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Liberal Studies Outline


All university baccalaureate degree programs require the completion of 45 semester hours in Liberal Studies.

The Minnesota State University Moorhead Liberal Studies program is designed to provide a broad base of knowledge and cultural themes derived from the diversity and universality of human experience. Through this requirement, students gain exposure to basic thought and interpretation provided by various disciplines so as to enhance the quality of their participation in and understanding of the world around them. Liberal Studies courses involve more than an knowledge base alone by seeking integration and synthesis of knowledge and ideas. Courses which focus on the application of knowledge to career development should be reserved for the major, minor and/or elective programs. Finally, the Liberal Studies Program should provide a basis for lifelong learning.

Purposes of the Liberal Studies Program
MSUM’s Liberal Studies requirement seeks to introduce the perspectives, contributions, limitations, and inter-relationships that diverse disciplines bring to the world of ideas and knowledge. It seeks to instill the joy of learning through courses prepared for this purpose while seeking to achieve the following objectives.

Students should understand:

  1. their work, society and self in an objective and critical manner;

  2. the past, so as to more intelligently cope with the present and future;

  3. the scientific method;

  4. the development and diversity of American civilization and culture;

  5. cultures and geographic regions other than their own in an increasingly complex and interdependent global community; and (6) major intellectual, scientific and artistic contributions of Western and non-Western civilizations.

Students should develop:

  1. a positive attitude toward lifelong learning and various modes of inquiry;

  2. the ability to learn independently;

  3. the abilities needed to adapt to diverse situations and contribute as citizens of a changing society;

  4. a respect for the complexity of the natural and social worlds and an appreciation for their interdependence;

  5. a respect for the rights and values of others and for cultures different from their own; and

  6. a sense of aesthetic standards in judging creative works.

The Liberal Studies Division Requirements are:

Division A: English Composition and Literature–English 101 and 102-at least six credits required.

Division B: Natural Sciences and Their Processes–at least 6 credits required and must include one course designated B1 (natural sciences courses with an observational/experimental component). Designated courses are from astronomy, biology, chemistry, geoscience, and physics.

Division C: Behavioral and Social Sciences–at least 6 credits required. Designated courses are from anthropology, economics, geoscience, history, political science, psychology, and sociology.

Division D: Western Tradition: Humanities and Fine Arts–at least 6 credits required and must include one course designated D1 (those courses in western tradition that are substantially historical in perspective). Designated courses are from American studies, art, English, foreign language literature, humanities, music, philosophy, speech, and women's studies.

Division E: Communicative and Symbolic Processes–at least 6 credits required and must include one course designated E, (designated courses are from English and foreign languages, philosophy, and speech) and one course designated E1 (courses which are college-level mathematics).

Division F: Multicultural and Global Studies–at least 5 credits required and must include at least 2 credits in Division F (designated courses are from anthropology, art, foreign languages, economics, English, geography, humanities, liberal studies, music, philosophy, sociology and speech) and 2 credits in Division F1 (designated courses are from American studies, anthropology, economics, English, history, liberal studies, American multicultural studies, philosophy, sociology and speech).  No more than 2 courses may be applied in Division F.
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