Course Overview!

The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Liberal Arts (ALA) at Boston College blends a strong liberal arts foundation with in-demand, employer-aligned skills. It helps students connect their education to their future careers and lives. The program emphasizes critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and cultural literacy, alongside practical skills such as project management, data analysis, design thinking, and conflict resolution. Students choose a concentration in one of six areas (English, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, or Sociology), completing major requirements and concentration courses. The program aims to cultivate well-rounded, thoughtful leaders prepared for a diverse, global society.

Course Structure

The ALA program comprises a core curriculum (covering examined life, English, philosophy, theology, social sciences, history, quantitative reasoning, natural science, arts, and cultural diversity) and major requirements (project management, data visualization or programming, conflict resolution, data analysis, design thinking, and an integrative capstone). Students then select a concentration (English, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, or Sociology), completing five or six courses within that area. Specific course titles and details can be found on the BC website. The program integrates various teaching methodologies, blending theory and practice to develop students' in-demand job skills.