Degree Requirements

Liberal Studies majors will choose two cognates. The cognate that the student chooses for Cognate 1, which has a greater number of hours than Cognate 2, will determine whether the student pursues a BA or BS degree.

Students completing one of the following primary cognates will earn a BA:

  • Creative Arts
  • Humanities
  • Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  • Social Sciences

Students completing one of the following primary cognates will earn a BS:

  • Business
  • Engineering and Computing
  • Education, Health, and Society
  • Professional Studies and Applied Sciences

The table illustrates the overall degree requirements for a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree. 

Bachelor of Liberal Studies Degree Requirements
Degree Components Credit Hours
Miami Plan Foundation 27-28
Miami Plan Thematic Sequence 9
Cognate I 21
Cognate II 15
LST 302: Principles of Liberal Studies 3
Miami Plan Capstone (LST 402) 3
Electives (or MPF courses) 29-49
Total Credit Hours 124

Cognate 1 (21 credit hours)

Take a minimum of 21 credit hours in at least two separate disciplines (with different subject
codes) within the cognate.

  • At least 12 credit hours must be at the 300-level or above.
  • Courses cannot double count in Cognate 1 and 2.
  • Course cannot double count in Cognates and the Global Miami Plan (Foundation, Thematic Sequence, Advanced Writing, Experiential Learning, and Intercultural Perspectives).
  • Some service courses and physical education courses do not count toward Cognates.

Cognate 2 (15 credit hours)

Take a minimum of 15 credit hours in at least two separate disciplines (with different subject
codes) within the cognate.

  • At least 6 credit hours must be at the 300-level or above.
  • Courses cannot double count in Cognate 1 and 2.
  • Course cannot double count in Cognates and the Global Miami Plan (Foundation, Thematic Sequence, Advanced Writing, Experiential Learning, and Intercultural Perspectives).
  • Some service courses and physical education courses do not count toward Cognates.

Required Courses

  • LST 302 Principles of Liberal Studies
  • LST 402 Capstone in Liberal Studies

Additional Requirements

  • Students must complete the entire Miami Plan. If they have not met the Miami Plan Foundation requirements in their associate degree program, they must complete those courses in addition to the requirements of the bachelor’s completion degree. (Note: Miami Plan foundation courses can be counted for free electives and may be part of other requirements.)

  • Students must complete any additional prerequisites required for specific courses in this degree program.

  • Students must complete 32 credit hours at the regional campuses.

  • At least 21 credit hours must be taken at the 300-level and above.

  • At least 56 credit hours (out of the total 128) must be taken at the advanced level (200 or above).

  • Students should take 1-16 hours of electives.

  • Students must meet the general university requirements to earn a bachelor’s degree at Miami University:

    • have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA
    • complete at least 32 credit hours at Miami University
    • earn a minimum of 124 total credit hours.