Academic Catalog

Liberal Studies Requirements

All students seeking their first baccalaureate degree from Northern Arizona University must take thirty-five (35) units of Liberal Studies. You will take courses to satisfy both the Foundation and Distribution requirements.

Foundation Requirements

• English Composition (minimum of 4 units)
• Mathematics (minimum of 3 units)

Distribution Block Requirements

• Aesthetic and Humanistic Inquiry - AHI (minimum of 6 units)
• Cultural Understanding - CU (minimum of 6 units)
• Science (minimum of 7 units)
  • 3-4 units of Science and Applied Science - SAS course(s) AND
  • 3-4 units of Science and Applied Science with embedded Lab Science course - LAB
• Social and Political Worlds - SPW (minimum of 6 units)
• 3 additional units from any distribution block or foundation category to meet the 35 unit Liberal Studies requirement

Make sure to choose classes from the approved list of Liberal Studies Courses with the help of an academic adviser. A cross-listed course may only be counted in one block. Some Liberal Studies courses may also fulfill NAU's Global or U.S. Ethnic Diversity requirements.

If your academic catalog is prior to 2014-2015, courses used for Liberal Studies may share the same prefix as your minor discipline but not your major discipline.

If your academic catalog is 2014-2015 (or a subsequent catalog), up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements. Courses used for the Liberal Studies distribution requirements can have the same prefix as your minor. 

Completion of Liberal Studies Foundation Requirements

All undergraduate degree-seeking students are expected to fulfill the university’s Liberal Studies foundation requirements in English and Mathematics by the time they have accumulated 60 hours of credit, including coursework completed at NAU and coursework accepted for transfer to NAU. 

English

Any student who has more than 60 hours of credit and has not fulfilled the English foundation requirement must enroll in an English course that fulfills the requirement or an appropriate prerequisite course and continue to do so every semester until the requirement is met. If there are scheduling conflicts detrimental to the student’s academic progress, enrollment in the appropriate English course may be deferred to the subsequent semester.

Mathematics

Any student who has more than 60 hours of credit and has not fulfilled the mathematics foundation requirement must enroll in a course that fulfills the requirement or an appropriate prerequisite course and continue to do so every semester until the mathematics requirement is met. If there are scheduling conflicts detrimental to the student’s academic progress, enrollment in the appropriate mathematics course may be deferred to the subsequent semester.

New First-Year Students

Before new first-year students can register for the first time at NAU, they must determine what courses to take to complete the university mathematics and English foundation requirements. Students are then expected to enroll immediately in these courses and continue to do so until the requirements are met.

Transfer Students

Transfer students from public Arizona community colleges, tribal colleges or universities can determine the acceptability of their composition and mathematics courses by referring to the Course Applicability System in consultation with an academic advisor.  Composition and mathematics courses transferred from out-of-state institutions must be evaluated according to university policies for its acceptability for meeting these requirements. Transfer students who have not completed the Liberal Studies foundation courses are expected to enroll promptly in these courses and continue to do so until the requirements are met.  If there are scheduling conflicts detrimental to the student’s academic progress, enrollment in the appropriate English and/or Mathematics course may be deferred to the subsequent semester.

Junior Writing and Senior Capstone

There are two university requirements designed to meet the aims and goals of the Liberal Studies program that are embedded within the academic major. They are a junior-level writing course and a senior capstone experience. These courses are designed to build upon learning and skills developed through Liberal Studies and the major.

Junior-Level Writing Course

These courses are designated with a W at the end of the course number. Junior-level writing courses engage students in the writing process in the context of a discipline or profession.

Senior Capstone

These courses are designated with a C at the end of the course number. Capstone courses are culminating experiences in the major that involve students in application, synthesis, practice, or inquiry.

For more detailed information on the Liberal Studies Program and its requirements, see the Liberal Studies page.

Liberal Studies Substitution

Request to substitute a transfer course for a Liberal Studies course. (Form must be completed by NAU advisor.) Exception: Capstone and JLWR substitutions or waivers are approved by your advisor, the chair of your department, and the associate dean of your college or school. See policy number: 100801, Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.