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- QUICK LINKS
- Programs
- Courses
- Tuition
- How to enroll
- Career services
Looking for inspiration? Find programs and careers based on your skills and interests.
844-937-8679
online liberal studies degree
Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies Degree
Start your online liberal studies degree
Broaden your horizons through liberal studies and pursue a future in teaching. Our Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies is designed to prepare students with no prior teaching experience for a multiple subject teaching credential in California.
Field experiences are integrated throughout the program, finishing with a student teaching requirement that’s above and beyond program coursework. And, you’ll work with dedicated education staff who will help you through state licensures and other credential processes.
Transfer credits
Your eligible transfer credits could cover up to 75% of your bachelor's degree.
Scholarships
Explore over $1 million in scholarship opportunities for new or transfer students.
Apply free
No application fee
No SAT/ACT
No essay required
Ignite Your Passion
Start when you're ready
Courses
Browse courses for your liberal studies bachelor's degree
Education should hold practical value. That’s why our courses meet rigorous academic standards and provide you with skills and knowledge immediately applicable to your career.
Look for this icon to see which skills you’ll learn in a course.
Requirements: 121 credits
You’ll need 121 credits to complete this Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies degree. Your course schedule may vary based on transferable credits or credits earned through the University’s Prior Learning Assessment.
Schedule
Your academic counselor will help you schedule your classes.
Plus, you’ll find support from our dedicated education program specialists who work with you 1:1 during your 100 required hours of clinical experience (or more if required by your state) and a minimum of 12 weeks of clinical practice (or more if required by your state). Our education program specialists also help you navigate your state licensure requirements for teacher certification, and can help with questions along the way.
COE Central
College of Education students will find many helpful resources on COE Central. Program handbooks provide a wealth of information on topics such as professional expectations, clinical experiences, clinical practice, internships, edTPA and much more. Milestone roadmaps, technology and multimedia resources, and various toolkits are also available.
Program Purpose Statement
The Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies is an undergraduate degree program intended to prepare students with no prior teaching experience for initial teacher licensure. The program includes a clinical component requiring field experiences and student teaching above and beyond program coursework.
Requirements for licensure vary by state. See your state’s requirements.
There may be additional qualifications and/or disqualifications applicable in order to work as a teacher with any local, state or federal entity.
Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years.
Learning shouldn’t take years to put into practice. That’s why we’re empowering you to build career-relevant skills with every five- to six-week course.
We’ve worked with labor market researchers like Lightcast to find in-demand skills for occupations and mapped those to our related associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.
Tuition
Transfer credits
Your previous eligible college credits can save you time and money – helping you to graduate faster. That’s why we’ve accepted transcripts from 5,000+ institutions, so you can apply eligible transfer credits from an institutionally accredited university or college toward a degree of your choice.
75%
Of your bachelor's degree could be covered with eligible transfer credits.
Affordable, fixed tuition
Lock in the peace of mind that comes with fixed, affordable tuition. You’ll enjoy one flat rate from the moment you enroll until the day you graduate from your program. That’s your Tuition Guarantee.
University of Phoenix liberal studies degree vs other universities
| Phoenix | |
|---|---|
|
Cost per credit
|
$398
|
|
Credits per course
|
3
|
|
Tuition per course
|
$1,194
|
|
Total program length in credits
|
120
|
|
Length of course in weeks
|
5
|
|
Fees
|
One fee per course
|
|
Tuition guarantee
|
YES
|
|
|
Data pulled on March 31, 2023
[1] $357 per 1000-2000 level credit; $415 per 3000-4000 level credit
Source of data: For each institution, the data are publicly available in multiple locations, including Academic Catalogs, Program pages, Tuition and fees pages, and syllabi. All data are publicly available on the websites.
Certain licensure programs and coursework in other degree programs may have additional fees. Please check with your advisor or course catalog for additional info.
| COA Components | Bachelors Education Licensure/Certification |
|---|---|
|
Tuition and Fees¹
|
$9,336
|
|
Books, course materials, supplies and equipment
|
$1,416
|
|
Transportation
|
$1,360
|
|
Miscellaneous personal expenses
|
$550
|
|
Living Expenses²
|
|
|
Food
|
$2,650
|
|
Housing³
|
$5,120
|
|
Federal student loan fees
|
$60
|
|
Professional Licensure/certification⁴
|
$598
|
|
Dependent care expenses
|
$0
|
|
Disability related expenses
|
$0
|
|
Total COA
|
$21,090
|
|
|
1The tuition component is based on a per credit weighted average for the credential level across the entire University.
