Description of Liberal Studies Major

The OSU-Cascades Liberal Studies program allows students to select from a set of three pre-designed themes established by departments within the OSU-Cascades College of Liberal Arts (C-CLA). These themes, offered as focused areas of concentration utilizing Cascades faculty expertise, can be completed on-site by taking courses in Art, English, Political Science, Spanish, Speech Communication, and Women Studies.

In some cases, students working in close consultation with a Liberal Studies faculty advisor may choose to mix and match courses from any combination of all 13 departments in the OSU College of Liberal Arts (CLA) to design their own major organized around a theme. These themes may include both on-site Cascades Liberal Arts courses and Anthropology, Economics, Ethnic Studies, History, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology courses offered through OSU Distance Education.

Students in Liberal Studies (LS) receive a well-rounded education that prepares them for a variety of experiences and careers. Liberal Studies introduces students to diverse subject matter. In addition to this breadth of new knowledge, students will develop communication skills and the ability to think critically, a combination in demand everywhere in today's job market. The Cascades Liberal Studies program encourages students to seek opportunities beyond their degree requirements to further facilitate their ability to think critically and communicate competently in contexts outside the university. Cascades LS student's success in both academic and non-academic contexts is evidenced in recent Cascades LS majors being selected:

• for university-wide (Corvallis & Cascades campuses) writing awards,
• as the 2006 OSU-Cascades commencement speakers,
• to present their research at regional conferences in English and Communication, and
• as an intern, in Washington D.C., serving Oregon's Congressional District number 5.
  

Graduates of the OSU Liberal Studies program have careers in a many fields. They are attorneys, business entrepreneurs, writers, schoolteachers, actors, nurses, graphic designers, and administrators. They work in marketing, public relations, personnel, government, retail, radio/TV, publishing, computer hardware and software, business, and industry. A Liberal Studies program experience can also be a springboard for certain graduate degrees. For example, the Cascades Liberal Studies program is a terrific major for students interested in pursuing masters degrees in Communication, Literature or Political Science.

Cascades Liberal Studies Degree Requirements

• This plan of study and application essay must be approved by the OSU Director of Liberal Studies, Dr. Jeff Hale, Corvallis campus. Please review LS current on-site course offerings when scheduling classes for your plan of study. Students should submit their plan of study for approval--to their Cascades LS faculty advisor--no later than the end of their second term at OSU-Cascades.
  
• Current faculty advisors include Dr. Natalie Dollar, Dr. Neil Browne, & Dr. James Foster.
  
• All courses included in plan of study must be offered by a department within the OSU CLA.

2. Students must satisfy the University Baccalaureate Core, College of Liberal Arts Core Requirements, and LS major requirements.

NOTE: If you are interested in pursuing the Pre-Education Option within Liberal Studies, you will complete a revised version of the University Baccalaureate Core and the College of Liberal Arts Core Requirements. See the Pre-Education Option website for additional information.

3. Student must earn a 2.3 or better cumulative GPA in LS courses.

4. At least one Writing Intensive Course (WIC), offered by one of the CLA departments selected for your major theme, must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Liberal Studies Advising

Detailed advising information can be accessed by visiting the OSU-Cascades Liberal Studies Advising page. New students, including transfer students, begin their advising process by registering to attend a required new student orientation session at which time they will meet with a professional, peer, or faculty advisor. Once students complete the new student orientation they will work with a professional or peer advisor in completing their BACC Core and College of Liberal Arts requirements. Students meet with faculty advisors regarding their Liberal Studies major requirements. Faculty advising is limited to Cascades Advising Week.

Liberal Studies Faculty

Full-time On-Site Faculty

• Neil Browne, Assistant Professor, English - on leave, OSU Center for the Humanities fall 2007
  
• Natalie Dollar, Associate Professor, Speech Communication, Cascades Liberal Studies Lead
  
• James Foster, Professor, Political Science
• Henry Sayre, Distinguished Professor, Art History

Visiting Faculty

• Amy Leer, OSU Women Studies (Corvallis campus)
  • Fall 2007, WS 399: Witches, Midwives and Healers
    

• Dr. Patti Watkins, OSU Women Studies (Corvallis campus)

• Spring 2008, WS 499: Women, Weight, & Body Image