2015-2016

Liberal Arts, Bachelor of Science

Personalized Learning

Extended Campuses

A student majoring in Liberal Arts through Personalized Learning will study broadly from history, philosophy, literature and the arts. The student will learn how to analyze, interpret and evaluate important cultural artifacts of diverse cultures.  This is a fresh, contemporary take on Liberal Arts in that each exercise in understanding important works of art and letters is immediately connected to relevant skills.

This plan will not be available to new students after Summer 2024

University Requirements

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally include a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All Northern Arizona University requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

You may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your faculty mentor for details.

  • 8 competencies of liberal studies equaling 35 units of coursework. These competencies can also be satisfied with the transfer of an AGEC.
  • 16 competencies equaling 54 units of NAU major courses

  • 4 competencies in science courses equaling 12 units of NAU science courses. SCIN 182, SCIN 281, SCIN 301, SCIN 302, SCIN 293 are available through Personalized Learning; other science courses may be accepted through test or transfer credit.

  • Electives as needed to reach 120 units

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Highest Mathematics Required MATH 115
Additional Admission Requirements Required
Progression Plan Link Not Available
Student Learning Outcomes

Liberal Arts Personalized Learning Graduates will be able to:

  • Work in a team structure: Engage in effective group communication building on Group Dynamics and theories in intercultural communication
  • Communicate with diverse populations: Demonstrate the difference between analysis, interpretation, and evaluation
  • Solve complex problems: Demonstrate knowledge of relationships between knowledge, power, morality, ethics, and law
  • Analyze complicated materials: Analyze, interpret, and evaluate objects and theories across broad contexts
  • Write about culture effectively and Compose academic essays in various rhetorical styles: Write clear summaries, position papers, reports, research papers, and annotated bibliographies
  • Demonstrate knowledge of potential and limitations of technology’s advances: Differentiate, evaluate, and apply theories concerning technological advances and their impact on society
  • Practice an examined or self-reflective life: Examine and explain the importance of literature, film, media, and art on understanding human nature.
  • Describe ethical theories: Differentiate between ethics and morality, and analyze ethics and morality from both religious and political perspectives
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the significance of the humanities: Examine and compare theories of subjectivity, personal identify, and human nature in the humanities
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the significance of the social sciences: Examine and compare the history and impacts of the penal and legal systems in the U.S. and Asia, paying particular attention upon their impacts on political and religious life
  • Demonstrate an effective transfer of competencies to the workplace: Develop research approaches for case studies, and develop approaches to effective workplace communication.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

  • Admission requirements to Personalized Learning include NAU's undergraduate admission standards as well as the completion of a Readiness Assessment.  Prior to admission to the University, a Personalized Learning admission specialist guides prospective students through a series of steps to determine admissibility, applicable prior credit, preparedness via the Readiness Assessment, and degree selection. After these steps are complete, admissible students are directed to complete an account information form. This form replaces the traditional NAU application.

    Students may demonstrate competency through performance on pre-tests. Some courses may have departmental prerequisites required by students in other majors. Any prerequisites not fulfilled with transfer credit may be met by successfully completing a pretest; however, credit will not be granted for the completion.

    This degree is offered only through the Personalized Learning program. Work with a faculty mentor for any questions regarding the applicability of coursework completed through Personalized Learning to any other plan of study at NAU.

Major Requirements

  • Personalized Learning Competencies for the Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts

    Completion of these competencies will result in the awarding of credit for NAU classes.

    C.1  Work in a team structure
    C.2  Communicate with diverse populations
    C.3  Solve complex problems
    C.4  Analyze complicated materials
    C.5  Write about culture effectively
    C.6  Compose academic essays in various rhetorical styles
    C.7  Demonstrate knowledge of potential and limitations of technology's advances
    C.8  Practice an examined or self-reflective life
    C.9  Describe ethical theories
    C.10 Apply ethical theories to education
    C.11 Formulate and substantiate theses
    C.12 Formulate and test hypotheses in humanities and social science
    C.13 Demonstrate knowledge of leadership in the working of organizations
    C.14 Demonstrate knowledge of the significance of the humanities
    C.15 Demonstrate knowledge of the significance of the social sciences
    C.16 Demonstrate effective transfer of competencies to workplace

  • Course Credit Earned (54 units)

    • ARHI 143 Western Art History (3 units)
    • CCSU 251 Interdisciplinary Cultural Aesthetics (3 units)
    • CCSU 351W Interdisciplinary Research Writing (3 units)
    • CCSU 490C Capstone in 1960's American Cinema (3 units)
    • CSTU 272 Group Dynamics and Social Conflict (3 units)
    • CSTU 324 Cross Cultural Communication (3 units)
    • ENGL 254 Introduction to World Literature (3 units)
    • ENGL 306W Writing Across the Disciplines (3 units) 
    • HISY 205 World History (3 units)
    • HUMA 381 Reflections of Society in Postwar Cinema (3 units)
    • HUMA 383 Humanities in Global Contexts (3 units)
    • HUMA 476 Human Nature and Humanistic Values (3 units)
    • PHIL 106 Ethical Obligation (3 units)
    • RELI 151 World Religions (3 units)
    • SOCI 202 Sociological Thought (3 units)
    • SOCI 314 The Sociological Aspects of Education (3 units)
    • SOCI 321 Interaction of Sociology and Psychology (3 units)
    • SOCI 340 Social Criminology (3 units)
Science Requirement
General Electives

  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information
  • Any prerequisites not fulfilled with transfer credit may be met by successfully completing a pretest; however, credit will not be granted for that completion.