Liberal Studies

Admissions: 1-877-UMA-1234 ext. 3465 or (207) 621-3465
Advising Center: 1-877-UMA-1234 ext. 3149 or (207) 621-3149
Coordinator: Ellen Taylor (Augusta)/Chris Bates (Bangor)
Website: www.uma.edu/academics/programs/liberal-studies/

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

Intro/Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program is a flexible degree program that allows you to shape the curriculum to best meet your needs and interests. It provides you with a foundation in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences. Choose to add a concentration, minor or certificate to achieve a deeper understanding of a specific area.

Program Objectives

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies is designed to provide students with a foundation in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences. Additionally, students will have an opportunity to achieve deeper understanding within a chosen area of concentration or through a curriculum more personally constructed with the help of an academic advisor.

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies builds on the existing Associate of Arts degree program in Liberal Studies and offers the most flexible B.A. degree at the University of Maine at Augusta. Students will complete General Education requirements, and be guided to choose a structured concentration and/or construct a curriculum to meet their established educational and/or career goals.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will have the capacity to succeed in the arts, public policy, business and teaching. Liberal Studies is particularly appropriate for professional careers requiring understanding of interrelationships between complex cultures and systems.

Graduates of the program will:

be prepared for entry into a post baccalaureate degree program
be exposed to situations that promote critical thinking and problem solving skills
have a solid baccalaureate liberal arts general education and least an intermediate level exposure to a specific university discipline
have an enhanced ability for professional advancement and/or career and lifestyle changes
have effective verbal and written skills
have research skills to facilitate lifelong learning
be exposed to intellectual and cultural diversity

Admissions Requirements (see UMA general requirements)

Graduation Requirements

A cumulative average of at least 2.0
Students are required to declare a minor.
Students must satisfy UMA’s residency requirement for the degree, or be given a waiver from the appropriate dean(s).

Associate of Art in Liberal Studies

Program Objectives

The Associate of Art in Liberal Studies Program offers every Maine citizen access to two years of high quality college education in the best liberal arts tradition. The program endeavors to provide a foundation in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences. With 21 credit hours in free electives, this associate degree affords the student great flexibility in shaping his/her educational experience toward a specific goal or simply the opportunity to discover where one’s academic strengths and interests may lie.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will have:

effective verbal and written communication skills
the ability to think critically and problem solve
a foundation in humanities, social sciences, math, and natural sciences
technological and computer skills appropriate to entry-level positions and/or baccalaureate degree work
adequate preparation for entry into a bachelor of arts program at the junior level
the skills necessary for basic research and life-long learning
an awareness of global and multicultural concerns

Transfer

For those who graduate and wish to continue their college education toward a baccalaureate degree, liberal studies courses are transferable to appropriate baccalaureate programs, and students who successfully gain admission to such programs normally enter as juniors.

Other Minors & Certificates

Minors: Accounting; Addiction Studies; Advocacy; American Studies; Art; Behavioral Science; Biology; Business Administration; Computer Information Systems; Computer Networking; Cyber Forensics; Cybersecurity; Early Childhood Services; Early Childhood Teacher (081); Early Elementary Education (029); Education Studies; Elementary Education (020); English; Financial Services; Fraud Examination; French; Geriatric Human Services; Grief, Loss, and Trauma; History; Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Studies; Human Resource Management; Human Services; Information and Library Science; Justice Studies; Mathematics; Music; Music Business; Natural Science; Philosophy; Photography; Psychology; Public Administration; Secondary Education; Self-Designed; Small Business Management; Sociology; Special Education; Web Application; and Women and Gender Studies.

Certificates: Accounting; Child & Youth Care Practitioner; Community Policing; Crime Analysis and GIS; Customer Service & Telecommunications Level I & II; Cyber Forensics; Cybersecurity; Dental Assisting; Digital Forensics; Domestic Public Services; Domestic Services; Early Childhood Teacher (081); Early Elementary Education (029); Elementary Education (020) Forensic Science (Investigation Focus); Forensic Science (Scientific Focus); Fraud Examination; French; Health Informatics; Human Resource Management; Human Services; Information Assurance, Information & Library Science; International Public Service; International Services; Mediation, Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/Community; National Security; Network Security Analyst; Paralegal Studies; Psychiatric In-Patient Care; Secondary Education; Secondary Education - Math Content Area; Secure Application Development; Social Media; Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Technician; Teaching Assistant I & II; Web Design & Development; and Web Development.

