Course overview

Studying Liberal Arts at Keele allows you to explore a diverse range of subject areas in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Our flexible approach allows you to tailor your degree programme to your individual interests and career aspirations.

Liberal Arts promotes a deep understanding of a variety of subjects, and develops strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills. This will involve exploring major societal challenges in a critical and open-minded manner.

The course comprises core and optional modules as well as discipline related modules that will relate to the subject area of your choice which enables you to delve into topics that fascinate you and that you consider important. Having a broad insight into several subject areas will prepare you for employment through developing key transferable skills that you will apply in the workplace, including evaluative, communication and teamwork skills.

On this programme, you could explore subjects across the Humanities and Social Sciences such as:

• Media
• Politics
• Sociology
• Education
• English Literature
• History
• International Relations

Additionally, some modules from subjects such as Geography and Environmental Science may be available.

Apply your knowledge

You will have the opportunity to apply knowledge by engaging with real communities. You will pursue hands-on research into Britain’s industrial, social, economic, and cultural history as well as current and future-oriented issues which may include economic regeneration, social and political challenges, environmental sustainability, citizenship, and creativity. For example, you may explore issues in the local area (‘The Potteries’) where you can discover the challenges faced by local citizens and identify solutions. This will demonstrate your acquired knowledge and develop your analytical, communication, presentational, writing and research skills. It will show your ability to apply what you learn practically, which is invaluable for employment after graduation.

Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences (ILAS) is a vibrant hub which promotes interdisciplinarity for all staff and students across all faculties in the university. Through a stimulating events programme including the Grand Challenges lecture series, plus a range of conferences, workshops and seminars, ILAS provide spaces to engage with academic colleagues, practitioners and policy makers and to nurture new ideas and approaches that cross disciplinary boundaries.

Work Placements

The School of Humanities hosts two optional ‘Work Placement in the Humanities’ modules in years 2 and 3 which provide you with a platform to work within an organisation and further develop your professional skills. Under the guidance of module tutors, you will identify an organisation based on your interests and will spend a semester engaging with projects and tasks set out by the employer.

You may secure a role in the heritage, education, charity, marketing and management sectors, the creative industries, or in other areas where the research, analytical, and communication skills developed as part of a Humanities degree can be used. Our alumni have previously taken work placements in museums, schools, charities, and businesses, enhancing their career prospects upon graduation. You will engage with taught sessions in addition to your time at your chosen organisation and will be expected to reflect upon your experience to identify how you can apply your learning to your studies and beyond.

You will also have the opportunity to opt for a Work Placement Year between Year 2 and 3, that allows you to practice your knowledge and prepare for employment after university. This opportunity will enable you to build confidence in the workplace and demonstrate your abilities in a professional environment, using the skills you have gained throughout your degree programme. You will be supported with your preparation for your placement with advice on CV writing and cover letters, as well as the chance to attend Q&A workshops to discuss individual experiences with alumni and employers. This is a valuable experience that allows you to develop both personally and professionally.

International Year

Enhance your career prospects with an International Year at one of our partner institutions. Utilising this opportunity between 2nd and 3rd year can help in your employment search to stand out from the crowd and broaden your horizons, potentially working across the globe.

On successful completion of all modules across the year, you will graduate with a degree title of ‘Liberal Arts with International Year’. This can be highly beneficial for your career prospects. Through experiencing different cultures, you will not only grow as an individual, but you will also further your knowledge and interests within society. You can find more information here.

Related courses

• Liberal Arts with Integrated Master's