education, sales and marketing, government, communications, museum work, and entertainment.
The College of Liberal Arts prides itself in educating students for life. Designed to enhance personal and professional growth, this undergraduate degree completion program supports a life of intellectual exploration, integrated learning, and personal development. You gain knowledge and intellectual and interpersonal skills that provide a basis for career advancement in virtually every career in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.
With a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts, you gain the foundational background in a variety of disciplines necessary to pursue graduate study in many specialized fields.
Additionally, degree minors provide a unique opportunity to focus your career goals on a specific area of interest.
Hear about our students' experiences, and see how CSU's flexible online liberal arts program allowed them to achieve their academic goals.
See why Brad felt like his life had been "on hold" until he chose to finish his degree online at CSU.
Carolyn returned to school after nearly three decades; hear her tell the story of her journey to graduation.
Yes, previous coursework is required. This program is designed for students who have completed at least 40 transferable credit hours at the community college level or if you have completed an A.A. or A.S. degree. Your transcripts from all the colleges you attended will be evaluated to determine your academic status and transfer credits in relation to satisfying degree program requirements.
The time it will take you to complete the degree will depend on how many transfer credits you have earned and how many credits you choose to take each semester.
The amount of time you will spend weekly will depend on the amount of coursework you commit to each semester as well as your learning and studying style. Although this degree offers flexibility, it still requires the same amount of work and time as an on-campus program. It is recommended to spend nine to twelve hours per week on a three credit course.
Absolutely. Class sizes average 25 students which gives you more attention from each faculty member. Your interactions with your classmates and faculty depend on the specific course, but online courses do provide you with the means to communicate and discuss on and offline. You will also collaborate on projects and exchange ideas with fellow classmates through email and discussion board postings.
Colorado State University's liberal arts coursework is applicable to virtually every career in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. This degree program features interdisciplinary studies in a variety of topics of your choosing opening opportunities to gain knowledge in a variety of careers and industries.
As a student in CSU’s online interdisciplinary liberal arts bachelor’s program, you receive the same education, learn from the same faculty, and earn the same regionally accredited degree as students on campus. Additionally, you can expect:
Learn more about CSU's rankings and accolades.
A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this degree. This includes:
The number of courses needed for completion of the program depends on:
This online Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts brings together courses in the humanities, the arts, social sciences, and languages and literature. Such a broad curriculum helps you develop personally while you build core professional skills and improve your understanding of the complex world in which we live.
Courses can be taken in any order as long as prerequisites are met. Prerequisite courses do apply to the total credits required to complete the program, though some prerequisites may not be offered through Colorado State University Online and may require consent of the instructor prior to registration.
The curriculum listed below is intended to inform prospective students about the overall theme of the program and should not be used as an example program of study. Students need to consult their advisor to develop a degree completion plan based on the credits transferred into this program. You have the option to use the TransferologyTM website to conduct a self-review of your potential transfer courses. This tool will assist you in seeing how your previous college coursework may transfer to CSU.
You must have senior status to enroll in Capstone, and we highly encourage you to take this course during the term you intend to graduate.
Choose upper-division (300 and 400-level) courses from at least 2 of the liberal arts disciplines (cannot double count credits from minor). (ANTH, ART, CO, D, E, ECON, ETST, GR, HIST, JTC, LSPA, LB, PHIL, POLS, PSY (only 6 credits allowed from PSY), SOC, SPCM, TH.)
Choose, in consultation with your advisor from any liberal arts disciplines (cannot double count credits from AUCC I, II, or III).
Must choose an approved minor.
Select at least one class (3 credits) from the following: ECON 306, POLS 302, POLS 420, SOC 311, SPCM 341, ANTH 400, or SPCM 350.
Depth & Integration courses are courses that the department has deemed to build upon the foundations of knowledge and intellectual perspectives of AUCC Category 3 in an integrative and complementary way.
