Liberal Studies (K-5, Licensure)
With a degree in Liberal Studies, you will be well-prepared to teach K-5 students. You can also find a career in business, government, or social service agencies like adult and family services, criminal justice, and health and welfare.
The Liberal Studies major combines courses in humanities, arts, sciences, and education to give you a complete educational experience. This interdisciplinary experience will encourage the kinds of intellectual growth and critical thinking that you’ll need to succeed not just in the classroom but in life.
A few things set CBU’s liberal studies degree apart from other liberal arts undergraduate degrees:
- An Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts Foundation – The Liberal Studies major combines coursework in humanities, arts, sciences, and education, so you graduate with the kind of broad intellectual foundation and critical thinking skills a K-5 generalist teacher actually needs in the classroom, not just a checklist of teaching methods classes.
- A Direct Path to Tennessee K-5 Teacher Licensure – CBU is approved by the Tennessee State Department of Education as a Teacher Training Institution, and CBU’s education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditations of Educator Preparation (CAEP), giving you a clear, state-recognized pathway through the education requirements needed to teach in Tennessee.
- Real Classroom Experience Built Into the Degree – With 13 credit hours of student teaching built directly into the 133-credit-hour program, you complete the required education training and hands-on classroom time you need for licensure before you ever apply for your first teaching job.
- Why Choose CBU for Your Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts?
- A BA in Liberal Studies from CBU is designed to prepare you for what comes next, whether that’s a K-5 classroom, or a career in business, government, or social service agencies like adult and family services, criminal justice, and health and welfare. As a Liberal Studies major, you’ll build an interdisciplinary foundation across the humanities, arts, and sciences, gain real classroom experience through student teaching, and graduate with a degree that meets Tennessee’s teaching requirements for initial licensure.
- Skills You’ll Develop Earning a BA in Liberal Studies
- You’ll build more than subject-matter knowledge. Throughout the program, students develop:
- Interdisciplinary Critical Thinking – The ability to draw on humanities, arts, and science coursework to think and problem-solve across subject areas, a skill built directly into the program’s liberal arts foundation.
- K-5 Classroom Instruction – Practical, hands-on teaching skills developed through the program’s built-in student teaching experience.
- Adaptability Across Subjects – The versatility to teach as a K-5 generalist across multiple content areas, rather than a single subject speciality.
- Communication and Collaboration – Experience working with students, families, and community partners, preparing graduates for education careers as well as roles in business, government, and social services.
- Readiness for Tennessee Licensure Requirements – Coursework and clinical experience aligned with what Tennessee’s Teacher Training Institutions require for initial K-5 licensure.
Program Highlights
The liberal studies major requires 133 credit hours:
- 34 credits: General education. Math, English, religious studies, social science or history, natural or physical science
- 36 credits: Liberal arts. Foreign language, the humanities and social sciences
- 50 credits: Major requirements
- 13 credits: Student teaching
The academic catalog lists all course requirements for this program.
Accreditation
Christian Brothers University is approved by the State Department of Education of Tennessee as a Teacher Training Institution. CBU’s undergraduate and graduate education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Teaching Requirements in Tennessee and Memphis
CBU’s Liberal Studies program is built around Tennessee’s education requirements for initial teacher licensure, so graduates don’t have to piece together separate certification steps after they finish their degree. Candidates completing this state-approved educator preparation program also complete the coursework and clinical requirements aligned with the Tennessee Literacy Success Act, along with the Praxis content assessment required for licensure.
Because CBU’s program is a state-approved pathway, graduates benefit from Tennessee’s current policy allowing in-state program completers to satisify their candidate performance assessment through the preparation program itself, rather than a separate standalone exam. Teaching requirements in Memphis follow the same statewide Tennessee licensure process, since local school districts like Memphis-Shelby County Schools hire teachers who hold a valid Tennessee educator license.
How Long is a Teacher Preparation Program at CBU?
The Liberal Studies degree is designed as a four-year, 133-credit-hour bachelor’s program, including a dedicated student teaching semester. Because licensure requirements and clinical placements are built into the degree itself rather than added on afterward, most students complete their required education training and are ready to apply for Tennessee licensure at graduation.
Careers with a Liberal Studies Degree
A BA in Liberal Studies from CBU opens doors across teaching and beyond. Career paths for this liberal arts bachelor degree include:
- K-5 Classroom Teacher – Teaching in public or private elementary schools across Tennessee, using the initial K-5 licensure earned through this program.
- Business – Applying interdisciplinary communication and critical thinking skills in corporate or nonprofit settings.
- Government – Roles in public administration and government agencies that value a broad, adaptable educational background.
- Social Services – Careers in adult and family services, criminal justice, and health and welfare agencies.
Whether you’re asking what you can do with a liberal studies degree or specifically looking into teaching requirements in Tennessee, this program is built to prepare you for licensure and for a range of careers beyond the classroom.
Is a Liberal Studies Major for You?
If you have interests in any of the following areas, this major may be for you:
- Teaching K-5 students
- Humanities and the arts
- Working with children and families
- Community and social service work
- Business or government careers that value a broad liberal arts foundation
Meet the Faculty
Frequently Asked Questions – Liberal Studies at CBU
What is a BA in Liberal Studies degree?
A BA in Liberal Studies is an interdisciplinary liberal arts undergraduate degree that combines coursework in the humanities, arts, sciences, and education. At CBU, this degree is built specifically to prepare graduates for initial K-5 teacher licensure in Tennessee.
What are the teaching requirements in Tennessee for K-5 licensure?
Tennessee requires prospective teachers to complete a state-approved educator preparation program, pass the required Praxis content assessments, and meet Tennessee Literacy Success Act requirements. CBU’s Liberal Studies program is approved by the Tennessee State Department of Education as a Teacher Training Institution and is accredited by CAEP, meeting these education requirements directly within the degree.
Are teaching requirements in Memphis different from the rest of Tennessee?
No. Teaching requirements in Memphis follow the same statewide Tennessee licensure process. Local districts, including Memphis-Shelby County Schools, hire teachers who hold a valid Tennessee educator license, which CBU’s program prepares students to obtain.
How long is a teacher preparation program at CBU?
CBU’s Liberal Studies program is a four-year, 133-credit-hour bachelor’s degree, including 13 credit hours of student teaching. Licensure requirements are built into the degree itself, so most students are prepared to apply for Tennessee licensure at graduation.
What can you do with a liberal studies degree?
Graduates are prepared to teach K-5 students in public or private schools, and can also pursue careers in business, government, or social service agencies such as adult and family services, criminal justice, and health and welfare.
Does CBU offer liberal studies as a bachelor of arts?
Yes. CBU’s Liberal Studies program is a BA degree offered through the Department of Education within the Rosa Deal School of Arts, and it leads to initial teacher licensure for grades K-5.
What skills do you develop in a liberal studies degree program?
Students develop interdisciplinary critical thinking, K-5 classroom instruction skills, adaptability across subject areas, and communication and collaboration skills, supported by coursework across the humanities, arts, and sciences and a built-in student teaching experience.
