Liberal Arts (Major - Option A, Option B, Option C)
Debra Minick Franklin, Ph.D.
Degrees offered
Campuses
The College of Arts, Sciences, and Business offers an Interdisciplinary Major to students in the College of Adult Undergraduate Studies and the Women's College. This Program of Study encourages the student to develop a broad understanding and appreciation of the main areas of human knowledge and values. Under the guidance of an academic advisor, the liberal arts student is encouraged to develop an integrated approach to the study of liberal arts.
Summary
Women's College and College of Adult Undergraduate Studies
Through the Liberal Arts Major, students select their courses to meet their interests and goals. For Option A, B and C discussed below, the Major consists of 12 courses, six of which must be at the 300- or 400-level. The courses in the interdisciplinary Major are exclusive of the General Education Requirements for the degree. The 12 courses required for the Major must be completed with a grade of C or higher. A student with transfer credits must also meet the above requirements. All students, including transfer students, must complete least eight total courses in the Liberal Arts major at Notre Dame.
Programs of Study
Option A
The student selects a primary track of seven courses (four of which must be upper-division) and a supporting track of five courses (including two upper-division courses). Students must complete at least two courses in each track at Notre Dame. The student is strongly advised to select the primary and supporting track prior to completion of 60 credits. Students in the Women's College may select from the following tracks:
Art | Economics | Philosophy |
Biology | Education | Physics |
Business | English | Political Science |
Chemistry | History | Psychology |
Classics | Mathematics | Sociology/Criminology |
Computer Studies | Modern Languages | Religious Studies |
Communication Arts/Digital Media Arts |
Music |
Students in the College of Adult Undergraduate Studies may select from among the following tracks:
Art (supporting track only) | Education | Sociology/Criminology |
Business | English | Religious Studies |
Computer Studies | History |
Courses Required for Option A (Credits):
Art
ART-120 Art of Europe and the Near East or
ART-121 Art of Europe & the United States (3)
Any one of the following:
ART-101 Drawing I (3)
ART-102 Color and Design (3)
ART-103 Three Dimensional Design (3)
ART-109 Basic Photography (3)
ART-142 Painting I (3)
Biology
BIO-111 Fundamentals of Biology (4)
Either BIO-307 Ecology or BIO-311 Evolution (4)
Business
One course in economics.
Chemistry
Primary Track
CHM-110 and 111 General Chemistry I and II (8)
CHM-210 and 211 Organic Chemistry I and II (8)
CHM-303 Analytical Chemistry (4)
CHM-350 Chemical Literature (1)
One of the following
CHM-301 Physical Chemistry I (4)
CHM-305 Instrumental Analysis (4)
CHM-425 Biochemistry I (4)
Classics
Primary track
1 course in Latin or Greek, above the 103 level (3)
6 courses selected with the approval of the liberal arts advisor
Supporting track
1 course in Latin or Greek, any level (3)
4 courses selected with the approval of the liberal arts advisor
Communication Arts/Digital Media Arts
There are no required courses; confer with your advisor.
Computer Studies
CST-171 Programming Concepts (3)
Economics
ECO-211 Introduction to Macroeconomics (3)
ECO-212 Introduction to Microeconomics (3)
Education
Consult with liberal arts advisor for a list of required courses.
English
There are no required courses; confer with your advisor.
History
There are no required courses; confer with your advisor. (GEO-206 does not count as a history course.)
Mathematics
MAT-212 Calculus II (4)
Modern Foreign Languages
Choice of:
LFR-233 French for Oral Proficiency (3)
LFR-234 French for Written Proficiency (3)
One French culture or literature course (3)
Or
LSP-233 Spanish for Oral Proficiency (3)
LSP-234 Spanish for Written Proficiency (3)
One Spanish culture or literature course (3)
Music*
Choose two required courses
MUS-106 Music and Culture: Timeless Threads or
MUS-107 Music and Culture: Lasting Legacies (3)
MUS-148 Theoretical Studies I: Fundamentals (3)
Additional courses selected from the music minor curriculum.
Applied music courses do not count toward the required number of courses.
*Requires written permission from the Department
Philosophy
Choose one from the following:
PHL-302 Philosophy of Human Nature
PHL-305 Philosophy of Religion (3)
PHL-321 Epistemology (3)
PHL-374 Metaphysics (3)
Choose one from the following:
PHL-303 Ancient Philosophy (3)
PHL-304 Medieval Philosophy (3)
PHL-307 History of Modern Philosophy (3)
PHL-309 History of Contemporary Philosophy (3)
Must include ethics course if not taken as a general education values course.
Physics
PHY-101 General Physics I (4)
PHY-102 General Physics II (4)
Political Science
POL-101 Introduction to Political Science (3)
Psychology
PSY-210 Research Methods I (for first concentration only) (4)
Only courses with a PSY designation are acceptable. PSY-105, PSY-461 and PSY-462 do not count toward this concentration.
Sociology/Criminology
Primary Track
SOC-101 Introduction to Sociology or CRM-101 Introduction to Criminology (3)
SOC-209 Race, Class, and Gender (3)
PSY-210 Research Methods I (4)
SOC-350 Sociological Theory or CRM 303 Theories of Crime and Deviance (3)
Two additional courses in SOC or CRM at the 300 level (6)
One course in SOC or CRM at the 400 level (3)
Supporting track
SOC-101 Introduction to Sociology or CRM-101 Introduction to Criminology (3)
SOC-209 Race, Class, and Gender (3)
PSY-210 Research Methods I (4)
SOC-350 Sociological Theory or CR- 303 Theories of Crime and Deviance (3)
One course in SOC or CRM at the 400 level (3)
Religious Studies
RST-201 Introduction to Biblical Studies (3)
RST-315 Old Testament or RST-317 New Testament (3)
One systematic theology course (3)
One practical theology or religion and culture course (3)
One religious ethics course (3)
Students with a primary track in Religious Studies will be expected to participate in the Religious Studies Capstone Experience, which includes a portfolio preparation workshop and compilation of a portfolio, an interview with department faculty, and a presentation to department faculty, current religious studies students and alumnae. Students with a supporting track will be invited to participate in the Capstone Experience and required only to attend the presentations.
Option B
This option is open to any student but should be chosen by students who plan to continue to the Master of Arts in Teaching.
Two courses (of student's choice) from each of the following: English; Science; Mathematics; Art or Music; History or Social Sciences; plus two elective courses in liberal arts and EDU-402. Six of these 12 courses must be at the 300/400 level.
Option C
The student selects a primary area of emphasis of seven courses (four of which must be at the 300- or 400-level) and a supporting area of emphasis of five courses (including two courses at the 300- or 400-level). Students must complete at least two courses in each area of emphasis at Notre Dame. The student is strongly advised to select the primary and supporting areas of emphasis prior to completion of 60 credits.
Areas of Emphasis
- Natural Sciences and Mathematics: includes courses in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Studies, Mathematics, Physics
- Social Sciences: includes courses in Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Criminology
- Arts and Humanities: includes courses in Art, Classical and Modern Foreign Languages, English, History, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies
- Professional Studies: includes courses in Business, Nonprofit Management, Communication Arts, Digital Media Arts, Education