Which Liberal Arts Universities Are Near Arlington, TX?

Liberal Arts Schools and Programs Near Arlington, TX

Liberal arts schools usually focus on undergraduate education, though there are some exceptions. Majors in the liberal arts category include disciplines not necessarily aimed at particular occupations, but ones that provide a general overview of a professional field. Some examples include mathematics, psychology, social and natural sciences, fine arts, foreign languages, business and history. Most vocations in liberal arts fields won't require you to obtain anything in addition to your degree; however, depending on the type job you pursue (such as teaching, real estate or finance), you might need additional education, state licensure or professional certification.

You can also find private and public universities in the Arlington area with colleges dedicated to liberal arts fields. Often interdisciplinary, these programs offer a specific focus but also include courses from other colleges, such as business, science or communication.

A liberal arts education can open the door to several careers in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences or criminal justice fields. It can also offer a springboard to graduate studies in a number of disciplines, such as social work, medicine and business. The broad education in such areas as cultural awareness and communication can provide a benefit, since they're applicable to a variety of professions. Many medical and law schools, for instance, recommend a liberal arts undergraduate education for this reason. However, the 2012 salary survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that graduates with majors in the liberal arts, social sciences and humanities had a median salary of $34,789 nationwide, the lowest salary reported among 8 disciplines, including business, math & science, health sciences and education. Additionally, Forbes reported in January 2012 that those entering the job market with a liberal arts degree had higher unemployment rates overall.

Liberal Arts Schools Near Arlington, TX

Dallas Baptist University

• Colleges: Business, Christian Faith, Education, Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Professional Studies
• Degrees Offered: Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral
• Programs: 10 associate degree programs, 68 bachelor's degree programs, 22 master's degree programs and 2 doctoral programs
• Tuition: $697 per credit hour for undergraduate students; $707 per credit hour at master's level; $717 per credit hour for doctoral students (2012-2013)
• School Type: Liberal Arts College, private nonprofit; nearly 3,500 undergraduate and over 2,000 graduate students
• Address: 3000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211
• Phone Number: (214) 333-5334 or (800) 460-1328

Dallas Baptist University is a private liberal arts school that offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. The main campus is located nearly 35 miles northeast of Arlington, and the school also offers limited bachelor's and master's degree programs at its Mansfield and Hurst-Colleyville campuses. The school provides many of its certificate, associate degree, bachelor's degree and master's degree programs online and in hybrid format. The main campus's seven colleges offer certificate and degree programs in such fields as biblical studies, communication, criminal justice, biology, management information systems, teaching and leadership studies.

The College of Saints John Fisher & Thomas More

• Degrees Offered: Associate and Bachelor's
• Programs: 1 associate degree program, 1 bachelor's degree program
• Tuition: $6,000 per semester for full-time students for 2012-2013 (up to 18 credit hours)
• School Type: Liberal Arts College, private nonprofit; 16 undergraduate students
• Address: 3020 Lubbock Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76109
• Phone Number: (817) 923-8459

Commonly referred to as Fisher More College, this liberal arts school is located less than 20 miles west of Arlington in Fort Worth, TX. A Catholic college founded in 1981, the school offers Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degree programs in liberal arts. You could take the first year of core courses for either program entirely online through live teleconferencing. After completing the first two years of program requirements for the bachelor's degree, you can concentrate your elective studies in classical studies, history, literature, philosophy or theology if you choose.

Universities With Liberal Arts Colleges Near Arlington, TX

Texas Christian University's AddRan College of Liberal Arts

• Degrees Offered: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral
• Field of Study Options: Liberal Arts, Economics, Geography, Religion, English, History, among others
• Programs: 19 undergraduate majors, 2 master's degree programs, 3 doctoral degree programs
• Tuition: $34,500 per year (2012-2013 undergraduate); $11,850 per year for books, room and board
• School Type: Private nonprofit; over 8,000 undergraduate and over 1,000 graduate students
• Address: Scharbauer Hall 2017, P.O. Box 297200, Fort Worth, TX 76129
• Phone Number: (817) 257-7160

AddRan College of Liberal Arts at Texas Christian University is composed of 10 departments and is home to around 1,100 students. Undergraduate majors include Spanish and Hispanic studies, political science, modern language and writing. You could also select a minor in such areas as international economics or studies in Asian, British or Latino cultures. After earning a bachelor's degree, you could enroll in the college's master's or doctoral programs in English, history or rhetoric & composition. Additionally, AddRan houses the university's ROTC and pre-law programs.

University of Texas at Arlington's College of Liberal Arts

• Degrees Offered: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral
• Academic Divisions: Communication, Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences
• Fields of Study Options: Music, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology, Modern Languages, among others
• Programs: 17 bachelor's degree majors, 12 master's degree programs, 3 doctoral programs
• Tuition: $8,878 per year for Texas residents, $17,016 per year for out-of-state students (2011-2012 undergraduate rates)
• School Type: Public research university; over 25,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate students
• Address: P.O. Box 19716, Arlington, TX 76019
• Phone Number: (817) 272-3291

Located in the heart of Arlington, the University of Texas's College of Liberal Arts comprises 13 departments, including art, political science, theatre arts, philosophy and military science. At the graduate level, you could pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree in studio art, visual communication or film, a Master of Arts degree in anthropology, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in English, linguistics or history.