Bachelor of Liberal Studies

Bachelor of Liberal Studies

The Bachelor of Liberal Studies program is designed to provide a degree that educates students in theory and applications associated with a variety of disciplines. The core disciplines are chosen from most of those in the Anderson University catalog.

Students, with the aid of an academic advisor, can design a program of study that best fits their personal and professional goals. The curriculum has two options. One is a degree completion option for those with an associate's degree. The other is for those without a degree.

Why Liberal Studies?

A liberal studies degree prepares students for a wide variety of careers in areas to include social service, government, business, management, public relations, private and non-profit sectors. The BLS degree also provides an excellent opportunity to take prerequisite courses in preparation for pursuing a graduate degree.

Coursework Details

The degree completion option for BLS requires the following: Completion of approved associate's degree (a maximum of 64 semester hours transferred from an institution that awards only the associate's degree); a minimum of 56 semester hours from a senior college or university; a minimum of 45 semester hours of upper division courses; a minimum of 36 semester hours from Anderson University; a minimum of 36 semester hours of general education courses to include statistics, literature, humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, communication, natural science, and Christian Studies.

The option for those without an associate's degree or higher requires the following:

The Bachelor of Criminal Justice program consists of 123 credit hours structured in a convenient eight-week format for working adults. Skilled and experienced professors with real-world expertise instruct the courses and will work directly with you to expand your knowledge and improve your skills.

General Education (36 semester hours) - courses in communications, literature, statistics, humanities, fine arts, social and behavioral sciences, natural science, and Christian Studies. These are viewed as being the liberal arts component of a degree and are foundational to upper division courses.

Core Courses (12 semester hours) - courses in computer information systems, business communications, a course to introduce research-based writing and to assist students in the capstone course.

Liberal Studies Emphasis (36 Semester Hours) – 300-level and above courses that are selected with the assistance of an academic advisor. The 36 semester hours must be distributed according to prescribed options listed in the university catalog and approved by the faculty advisor. At least three 400-level courses must be included.

General Electives (Sufficient hours to complete the requirement for 120 hours for the degree) - courses that permit students to take additional work in subjects that interest them and that will be helpful in their careers. It is important to consult with an advisor when selecting electives.

Located in the vibrant city of Anderson, in the rapidly growing region of Upstate South Carolina, Anderson University is a selective, comprehensive Christian liberal arts university offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on campus, online and at the University Center in Greenville. Students may choose from 50 major degree programs, 29 concentrations, 48 minors, 18 master’s and doctoral degrees and 8 certification programs.

Anderson University is among the fastest-growing private universities in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Education and the Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac. Increased enrollment only tells part of the story, however; the reason for it is Anderson’s reputation as a premier institution of higher learning and status among the best regional universities in the South as recognized by both U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. Further, U.S. News & World Report for 2022 named Anderson as one of the “Best Value” schools among regional universities in the south, and the Wall Street Journal for 2021 named Anderson #26 for best student engagement among all universities in the United States.