2The University allows the same living expense amounts for students in all living arrangements and dependency statuses.
3The living expense component for students receiving Military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) only includes an allowance for food.
4The licensure/certification component included in the final academic year of the program is an average of fees charged by all states the program is offered in by credential level and college.
Scholarships
Starting with your first course, every new, qualifying student will be awarded up to $1,000 to up to $3,000. Because scholarships shouldn’t just be for the chose few – they should be accessible to all working adults, like you.
$1 Million
In scholarship opportunities
Financial aid
You have options when it comes to paying for college tuition and expenses, such as federal grants and loans. Our finance advisors can answer your questions about financial aid and can help guide you through the process.
Federal Student Loan Basics
Careers & Outcomes
What can you do with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies?
Learning can lead to earning. Discover where your degree might take you and make informed choices about your future.
A BS/LS can prepare you to be:
- Elementary education teacher
Top skills learned in this program:
Classroom Management
Lesson Planning
Child Development
Diverse Student Populations
Teaching
Professionalism
Leadership
Learning Strategies
Innovation
Ready to get started?
Start your application for free or request additional information.
What you’ll learn
When you earn your BS in Liberal Studies, you’ll be equipped with a concrete set of skills you can apply on the job. You’ll learn how to:
- Design and implement effective instruction in the elementary classroom to produce a positive impact on student learning.
- Evaluate effective professional practice in elementary education.
- Apply professional ethics to their instructional practices in elementary education.
- Evaluate learning principles to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse elementary student populations.
- Create innovative strategies and incorporate technology in an elementary classroom setting.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for kindergarten and elementary school teachers is projected to be as fast as average between 2021 and 2031.
The BLS Projected Growth for 2021-2031 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects the BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.
Admissions
Apply for free – no application fee, no obligation.
Starting your degree is a big decision — and we want you to feel great about it. That’s why we remove obstacles from your application.
- No cost to request transcripts
- No SAT/ACT required
- No essay required
- No cost, risk-free trial for eligible students
How to enroll at University of Phoenix
Receive highly rated 1-on-1 support
You’ll have a support team of real people you can lean on to encourage your success as a student. Start a conversation about your future with one of our enrollment representatives today.
Call or chat with us 7 days a week.
Gabriel G., Enrollment Rep
Receive highly rated 1-on-1 support
You’ll have a support team of real people you can lean on to encourage your success as a student. Start a conversation about your future with one of our enrollment representatives today.
Call us at 844-937-8679 or chat with us 7 days a week.
An education that fits your busy life
Balancing family, work and school
Work toward your degree without giving up what matters most. Start your degree year-round and take one class at a time.
Online learning
Enroll in online classes and attend class whenever it fits your life, day or night.
Around-the-clock support and resources
You have a support team available up to 20 hours a day, 5 days a week. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 90% of our surveyed students.[1]
[1] Transactional Survey, August 2021-22 (18,645 respondents)
Faculty Spotlight
Professionals dedicated to you
Your success is a top priority for our deans and faculty members. They bring an average of 26 years of experience and hands-on perspective to the classroom, and help bridge the gap between academics and industry knowledge.
Accreditation
Count on the quality of your education
University of Phoenix has been continually accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org, since 1978.
Frequently asked questions about the Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies degree
Liberal studies typically include a diverse selection of course offerings. This program aligns with the California multiple-subject teaching credential and helps you prepare for it.
The University of Phoenix Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies degree is specifically designed to align with the California multiple subject teaching credential.
This degree is intended to prepare California residents for initial teacher licensure in California. Successful completion of the degree, in addition to meeting California state requirements, will be needed to apply for a California teaching license. See your state’s requirements.
University of Phoenix provides a great wealth of resources to support students seeking teaching credentials. In addition to the resources found on COE Central, you will have access to a program support specialist to help you navigate the credentialing process. The University also has close relationships with hundreds of California schools for field work and student teaching placements.
While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.