Have you ever wondered if you should finish your bachelor’s degree? According to a recent study, job seekers who had a bachelor’s degree were hired for nearly 50% more of the jobs that were available in the post-recession economy than those who only had some college education.* In addition, 4 out of 5 employers agree that all students should acquire broad knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences.**
The AAC&U survey of Employers shows liberal arts skills are valued and sought out in the workplace. It also suggests that individuals with higher levels of education earn more and are more likely than others to be employed. Having a college degree is also associated with a healthier lifestyle, more active citizenship, more active parental involvement, and increased socioeconomic status.
So, why should you specifically earn a liberal arts degree? One reason is that the wide-ranging subject matter can prepare you for careers in a wide variety of industries. In fact, Forbes magazine reports that one-third of Fortune 500 CEOs have liberal arts degrees.
The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (BALA) Degree Completion Program at CSULB assists students who want to acquire the skills most sought-after by employers, including communication, critical thinking, language and literature, analytical and scientific reasoning, quantitative analysis, and philosophical foundations. The two-year BALA program is designed to serve the needs of working professionals who are re-entering education with some college credits already completed, and are ready to finally earn their degree. Students receive personalized attention from staff and expert instructors, while gaining access to networking opportunities with fellow professionals.
The BALA program is offered in a small cohort format and draws on a mix of both online and in-person courses, so that students can find a balance between their personal and professional lives while accomplishing their academic goals. The BALA program’s past success is evidenced by a nearly perfect graduation rate. The program is broad enough to support a wide variety of transferable units, as well as students with many different career interests. The convenient BALA schedule includes both synchronous and asynchronous classes, one evening face-to-face class per week, and face-to-face classes every other Saturday, in order to meet the demands of busy work and family lives.
Please note: Applicants should have already completed 72 baccalaureate-level course units.
*Source: Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce
Students enrolled in this program are eligible for financial aid, with the exception of the State University Grant (SUG) and Cal Vet College Fee Waiver.
GI Bill benefits can be used for this program. Click here to learn more about eligibility, rates, and other details.
Working professionals who wish to complete their degree with a convenient schedule
Working professionals with some college experience who want to advance in their career
Job seekers who want access to a wider variety of career options in different industries
Provides a broad liberal arts education
One-on-one advising and program counseling
Financial aid available
Small classes in a supportive environment
Professional networking opportunities
Guaranteed classes with no transfer competition from other CSULB students
Effective oral and written communication
Strong interpersonal skills
A global perspective of liberal arts subjects
Critical and analytical thinking
Strong problem-solving skills
I chose BALA because I wanted to receive an education that focused on making me a more well-rounded person and aligned with my career goals. I acquired the skills that employers are looking for, like communication, critical thinking, and cultural competency.
Melanie Fuller
Interview Specialist, Public Safety Division, City of Los Angeles
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (BALA)
I wanted to thank everyone involved in the BALA program for creating such an inclusive and collaborative program in which I was able to really thrive. The skills and life lessons I gained from the BALA program have been life-changing, and are the reason I am able to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher.
Karli Barrett
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (BALA)
Program Outline
Program Requirements:
48 upper-division units, with at least three courses (9 units) in each of the three areas below.
Three units in CLA 499: Directed Studies: Professional Portfolio. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 units.
Remaining units (12) will be drawn from the three areas below:
Area I: Oral and Written Communication
Area II: Global Citizenship and Cross-Disciplinary Knowledge
Area III: Cultures, Values and Beliefs
Information Sessions
Potential students interested in learning more about this program are encouraged to attend a free information session. The information sessions include short presentations by a program representative, designed to provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the program's benefits.
Upcoming online Information Sessions are listed below when they are available. Choose a date and click the link to register for that Zoom meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details about joining the meeting.
If no sessions are listed below, then none are currently available. Please check this page at a later date to view updated sessions.
Completion of 72 baccalaureate-level units by the end of the prior Spring term for Fall entrance
A maximum of 70 transferable units from a community college
A minimum of 2 units from a university
A BALA applicant who meets all admission qualifications, but does not have those 2 units, may be admitted on a provisional admission status.
Completion of at least 30 units to satisfy the lower-division CSU General Education (GE) requirements, including an Ethnic Studies course, by the end of the prior Spring term for Fall entrance
These units must include the Foundation Courses (see below) with a grade of “C” or better
Official academic transcripts from each college/university that you have previously attended before the deadline.
Admissions essay (approximately 650 words) describing why you are returning to college at this point in your life, and why you want to complete your Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts at California State University, Long Beach.
As you compose your essay, you may want to describe your past experiences (work, education, and personal) that have influenced you in deciding to return to college to complete your degree, specifically in the liberal arts. You should also explain what your college degree will mean to you, both personally and professionally, and what you hope to achieve through your continued education at CSULB as well as in the future.
After your application has been reviewed, you will receive an email prompting you to submit your admissions essay, along with instructions on how to submit it.
