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Liberal arts teacher education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a liberal arts teacher. Liberal arts teachers usually study english, elementary education, or education. 53% of liberal arts teachers hold a bachelor's degree, and 32% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 45 real liberal arts teacher resumes to see exactly what liberal arts teacher education sections show.

The most common colleges for liberal arts teachers are the Louisiana Tech University and the Louisiana Tech University.

There are also many online liberal arts teacher courses to help get the education required to be a liberal arts teacher.

What education do you need to become a liberal arts teacher?

What degree do you need to be a liberal arts teacher?

The most common degree for liberal arts teachers is bachelor's degree, with 53% of liberal arts teachers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 32% and master's degree degree at 11%.
  • Bachelor's, 53%
  • Master's, 32%
  • Associate, 11%
  • Doctorate, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 1%

What should I major in to become a liberal arts teacher?

You should major in english to become a liberal arts teacher. 16% of liberal arts teachers major in english. Other common majors for a liberal arts teacher include elementary education and education.

Most common colleges for liberal arts teachers

Liberal arts teachers often get their degrees at Louisiana Tech University, National University, and Jackson College. Here are the most common colleges for liberal arts teachers in the US based on their resumes.
Liberal arts teacher common collegePercentages
Louisiana Tech University9.52%
National University4.76%
Jackson College4.76%
Harvard University4.76%
Santa Fe College4.76%

Best majors for liberal arts teachers

RankMajorPercentages
1English15.6%
2Elementary Education9.4%
3Education9.4%
4Management6.3%
5Business6.3%

Best colleges for liberal arts teachers

The best colleges for liberal arts teachers are University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Northwestern University.

A liberal arts teacher with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for liberal arts teachers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become liberal arts teachers.

1. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

4. University of California, Irvine

Irvine, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,700

Enrollment

29,722

5. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$53,399

Enrollment

7,356

6. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

7. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

8. SUNY at Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,011

Enrollment

13,434

9. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

10. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

20 best online courses for liberal arts teachers

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1. Modern Art & Ideas

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Welcome to Modern Art & Ideas! This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about modern and contemporary art. Over the next five weeks, you will look at art through a variety of themes: Places & Spaces, Art & Identity, Transforming Everyday Objects, and Art & Society. Each week kicks off with a video that connects works of art from The Museum of Modern Art’s collection to the theme. You will hear audio interviews with artists, designers, and curators and learn more about...

2. Pixel Art for Video Games

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This course is aimed to give you the tools and knowledge you need to start creating simple art for video games made in the Unity game engine. Through the aesthetic of pixel art we will explore artistic principals like shape language, color theory, and composition as well as show you a step by step workflow for creating assets that you can use to make your own games. The course is broken into 4 main modules, props, environments, characters, and animation. Each of these courses will have a series...

3. Art Therapy: Personal Development and Self Healing with Art

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Arts Therapy heals ! Improve your Mental Health with 30 Art Therapy Exercises ...

4. Art History Prehistory to the Renaissance

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4.4
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This is an actual college level course that is taught at several accredited colleges...

5. ART of the MOOC: Activism and Social Movements

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This course is for activists, artists, and thinkers who wish to better understand and participate in social change. We will focus on the prolific and exciting overlap between socially engaged art and cultural practices generated by recent social movements around the world. Rather than assess the political efficacy of activities like mourning, listening, organizing, dancing, or partying, the lectures examine such cultural activities next to, and within, contemporary art practice. Included in the...

6. Agent-based Generative Art | NetLogo

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"Generative art refers to any art practice where the artist creates a process, such as a computer program, which is then set into motion with some degree of autonomy contributing to or resulting in a completed work of art." - Wikipedia In this guided project you will develop an agent-based computer program capable of generating visual art pieces. By doing so you will be introduced to the basics of ABM and NetLogo. Furthermore, at the end of this journey you will be able to share such pieces...

7. The Art of Public Speaking

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Master Public Speaking: Deliver Unforgettable Speeches & Presentations With The World's Most Decorated Public Speaker...

8. Business Strategy Development: The Art of Differentiation

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9. Art History Renaissance to 20th Century

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This is an actual college level course that is taught at several accredited colleges...

10. Plan the Project as a Business Analyst - IIBA Endorsed

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11. Art for Beginners: Learn to Paint 11 Acrylic Paintings

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How to Paint with Acrylic Paints: 11 Simple Step-by-Step Art Lessons Designed Especially for Beginners of All Ages...

12. Business Analyst: Project Management Techniques and Tools

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Learn project management techniques to increase your project success rate as a Business Analyst!...

13. Positive Psychology Art Coaching

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Art activities for children to help build confidence & selfesteem...

14. Art for Kids & Beginners: Draw & Watercolor Paint 13 Animals

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Learn How to Draw & Paint with Watercolor Paint: 13 Simple Art Lessons Designed Especially for Beginners of All Ages...

15. Business Analysis and Project Delivery

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Fundamentals of Business Analysis...

16. Tutorial on Certified Business Analysis Professional

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Mastering Business Analysis: A Tutorial on CBAP Exam Preparation...

17. Create and Sell Digital Art using AI [Passive Income]

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Learn to Generate amazing arts & graphics using AI and turn it into a business by selling art and freelance services...

18. (Oxford) Diploma in Art Therapy (Extended Master Course)

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Art Therapy : detailed (116 hours) course to help: interpret, express and resolve emotions - in detail...

19. Internationally Accredited Certificate in Art Therapy

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Therapeutic Art Therapy Course / Masterclass for Healing and Life Coaching...

20. International Politics Mastery: Levels of Analysis

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Learn '3 Levels of Analysis' to speak confidently about international problems even without prior university education...

Top 10 most affordable universities for liberal arts teachers

The most affordable schools for liberal arts teachers are University of Florida, baruch college of the city university of new york, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for liberal arts teachers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for liberal arts teachers.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

7. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

9. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

10. University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,368

Cost of attendance

21,034

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for liberal arts teachers

The hardest universities for liberal arts teachers to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for liberal arts teachers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for liberal arts teachers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

2. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

7. Brown University

Providence, RI • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

9. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

10. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for liberal arts teachers

The easiest schools for liberal arts teachers to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, felician university, and d'youville college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a liberal arts teacher without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for liberal arts teachers.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

2. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

3. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

4. College of Mount Saint Vincent

Bronx, NY • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,021

5. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

6. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

7. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

8. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

9. College of New Rochelle, The

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

982

10. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

Average liberal arts teacher salary by education level

According to our data, liberal arts teachers with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $56,002 annually. Liberal arts teachers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $49,101.
Liberal arts teacher education levelLiberal arts teacher salary
Master's Degree$49,101
Doctorate Degree$56,002

Liberal arts teacher education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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