Liberal Arts

Welcome to the study of Liberal Arts at Mercer, where we aim to give you practice in valuable, in-demand skills necessary for a successful life in a rapidly changing world.

Based on the Latin word liberalis, or “free,” Liberal Arts study once meant “things only a free and well-off person had the leisure to learn”; knowing these things was often a way of perpetuating the social power of those with authority to speak, write, and make decisions. Today, however, Liberal Arts study is a way for all people to claim the freedom to think, know, respond creatively, and speak in the cause of personal and social justice.

Liberal Arts training creates people who are well-rounded, interdisciplinary, resilient, global, articulate, ethical, and collaborative thinkers who can make life better not just for themselves, but for everyone.

Browse through our LA in the News links  and visit the Career and Transfer page for more information on where you can go next with a Liberal Arts A.A. degree. If you’re looking for a 1-credit class to fulfill your 60-credit degree, check out our Fall 2021 LAS 201 Special Topics sections below. Your faculty advisors are ready to help in any way, and so am I. We wish you well as you begin an exciting journey of continual curiosity, questioning, and revelation.

The Global Studies concentration is a specialized version of the Liberal Arts degree at Mercer. If you are interested in working internationally or better understanding global culture, politics, history, and business, Liberal Arts: Global Studies is a great choice. As with the standard Liberal Arts degree, here we give you practice in valuable, in-demand skills necessary for a successful life in a rapidly changing world.

By fulfilling your Liberal Arts degree requirements with courses that are global in focus, you will be well prepared for whatever your future holds, wherever it may take you. Our degree program is set up to help you know, think, respond creatively, and speak with passion and authority.