College of Liberal Arts
Why Study Liberal Arts
From Communication to Psychology and Economics to Political Science, UMass Boston provides a wide variety of disciplines spanning the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. Most international students follow the 3-semester standard program.
Course Structure
Undergraduate UMass Boston GSSP: 3 Semesters*
27-30 credit hours applied from Undergraduate UMass Boston GSSP towards 120 credits.
| Semester 1 | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMSTU 100 | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
| BIOL 101 | The Basis of Life | 3 |
| MATH 115 | College Algebra | 3 |
| UNI 101 | Integrated Skills (UMass Boston GSSP Support Course) | -- |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
| Semester 2 | Course Title | Credits |
| AMST 101 | American Popular Culture | 3 |
| ECON 101 | Introduction to Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ENGL 101 | Freshman English I | 3 |
| PHIL 108 | Moral and Social Problems | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| Semester 3 | Course Title | Credits |
| MUSIC 115 | World Music | 3 |
| HIST 266 | American History Since 1877 | 3 |
| SOCIOL 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
| Total Program Credits | 27-30 |
*Note that this is only a sample of the courses offered during the UMass Boston GSSP.
Undergraduate UMass Boston GSSP: 2 Semesters *
27 credit hours applied from Undergraduate GSSP towards 120 credits.
| Semester 1 | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UNI 101 | Integrated Skills (UMass Boston GSSP Support Course) | -- |
| ENGL 101 | Freshman English I | 3 |
| MATH 115 | College Algebra | 3 |
| COMM 100 | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
| ECON 101 | The Global Environment | -- |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| Semester 2 | Course Title | Credits |
| ENGL 101 | Freshman English II | 3 |
| PHIL 108 | Moral & Social Problems | 3 |
| SOCIOL 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| MUSI 115 | World Music | 3 |
| AMST 101 | American Popular Culture | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| Total Program Credits | 27 |
Note: Course availability may vary semester on semester, and space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students’ eligibility to take certain classes will depend on Math Placement score and Writing Assessment results. Students are encouraged to complete their placement exams and register for classes prior to arrival. Those who do not complete these steps prior to arrival may find that classes become full, in which case the student will have to wait until a subsequent semester to complete those courses.
Progressing to UMass Boston
Progression Requirements
- Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Minimum 27-30 credits earned during Undergraduate UMass Boston GSSP
- 27 credits = 9 courses
- 30 credits = 10 courses
Degree Requirements
- 120 credit hour program
- 27 credit hours applied from Undergraduate UMass Boston GSSP
- 93 credit hours remaining towards a degree
UMass Boston College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Degree Programs
- Africana Studies (BA)
- American Studies (BA)
- Anthropology (BA)
- Archaeology and History (BA)
- Art (BA)
- Asian Studies (BA)
- Classical Studies (BA)
- Classical Languages (BA)
- Communication (BA)
- Criminology and Criminal Justice (BA)
- Economics (BA)
- English (BA)
- Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy (BA)
- French (BA)
- History (BA)
- Italian (BA)
- Labor Studies
- Latin American and Iberian Studies
- Philosophy (BA)
- Philosophy and Public Policy (BA)
- Political Science (BA)
- Psychology (BA or BS)
- Music (BA)
- Sociology (BA)
- Social Psychology (BA)
- Spanish (BA)
- Theatre Arts (BA)
- Women’s and Gender Studies (BA)
Popular Careers
- Clinical and social psychology
- Communications
- Counseling and human services
- Criminal Justice
- Economics
- Education
- Federal/State/Local Government
- Foreign Service
- Forensics
- Journalism
- Law enforcement/legal services
- Linguistics
- Medicine
- Politics
- Public health
- Public relations
- Theatre