LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION

A liberal arts education liberates minds and prepares leaders. It emphasizes undergraduate education, high academic standards, and freedom of thought and inquiry. Liberal arts students are exposed to a wide range of ideas, both popular and unpopular. The faculty are actively engaged in their disciplines and are dedicated to challenging students and fostering excellence in the classroom and beyond. Opportunities for students to participate in faculty research and other scholarly activities are plentiful. The emphasis on critical and creative thinking, communication, and analytical skills is a common thread throughout the curriculum. Civil discourse is required of everyone and is framed around knowledge of and respect for cultural and ethnic differences and commonalities.

An important part of a liberal arts education is the opportunity to develop skills learned in the classroom by applying them to real-world situations. Students at GCSU are able to participate in internships, research projects, and practica to further hone their expertise in the subject matter of various courses and degree programs. There are also valuable opportunities for international study and exchanges that allow students to broaden their understanding of the world and of themselves.

The School of Liberal Arts and Sciences plays a pivotal role at GCSU. The arts, sciences, humanities and social sciences are at the heart of every liberal arts graduate's education. The School of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers a strong interdisciplinary core curriculum and rigorous degree programs that help students develop the knowledge and skills that will last a lifetime. The faculty in Liberal Arts set high standards for themselves and for students and are deeply committed to helping students achieve excellence in their academic endeavors.

The School of Liberal Arts and Sciences houses ten academic departments and programs encompassing some thirty-five disciplines. Students who choose to major in one of the Liberal Arts disciplines receive a broad-based education as well as in-depth knowledge and skills in particular disciplines. Whether they go on to professional school, graduate school, or directly into employment, Liberal Arts graduates are ideally suited for the rapidly changing world we will encounter in the twenty-first century.