The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts is a fully online program offering a broad multidisciplinary approach to earning a higher education degree. Students are exposed to courses across various areas of study at Chico State.
Graduates of this program emerge as versatile thinkers capable of addressing multifaceted societal and workplace challenges. They are equipped with strategies to contribute meaningfully to their professional and personal lives. Their ability to work collaboratively and think critically is vital for professional development and sets them up for success in many different and emerging industries.
In today's rapidly evolving workplace, where technology and global interconnectedness shape every industry, the value of a liberal arts degree lies in its ability to produce graduates with intellectual flexibility. Instead of being specialists in one field, graduates thrive in varied disciplines and career paths.
The online program is ideal for full-time working professionals who want to return to college, complete their degrees, and advance in their careers. It is designed for students who want to explore multiple areas of study or have career goals that don’t fit into a single discipline. The flexibility of this degree prepares students for diverse careers, including but not limited to business or nonprofit management, writing, public relations, social services, urban planning, local government, and more.
E-advising Tools
Use the interactive e-advising tools designed to help students graduate within four years. These tools can be accessed through the Student Center in the Portal.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
Course Requirements for the Major: 51 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 43 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education requirements and course offerings.
American Institutions Course Requirements: 6 units
The American Institutions graduation requirement, as mandated in Title 5, Section 40404, requires that students satisfactorily complete courses in United States history, the US Constitution, and government and American ideals (including California state and local government). At Chico State, HIST 130 meets the US history requirement (US-1), and POLS 155 meets the US Constitution and government requirement (US-2) and the California state and local government requirement (US-3). POLS 155 also fulfills three units of GE Area 4, Social and Behavioral Sciences. See Bachelor’s Degree Requirements for more information.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Many courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Writing and Math Requirements for more details on the four courses. The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.
The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (EO 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE English Composition (1A) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.
This online, state-support degree completion program is ideal for students who have completed at least 60 units of lower-division credit and want to finish their bachelor’s degree. Transfer students who have completed lower-division GE and American Ideals/Institutions requirements can complete the program in four semesters. Students with more than 60 units of applicable transfer credit may complete sooner.
