Liberal Studies

Paralegal Studies | Liberal Studies | Sociology / Criminal Justice   | Business Administration Minor

Karen Hodges, Ph.D., Liberal Studies Advisor

817-531-4928  khodges@txwes.edu  Office Location: AMB 329

Carl Smeller, Chair Humanities / Liberal Studies Advisor

817-531-4924  csmeller@txwes.edu  Office Location: PMC 249

Program description and goals:

Liberal Studies promotes understanding of several disciplinary perspectives, a greater appreciation of differences and similarities among disciplines, and the integration of diverse knowledge. This major is appropriate for students whose career and personal goals require no specific major. It is not recommended for students continuing toward a specialized advanced degree requiring a specific undergraduate major.   LS is particularly suited for those working professionals seeking to broaden their skills and enhance their promotability. 

Clusters

A Liberal Studies student will select one or two broad-based fields of inquiry (called clusters). If two clusters are selected, the student must take a minimum of 9 hours in each cluster. Thus, proportions of courses within two clusters could be as follows: 27 hours in one cluster and 9 hours in the second cluster or 24/12 or 21/15 or 18/18.

If only one cluster is chosen, courses from at least two disciplines must be represented.  Students do not have to take courses in all of the disciplines listed within a cluster.

Texas Wesleyan’s C. E. Hyde Weekend/Evening Program will not offer courses within all clusters. However, a student is permitted to transfer to Wesleyan hours acquired at another college or university and apply those hours, if appropriate, toward the LS major.  Traditional day classes and online offerings supplement the course choices. 

Cluster I

Fine Arts/Art/ Music/Theatre Arts*
Religion/Philosophy/Bible
History
English

Languages*

Cluster II

Counseling

Psychology
Paralegal Studies

Political Science
Sociology / Sociology with Criminal Justice Emphasis
Education*

Cluster III

Business (Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Fire Management, International Business, Management, Marketing, Management Information Systems)

Cluster IV

Mathematics
Science*
Computer Science*

REQUIRED RELATED COURSES:
PHI 2301 Logic, ENG 3300 Style & Structure

* Indicates disciplines in which few courses are planned within the Weekend Program.

The Liberal Studies degree prepares students for careers including but not limited to: Accountant, Advertising Executive, Consultant, Human Resource Worker, Marketing Representative, Sales Representative, Public Relations Worker, Writer, Teacher, Social Worker, Researcher, Government Worker, Manager of Cultural Organizations.

What skills are used?  Careers in Liberal Studies share similar characteristics.  Skills include the ability to distribute and communicate information, the ability to make judgments and decisions, the ability to understand and analyze difficult concepts, the ability to write and speak publicly with excellence.

Contact Dr. Karen Hodges or Dr. Carl Smeller for further Liberal Studies information.