Liberal Arts Associate Degree

Mission

The Associate Degree in Liberal Arts is designed to prepare students for future enrollment in Bachelor Degree programs while exploring potential careers. The program’s mission is to provide students with the knowledge to be informed and responsible critical thinkers in an ever-changing world. Through a multi-disciplinary approach to coursework, students are exposed to the skills needed to become active participants in their society.

Outcomes

The program assists students in the development of:

1. Knowledge concerning the broad aspects and interconnectedness of the Liberal Arts attained through a multi-disciplinary approach. The graduating student will be able to:
   1. Describe the major concepts and theories studied in the broad array of liberal arts courses.
   2. Articulate the relationships among the various liberal arts courses and discuss multiple perspectives afforded by the various disciplines.
   3. Articulate and employ the benefits of liberal arts as they apply to civic engagement, careers, and service.
2. Written communication skills. The graduating student will be able to:
   1. Demonstrate consideration of context, purpose, and audience.
   2. Use appropriate, relevant, and compelling context for content development to explore ideas throughout an assignment.
   3. Demonstrate consistent use in writing, stylistic elements, organization, and genre.
   4. Demonstrate skillful use of sources and evidence.
   5. Use appropriate language, convey meaning, and control syntax and mechanics.
3. Oral communication skills. The graduating student will be able to:
   1. Present organized, sequential material clearly and cohesively.
   2. Make language choices that are thoughtful and creative.
   3. Use delivery techniques that are compelling and polished.
   4. Present a central message that is clear, consistent, memorable, and supported.
4. Information literacy skills. The graduating student will be able to:
   1. Effectively determine the extent of information needed.
   2. Access information using effective search strategies.
   3. Critically analyze and evaluate information and its sources.
   4. Use information effectively to accomplish specific purposes.
   5. Access and use information ethically and legally.
5. Quantitative reasoning skills. The graduating student will be able to:
   1. Interpret and explain information in mathematical forms (graphs, diagrams, equations, words, tables).
   2. Convert relevant information into various mathematical forms (graphs, diagrams, equations, words, tables).
   3. Perform calculations sufficiently to solve problems.
   4. Make judgments based on quantitative analysis.
   5. Make and evaluate quantitative assumptions.
   6. Effectively communicate quantitative information in relation to argument or purpose of work.
6. Global awareness skills. The graduating student will be able to:
   1. Articulate cultural self-awareness and biases.
   2. Demonstrate awareness of complexity of world-wide cultural frameworks.
   3. Demonstrate awareness of global interdependence.
   4. Demonstrate understanding of similarities and differences for global comparative analysis.
   5. Demonstrate awareness of global views from non-U.S. perspective.
   6. Display curiosity and openness regarding complex global questions.
7. Science and technology skills: The graduating student will be able to:
   1. Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental science and technology concepts.
   2. Perform evaluation of science and technology research.
   3. Apply prior knowledge to science and technology to develop new understanding and synthesis.
   4. Identify reliable sources of information for science and technology purposes.