Bachelor of Arts in Arts & Letters
Fall 2026 Update: The Bachelor of Arts in Arts & Letters is not currently accepting applications. If you are interested in any future potential offerings of this program, please request to be added to the interest list.
Program Features
At-a-Glance
- Flexible asynchronous online format designed for working adults and nontraditional students
- Intellectually stimulating curriculum relevant to current social ideas
- Ladder to career development and promotion
- Opportunity to finish a degree in as few as two semesters!
Overview
Thinking about finishing your degree, but life put things on pause? Look no further as Sac State designed a degree completion program just for you! The fully online Bachelor of Arts in Arts & Letters Program offers a flexible format that allows students to complete their degree, further their interests, and excel in their career aspirations while juggling family, work and other aspects of life!
As a multi-disciplinary major, the Arts & Letters degree completion program is designed for individuals seeking a bachelor’s degree that will complement a variety of career pathways. The major merges nine disciplines to actively analyze creativity and critically explore humanity from multiple perspectives. This degree was made for students interested in a fully online, asynchronous program and have an academic background and/or intellectual interests in visual art, communication studies, design, world languages, history, music, philosophy, theater and/or dance!
The Bachelor of Arts in Arts & Letters is a self-supported degree completion program administered by the College of Continuing Education (CCE) for the College of Arts and Letters.
Audience
- Adults who want to finish their degree and graduate
- Those who haven’t been enrolled at a university for over one year
This major is open to former university students (from Sacramento State or other four-year universities) majoring in an Arts & Letters degree or a comparable field (see list below). Interested parties should have at least 60 completed units, including all lower-division general education requirements.
College of Arts & Letters Majors
- Art
- Communication Studies
- Dance
- Design
- English
- History
- Humanities & Religious Studies
- Journalism
- Music
- Philosophy
- Public Relations
- Spanish
- Theatre
Format
The Arts & Letters major contains 36 units, including four core courses (12 units offered online) and additional major requirements (24 units).
Core courses are cohort-based for incoming students and are offered in pairings of two courses per semester. Students can complete the program in as few as two semesters!
Students work closely with program advisors to ensure satisfactory completion of all university-wide general education and graduation requirements. At least 120 units are required for graduation, with 30 units in residence at Sac State. Where possible, these can be overlapped with courses taken to satisfy B-E below.
Prerequisites
Preferred but not required:
- Have coursework in a degree program that aligns with a program offered by California State University, Sacramento’s College of Arts & Letters
- Completed all lower-division GE requirements for the California State University system at CSUS or another institution.
- ​Have stopped out of college and are wishing to return
Course Offerings
Core Courses (12 units):
The cornerstone and foundation of the Arts & Letters program involves four core courses. These courses allow students to learn about basic problems in the arts and humanities, while linking them to their personal and professional lives.
These are high quality and intellectually demanding courses originally designed by campus faculty members. All classes will be offered 100% online.
- ALS 101 Texts Over Time: Critically review the function of texts within their cultural contexts
- ALS 102 Individual, Community and Citizenship: Reflect on what makes a responsible citizen
- ALS 103 Creativity, Meaning and Criticism: Identify the sources of creativity and creative production in the arts and humanities
- ALS 104 Happiness, Well Being and the Good Life: Evaluate expressions of happiness that are conveyed in various cultural media
Major Requirements (36 units):
Students will be assessed and advised upon admission to the program to determine the best combination of coursework to ensure satisfaction of the major requirements.
A. Required Upper Division Core Courses (12 units)
- ALS 101 Texts Over Time (3 units)
- ALS 102 Individual, Community, and Citizenship (3 units)
- ALS 103 Creativity, Meaning, and Criticism (3 units)
- ALS 104 Happiness, Well-Being, and the Good Life (3 units)
Students must select an additional 24 units from the following categories. At least 12 additional units must be upper-division for a total of at least 24 upper-division units.
