Mar 29, 2024  
Catalog 2021-2022 
    
Catalog 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


Liberal Studies (A.A.) +



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About the Degree
Career Information
Program & General Education Requirements  


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 are 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.

+This program can be completed fully online.

Liberal Studies Semester Map

Students in the Liberal Studies degree program may choose to pursue one of CCV’s Certificates   while obtaining their degree.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Liberal Studies program will be able to:

  • develop written work with a clear thesis, organize supporting arguments, and employ correct syntax, mechanics, and disciplinary conventions;
  • prepare, organize, support, and orally present ideas that engage an audience and employ appropriate tone, language, and delivery style;
  • use quantitative models, methods, and tools to evaluate information, draw conclusions, and provide supporting evidence for applications across a variety of disciplines;
  • identify the information needed to approach a problem analytically; discover and evaluate academic resources using appropriate search strategies and technologies to locate, manage, and represent information digitally; and responsibly incorporate, represent, and cite source materials in written work;
  • draw on experiences and learning in multiple disciplines to articulate how the students’ course choices have influenced their perspectives and understanding of themselves and the world;
  • demonstrate academic skills required of all CCV graduates in writing, information literacy, oral communication, and quantitative reasoning; and
  • explore pathways and demonstrate preparedness for educational and career development in the student’s field of study.

The Liberal Studies program is great for you if: 

  • you are curious about the world and have a love of learning;
  • you want to acquire a solid foundation in general education;
  • you are interested in exploring a range of subjects and choose not to specialize at the associate degree level;
  • you understand the value of interdisciplinary learning and academic breadth in your education;
  • you wish to use previous transfer or APL credits most efficiently to complete an associate degree;
  • you plan to transfer to a four year institution, perhaps in a discipline not represented at CCV; and
  • you are preparing for a career that demands diverse knowledge and widely transferable skills.

Key information and advice for students in the Liberal Studies program:

  • The associate of arts degree in Liberal Studies is CCV’s most popular degree program.
  • Students in Liberal Studies can choose from a broad range of courses to fulfill their program requirements according to their particular schedules, interests, and ambitions.
  • Courses are widely accessible and the program can be completed with a minimum of travelling.
  • The Liberal Studies degree allows students to gain additional competency in areas cited by employers as being particularly desirable, such as writing, communication skills, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and problem-solving, diversity, global competence, and foreign language.
  • In an economy where most individuals will change jobs many times during their working lives, Liberal Studies provides a comprehensive and versatile foundation for many careers.
  • The associate of arts degree in Liberal Studies can accommodate a rich blend of liberal arts, general education, and professionally focused courses that will allow students to further their education in a four-year program or enter the workforce at an entry level.
  • CCV’s numerous transfer agreements make it possible to transfer easily to a number of four-year colleges in Vermont and beyond.
  • CCV graduates in Liberal Studies have gone into such fields as advocacy, business, education, health, law, management, social work, and many others.

The Liberal Studies program prepares you for careers such as:

  • Administrative Assistant
  • Bank Teller
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Paraprofessional
  • Resource Developer

Job outlook in Liberal Studies in the state of Vermont:

For up to date Vermont labor market information, including salary information and growth projections, please visit the Economic and Labor Market Information at the Vermont Department of Labor Website.

http://www.vtlmi.info/

Transfer Options:

CCV programs are designed to make transfer to a bachelor’s degree program seamless, easy, and affordable for graduates. CCV has agreements and 2+2 transfer pathways within the Vermont State College System (VSCS) and other institutions in Vermont and the region. Early planning can help you follow a clear transfer path.

Visit our transfer page for additional information.

Program & General Education Requirements


CCV’s Liberal Studies degree gives you the freedom to create a program that meets your educational and career goals.

 

General Education Requirements


All associate degrees include completion of general education requirements which, together with program requirements, constitute a minimum of 60 credits. In some cases program requirements also fulfill general education requirements. You may not use a single course to meet two general education requirements.

See the General Education Requirements for Associate Degrees  for requirements and course choices.

Complete at least one course in each of the following:

First Semester Seminar

Introductory Written Expression - VSCS

Digital and Computing Literacy - VSCS

Mathematics - VSCS

Natural Science - VSCS

Social Science - VSCS

Arts & Aesthetics - VSCS

Humanistic Perspectives - VSCS

Communication

Research & Writing Intensive

Seminar in Educational Inquiry

VSCS- These courses meet Vermont State College System General Education Framework.

Required Additional General Education Courses


Complete two courses from any of the following general education categories:

  • Natural Science
  • Social Science
  • Arts & Aesthetics
  • Humanistic Perspectives

Note that students may choose to take both courses from the same category or may choose to take two courses in different categories.

Liberal Studies Courses - 18 credits


Complete 18 credits of any college-level courses that meet your educational and career goals.

Electives: 3 credits


Minimum Total Credits in Degree: 60


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