Career Opportunities

Skills You’ll Acquire

Liberal Studies students possess an inquisitive nature and tenacious spirit, traits that serve them well as they begin exploring career and educational options. As students near completion of their degree requirements, they are more focused in their personal and work lives and are better able to communicate their thoughts and needs to others. These skills, as well as the ones noted below, are ones that many Liberal Studies student acquire.

Interpersonal

Understanding cultural differences
Working collaboratively
Assessing human needs
Listening
Recognizing social processes

Problem Solving

Interpreting numerical data
Evaluating information
Defining a problem
Setting priorities
Making decisions
Gathering information/research

Communication

Presenting ideas effectively
Speaking publicly
Writing reports
Justifying a position
Reading critically

Organizational

Attending to details
Managing Information
Coordinating tasks
Meeting deadlines
Developing projects
Planning

Careers You Can Seek

Today’s employers have a strong bias toward employing candidates with a college education because college graduates tend to have stronger analytical thinking, decision-making, communication, and learning skills than non-college graduates. These broad skills provide a strong base for a career in virtually any field. Students who pursue the Liberal Studies degree to completion may be found performing various roles in business, social/human services, education, health care and government.

Connected Programs

UMA Pathways to Teacher Certification

Maine requires public school teachers to earn certification. Specific certifications and endorsements are required for special education, and specific grade levels and/or subjects. UMA provides a pathway to early childhood education, early elementary education, elementary education, secondary education, and special education.

Note to transfer students and students with advanced academic standing: Students entering the program with significant credits (UMA and/or transfer) may need to complete more than 120 credits in order to fulfill all the requirements for UMA and the Maine DOE.

❖ Early Childhood Teacher
This Certificate of Study adheres to the State of Maine Department of Education’s requirements for endorsement 081 Early Childhood Teacher as described in Chapter 115 Part II.

❖ Early Elementary Education
This curriculum adheres to the State of Maine Department of Education’s requirements for endorsement 029 Early Elementary Teacher as described in Chapter 115 Part II.

❖ Elementary Education
This curriculum adheres to the State of Maine Department of Education’s requirements for endorsement 020 Elementary Teacher as described in Chapter 115 Part II.

❖ Secondary Education
This UMA academic minor adheres to the State of Maine Department of Education’s requirements for content endorsements in 100 English, 395 life science, 300 mathematics, 350 physical science, or 200 social studies as described in Chapter 115 Part II.

❖ Special Education partnership with University of Maine at Machias
This curriculum adheres to the State of Maine Department of Education’s requirements for endorsement 282: Teacher of Children with Disabilities as described in Chapter 115 Part II.

Already have a baccalaureate degree?

❖ Post-Baccalaureate Secondary Education
This UMA certificate of study adheres to the State of Maine Department of Education’s requirements for content endorsements in 100 English, 395 life science, 300 mathematics, 350 physical science, or 200 social studies as described in Chapter 115 Part II.
❖ Post-Baccalaureate Early Childhood Teacher
This UMA Certificate of Study adheres to the State of Maine Department of Education’s requirements for endorsement 081 Early Childhood Teacher as described in Chapter 115 Part II.
❖ Post-Baccalaureate Early Elementary Education
This UMA curriculum adheres to the State of Maine Department of Education’s requirements for endorsement 029 Early Elementary Teacher as described in Chapter 115 Part II.
❖ Post-Baccalaureate Elementary Education
This curriculum adheres to the State of Maine Department of Education’s requirements for endorsement 020 Elementary Teacher as described in Chapter 115 Part II.

Always consult the experts!

University of Maine at Augusta
Cindy Dean, Ed.D.
Associate Professor of Education
Coordinator of Teacher Certification
207.621.3192
cynthia.dean@maine.edu
or
Enrollment Services
207.621.3149 or 1.877.UMA.1234 (Augusta)
207.262.7808 (Bangor)

Programs

Associate of Arts

Bachelor of Arts

Liberal Studies, BA

Minor

Self-Designed Minor