In line with the principle of lifelong learning and the belief that the main purpose of education is to produce well-rounded and balanced individuals whose potential is developed to the fullest extent possible, the School of Foundation and Liberal Studies (SFLS) started offering the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (Hons) degree programme in the January 2009 semester. 

This programme allows learners to explore a range of courses across various clusters/disciplines (currently Social Sciences and Humanities*).  Learners will be required to register for courses from at least any two clusters and undertake basic major/general education courses in the liberal studies programme aimed at widening their horizons as well as developing their academic knowledge and intellectual ability necessary for critical and analytical thinking and understanding human life and society.  These courses will also enable them to communicate and express themselves effectively as well as to anticipate and solve unexpected problems.

* Other clusters/disciplines will be included at a later date.

Learners pursuing Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (Hons) must successfully complete 23-26 courses (120 credits) of the course components and also obtain a minimum CGPA of 2.0 to meet graduation requirements. Click to download the Programme Counselling Guide and Career Opportunities for Prospective BA Liberal Studies (Hons).

•  Check out the new Selections of Asian Literature course offered under BA in Liberal Studies.
  

Besides the BA in Liberal Studies (Hons), the SFLS also conducts a Headstart Programme to enhance learners’ readiness for tertiary study before they embark on degree programmes at the University.

Headstart programme
The Headstart Programme is a one semester programme with face-to-face tutorial sessions conducted on every weekend. It is designed to help students enhance their literacy and numeracy skills before proceeding for tertiary studies. The following courses are taught in this programme:

• English Language
• Bahasa Malaysia
• Mathematics
• Study Skills

The SFLS also conducts other categories of courses for all WOU learners. They are the University and Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) [previously known as Lembaga Akreditasi Negara (LAN)] courses as well as Foundation courses in English and Mathematics to further consolidate learners’ basic knowledge and competencies.

The SFLS is also in the process of developing other programmes for lifelong learning and continuing education.  These include short term and long term courses designed to help individuals enrich their knowledge and living skills as well as to upgrade and enhance workplace skills and competencies.

Prof Mogana Dhamotharan - Dean
PhD (Glasgow), M Ed (Malaya), M Ed (Wales), B Journalism (Panjab), BA (Hons) (Panjab)

Dr Loo Seng Piew - Associate Professor
DPhil (Sussex), MA (Sussex), BSc Ed (Hons) (USM)

Ms Jasmine Selvarani Emmanuel - Senior Lecturer
MA (English Language), BA Ed (Hons) (USM); currently pursuing Doctorate in Education at OUM.

Dr S Nagarajan - Senior Lecturer
PhD (Malaya), MA (Comm Policy) (City U, London), MA (Pol Sc) (Madurai),
PGDip in Journalism (RPICM, Bombay), BSc (Madras)

Ms Rabikha Hasni bt. Suparman - Lecturer
MPA (USM), BA (Hons) (Malay Language and Linguistics) (UPM), Dip IT

SFLS Advisory Peer Group (APG)

Dato’ Dr Sharom Ahmat
Chairman, Board of Directors, Socio-Economic and Environmental Research Institute (SERI)

Dato’ Seri Nazir Ariff
Executive Director, Ivory Properties Group

Prof Dato’ Anwar Fazal
Director, Right Livelihood College, Centre for Policy Research & International Studies (CenPRIS), USM

Prof Dato’ Dr Ghulam-Sarwar Yousof
Adjunct Professor, Cultural Centre, Universiti Malaya

Dr Lalitha Jeyasingam
Palliative Care Physician, National Cancer Society of Malaysia, Penang Branch

Dr Tan Liok Ee
President, BOLD Association for Children with Special Needs, Penang

Assoc Prof Dr Neelam Aggarwal
Dean, School of Arts and Social Science, SIM University, Singapore