Liberal Arts, A.A.

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

Electives should be chosen with the advice of an academic advisor to meet the requirements of the intended transfer institution.

¹

Placement testing determines initial foreign language level. Students who place directly into intermediate level foreign language or ASL may take any General Education course(s) to meet the required number of credits. Waivers or credit by exam for prior experience is available for some languages. See the ‘World Language Credit and Waiver’ section of the [Credit for Prior Learning Manual]. Students must earn 60 unique and applicable credits to be awarded the Liberal Arts degree.

²

Students who plan to take MTH 245 Statistics I should take MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning or MTH 161 PreCalculus I first. Credit will not be awarded for both MTH 155 Statistical Reasoning and MTH 245 Statistics I, or for both MTH 261 Applied Calculus I and MTH 263 Calculus I, or for both MTH 262 Applied Calculus II and MTH 264 Calculus II.

³

Select a class which is not a History course.

⁴

ENG 225 or higher literature course satisfies this requirement.

⁵

Check transfer institution requirements to confirm if a second lab science is required.

⁶

Transfer to selected universities with a major in Public History and Historic Preservation should take HIS 183 Survey of Museum Practice or HIS 187 Interpreting Material Culture. Meet with an academic advisor for guidance on course substitutions.

⁷

Open electives should be selected from the approved courses listed under General Education Electives. A second open elective is not needed if selections for all other requirements total 60 credits or more. Students who receive a language waiver generally must complete a second open elective to reach the minimum of 60 unique, applicable credits required for graduation.

⁸

Students planning to transfer to selected Public History and Historic Preservation program should take HIS 180 Historical Archaeology and HIS 181 Introduction to Historic Preservation. 

Liberal Arts: Philosophy Advising Guide

This advising guide is intended for students aiming to transfer into a Philosophy program of study at a four-year institution. Students may also view Philosophy transfer guides through the Transfer Virginia Portal Resource Center (https://www.transfervirginia.org/) for further information about transferring to specific Virginia institutions. Students following this guide must be program placed in the A.A. Liberal Arts degree, which is the degree that will be awarded upon completion.

¹

Placement testing determines initial foreign language level. Students who place directly into intermediate level foreign language or ASL may take any General Education course(s) to meet the required number of credits. Waivers or credit by exam for prior experience is available for some languages. See the ‘World Language Credit and Waiver’ section of the [Credit for Prior Learning Manual]. Students must earn 60 unique and applicable credits to be awarded the Liberal Arts degree.

²

Students who plan to take MTH 245 Statistics I should take MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning or MTH 161 PreCalculus I first. Credit will not be awarded for both MTH 155 Statistical Reasoning and MTH 245 Statistics I, or for both MTH 261 Applied Calculus I and MTH 263 Calculus I, or for both MTH 262 Applied Calculus II and MTH 264 Calculus II.

³

See social/behavioral science courses listed under General Education Electives. At least one class must be non-HIS course.

⁴

ENG 225 or higher literature course satisfies this requirement.

⁵

Select any UCGS HIS course.

⁶

PHI 100 and PHI 111 may only be taken once each. Students who have already taken PHI 100 should select from PHI 111, PHI 200, or PHI 227. Students who have already taken PHI 111 should select from PHI 100, PHI 200, or PHI 227. PHI 200 and PHI 227 are not UCGS passport courses, so students should consult the 4-year college transfer guides for guidance on course selection.

⁷

Student should select any UCGS course. This elective is not needed if selections for all other requirements total 60 credits or more.