Liberal Studies (A.A.)

CCV’s associate of arts degree in Liberal Studies will introduce you to a wide range of subjects, providing a foundation for many different careers and for transferring to a four-year college or university. The Liberal Studies program is the most popular program of study among CCV graduates, accounting for nearly half of the degrees awarded each year. It is designed to include breadth and depth of learning, emphasizing exposure to a broad range of subjects and academic disciplines, and providing students with great flexibility in individual course selection.

Although the degree can be an end in itself, the majority of Liberal Studies graduates use it as their foundation for further academic pursuits. If you’re uncertain about your long-term educational and career plans, the Liberal Studies program provides a valuable opportunity to explore your interests. The overarching objective of CCV’s Liberal Studies program is to produce graduates who are well-prepared to be active, contributing participants in their communities, their work settings, and their subsequent educational activities.

Program Outcomes

Successful graduates will be able to:

• demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills in a variety of disciplines;
• use the vocabulary, foundational theories, and problem-solving methodologies that define scientific literacy and scientific method in the natural world;
• identify some of the techniques used in art, literature, and/or philosophy to convey ideas and express thought and feeling;
• explain some of the ways in which social scientists and/or historians gather and interpret evidence to explain human behavior;
• identify and use appropriate technologies to locate, manipulate, and represent information electronically;
• apply an interdisciplinary approach to their learning, drawing from various disciplines to cultivate multiple perspectives on problems, issues, and topics;
• articulate a learning rationale for and the outcomes of their individual course choices in the Liberal Studies program;
• demonstrate academic skills required of all CCV graduates in writing, information literacy, oral communication, and quantitative reasoning; and
• explore pathways for educational and career development in the student’s field of study.

Career Opportunities

Rapid and evolving cultural change in the 21st century indicates a growing need for individuals who demonstrate versatility and academic competence and who are globally aware. CCV’s Liberal Studies program affords you a number of options, including a wide variety of entry-level careers and easy transfer to four-year colleges and universities. As the program incorporates a large number of general education and elective credits, students also have the freedom to choose a course of study that is both personally interesting and professionally relevant to their needs. Liberal Studies graduates move into such fields as education, advocacy, health, social work, medicine, law, or business, among many others.

Transfer Options

CCV’s Liberal Studies program is excellent preparation for students who want to pursue a four-year degree and for those who are planning professional careers in law, medicine, social work, or education. Recent graduates in Liberal Studies have transferred successfully to over 30 different colleges.

Our transfer agreements make it possible to transfer easily to a number of four-year colleges including:

Graduates have also transferred successfully to Smith College, Burlington College, Marlboro College, College of Saint Joseph, Saint Michael’s College, and Union Institute & University, as well as to colleges and universities nationwide.