Frequently Asked Questions
A liberal arts education focuses on breadth of study, exposing students to a variety of subjects. The focus is not on simply learning facts, but on learning how to understand those facts. In particular, students learn to think critically, express themselves clearly, and make enlightened connections across disciplines. This kind of education is intended to provide wide reaching knowledge and cultivate general intellectual ability.
BALA students take all of their coursework through the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), which is made up of 31 academic departments and programs, and is the largest of CSULB’s eight colleges. The BALA curriculum draws from a broad range of courses, including those in areas such as English, psychology, anthropology, political science, philosophy, religion, economics, and communication studies. We aim to combine the academic needs of our students with an education that can also enrich their work experiences.
48 upper-division units, with at least three courses (9 units) in each of the three areas below.
Three units in CLA 499: Directed Studies: Professional Portfolio. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 units.
Remaining units (12) will be drawn from any of the areas below:
Area I: Oral and written communication
Area II: Global citizenship and cross-disciplinary knowledge
Area III: Cultures, values and beliefs
A bachelor’s degree in liberal arts provides graduates with the skills necessary to be successful in nearly any job. Many employers value graduates with such degrees because they are analytical and have multiple skill sets. Liberal arts graduates are able to think for themselves and have strength of mind and an ordered intellect. A grasp of world perspectives allows them to see relations between philosophies. They are also able to judge ideas for themselves and think independently. Some employment opportunities include writing, social work, communications, law, advertising, teaching, management, retail, insurance, politics, human resources, and government work.
BALA is a degree completion program that offers a high-quality CSU degree. It provides a baccalaureate-level education to students who need to complete their four-year degree. BALA is designed to meet the needs of non-traditional students, particularly working adults, parents, and those with active careers. Students take courses from committed CSULB faculty and complete the program as part of a cohort (all students taking the same courses together). In addition, students receive one-on-one advising throughout their program. This model provides students with support both in and outside of the classroom. Course enrollment is always guaranteed.
Yes. The minimum GPA is 2.0.
Applications for the BALA Program are submitted through Cal State Apply from October 1, 2024 through March 1, 2025. A $55 application fee is required. Official transcripts for Fall 2025 admittance must be received by CSULB by the application deadline of March 1, 2025. (Note that the sooner your transcripts are received and reviewed, the sooner you will be notified of your admission status. To avoid delay, we suggest that you order your transcripts early and retain extra copies for yourself.)
Students who apply to the BALA program should complete the FAFSA (Federal Student Aid) application. This application will determine if you are eligible for financial aid. Once admitted to the program, you will be able to consult with a CSULB financial aid advisor.
You may utilize ASSIST, the online student-transfer information system. Visit www.assist.org and follow instructions to find out if the course credits you’ve already earned are transferable to CSULB.
You may be able to earn the course units you need for enrollment in the BALA program through programs offered at CSULB. These programs include Open University, Summer Sessions, Winter Sessions, and/or May Intersession. Contact Mark Smith for additional details.
The BALA program may be completed in only 2 years, depending on the number of baccalaureate-level units you have upon entering.
In addition to the BALA program requirements, students must pass a writing proficiency exam (WPE) and maintain a 2.0 GPA in the major, upper division, and overall CSULB coursework. Students must also meet the minimum CSULB unit requirements for upper division coursework, CSULB residency, and the bachelor degree in order to be eligible for graduation. In addition, all general education requirements must be completed.
The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (BALA) at California State University, Long Beach is a cohort-based degree completion program designed for full-time working professionals. Students are expected to take only courses assigned by the BALA program. In some rare instances, such as missing unit requirements that cannot be made up through BALA, students may be permitted to take additional courses outside of the BALA structure. However, these exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the BALA Director beforehand. Students should be made aware that classes taken outside of the prescribed schedule could result in ineligibility for financial aid (e.g., not meeting minimum unit loads, exceeding financial aid allotment). Given the design of the program and its target audience, we do not offer options to accelerate progress toward degree completion and there is not an option to complete the program on a full-time basis.
Yes! All BALA degree completion students will receive a degree and be eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony for the College of Liberal Arts.
Contact Mark Smith for more information or to start the registration process.
No, Liberal Studies is a department within the College of Education. BALA is a degree completion program, and our students receive a generalist Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts. While BALA graduates may go on to become educators, our program is not focused on teaching. It draws its coursework exclusively from the College of Liberal Arts.
Students enrolled in this program are eligible for some forms of financial aid, with the exception of the State University Grant (SUG) and Cal Vet College Fee Waiver.
GI Bill benefits can be used for this program. Click here to learn more about eligibility, rates, and other details.
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts
Application Period:
Fall 2025
Cost:
The typical program cost is $20,448. The per-term cost is $2,556 (2 courses per term x 3 units per course x $426 per unit)
Applications will be available from October 1, 2024 to March 1, 2025.
