Develop Critical Thinking Skills

A degree in Liberal Studies is the ideal choice for self-directed learners who want to take ownership of their education by exploring their unique academic interests and career goals. This program allows students to collaborate closely with faculty advisors to design a personalized curriculum that integrates their passions for writing, literature, history, fine arts, and many other disciplines within the liberal arts and sciences. By placing their intellectual curiosity at the center of their education, students gain a well-rounded, interdisciplinary foundation that prepares them for a wide range of opportunities.

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Liberal Studies

BACHELOR OF ARTS

Turn your passion for writing, literature, history, philosophy, fine arts, and other disciplines within the liberal arts and sciences into the foundation of your undergraduate education. A degree in Liberal Studies is the perfect choice for self- directed learners who want ownership of their degree program. Students work closely with faculty advisors to build a self-designed program that supports their unique academic interests and career goals.

Whether you are seeking a broad-based, interdisciplinary program in the liberal arts and sciences or a program concentrated on Writing, Pre-Law, Religious Studies, Philosophy, or Pre-Med, Liberal Studies faculty will work closely with you to develop your unique interests into a self-designed program of study that supports your pursuit of a specific career path or prepares you for success in graduate study. Program flexibility and transfer-friendly university policies combine to make efficient degree completion for students looking to maximize academic credits earned at other institutions.

Graduates from the BA in Liberal Studies are pursuing careers in businesses like:

Advocacy
Commerical Fisheries
Entrepreneurship
Education
Federal and State Government
Graduate school
Law
Publishing
Tourism
Tribal Health
Tribal Law

Sample classes at the undergraduate level:

Core Curriculum

Topics in Humanities, Topics in Social Sciences, Epistemology, Ethics, Indigenous Knowledges and the Sciences, History and Culture of Alaska Natives

Travel Courses

Natural History of Alaska
Travel: Advanced Literature and Culture

Upper Division Courses in the Following Disciplines – YOU choose your path(s) with an LS degree! The possibilities are endless.

Alaska Native Governance
Environmental Studies
Fine Arts
History
Indigenous Studies
Media Studies
Music
Philosophy
Religion and Spirituality
Social Sciences
Writing and Literature

Degree Completion

128 credits minimum are required to complete the degree program. Core competencies, foundational, major, and self- determined studies are offered in a mixed format of:

On-campus
Online via synchronous learning

Literature
Philosophy
Religion Studies
Writing
Pre-Law
Pre-Med

Future Concentrations:

Fine Arts and Music
Indigenous Studies
Cultural Studies

Liberal Studies Minor

Enhance your degree with a Minor in Liberal Studies, where you can explore a wide range of philosophical, epistemological, cultural, creative, and political issues that are not covered in other degree programs. Tailor your minor to your interests by focusing on subjects like literature, anthropology, music, Indigenous knowledge or strengthen essential skills in oral and written communication and critical thinking. This minor offers the flexibility to deepen your knowledge while boosting your marketability in today’s competitive job market.

Indigenous Studies Minor

The Indigenous Studies Minor could contribute to any of APU’s undergraduate degrees for those students who are interested in adding Alaska Native and Indigenous expertise to their degree area. It will introduce students to Alaska Native contexts, including an understanding of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and the broader field of global Indigenous Studies including education and Indigenous Knowledges. Alaska Native corporations and affiliated non- profits are collectively the largest private employers in Alaska. A broad understanding of Alaska Native and Indigenous contexts will enhance students’ eligibility for entry-level employment with Alaska Native organizations that require general knowledge of Alaska Native cultures and history.

Application
Application Fee*
Official Final High School Transcript**
Official College Transcript(s)

*Fee waiver available for those who qualify
** If less than 24 college credits earned

Minimum GPA: 2.5 or higher
If you have a GPA lower than 2.5, there is an additional step in the admissions process, and we are happy to work with you to complete your application.

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Liberal Studies

MASTER OF ARTS

The low-residency Master of Arts (MAP) in Liberal Studies offers a highly flexible, individualized path to an advanced degree. Students design their own interdisciplinary studies—drawing from areas such as Indigenous studies, psychology, and data analysis—while working one-on-one with faculty mentors who guide their academic and professional growth. With no set class times and personalized study plans developed each semester, the program supports students balancing work, family, and community commitments. Graduates apply their degrees to diverse fields and leadership roles, from earning doctorates and teaching awards to serving as Indigenous healers and military professionals.

MAP is designed for professionals seeking a year-round, project-based program for personal development, career advancement, and preparation for advanced degrees. Classroom teachers and other educators choose MAP for supervised graduate work centered on problems of practice; other MAP students are creatives pursuing projects in interdisciplinary areas such as the arts, religious and spiritual studies, and Indigenous studies.

MAP graduates are applying their degrees in fields like:

Classroom teaching
Doctoral studies
Environmental advocacy
Curriculum design
Agency program review
Adventure therapy
Creative writing
Social Justice

Contract Learning: Research

Under supervision of the program director and a project mentor, students discover and understand the best and most important things that have been thought, said and executed in their subject area.

Contract Learning: Application

Under supervision of the program director and project mentor, a faculty mentor, students put into practice what they have discovered and articulated in their research.

Contract Learning: Project Demonstrating Mastery

Under supervision of the program director and project mentor, students execute a capstone project in which they make their own significant contribution to the field of study.

Application
Application Fee
Official Transcripts
Personal Statement and Study Plan
Samples of Work
Letters of Recommendation

*Fee waiver available for those who qualify.
**If less than 24 college credits earned.

Minimum GPA: 3.0 or higher – Applicants with a GPA lower than 3.0 may be considered upon review by the graduate Program Director and or Graduate Studies Committee.

APPLY PROGRAM FLYER

“At APU you’re with the same people – students, faculty – and you get to know each other well. Faculty could see if and when you needed help.”
– Claire Agni, Liberal Studies

“I was amazed at how active learning is brought immediately into the classroom. I love the focus on students.”
– Taylor Raftery, Liberal Studies

Liberal Studies News

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Indigenous Studies

Liberal Studies

Develop Critical Thinking Skills

Pathways

Liberal Studies

Liberal Studies

Contract Learning: Research

Contract Learning: Application

Contract Learning: Project Demonstrating Mastery

Alaska Native Governance

Community and Place-Based Education

Creative & Professional Writing

Master of Science Outdoor & Environmental Education

“At APU you’re with the same people – students, faculty – and you get to know each other well. Faculty could see if and when you needed help.” – Claire Agni, Liberal Studies

“I was amazed at how active learning is brought immediately into the classroom. I love the focus on students.” – Taylor Raftery, Liberal Studies

Liberal Studies News

Meet Our Team

“At APU you’re with the same people – students, faculty – and you get to know each other well. Faculty could see if and when you needed help.”
– Claire Agni, Liberal Studies

“I was amazed at how active learning is brought immediately into the classroom. I love the focus on students.”
– Taylor Raftery, Liberal Studies