Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts
Prepare for all of your life’s callings with a liberal arts degree.
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Pursue Your Interests Across Disciplines
Are you curious about a wide range of subjects? Do you love exploring new ideas and seeing how everything connects? A B.A. in Liberal Arts from Concordia University Irvine gives you the freedom to study across disciplines while building the essential skills today’s employers value most: critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration.
Rooted in the ancient Greek tradition of the liberal arts, Concordia’s program is designed to help you grow both personally and professionally. You’ll explore:
- Humanities: art, literature, and linguistics
- Formal Sciences: mathematics, logic, and statistics
- Natural Sciences: biology, chemistry, and physics
- Social Sciences: history, law, and society
At Concordia, we don’t tell students what to think — we strive to teach them how to think. Through a broad education grounded in faith and purpose, you’ll gain the wisdom to adapt, lead, and serve in whatever vocation you pursue.
Career Relevant
Gain real-world skills for a life of service and leadership.
Collaborative Classes
Learn in classes with a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Opportunity Awaits
Access internship and career opportunities across Southern CA.
Getting Started
The liberal arts major at Concordia encourages you to connect ideas across fields, creating an education that’s truly your own. Each student chooses an emphasis — a focused area of study that complements the breadth of the liberal arts.
Your capstone senior project brings everything together, allowing you to integrate two or more disciplines into one creative or research project that’s most exciting to you. Past projects have included:
- Spoken word poetry inspired by historical figures
- Original songs performed and recorded
- Visual art inspired by world literature
- Essays combining faith, philosophy, and science
Next Start
January 11, 2027
Curriculum
Core Curriculum (Sample Courses):
- ART311 – Art History I
- OR ART312 – Art History II
- CENG203 – Imagining Freedom and Citizenship in the West
- COM324 – Intercultural Communication
- HST310 – Mythology
- HUM495 – Senior Project
- MUS352 – Music of World Cultures
- OR MUS482 – Music Cultures: Musical Expression in Christianity
- REL321 – World Religions
- THR251 – Introduction to Theatre
View the Concordia University Irvine Online Catalog for a full list of courses.
With a liberal arts degree, you’ll be able to:
- Communicate effectively through clear, persuasive writing.
- Apply diverse research tools and interdisciplinary methods.
- Demonstrate understanding of global philosophies, faiths, and artistic movements.
- Connect cultural and historical ideas across time and geography.
- Recognize key eras and themes in Western civilization.
Emphases
- Art
- Biblical Languages
- Biblical Studies
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Classical Languages
- Communication Studies
- Creative Writing
- Economics
- Exercise Science
- History
- Law and Politics
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Mission Studies
- Music
- Philosophy
- Political Thought
- Spanish
- Theatre
- Theology
View the Concordia University Irvine Online Catalog for a full list of courses for each emphasis.
Tuition and Fees
At Concordia, we understand that investing in your education is a significant decision. That’s why we offer a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make your academic journey more affordable. In fact, 100% of our students receive some form of financial assistance! View tuition costs and fees for undergraduate programs.
Admission Requirements
View the Application page for full details on application and admission requirements.
Nationally Recognized Q&I Curriculum
Concordia University Irvine is among a distinctive group of universities that offer a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum for all of its students. Our nationally recognized Enduring Questions & Ideas curriculum (Q&I, for short) is carefully crafted so that you discover the purpose of a liberal arts education — to grow intellectually, ethically, and spiritually.
Career Outcomes
A liberal arts education gives you adaptable skills in critical thinking, writing, and problem-solving that open doors across sectors. Graduates commonly work in education, business, and law.
Potential careers include:1
- Elementary School Teacher
- Secondary School Teacher
- Health Specialties Teacher
- Education Administrator
- Business Manager or Administrator
- Nurse
- LawyerList
Academic Opportunities
As a Liberal Arts major, you can combine your degree with a related minor, double major, or study abroad experience. Popular pairings include:
Students interested in teaching should explore the B.A. in Liberal Studies, which fulfills California’s Elementary Subject Matter Preparation Program.
Extra Curricular Opportunities
Learning at Concordia extends well beyond the classroom. As a liberal arts major, you’ll find countless ways to get involved, serve, and share your gifts:
- Marine Lab
- The Aerie
- Around the World Semester®
- Forensics Team (Speech & Debate)
- The Writing Studio
- Study Abroad
- The Heritage Garden
- Mission and Service Learning
- Village of Hope
Life at Concordia
Join a community where you’re free to explore your interests and pursuits, make relationships that last a lifetime, and develop your own relationship with God. What will you explore?
Explore Financial Aid
Reduce your tuition costs with financial aid — with help from a team that wants to make your time at Concordia as affordable as possible.
Meet Our Faculty
FAQs
What is a liberal arts major?
A liberal arts degree gives you the freedom to explore a wide range of disciplines — humanities, social sciences, and STEM — while building essential life and career skills. At Concordia, you’ll also choose an emphasis to focus your studies, with over 20 options including biology, creative writing, and economics.
Can I get any job with a liberal arts degree?
While no single degree leads to every career, a liberal arts education provides the foundation for many. Plus, the critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills you’ll gain are in demand across industries. Your advisor will help you tailor your coursework to fit your professional goals.
Why do people choose liberal arts colleges?
Liberal arts colleges are known for offering a well-rounded, personalized education.2 At Concordia, you’ll study the humanities, sciences, arts, and faith in small classes where professors know you by name and support your growth both academically and spiritually.
Are liberal arts degrees good for pre-med?
Yes! Medical schools accept students from a variety of academic backgrounds. A liberal arts degree, combined with the right science courses, can prepare you well for medical school and help you approach healthcare with compassion and holistic understanding.
Can you be a lawyer with a liberal arts degree?
Many lawyers begin with a liberal arts education. Your coursework in writing, logic, and ethics will help prepare you for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and for law school itself. After earning your Juris Doctor (JD) and passing the bar, you’ll be ready to practice law wherever you feel called to serve.
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Sources
1U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, on the internet, at:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/field-of-degree/liberal-arts/liberal-arts-field-of-degree.htm (viewed Oct. 24, 2025).
2U.S. News & World Report, What a Liberal Arts College Is and What Students Should Know, on the internet, at
- https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2018-12-07/what-a-liberal-arts-college-is-and-what-students-should-know (viewed Jan. 10, 2025).
Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.