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IUP Liberal Studies Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions that are most frequently asked in the Liberal Studies office. If you need further information beyond what is offered here, then feel free to contact us.
- Why do I have to take Liberal Studies courses when all I want to be is a --------?
- Part of any
educational system is to provide opportunities for
students to gain breadth and depth. Breadth of
knowledge and skills is achieved through the Liberal
Studies Program. Depth of knowledge is attained
through specialization in a particular major. True
education and growth helps us to live together in
community where we can talk to each other about
local, national, and global issues. Well-educated
people have a breadth of vision and understanding
which enables them to enjoy full, rich, integrated
lives. The Liberal Studies part of your
undergraduate education is a freeing, liberating
experience which allows us to escape our biases and
narrow interests. We all wish to integrate the many
aspects of our lives into the whole individual.
Talk with people who have graduated from any university: they might well say, my major got me my first job, but it was my liberal studies courses which helped me keep that job and find another.
- How much of my graduation requirements are Liberal Studies courses?
- Comparison of
percentages with other universities indicate the
following: IUP has about the same percentage of
Liberal Studies requirements as other universities
in the State System of Higher Education in
Pennsylvania. Moreover, IUP has about the same
percentage of Liberal Studies requirements as other
Doctoral l institutions of similar size. About 45%
of your graduation requirements are Liberal Studies
courses.
- Do I take mainly Liberal Studies courses in my first two years?
- No, you will take
Liberal Studies courses throughout your four years
at IUP. The program has been deliberately structured
to extend the Liberal Studies Program throughout
four years of study. One of the aims of the Liberal
Studies Program is to foster lifelong learning.
- May I major in Liberal Studies?
- No, there is no major
program in Liberal Studies at IUP.
- Where do I find out about which courses are Liberal Studies courses?
- Check the undergraduate
catalog for a list of courses which are approved
as Liberal Studies courses. You may also check the Liberal
Studies requirements webpage.
- When it is time to register, how do I know which Liberal Studies courses are open?
- You must check the
listing of courses via computer using URSA
to find out which Liberal Studies courses (or any
other course) are open and are available to you. Do
not call the Liberal Studies Office.
- I want to add a Liberal Studies course which is closed. How do I do this?
- In most cases, you
would need to obtain permission from the chairperson
of the department that is offering that particular
Liberal Studies course. He/she may give you
permission to enroll in a closed section. If the
course you are interested in is LBST 499 Synthesis,
call the Liberal Studies Office.
- What does "science sequence" mean?
- For Option I of the
Natural and Physical Science section of the Liberal
Studies Program, students take two semesters of
lecture/lab of a science sequence. Science sequence
means that courses are paired by the same
discipline. For example, if you take Chemistry I
(lecture and lab), the other course in that science
sequence is Chemistry II (lecture and lab).
- Do I have to take one writing-intensive course in my major and one outside?
- You must complete at
least two writing-intensive courses. One of these
MUST be in your major. The other may be in your
major, outside your major, a free elective, or a
Liberal Studies course.
- Where's the best place to get advice about Liberal Studies requirements?
- See your major adviser first. If you have further questions, see the Director of Liberal Studies, 110 Gordon Hall, phone 357-5715.
Last Modified Friday February 08 2008