BCLA is the oldest and largest school at LMU and the liberal arts is at the heart of the LMU undergraduate education for all our students. We have 24 degree programs and 33 minors that will help you sharpen your intellectual capacity, gain deep content knowledge, and practice the marketable skills–such as critical thinking, writing, diversity awareness, and teamwork–that are highly valued by employers. In fact, the overwhelming majority of employers prefer to hire people who demonstrate the outcomes from a liberal arts education. Liberal arts graduates have similar peak earnings as business and pre-professional majors, and are more likely to pursue graduate degrees. The liberal arts will stimulate your intellectual curiosity, broaden your horizons, deepen your self-awareness, enhance your moral principles and ethical reasoning, and develop habits for lifelong learning.
In the Liberal Arts you will:
The Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts embodies the wider University goals of liberal education and commitment to Roman Catholicism and the Judeo-Christian traditions. Our courses represent the heart of the University’s core curriculum for all undergraduates. Our curriculum liberates the mind, nourishes the spirit, and cultivates creativity for the challenges of today and tomorrow.
BCLA is committed to welcoming and supporting a diverse community of scholars and learners. The diversity of people, perspectives, and programs in BCLA only amplifies the power of an LMU liberal arts education. For more information about BCLA’s mission, visit http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/about.
By virtue of their liberal arts courses, LMU students should understand:
By virtue of their liberal arts courses, LMU students should be able to:
By virtue of their liberal arts courses, LMU students should value:
Similarly, BCLA students attain the learning outcomes of their majors and minors, found in the following program descriptions.
The College offers undergraduate majors and/or minors in the following fields of learning:
| Department/Program | Abbreviation | Degree/Program |
|---|---|---|
| African American Studies | AFAM | Major and Minor |
| Asian Pacific American Studies | APAM | Minor only |
| Asian and Pacific Studies | ASPA | Major and Minor |
| Bioethics | BIOE | Minor only |
| Catholic Studies | CATH | Minor only |
| Chicano/a and Latino/a Studies | CLST | Major and Minor |
| Chinese | CHIN | Minor only |
| Classics and Archaeology | CLAR | Major and Minor |
| Economics (BA) | ECON | Major and Minor |
| Economics (BS) | ECNO | Major and Minor |
| English | ENGL | Major and Minor |
| Environmental Studies | EVST | Major and Minor |
| French | FREN | Major and Minor |
| German | GRMN | Minor only |
| Global Economics | EGEM | Minor only |
| Health and Society | HEAS | Minor only |
| History | HIST | Major and Minor |
| Individualized Studies | ISLA | Major only |
| International Relations | IRLT | Major and Minor |
| Italian | ITAL | Minor only |
| Irish Studies | IRST | Minor only |
| Jewish Studies | JWST | Minor only |
| Journalism | JOUR | Major and Minor |
| Modern Greek Studies | MDGK | Minor only |
| Modern Languages | MDLG | Major only |
| Peace and Justice Studies | PJST | Minor only |
| Philosophy | PHIL | Major and Minor |
| Political Science | POLS | Major and Minor |
| Psychology | PSYC | Major and Minor |
| Sociology | SOCL | Major and Minor |
| Spanish | SPAN | Major and Minor |
| Theological Studies | THST | Major and Minor |
| Urban Studies | URBN | Major and Minor |
| Women’s and Gender Studies | WGST | Major and Minor |
Master’s level graduate programs are offered in the following fields:
The University requirements for admission, graduation, and all general rules and regulations of the University as set forth in this Bulletin are applicable to and binding upon all students enrolled in the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts.
The degree program has three components: core, major, and electives. The core curriculum, which is taken throughout the four-year program, provides educational breadth and embodies Loyola Marymount’s educational mission and vision. The major provides a field of concentration that develops a depth of understanding in the humanities or social sciences. Finally, up to one-third of the program is made up of electives. This provides the opportunity for exploring fields of study complementary to the major or for developing expertise in a second major or minor.
