Online Liberal Arts Schools and Colleges: How to Choose

Liberal arts academic programs are designed to assist individuals in broadening their horizons. Online colleges and universities commonly offer liberal arts programs at the bachelor's and master's degree levels. Some institutions also offer online general studies associate's degrees, though they are not as widespread. Students should consider the program level, their chosen area of concentration and their career goals when selecting online schools with liberal arts programs.

How to Select an Online Liberal Arts School

Award Level

When choosing an online program, students should consider what credentials they wish to earn. Since liberal arts includes a vast range of subjects, earning a bachelor's degree in the field can be appropriate for careers in communications, journalism or teaching. Students interested in pursuing a master's degree in fields like philosophy, psychology or history - or those interested in going to law school - may also benefit from the multifaceted education gained in a liberal arts program. Individuals interested in teaching at the university level might consider earning a master's degree in liberal arts.

Program Type

While most liberal studies programs consist of coursework in many different areas, students can usually concentrate in areas like history, women's studies, political science, economics, sociology and countless other options by choosing multiple electives in these fields. Students considering online programs should also determine whether programs are fully online or hybrid; in a hybrid program, students complete a portion of classes on campus (sometimes through a short residency) and the rest online.

List of Online Liberal Studies Programs

Online Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts

Distance-learning bachelor's degree programs in liberal arts are designed to have a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating studies that develop critical thinking skills and allow students to individualize their curricula. Liberal arts coursework focuses on problem solving, analyzing, writing, communicating verbally and learning about different cultural topics. Sample class topics include business communications, public relations, economics, American government, contemporary fiction, art history, creative writing and film studies.

Online Master of Art in Liberal Arts

Online master's degree programs in liberal arts allow students to further their education in concentrations like literature, global and social issues, communication, religious studies, leadership and creative writing. Broad curricula cover a range of subjects that can be useful to careers in business, nonprofit work, communications and education.
Typically consisting of about 30-36 credit hours, liberal arts master's degree programs can include 10-15 credit hours of ethics and multiculturalism courses, 3-6 hours of graduate research and the remaining credits in electives. The elective studies could include computer studies, physics, speech, management, museum studies and expository writing, among numerous other topics.