Liberal Arts (A.A.)

Associate in Arts

Program Advisor: Nell McCabe

The goal of the Liberal Arts Program is to develop students’ foundational knowledge and skills through a wide variety of academic disciplines in preparation for informed engagement in their communities, the ever-changing economic landscape, and successful transfer to a four-year institution. Through the study of subjects like history, science, languages, mathematics, and the arts, this program fosters independently motivated, complex thinkers who are able to affect positive change in the overlapping contexts of community, politics, family life, the workplace, and society.

The program offers suggested pathways to prepare students who plan to transfer and specialize in fields such as arts and humanities, communications, English, economics, global and cultural studies, history, psychology, or sociology. These pathways are flexible and designed to help students align their coursework with future academic and career goals. To view all of the available pathways, please visit the Liberal Arts Program Web Page.

Consider this program if you are a student who:

wants to prepare yourself for an ever-changing job market, the Liberal Arts Program gives you transferable skills that employers value across many fields.
plans to transfer to a four-year institution, the Liberal Arts Program gives you the flexibility to explore your options, focus your interests, and gain foundational knowledge in a wide range of disciplines.
is interested in creating social and political change in your community, the Liberal Arts Program gives you the theoretical, historical, civic, and social knowledge to impact community life.
is undecided about a specific career path, the Liberal Arts Program provides you with a solid foundation and time to explore courses in the arts and sciences.
appreciates interdisciplinary learning, the Liberal Arts Program provides you with a framework for developing connections between a wide range of fields.

Students in Liberal Arts may pursue related majors at the baccalaureate level, including, but not limited to: anthropology, area studies, behavioral and social sciences, communications, economics, education, English, foreign languages, general studies, liberal arts, geography, geology, history, linguistics, mathematics, media, music, nursing, peace studies, philosophy, physical education, physics, psychology, radio and television, science and theatre arts.

This is a MassTransfer eligible program.

Expected Outcomes

Students graduating from the Liberal Arts Program will be proficient in the use of digital tools as a means of demonstrating their learning in relation to general education and program-specific learning outcomes, including information and digital literacy, communication and collaboration, problem solving, and global citizenship.

Personal Agency and Collaboration
• Use self-reflection and critical inquiry to develop self-awareness and make informed decisions about personal, educational, and career goals.
• Generate ideas, accomplish goals, and solve problems independently and collaboratively.

Creative and Interdisciplinary Thinking
• Draw on personal experiences and learning in different disciplines and contexts to broaden or deepen understanding, reach conclusions, and develop solutions to complex problems.
• Develop innovative strategies for problem solving using original and predictive thinking.

Intellectual Flexibility
• Consider, analyze, synthesize, and respond to diverse viewpoints and perspectives.
• Employ an awareness of context, audience, and purpose to develop and apply situationally appropriate communications, collaborations, and
solutions.

Global Awareness and Social Responsibility
• Develop a sense of personal awareness in the context of historical movements and structures and their influence on contemporary life locally and globally.
• Explain the significance of creating an inclusive environment that values a diversity of social and cultural identities, experiences, and perspectives.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete all program and general education credits.

Program Courses

ENG-	Literature	6
LAR-101	Introduction to Liberal Arts	3
LAR-285	Liberal Arts Capstone	3
-	Free Electives	15
Total Credit Hours:		27

General Education Courses

COM-	Communication	3
ENG-	English Composition/Writing	6
HIS-121	World History to 1500	3
HIS-122	World History Since 1500	3
MAT-	Mathematics	3
-	Behavioral & Social Science	6
-	Environmental Studies	1
-	Natural or Physical Science	7
-	Humanities	3
Total Credit Hours:		35

Environmental Studies: See Footnote 1
Natural or Physical Science: See Footnote 1

Suggested Pathway to Graduation

The following is a suggestion for completing this program in two years. The actual time needed to complete the program will vary according to each student’s individual needs. For suggested completion in a specific pathway, please visit the Liberal Arts Program Web Page.

First Semester

LAR-101	Introduction to Liberal Arts	3
ENG-	English Composition/Writing	3
HIS-121	World History to 1500	3
MAT-	Mathematics	3
-	Natural or Physical Science	4
Total Credit Hours:		16

Natural or Physical Science: See footnote 1

Second Semester

-	Free Electives	6
ENG-	English Composition/Writing	3
-	Or
HIS-122	World History Since 1500	3
-	Environmental Studies	1
-	Natural or Physical Science	3
Total Credit Hours:		16

Environmental Studies: See Footnote 1
Natural or Physical Science: See Footnote 1

Third Semester

ENG-	Literature	3
-	Free Elective	3
COM-	Communication	3
-	Behavioral & Social Science	3
-	Humanities & Fine Arts	3
Total Credit Hours:		15

Footnote

The Natural or Physical Science requirement must be fulfilled by one 4-credit laboratory science and one 3-credit non-laboratory science or by two 4-credit laboratory sciences. Completion of an environmentally focused laboratory science, such as BIO-109, BIO-110, ENV-101, ENV-102, or ENV-105 fulfills both the Natural or Physical Science and the Environmental Studies requirements.

Total Credit Hours: 62