The following is a list of courses that have been offered in the program to meet major category requirements. A limited selection of courses is available each term, including at least ONE from each major category. We do not offer all of these at once. An average schedule includes 8-10 classes per term.
B. Language – Communication and Expression (6 units)
- COMS 121 Media Aesthetics
- FREN 120 French Civilization
- ENGL 109W Preparing to Write in the Disciplines
- JOUR 172 Women in the Mass Media
- HRS 168 Images of America
C. Literature – Texts, Ideas and Ideals (6 units)
- COMS 121 Media Aesthetics
- HIST 177 African-American Experience, 1603 to Present
- HIST 162 Social History of the U.S.
- HIST 110 The Ancient Near East: A Cultural History
- HRS 119 Classical Mythology
D. Arts and Music – The Creative Process (6 Units)
- COMS 121 Media Aesthetics
- MUSC 118D Hip-Hop in Urban America
- DNCE 131 Dance Cultures of America
- THEA 175 Multicultural Perspectives in American Film
E. Philosophy – Meaning and Critique (6 units)
- COMS 121 Media Aesthetics
- PHIL 112 History of Ethics
- PHIL 125 Philosophy of Science
- PHIL 131 Philosophy of Religion
- HRS 155 Spirit & Nature
- HIST 174B History of Madness in the U.S.
Employment Outlook
A Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Letters equips students with versatile skills in communication, creativity, problem-solving, and cultural awareness which are all highly valued across today’s job market. Graduates pursue careers in education, communications, public service, business, and the arts, or use the degree as a foundation for graduate study.
Possible career paths include:
- Communications or Public Relations Specialist
- Marketing or Social Media Coordinator
- Content Writer or Editor
- Arts or Cultural Program Coordinator
- Museum, Gallery, or Event Manager
- Nonprofit or Community Outreach Professional
- Human Resources or Training Specialist
- Education or Student Services Professional
- Government or Policy Assistant
- Corporate Communications or Client Relations Associate
- Many students also continue on to graduate programs in areas such as communication, education, public administration, creative arts, or the humanities.
Cost
$50 program application fee
$70 CSU application fee
$489 per unit course fees
The number of units students may need to take will vary based on their transfer credits and what they have left to complete at Sacramento State in order to graduate. Our advisors help students determine how many units they would need to complete in our program in order to graduate.
Students may apply for financial aid through the FAFSA. Please note that fees for this program are not the same as the tuition and fees for the traditional program at Sacramento State, and different policies apply. Please see our CCE Financial Aid page for more information.
All fees are subject to change or increase as needed.
How to Apply
Applications are currently paused. Please check back for more information in the future, or visit one of our other program pages.
Basic Requirements
This multidisciplinary major is designed for students who wish to complete their degree under the umbrella of Arts & Letters.
Preferred but not required:
- Have coursework in a degree program that aligns with a program offered by California State University, Sacramento’s College of Arts & Letters
- Completed all lower-division GE requirements for the California State University system at Sacramento State or another institution.
- ​Have stopped out of college and are wishing to return
FAQ
Is this an online program?
This program offers 12 units of core coursework online, and students will work with an academic advisor to identify any additional courses needed to complete degree requirements. These courses may be offered online.Â
What sort of major is this?
This is not a traditional major, as it is comprised of courses that are offered throughout the College of Arts and Letters, and as such is a multidisciplinary program.
How long does the program take to complete?
The program requires 36 units, including core coursework and major requirements. Ideally, students will be able to complete the program in as little as two semesters, if they come in to the program with 108 units and all general education courses completed. More realistically, students may complete the program in two to three semesters, depending on their time and commitment.
Have you been thinking about finishing your degree, but life got in the way? Sacramento State’s College of Continuing Education (CCE) has designed a degree completion program just for you! The Bachelor of Arts in Arts & Letters offers a flexible, online format that allows students to complete their degree and further their interests or career aspirations while juggling family, work, and other aspects of life.
