COSC Drops Liberal Studies Concentration

[Tedium]

Making this it’s own thread so it doesn’t get lost in my many rambles.

When I applied recently there was only an option for Individualized Studies and nothing for Liberal Studies. Since I’m doing an English/History combo, I asked Admissions about it so there wouldn’t be any problems down the line. I got this in response:

Good morning Tedium. The Liberal Studies option is being discontinued because Liberal Studies and Individualized Studies are basically the same thing, so having both was confusing to students. Both are General Studies majors.

Thought everyone would like to know since we direct so many people to the BALS. We just need to change our terminology when dealing with new students so they don’t get confused.

I agree with the change. Most other schools just have one interdisciplinary major/concentration. It was kind of a weird distinction to make and I can see how people were getting confused.

Just a heads up for everyone!

[jsd]

this change actually makes sense.

[bjcheung77]

Yeah, it was a bit confusing when those two programs were pretty much identical and redundant. Essentially their BS General Studies has several concentrations to select from, it's possible to do two concentrations if you wanted but many choose only one. The BSGS Individualized Studies allow two/three combo, it's a good choice for those who don't know what they want as a first degree and just want that check the box option and to use those courses as possible pre-requisites for further grad studies.

[SteveFoerster]

My daughter was planning to do the Liberal Studies concentration, but it won't change anything for her to do Individualized Studies instead.

[Tedium]

Nah, functionally it's the exact same. Same degree, same everything. Now you just don't have to make sure that you applied for the right concentration for your mix of credits. Takes some of the guesswork and ambiguity out of the process.

Individual Studies should be the exact same for your daughter as Liberal Studies.

I would have liked them to change the name to Interdisciplinary Studies. I think that says more about the utility of these degrees than Liberal/Individualized Studies. I don't know. That may just be me. If I could easily get the requirements for American Studies, I would have pursued that one. It's basically another Interdisciplinary Degree, but is usually pretty hard to explain to people. Either way, I'm all for a streamlined process.

[SteveFoerster]

At least "American Studies" sounds like a specific program, even if in who knows what. But it is what it is.

[Tedium]

I hear ya, bud. Once we get that Master's it won't really matter anymore anyway. Check that box and move on to the next thing!