About Us

Liberal Studies BA Program

• Coming Events 
• Audit Liberal Studies Courses through the
  Love of Learning Program
• Scholarships and Awards Available to Liberal Studies students

Liberal Studies is the study of influential works and ideas across the whole Western cultural tradition—from ancient to modern times. In small seminars, students are actively engaged in analysis, interpretation and criticism, as opposed to being passive recipients of the pre-digested opinions of others. Our courses are offered in Nanaimo, Parksville, Courtenay and Europe (see video).

Professors with varied academic backgrounds guide this exploration, and form with students a community whose purpose is helping one another learn. Liberal Studies, as opposed to traditional discipline-based BA programs, includes hands-on activities in science and the arts.

Rather than on a narrow specialization, the emphasis is on generic skills so highly-prized in today's workplace: the abilities to communicate clearly, solve problems through critical thinking, adapt creatively to new challenges and embrace life-long learning. Thus Liberal Studies is an excellent preparation for the workplace.

Students may complete a BA with a major or minor in Liberal Studies, or take our courses as electives in other programs. Our first- and second-year courses provide an introduction to the kinds of content and learning methods distinctive of the program.

Liberal Studies Abroad provides exciting opportunities for credit and non-credit study in Europe during the summer months. Anyone at all may participate.

If you enjoy discussing art, literature, philosophy and great books, join the Great Ideas Discussion Forum in the Liberal Studies Common-Room. The Forum is a worldwide arena for people interested in the ideas which have informed the Western tradition for the last three millennia, and in the relation between Western and other cultures. Join today - all you need is the enrolment key: lbst. (If the link does not work, enrol in the Liberal Studies Common-Room via moodle.viuonline.ca.)