College Catalog
Description and requirements Faculty Courses
Description:
Liberal Studies is an interdisciplinary program featuring courses that converge around 21st century problems and their implications for a sustainable future.
The curriculum is organized around critical contemporary topics such as: food, water, health, migration, transportation, and energy. Courses are team-taught by two or more faculty from across the social and natural sciences, humanities and the arts, with a focus on integrating local and global knowledge and skills. Using sustainability as one of the broad organizing principles around which curricular content is structured, students learn to identify intersections between local life and global forces, and to understand how contemporary problems are mediated by particular geographic, demographic and sociopolitical forces across local-global scales.
Students gain broad knowledge of key competencies required to succeed in life and work – with emphasis on how to manage complexity, diversity and change, and how to apply acquired knowledge in real-world settings. Core competencies that students develop include: interdisciplinary critical analysis, evidence-based reasoning (qualitative and quantitative), the ability to link local-global theory and practice, collaboration across differences, and ethical reasoning and action.
Requirements:
For students entering the program Fall 2021 and later:
- LBS 2017/Structured Inquiry Across the Disciplines (3 credits)
- Five upper-level core LBS courses (20 credits)
- LBS 3880/Junior Seminar (4 credits)
- *Prerequisite LBS3017/Structured Inquiry Across the Disciplines (Minimum grade of C-).
- CAP/4800 Senior Capstone (4 credits) will align with core course problem areas.
Total Credits: 31
* Structured Inquiry has changed from a 3000 level course to a 2000 level course and is changing from 4 to 3 credits. As of fall 2023, students entering the program will take Structured Inquiry at the 2000 level for 3 credits.
A minimum grade of C- is required for all classes applied towards major requirements.
Note: For students who were in the program prior to Fall 2021, please refer to the old requirements in the 2020-21 catalog.
Courses
Capstone
Liberal Studies
Official Catalog: Published September 22, 2023
Course Frequencies
Since actual course offerings vary from semester to semester, students should consult the myHeliotrope course schedule to determine whether a particular course is offered in a given semester.
Information Changes
In preparing the College Catalog, every effort is made to provide pertinent and accurate information. However, information contained in the catalog is subject to change, and Purchase College assumes no liability for catalog errors or omissions. Updates and new academic policies or programs will appear in the college’s information notices and will be noted in the online catalog.
It is the responsibility of each student to ascertain current information (particularly degree and major requirements) through frequent reference to current materials and consultation with the student’s faculty advisor, chair or director, and related offices (e.g., enrollment services, advising center).
Notwithstanding anything contained in the catalog, Purchase College expressly reserves the right, whenever it deems advisable, to change or modify its schedule of tuition and fees; withdraw, cancel, reschedule, or modify any course, program of study, degree, or any requirement or policy in connection with the foregoing; and to change or modify any academic or other policy.