Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies — Online
Create a degree program that meets your personal goals: If you're an independent thinker and want to pave your own path, then the Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies may be perfect for you.
Take a quick look
We’re committed to creating an education as unique as your career path. So, whether your goal is a new career or moving up in your field, our innovative programs will get you going your way.
01
Customize your plan
We work with you to map your path to your goal.
02
Learn from experience
From real-world case studies to employer-based projects, we prepare you to manage what comes next.
03
Choose your focus
Whatever you’re passionate about, you’ll find the classes to sharpen your specialty.
04
Study anywhere, on your time
Part-time or full-time, we move at your speed, to get you where you’re going.
Overview
With the Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies, you can create your own customized degree program and pave your own path. Working with an academic advisor, you will select specific academic courses to compose a degree program that meets your intellectual, personal, and professional goals.
Choosing from an array of options, you will have the unique opportunity to build a program that is finely tuned to your strengths and interests. Unlike traditional undergraduate degree programs in which you major in a specific academic area, this program allows you to pursue an area of interest that is not pre-defined as a major concentration.
Experiential / Co-op opportunities
Northeastern's signature experience-powered learning model has been at the heart of the university for more than a century. It combines world-class academics with professional practice, allowing you to acquire relevant, real-world skills you can immediately put into action in your current workplace.
This makes a Northeastern education a dynamic, transformative experience, giving you countless opportunities to grow as a professional and person.
Get Set with a Custom Course Plan
General Requirements
University-Wide Requirement
Minimum 120 total semester hours required
Minimum 2.000 GPA required
Students must earn a minimum of 60 Northeastern University semester hours in order to receive a bachelor’s degree.
Note: Individual program requirements may exceed the above minima.
NUpath Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.
Foundation Courses
48 semester hours required
English
Complete one of the following two courses with corresponding labs:
| 3.00 | ||
| 1.00 | ||
| 3.00 | ||
| 1.00 |
Complete the following two courses with corresponding labs:
| 3.00 | ||
| 1.00 | ||
| 3.00 | ||
| 1.00 |
Mathematics Required Courses
| 3.00 | ||
| 3.00 |
Information Technology
Choose one of the following:
| 3.00 | ||
| 3.00 |
Philosophy
| 3.00 |
Mathematics and Science Electives
Complete 6 semester hours from the following subject areas:
BIO, CHM, ESC, MTH, PHY
Arts and Humanities Electives
Complete 9 semester hours from the following subject areas:
ART, CMN, ENG, PHL, TCC or a modern foreign language
Social Science Electives
Complete 9 semester hours from the following subject areas:
ECN, HST, HSV, POL, PSY, SOC
Major Required Courses
33 semester hours required
Note: No more than 27 total credits of business courses (ACC, FIN, MGT, MKT) are permitted.
Interdisciplinary
Self-designed program created by the student with faculty guidance and approved by the associate dean.
Capstone
| 3.00 |
Minor Required Courses
15 semester hours required
All students must complete a minor as part of their self-designed program.
Electives
Complete a minimum of 24 semester hours to reach 120 semester hours.
Now Let's Talk Admissions
You know where you are headed and you've seen how our program will lead you there. So let's get going. Here's what you need to know before you enroll.
Application Requirements
Application Facts – begin at our website
- No application fees
- No SATs or ACTs required
- Multiple start terms per year
Requirements
- Online application – free and simple to complete
- Academic transcripts: submit one of the following
- Official high school degree or completed attestation form
- Official GED
- Official associate degree showing degree conferral and date
- Transfer credit documentation: should be submitted with your application material
- Academic transcripts from each institution you previously attended:
- Official U.S. transcripts: if you applied previously earned credit toward your earned associate degree, you must request transcripts from each institution you attended.
- Official foreign transcripts: must include English translation. We encourage you to submit a course-by-course evaluation of your diploma(s) and transcript(s)
- College-level examinations: official examination score(s)
- Military evaluation
- Academic transcripts from each institution you previously attended:
- Proof of English language proficiency: ONLY for students for whom English is not their primary language
For more information on Bachelor's Completion Admissions Requirements, please visit our Application Web Page.
International Requirements
Are You an International Student? Find out what additional documents are required to apply.
Global Engagement Learn how our teaching and research benefit from a worldwide network of students, faculty, and industry partners.
Financing Requirements
Finance Your Education We offer a variety of resources, including scholarships and assistantships.
How to Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.
Cost and Tuition
Application Deadlines
The deadlines below are recommended; however, admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis and applications submitted after these deadlines will still be considered for the upcoming term.
Summer 2021 Domestic Deadlines if Transferring Credit
| Start Date: May 10, 2021 | Deadline: April 12, 2021 |
| Start Date: June 30, 2021 | Deadline: June 2, 2021 |
Student Body Profile
Your career prospects will be largely dependent upon your course of study and the industry that you choose to pursue. However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in occupations that require at least a bachelor's degree is expected to grow faster than employment in other sectors of the American labor market.
What can you do with your degree?
With the guidance of a Northeastern University faculty member, you will create a program that integrates liberal arts with a special concentration.
Candidates for this program may be interested in pursuing a career as a:
- Top- or mid-level manager
- Insurance, securities, real estate, or business service professional