All BCLA students should be aware of the following policies:
Graduation Requirements: 124 semester hours are required for graduation with the following distribution: a) at least 45 semester hours of upper division, and b) a maximum of 40 upper division semester hours or no more than four upper division courses beyond the major requirements in any one department will be accepted toward graduation requirements.
Concurrent Enrollment: Enrollment by degree-seeking students at another institution at the same time they are enrolled at LMU is not permitted. Courses taken concurrently elsewhere will not be accepted toward degree requirements in BCLA. See Financial Aid policies for additional restrictions.
Transfer Coursework: The Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts accepts a maximum of two semester hours of physical education only upon entrance for a new transfer student. Other physical education hours do not count toward degree requirements.
A maximum of 10 semester hours of Aerospace Studies credit will be accepted.
Major Declaration: Students in the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts must declare their primary major in the college prior to earning 60 credits. This is typically achieved by the end of the second year. Majors are declared by completing the Office of the Registrar Change of Academic Program form in consultation with advising.
Unit Overload: Requests for registration of more than 18 credits in a semester must follow the university policy on unit overloads. Juniors and seniors who meet the Bulletin standards will be approved. Students who do not meet the minimum standards as defined by the university policy or students who meet the standards but are of sophomore standing (Attn: Assistant Dean via BCLA Advising) must supply additional materials including: a four-year plan and a written proposal. First-year students are ineligible for overloads.
Course Audit: Undergraduate students in good standing may audit courses provided faculty approval and a written statement to the BCLA Dean’s Office that provides sufficient academic rationale for audit as opposed to direct enrollment. Refer to the university policy on course audit for additional governing policies.
Individualized Study Program
Admission to the Individualized Study Program in BCLA is granted in limited cases based on a series of discipline-based requirements. In all cases a student must have:
All subsequent changes in the Individualized Study Program require points 2, 3, and 4 above.
Students registering for an Individualized Study Program are advised that their diploma and transcript will read “Individualized Study” and not the specific major they elect within that program.
Academic Advising: Students are encouraged to meet early and often with BCLA Advising (4600 University Hall) for questions related to student success, academic policies, and degree progress in the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts.
Students wishing to teach grades K-5 in California public schools are required to obtain a Multiple Subjects Subject Matter Teaching Credential and demonstrate “subject matter competence” to teach the many subjects commonly taught in elementary school. Subject matter competence must be demonstrated by passing the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET). To prepare for this examination, students complete the requirements of the Liberal Studies Bachelor of Arts degree in the School of Education. Students interested in the Liberal Studies degree program should consult a Liberal Studies advisor in the School of Education.
Students wishing to teach in grades 6-12 in California public schools are required to obtain a Single Subject Credential and demonstrate “subject matter competence” to teach a particular subject (e.g., English, Social Studies, Foreign Language, Mathematics, or Science). Subject matter competence can be demonstrated by either passing a national exam or by successfully completing an approved subject matter preparation program in the College. Students interested in teaching a single subject at the 6-12 grades levels should consult the Subject Matter advisor in the relevant department. The Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering offers an approved single subject preparation program in mathematics. Students interested in teaching mathematics should consult an advisor in the Mathematics Department. Subject matter preparation programs in science and French are pending, whereas Spanish and the social sciences have been approved.
A Multiple Subjects Subject Matter or Single Subject Matter teaching credential can be earned concurrently with a Bachelor’s degree. Except for Liberal Studies majors, students may declare a minor in Education and begin taking Education courses after completion of 30 semester hours (first semester Sophomore standing). In order to maximize the full potential of taking Education courses with the undergraduate program, students are strongly encouraged to declare the Education minor early in their career. Credential programs are also available in Special Education (K-12) and Bilingual Education (Spanish, K-12). For more information on Education programs, see the School of Education section in this Bulletin.
For information on these programs, see the Center for Undergraduate Teacher Preparation section in this Bulletin.
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