Liberal Arts, A.A.

CIP Code: 24.0101

NOVA Code: 6480

Offered through AL, AN, LO, MA, NOL, WO

Purpose: An Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts is designed to provide an understanding and appreciation for the ideas and ideals that are the basis of human civilization. It offers a foundation in the arts and sciences and prepares students for transfer into a Bachelor of Arts program. Liberal arts BA degrees prepare graduates for careers in a wide array of professions by enabling them to write well, critically analyze issues, place problems in a variety of contexts, and work competently with diverse groups of colleagues.

Recommended Preparation: Satisfactory completion of the following high school units or equivalent: 4 units of English, 2 units of mathematics (algebra and geometry), 2 units of laboratory science, 1 unit of history, and 3 to 4 units of foreign language.

Transfer Information: Students are advised to work closely with the faculty and counseling staff for program and course scheduling. Electives should be chosen carefully to meet requirements of the transfer institution. The responsibility for proper course selection rests with the student.

Two Years

1st Semester

CST 110 - Introduction to Communication (3 CR.) ¹
ENG 111 - College Composition I (3 CR.)
___ 101 - World Language or ASL (3-4 CR.) OR
___ ___ - General Education Elective (3-4 CR.) 2
MTH 154 - Quantitative Reasoning (3 CR.) ³
SDV 100 - College Success Skills (1 CR.) OR
SDV 101 - Orientation to (a Specific Discipline) (1 CR.)

Total 13-16 credits

2nd Semester

ENG 112 - College Composition II (3 CR.)
___ 102 - World Language or ASL (3-4 CR.) OR
___ ___ - General Education Elective (3-4 CR.) ²
MTH 245 - Statistics I (3 CR.) ³OR Higher OR
___ ___ - Transfer Elective (3 CR.) ⁴
___ ___ - Physical or Life Science Elective w/Lab (4 CR.) ⁵

Total 13-14 credits

3rd Semester

ENG 2__ - Literature Elective (3 CR.) ⁶
___ 201 - World Language or ASL (3-4 CR.) OR
___ ___ - General Education Elective (3-4 CR.) ²
HIS ___ - Elective (3 CR.) ⁷
___ ___ - Physical or Life Science Elective w/Lab (4 CR.) ⁵OR
___ ___ - General Education Elective (3 CR.) ⁸
___ ___ - Social/Behavioral Sciences Elective (3 CR.) ⁹

Total 16-17 credits

4th Semester

___ 202 - World Language or ASL (3-4 CR.) OR
___ ___ - General Education Elective (3-4 CR.) ²
HIS ___ - Elective (3 CR.) ¹⁰
HUM 298 - Seminar and Project Liberal Arts (1 CR.)
___ ___ - Humanities/Fine Arts Elective (3 CR.) ¹¹
___ ___ - Open Electives (3-6 CR.) ¹²
___ ___ - Social/Behavioral Sciences Elective (3 CR.) 9

Total 16-19 credits

Total credits for the A.A. Degree in Liberal Arts: 60-62 credits

¹ Select from the following: CST 100 , CST 110 , CST 126 , or CST 229 .

² Placement testing determines initial foreign language level. Students who place directly into intermediate level foreign language or ASL may take any General Education course to meet the required number of credits. Waivers or credit by exam for previous experience is available for some languages. See the ‘World Language Credit and Waiver’ section of the [Credit for Prior Learning Manual]. Students must take sufficient General Education Electives courses so that they can apply at least 60 credits toward the Liberal Arts degree.

³ May substitute any higher-level mathematics course. See transfer requirements. Credit will not be awarded for both MTH 261 and MTH 263 . Credit will not be awarded for both MTH 262 and MTH 264 .

⁴ Select any course listed under General Education Electives or any the following: ART 103 , ART 105 , CST 229 , HIS 203 , HIS 231 , HIS 232 , HIS 241 , HIS 251 , HIS 255 , HIS 256 ,REL 231 , REL 232 . Electives should be selected with advice of a counselor or academic advisor to meet the requirements of the transfer institution.

5 See physical and life science courses listed under General Education Electives . Electives should be selected with advice of a counselor or academic advisor to meet the requirements of the transfer institution.

⁶ Any 200-level literature course with an ENG prefix satisfies this requirement.

⁷Select any HIS courses listed under social/behavioral sciences in General Education Electives . Elective should be selected with advice of a counselor or academic advisor to meet requirements of the transfer institution.

⁸Select any course listed under General Education Electives . Electives should be selected with advice of a counselor or academic advisor to meet the requirements of the transfer institution.

⁹ See social/behavioral science courses listed under General Education Electives . Elective should be selected with advice of a counselor or academic advisor to meet requirements of the transfer institution.

¹⁰Approved HIS course: HIS 101 , HIS 102 , HIS 111 , HIS 112 , HIS 121 , HIS 122 , HIS 203 , HIS 231 , HIS 232 , or HIS 251 . Transfer to selected universities with a major in Public History and Historic Preservation should take HIS 183 or HIS 187 .

¹¹ See humanities/fine arts courses listed under General Education Electives . Elective should be selected with advice of a counselor or academic advisor to meet requirements of the transfer institution.

¹² Consult with an advisor or appropriate transfer pathways for assistance in selecting open electives that will meet the requirements of the transfer institution. In many cases, open electives should be selected from the approved courses listed under General Education Electives . Only three credits of open electives are needed if selected World Languages total more than 15 credits. Students planning to transfer to selected Public History and Historic Preservation program should take HIS 180 and HIS 181 .