Liberal Studies, Associate of Arts

Offered by Academic and Human Development
Associate Professors: Chabala, Krieger
Assistant Professors: Rotella (chairperson)
Instructor: Hale

The Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies (AA) offers student an opportunity to obtain a two-year degree that provides the core elements of a liberal education preparation for a broad variety of career paths and additional education experiences.  The degree is designed to facilitate ease of transfer to a bachelor’s level program on campus.  Students admitted to our Associates of Arts in Liberal Studies program must have completed 12 credits beyond any developmental course required (MA 0090, ENG 0090) and have a minimum 2.75 GPA or have completed 24 credits with a minimum 2.0 GPA, before they are permitted to change programs.  These expectations are clearly stated in students’ letter of admission to the University. 

Mission

The mission of the Liberal Studies degree program, offered by the Department of Academic and Human Development, is to assist the student in the purposeful planning of an undergraduate liberal education that contributes to an environment which promotes academic and personal growth, as well as intellectual, ethical, and aesthetic values.  Liberal Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide an individualized education, based in the tradition of the liberal arts (the humanities, the arts, languages, mathematics, and natural and social sciences).  The program is committed to the development of the independent lifelong learner. 

Program Goals and Vision

• To impart general knowledge and enhance critical thinking skills and intellectual capabilities
• To enable the student to pursue broad interests or to develop a specialized program in a discipline unavailable as an undergraduate degree, at the University
• To provide the student the opportunity to engage fully in shaping an education best suited to individual needs and interests
• To empower the student with the necessary skills and knowledge to be an effective, productive citizen and leader in a challenging and rapidly changing global society

Program Outcomes

The acquisition of knowledge of:

• Western culture and its relationship to non-western cultures
• The foundations and characteristics of educated discourse
• The unity and diversity of humanity
• Fine arts and aesthetics
• The intricate complexities of life on the planet
• Scientific information as its applied to personal and social decisions
• The approaches of the liberal arts disciplines

The demonstration of skills in:

• Critical and analytical thinking
• Effective written and oral communication
• The use of more than one language
• Inquiry and research
• Quantitative reasoning
• Problem solving

The development of dispositions to:

• Form a coherent, independent philosophy of life
• Make socially responsible and personally fulfilling life choices
• Live sustainably
• Value knowledge and continuing growth
• Form opinions and modify positions based on evidence
• Reason ethically and act with integrity
• Promote social justice and peace

Interested students should contact the chairperson, Professor Deborah Rotella (570-662-4824) for information.