Welcome to Liberal Studies @FSU!
Liberal Studies – Why?
Our Mission
Florida State University … strives to instill the strength, skill, and character essential for lifelong learning, personal responsibility, and sustained achievement within a community that fosters free inquiry and embraces diversity.
FSU’s mission statement ends with a pledge to instill strength, skill, and character in its students. The Liberal Studies Curriculum sets the foundation for acquiring these traits. In the 36 Liberal Studies hours, students learn and practice three essential competencies:
- Thinking
- Communicating
- Engaging
Regardless of your major, you will use these basic skills throughout your time at FSU and beyond.
Liberal Studies equips you with the fundamental knowledge you need to succeed at FSU and beyond.

Build Your FSU Experience
With Liberal Studies
Liberal Studies offers hundreds of courses in a wide variety of fields so you can build the FSU experience you want. While you will be required to take certain kinds of courses to develop a broad knowledge base essential for success, in many cases, you can select courses that interest you; or classes that you and your advisor think will help you be more successful in your chosen field.
- A fan of CSI or True Crime podcasts? Why not take Forensic Science in Investigation (CJE3762/3762L) to satisfy your Natural Science and lab requirements?
- Learning how to write music? Why not take The Art of Songwriting (MUT1005) to satisfy Humanities and Cultural Practice?
Not sure what you want to do? Check out our course search!
The Liberal Studies Curriculum
FSU’s innovative Liberal Studies curriculum allows students to work with faculty across a wide range of disciplines.