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Portrait of student Ana Da Paixao '20

Liberal Arts
BA

On-campus Online Undergraduate Major Interdisciplinary

UMass Dartmouth's liberal arts major offers an intellectual challenge, encouraging you to pursue your interests across a variety of academic fields.

You'll develop your creativity, critical thinking skills, and sense of independence while you explore two concentrations in any of the following subjects:

  • humanities: art history, English literature and criticism, English writing, foreign languages, history, philosophy, Portuguese literature, and Portuguese language and linguistics.
  • social sciences: anthropology, economics, political science, policy studies, psychology, sociology, and women's and gender studies.
  • interdisciplinary programs: sustainability and urban studies.

Recent studies have shown that a degree in liberal arts provides a strong foundation for professional careers and scholarly work. You'll develop the qualities that future employers prize most: strong communication skills, the ability to assess a situation and develop a course of action, and the confidence to work independently.

As a liberal arts major, you will design your own interdisciplinary path as you choose your concentrations and bring them together to create new ways of seeing, knowing, and expressing your academic and research interests.

Liberal arts majors find careers in business, communications, education, government, human resources, museums, non-profit organizations, public policy, and social work. You'll be prepared for graduate study in the fields you'll explore as you select your liberal arts concentrations.

We also offer teacher preparation for students who are interested in teaching at the middle or high school level. Learn more about teacher preparation

Student success

Liberal arts major - Ana Da Paixao

Student spotlight

Ana Da Paixao '20

The opportunity to participate in the Model United Nations reinforced the knowledge she has acquired at UMassD.

Career Placements

  • Allied Insurance
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • Fairhaven High School
  • Fidelity Investments
  • Greater New Bedford Community Health Center
  • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
  • ING Financial Partners
  • MEDITECH
  • New England Center for Children
  • Shawmut Design and Construction
  • State Street
  • Women's Center of Rhode Island

4+1 Accelerated bachelor’s to master’s option

Qualified students in this program may be eligible to pursue an accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s pathway at UMass Dartmouth. This option allows you to begin graduate coursework while completing your undergraduate degree and transition directly into a master's program. Learn how the accelerated program works.

4+1 BA/BS-MAT: a fast track to teaching

Enrollment in the 4+1 Teacher Preparation program allows undergraduate students to begin the education coursework towards a master’s degree in teaching (MAT) as early as the sophomore year. Half of the degree is completed as an undergraduate, reducing the time and costs of earning a graduate degree.

3+3 with UMass Law: a fast track to a law degree

Enrollment in the 3+3 joint degree program with UMass Law offers an accelerated pathway to an undergraduate and law degree, enabling qualifying students to substitute the first year of law school for the final year of their undergraduate program, thereby earning both a bachelor’s degree from UMass Dartmouth and a Juris Doctor from UMass Law in six rather than seven years.

You'll have the opportunity to work with faculty across a variety of departments, take introductory courses to determine your concentrations, and deepen your focus through seminars and related experiences beyond the classroom. 

The LAR program is focused on providing close mentorship and guidance to its students, and all majors work with a faculty advisor from one of our contributing disciplines. We encourage LAR majors to make the most of their educations, taking advantage of academic minors, and opportunities for internships, service learning, and study abroad.

As a liberal arts major, you'll take:

  • 6 credits in multidisciplinary studies core courses
  • 15 credits in your first concentration
  • 15 credits in your second concentration

Liberal Arts majors must select two of any of the following concentations:

  • Anthropology
  • Art History
  • Economics
  • English Writing
  • English Literature and Criticism
  • French
  • History
  • Philosophy
  • Portuguese
  • Portuguese Literature and Cultural Studies
  • Portuguese Language and Linguistics
  • Political Science
  • Policy Studies
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Sustainability
  • Urban Studies
  • Women's and Gender Studies

For the major, you'll complete 36 credit hours in courses related to your major and 120 credit hours overall.

Course descriptions, schedules and requirements

  • Internships: gain experience by pursuing internships in your areas of academic and professional interest
  • Multidisciplinary research: investigate a specialized area of study while working with faculty advisors
  • Study online: take advantage of the latest learning technologies through blended and fully-online courses

Study online

Online & Continuing Education at UMass Dartmouth offers a liberal arts degree online. 

You can choose concentrations in English literature, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, or women's and gender studies. You'll complete 36 credit hours in courses related to your major and 120 credit hours overall.