Program Description
The program offers students the opportunity to devise an approved, coherent program of study fulfilling both academic goals and career objectives. Since the program is student-designed, course selection will vary by student. There are also specific areas with suggested plans of study (such as Arts Management, Library and Information Sciences, and Pre-Law) prepared for areas of popular interest. The program combines educational opportunities with certificates and opportunities to provide you with career-ready essential skills. Students can choose between the 65-credit large plan and 45-credit small plan (requires second major or minor).
Likely Career Paths
Because they plan a career-focused degree path, Liberal Studies students can pursue the career they want, including: editor, researcher, entry-level management, social services, para-professional, librarian, policy analyst, minister, public relations personnel, urban planner, city manager, legislative assistant, training specialist, medical communications, archivist, museum manager, civil servant, journalist, hospitality administrator, non-profit leader, organizational director, operations manager, and more. The program can also serve as excellent preparation for graduate or law school.
Key Considerations
- Cost: University-wide costs (cwu.edu/financial-aid/cost-attendance)
- Location: Ellensburg, CWU-Des Moines, CWU-Lynnwood, CWU-Sammamish, Online
- Primary contact: 509-963-2893 | liberalstudies@cwu.edu | cwu.edu/liberal-studies
Course Planning
Program applicants must have completed 45 credit hours of study with a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and be in good academic standing for admission.
Because of the wide variety of courses that can count as electives in the program, most courses that are broadly in the liberal arts or that map to a student’s career goals are good choices in the first two years.
The Transfer Equivalency Site (TES) provides CWU equivalencies of courses at other colleges and universities.
Advising Notes
- Students transferring credits of one of the more vocationally-based (AA, AAS-T, AAA, AFA, AAAS, etc.) degree programs have each transcript individually evaluated to fit their academic goals and career objectives. Our goal is to remove as many obstacles as possible in their various pathways to a career in the shortest timeframe possible. Time to completion will vary on the number of core general education and overall courses that transfer with the student.
- Courses transferring in as well as those taken at CWU must have grades of C- or better, with no more than 15 credits coming from 100/200-level courses. Additionally, Liberal Studies majors must maintain a minimum 2.4 GPA in the major to graduate.
- The program welcomes 300/400-level transfer courses that support program goals and career objectives from accredited institutions nationwide.
- Any Washington state DTA (Direct Transfer Agreement) degree will satisfy all general education requirements.
- Major requirements may change over time; students will be expected to meet the catalog requirements in place at the time they are admitted to the major. Current catalog: https://catalog.acalog.cwu.edu/
Other Resources
Admissions: 509-963-1211 | admissions@cwu.edu | cwu.edu/admissions
Financial Aid: 509-963-1611 | FinancialAid@cwu.edu | cwu.edu/financial-aid
Transfer Center: 509-963-1390 | transfer@cwu.edu | cwu.edu/transfer
Veterans: 509-963-3028 | VA@cwu.edu | cwu.edu/veterans
International: +1-509-963-3612 | intladm@cwu.edu | cwu.edu/programs/international-student-admissions