Liberal Arts, Associate of Arts

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The Liberal Arts degree program offers students a wide variety of courses to choose from and, at the same time, prepares the student to transfer into the junior year of study at a four-year college. The program is similar to other general Liberal Arts programs in the first two years at such colleges.

Liberal Arts is the study of basic knowledge and the development of one’s ability to think clearly. Thus, Liberal Arts students take courses in English, their own and foreign cultures, mathematics and science, the arts, the study of society, past and present, the study of ideas and a foreign language. Students who want to study Liberal Arts but also know they want to concentrate in Social Science, Music, Studio Arts, Theatre, or Communication may select one of the Liberal Arts options.

Although Liberal Arts is not career training in a direct way, many employers in corporations, government and in such professions as law and medicine believe that the best preparation for work in their fields is a Liberal Arts education. Liberal Arts teaches the student how to use and think about information, no matter what the job is or how jobs change.

Graduates are able to:

think critically and interpret complex ideas and phenomena both orally and in writing
analyze and synthesize ideas in writing and speech
demonstrate the ability to forge a practical linkage between learning in the classroom and applying that learning to real-world problems
demonstrate the highest level possible of skills in oral and written communication
demonstrate the skills of textual explanation, analysis and interpretation

Students enrolled in Associate of Arts degree programs who intend to transfer to four-year colleges or universities are strongly advised to discuss the General Education Foundation Courses with a counselor. Selection of these courses will facilitate full transfer of general education credits completed toward the degree.

Raritan Valley Community College Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degree programs are designed to comply with the New Jersey Community Colleges General Education Foundation which supports transfer of courses to NJ Public four-year colleges and universities. Students who intend to transfer to a NJ college or university can further improve the transfer of courses by using the Recommended Transfer Program (RTP) feature in NJTransfer.org.

Curriculum – A.A. Degree

First Semester

ENGL 111 - English Composition I 3 Credits
Social Science 3 Credits ¹
Mathematics 3-4 Credits ^2,3
Appreciation of the Arts 3 Credits ¹
Foreign Language 3 Credits ⁴

Second Semester

ENGL 112 - English Composition II 3 Credits
Social Science 3 Credits ¹
Technological Competency 3-4 Credits ³
Communication 3 Credits ¹
Foreign Language 3 Credits ⁴
FITN 115 - Dynamics of Fitness & Wellness 1 Credit ⁵

Third Semester

Science (lab) 4 Credits ³
History 3 Credits ⁶
English Literature 3 Credits ¹
Global & Cultural Awareness 3 Credits ⁷
Free Elective 3 Credits ⁸

Fourth Semester

Mathematics or Science 0-4 Credits ^3,9
History 3 Credits ⁶
English Literature 3 Credits ¹
Free Elective 3 Credits ⁸
Free Elective 3 Credits ⁸

Total Credits 61 - 65

¹ Select a course from the appropriate category of the General Education list.

² Mathematics by official placement test. Students may not take courses below placement level. Exceptions by permission of department chairperson.

³ Select a course from the appropriate category of the General Education list. For the Math, Science and Technological Competency General Education requirements, students must take a minimum of 12 credits. This must include one lab science course, one math course, and satisfaction of the technological competency requirement by either passing the technological competency test (no credit) or taking a technological competency general education course. If a student passes the technological competency test, another course must be selected from Math, Science or Technological Competency General Education, so that the student has earned at least 12 credits in those categories.

⁴ A two-semester sequence is required. Placement by examination is required for students who wish to continue studying a language previously studied. Students may not take courses below their placement level. For more information, see Foreign Language Placement Testing and Degree Requirements .

⁵ FITN 142 Elements of Physical Fitness or FITN 146 Exercise Physiology & Body Mechanics may be substituted.

⁶ Choose from the following History Courses: HIST 101 World Civilization I , HIST 102World Civilization II , HIST 201US History: Beginnings to 1877 , HIST 202US History: 1877 to Present .

⁷ Any General Education course that is listed as a Global and Cultural Awareness (GCA) course. If a course satisfies both the Global and Cultural Awareness Requirement and another General Education requirement in Social Science or Humanities, the student may select any course from the General Education list. However, Students planning to transfer to Rutgers University should choose a Global & Cultural Awareness General Education course, or an additional Social Sciences or Humanities General Education course with the GCA designation.

⁸ Any college-level course.

⁹ If the student has already completed 12 credits in the Math, Science and Technological Competency categories, the student does not need to take a course here.