Liberal Education Overview

UMD's Liberal Education Program requirements and approved courses are provided in the UMD catalog. 

The Liberal Education Task Force Final Report (9/4/2009) provides the structure and details that was implemented fall 2012. Beginning fall 2023 the Liberal Education Program includes an 11th category named Theorizing Race, Power, and Justice (revised LEP framework effective fall 2023).


Global Perspectives category revision, effective Fall 2016: Successful completion of one of the following Study Abroad Programs substitutes for the Global Perspectives category within the Liberal Education Program:

  • Approved UMD or UMD-affiliate long-term programs (semester or year-long)
  • Approved UMD short term programs (less than a semester, typically 3 weeks long)
  • Approved UMD-affiliate short-term programs that include a Global Perspectives Education course listed in the UMD Study Abroad Foreign Course database.


Liberal Education Essays: In 2019 the UMD Faculty Senate commissioned a volume of short "Think Piece" essays written by faculty on the role of a liberal education or liberal arts for undergraduate students. Compiled and edited by Drs. Jennifer Brady and Kristen Hylenski (Department of World Languages and Culture), the volume was published on the University Digital Conservancy Home: Think Pieces on UMD's Liberal Education Program and the Value of the Liberal Arts


Liberal Education Subcommittee: The committee charged with overseeing the Liberal Education Program. The Subcommittee works with other committees to review and strive toward continuous improvement of liberal education at UMD. The Subcommittee oversees the course submission process for courses to become part of the Liberal Education Program; reviews, accepts or rejects courses proposed for inclusion in the categories; monitors the program; and makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate. Subcommittee members are shown on the Liberal Education Course Proposal and Review Procedures webpage.