Liberal Studies Courses
Develop your capacity to understand and appraise the social and cultural context in which you work as a professional and live as an educated citizen.
Build skills in critical thinking, analysis, and written communication.
We offer a wide variety of degree-credit Liberal Studies courses, available in-class, online, as intensives, and in the Spring/Summer term.
Liberal Studies courses are open to continuing education students and undergraduate students. They may be taken for interest, or they may be applied toward a degree, diploma, or certificate.
How to Choose a Course
Liberal Studies courses are found principally in the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Community Services, the Faculty of Communication and Design, and the Faculty of Science. You can use our Course Search to choose your Liberal Studies requirements from a rich range of disciplines and departments, including:
- Astronomy
- Arabic
- Biology
- Caribbean Studies
- Chemistry
- Chinese
- Criminal Justice and Criminology
- Economics
- English
- French
- Spanish
- Geography
- History
- Math
- Nutrition
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Theatre
Levels and Restrictions
Liberal studies courses are offered at two levels: lower and upper.
- Lower level Liberal Studies courses are intended for first- and second-year students. Normally, they are introductory or survey courses.
- Upper level Liberal Studies courses are more focused and intellectually demanding.
If you plan to use a Liberal Studies course for credit in your undergraduate degree program, it is your responsibility to ensure that the course meets the specific requirements and restrictions of your program.
For more detailed information, check the Undergraduate Liberal Studies Guide and review the following tables for lower level and upper level course restrictions:
Transferring Courses for Credit at Other Institutions
Not a TMU student, but looking for undergraduate degree credits?
If you are studying at another university or community college, you may be able to take Liberal Studies courses through The Chang School and transfer the credits to your institution. Be sure to verify the course’s equivalency with your institution first.
Program Requirements
If you intend to apply a continuing education course for credit in your degree program, it is your responsibility to ensure that the course meets the stated requirements of your program. Acquiring both lower- and upper-level Liberal Studies courses are among those requirements.
- TMU students should review the Undergraduate Calendar for specific program restrictions.
- Non-TMU students are strongly advised to consult their home universities to ensure course credit equivalency prior to registration.
Liberal Studies courses are divided into lower-level courses and upper-level courses. Normally, program students are required to take three of each to graduate. Lower-level courses are usually taken during the first two years of a four-year program, and upper-level courses are usually taken during the last two years. Note that certain courses cannot be taken for Liberal Studies credit in some programs.