Tennessee Technological University

What you'll study

This interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree combines coursework across the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences alongside general education foundations. Students typically complete a core of communication, quantitative reasoning and information-literacy courses, then choose concentrations or elective clusters drawn from areas such as literature, history, philosophy, languages, cultural studies, psychology, sociology and environmental studies.

Typical modules and learning experiences include:

• Foundations of Inquiry: academic writing and research methods, critical thinking, and introduction to digital literacy.
• Humanities Core: surveys in world and English literature, introduction to philosophy, ethics, and arts appreciation.
• Social Science Options: introductory sociology, cultural anthropology, psychology, political science and public policy.
• Science & Quantitative Reasoning: one or more natural science courses with lab components and statistics or quantitative reasoning courses to support analytical skills.
• Language & Communication: foreign language study and courses in rhetoric, public speaking or media studies to strengthen communication abilities.
• Applied Components: internship or practicum options, a capstone project or senior seminar that integrates interdisciplinary knowledge, and opportunities for undergraduate research or community-engaged learning.

The programme is intentionally flexible: students work with an academic advisor to design a coherent programme of study that meets degree requirements while aligning with career goals or transfer needs to graduate and professional programmes.

Entry requirements

Admission to Tennessee Technological University and the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences generally requires a recognised secondary school diploma (such as a high school diploma or equivalent) and submission of official transcripts. Applicants are evaluated on academic preparation, strength of college-preparatory coursework and overall academic record.

Typical expectations include completion of college-preparatory English and mathematics courses. Some applicants may be asked to provide SAT or ACT scores where required by the university; check the university’s admissions guidance for current testing policies. Transfer applicants must submit college transcripts and meet the university’s transfer-credit guidelines.

Additional considerations: a personal statement or essay may be requested to explain educational goals and how the interdisciplinary programme aligns with the applicant’s interests. International applicants must meet English-language proficiency requirements and provide credential evaluations as required by the university.

Career prospects

Graduates of the General Studies and Humanities pathway develop versatile skills valued across many sectors: written and oral communication, critical and creative thinking, research, analysis and cultural literacy. Common career paths include:

• Education and training: roles in K–12 education (with certification where needed), adult education, tutoring and educational support services.
• Public service and non-profit work: community outreach, programme coordination, grant writing and policy support.
• Business and administration: human resources, management training programmes, project coordination and client-facing roles that prioritise communication and problem-solving.
• Media, communications and publishing: journalism, content creation, public relations and editorial work.
• Pre‑professional and graduate study: the degree is a foundation for law school, graduate programmes in humanities or social sciences, library and information science, and other professional pathways.

Students are encouraged to use campus resources such as Career Services, internship offices and faculty mentoring to build relevant experience and professional networks while studying.

Why study at Tennessee Technological University

Tennessee Tech is a public, regional university located in Cookeville that emphasises hands-on learning, faculty mentorship and applied experience. The liberal arts and sciences programme benefits from small class sizes, accessible faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences and opportunities to combine classroom study with internships, undergraduate research and community engagement across the region.

Students in this programme can take advantage of cross-disciplinary collaborations, study-abroad options, student organisations in the humanities and social sciences, and university career-development services that help translate a broad liberal-arts education into tangible career outcomes. Advising is focused on helping students create interdisciplinary plans that meet both academic and professional goals.