What is Liberal Studies?

books stacked on a desk with decorative art

A liberal studies degree prepares you for a variety of career options. Instead of focusing on one specialization, you can focus on synthesizing many different areas into a holistic view.

Kent State University is one of six institutions in Ohio to offer the Master of Liberal Studies (MLS) degree and the only one that allows students to take courses from any college or school in the university.1

What is Liberal Studies? A Choose Your Own Adventure

Liberal studies, also known as liberal arts, comprises a broad exploration of social sciences, natural sciences, humanities, and the arts.2

As a student, you’ll learn the following skills and many more:

  • Communication, both effective writing, and public speaking
  • Self-awareness
  • Critical and analytical thinking
  • Reasoning and problem-solving
  • Research
  • Cultural understandings

Why Kent State University?

Though Kent State University’s College of Arts and Sciences offers 42 master’s programs, some students prefer to take a multidisciplinary, individualized approach to graduate education, often because of career and professional goals.

The Master of Liberal Studies at Kent State University can be tailored to the specific interests and needs of the student.

Kent State University Master of Liberal Studies

The Online Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies provides students with a unique opportunity to study at the graduate level in fields that are of interest and use to the individual. Under the guidance of the Program Director, students select courses from across the university to form their own individualized and integrated program of study.

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Bring together the different fields in which they have been working
  2. See the advantages of doing so
  3. Continue to pursue the knowledge they entered the program to acquire

As a student, you’ll take either the liberal studies essay option or an internship for 3 credit hours. The remaining credit hours are made up of electives that you select. Courses may be taken in any college in the university.

Learn about designing your degree program.

For more information on Kent State’s Online Master of Liberal Arts, visit https://onlinedegrees.kent.edu/degrees/master-of-liberal-studies.



1 Retrieved on April 6, 2021, from https://www.kent.edu/liberalstudies/overview

2 Retrieved on April 6, 2021, from https://learn.org/articles/What_is_Liberal_Studies.html

The editorial team at Kent State Online is composed of dedicated professionals with expertise in higher education, digital marketing, and content strategy. Our mission is to create insightful, engaging, and informative content that empowers prospective students to make informed decisions about advancing their education and careers.
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