Without a strict timeline or schedule of completing the curriculum, you can get the degree you want, the courses you want, all in a time frame that fits your schedule.
While this degree offers flexibility, it still requires a commitment of time and attention. It is recommended that you plan to spend nine to twelve hours per week on a three-credit course, though the time required will vary depending on your learning style. You should expect to be challenged by the analytical and communication requirements of this program, so you gain the skills that make this degree so valuable to your current and future employers.
This program strives to be interactive and requires you to be an active participant in class. The format and extent of your interactions with faculty and fellow students depend on the course, but each course generally has online or telephone office hours, email contact, discussions, and weekly assignments. With an average class size of just 25 students, you receive personalized attention from experienced university faculty.
This self-paced online program allows you to earn your degree while maintaining your busy work and family schedules. Is online learning right for you?
Grow your knowledge and focus on a topic that interests you. A degree minor can help you discover new passions and talents, and further specialize your education so you become more marketable to employers. Relevant courses often apply to both major and minor requirements, so a minor can be added without greatly changing your degree plan.
Courses already taken can apply to a minor regardless of when the minor is added to your student record. All minor requirements must be completed prior to graduation.
Build knowledge of production management, financial management, marketing management, international development, and trade through an agricultural lens. To earn the minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
Get a cross-cultural view of humanity and the broadly conceived dimensions of human behavior. You have the option to focus your anthropology studies on one or more sub-disciplinary divisions, including physical anthropology, archaeology, ethnology, or applied anthropology. To earn the minor, you must complete 22 credits from the following courses:
Required Courses:
Select 3 courses (9 credits) from the following not previously taken:
Total credits: 21
Add to your knowledge base and feel confident working with fields like computer programming, software development, cyber security, and more.
Program Total Credits: 24
Please note: Additional Math courses may be required depending on the 300/400 level courses that students choose.
Explore creative writing in one or more of the following genres: poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. In addition to broadening your writing repertoire, gain workshop experience at an advanced level. To earn this minor, you must complete a minimum of 21 credits in courses with E or CO subject codes, with at least 15 upper-division credits.
The Minor in Design Thinking provides students with an opportunity to develop creative methods and processes for solving societal problems. This human-centered approach engages users and stakeholders in interdisciplinary co-design processes and applies elementary or emerging technologies to develop prototypes that improve spaces, objects, services, problems and ideas benefitting daily experiences and overall quality of life. Students will gain an awareness of the impact of design thinking and its application – to their major, discipline, or profession. Nancy Richardson Design Center course offerings are available in a mix of online, hybrid, or face-to-face. For a full list of learning opportunities offered by the RDC, please visit the courses page.
To earn the minor in Design Thinking online, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
Note: Some online courses are still in development.
Gain insight into current socioeconomic problems in the areas of resource allocation, inflation, unemployment, income distribution, environmental degradation, international trade, and monopoly power. This minor prepares you for careers in business management, teaching, government, banking, and public policy. To earn the minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
Prepare for a variety of careers in gerontology and develop an understanding of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of adult development and aging. This interdisciplinary minor prepares you to fill the need for well-trained professionals to support aging adults, and can be paired with any CSU major.
Prepare to meet today's pressing environmental challenges with this interdisciplinary minor offered by The School of Global Environmental Sustainability (SoGES). Explore innovative research to understand how to solve problems that arise between humans and the environment. To earn your minor, you must complete 21 credits (12 upper-division credits) from the following courses:
At least 3 credits must be upper-division (300-400 level). Courses may not satisfy two groups.
Upper-Division Elective – select 3 upper-division credits from categories A-D with a subject code not previously taken (3 cr.)
Expand the breadth of your knowledge by earning an undergraduate minor in history. Choose from a range of courses based on your interests. This minor may be particularly useful for students who plan to pursue careers in education, public service, government, museums and archives, law, and other professions that require skills in research, writing, and the analysis of information. To earn the history minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses. (Note: You must complete at least 12 upper-division credits and 9 lower-division credits).
Growing and managing plants requires you to understand the science and the business of cultivation, and this online bachelor's degree minor emphasizes both. To earn the horticulture minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses.
The Human Development and Family Studies minor provides students across all majors with an opportunity to select course work relevant to their career goals. Students will learn about human development at various stages of the lifespan, within the context of diverse families and social identities. This minor offers students the opportunity to expand their thinking about how relationships, family, culture, biological make-up, and environmental factors influence outcomes related to thinking skills, physical health, and social-emotional well-being across the life cycle. Students will gain an awareness of how to optimize their own and other's development in their careers and personal lives. The HDFS department is committed to promoting the success and well-being of students from heterogeneous backgrounds and experiences.
Students must satisfactorily complete the total credits required for the minor. Minors and interdisciplinary minors require 12 or more upper-division (300- & 400-level) credits. Additional courses may be required due to prerequisites.
Courses from this list may not double-count for the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Minor.
A minimum grade of C (2.000) is required in each course used to satisfy the requirements of the Minor in Human Development and Family Studies. Courses used as substitutions also require a minimum grade of C (2.000).
Select a minimum of 18 credits from the following (a minimum of 12 credits must be 300-level or higher)
Six credits of the following may count:
Six credits of the following may count:
Develop an understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and peoples with courses in international and global history, politics, languages and cultures, economics, and environmental issues. To earn this minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
One course from each category, 12 credits total with at least 9 credits in upper-division (300-400) coursework.
This interdisciplinary minor is sponsored by departments in different colleges across CSU: Computer Information Systems, Computer Science, English and Journalism and Media Communication. The program is designed for students seeking a broad foundation in information technology, but not seeking to major in a specific information technology-related field. The program requires 21 credits and is open to students majoring in any field other than computer science, computer information systems, and electrical and computer engineering.
Select any 18 credits from the following
Program Total Credits: 21
Note: Nine credits must be from upper-division courses. A minimum of six credits must be completed from at least two subject codes.
Upon completion of this program, students will develop a strong understanding of the principles and practices of journalism. Students will demonstrate fluency in the legal and ethical considerations of journalism and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to real-world developments around newsgathering and dissemination.
To earn the minor in Journalistic Reporting and Storytelling online, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
Select one course from the following:
Select one course from the following:
Select one course from the following:
Please note: Additional Math courses may be required depending on the 300/400 level courses that students choose
Understand the role and influence of mass media in American society and other cultures by studying media and film history, criticism, law, ethics, social effects, cultural consequences, and multicultural and international media issues. To earn the minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
Gain a foundation in political theory and prepare for careers in law, teaching in the social sciences, journalism, and public service. To earn the minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
The minor in Science Communication is designed to educate highly qualified communicators who have interests in specialized academic disciplines and career fields. Because science often involves complicated research and processes, communicating the results of that work requires special skills. This program is designed to prepare students for a wide range of niche career opportunities in media, corporate communication, science-related industries, and scientific environments.
Develop technical skills and knowledge to study human societies. To earn this minor, complete 21 credits from the following courses:
Please connect with your assigned advisor to request to add a minor. Note that you must apply and be admitted to the University for a bachelor's degree program before you can add a minor to your student record. Once you are admitted, one or more minors may be added to your student record.
Students enrolled in this certificate will be introduced to the major implications of climate change on people and earth systems with the purpose of building a person’s climate change literacy, empowering them to reduce impacts of climate change, and giving students awareness of climate change mitigation/adaptation strategies to bring to their workplaces. Students will learn:
1. What is climate change, why is it now a serious problem, and what can we do about it?
2. What are the key issues for understanding how groups of people respond to and are affected by climate change?
3. What are the key responses and feedbacks of earth systems to climate change?
4. What adaptation, mitigation solutions or business strategies might be employed in real-world systems?
The certificate is being taught across 3 colleges/5 departments and is open to all students across campus, in-person and online.
Total Credits: 12
Open to all undergraduate students, the Certificate in Design Thinking will improve not only the way students learn and find solutions to problems in their current coursework, but will also help make students more employable with sought-after marketable skills. Students will gain an awareness of the impact of design thinking and its application – regardless of discipline, profession, or major. Nancy Richardson Design Center course offerings are available in a mix of online, hybrid, or face-to-face. For a full list of learning opportunities offered by the RDC, please visit the courses page.
To earn the certificate in Design Thinking online, you must complete 12 credits from the following courses:
Note: Some online courses are still in development.
The undergraduate certificate in Disability and Neurodiversity provides an interdisciplinary understanding of individuals across the lifespan with disabilities and is relevant to majors and careers in health, education, rehabilitation, and human service professions. Students will explore how disabilities interact with health, life outcomes, family, society, stigma, and the physical environment, and intersect with identities such as race and gender. This certificate consists of basic coursework as well as experiential learning through research or field experiences.
Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites. Some elective courses are restricted to majors, minors, or honors students. Other related courses may be substituted upon approval of the certificate advisor. A maximum of 6 credits may double-count with the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Minor, the Certificate in Youth Mentoring, and the Minor in Human Development and Family Studies.
The undergraduate Certificate in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will equip students with in-depth knowledge of principles of integrated management of pest insects, weeds, and diseases associated with managed and natural landscapes. The students will learn about principles underlying integrated pest management, become familiar with key pests, and learn how to apply IPM in managed landscapes with a goal of minimizing environmental and economic impacts of pest control. This certificate is an excellent choice for students interested in entering the workforce immediately after graduation, as well as professionals that require certification in IPM. The certificate will prepare the students for careers in crop protection, pest management education and policy, among others.
The Certificate in Macroeconomics will educate students in the key ideas, tools, and policies of macroeconomics. Major ideas include the causes and consequences of economic growth, unemployment, inflation, and the changing distribution of income, both in the U.S. and internationally. Students will develop both theoretical and analytical skills that are highly valued by employers.
Required Courses
Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following:
Program Total Credits: 9
For students interested in working in animal science, veterinary medicine, or related fields, this certificate program teaches intermediate-level Spanish for use in agricultural and animal care settings. Learn to communicate in Spanish about livestock, equine, and small animal breeds, give directions for animal care and handling, issue instructions for safety and drug administration, and more.
Courses
Prepare for a career as a seed analyst with online courses in seed technology. These courses, led by Colorado State University and supported by three other major universities (Iowa State University, Virginia Tech, and the University of Kentucky) and the Crop Science Society of America, offer a comprehensive overview of seed analysis, a technical skill requiring patience, attention to detail, and a scientific understanding of seed biology. After completion, you will be prepared to complete the examinations to become a Registered Seed Technologist.
Courses
Note: Additional study and testing is required to become a Certified Seed Analyst or Registered Seed Technologist.
Fall semester | June 1 |
Spring semester | November 1 |
Summer semester | May 1 |
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Refer to admissions.colostate.edu/apply/ for details about who we look for in our individual review process
Call or email our student success team to find out if the program is a good fit for your goals. Our coaches are available Monday-Friday to help you find the right program and navigate the application process.
Student Success Coach: Kristina Reda
Phone: (970) 491-1813
Email: Kristina Reda
Complete Colorado State University's online undergraduate application and pay any associated nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online) or waiver (if eligible).
Online applications must be submitted before 5 p.m. (Mountain Time) on the deadline date. If you miss the application deadline, you may still register for courses to begin your program of study as a non-degree student. Students seeking Federal financial aid must be admitted prior to enrolling.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Use FAFSA code 001350. Additional financial aid information is also available.
View your application status at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or to check on updates.
Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis and may take up to six weeks during high volume application periods.