Liberal Arts

The Liberal Arts major, with its twin "Liberal Arts and Sciences" major, is the basic major to prepare one for entering many occupations, especially the professions at a higher level. Liberal arts training has long been considered the mark of becoming an educated person. At the AA (two-year) level, the major can be taken either as a whole, or by concentrating in one of its "options" (see English, History, Sociology, etc.). Whichever way one chooses, this degree would be the usual preparation for entering a BA (four-year) degree program at a transfer institution. Students should familiarize themselves with specific recommendations of that four-year program to determine whether it would be better to concentrate or to stay with the general Liberal Arts major. Most students who stay with the general major have decided to postpone the narrowing process until they have had more time to explore specific interests. By studying liberal arts before specializing, the student is making the choice to widen his/her/their ability to question and to form sound judgements, based on studying the rich world traditions that give us guidance as to what it is to lead a full human life. Technical training without liberal arts training is considered to prepare one for making technical decisions, but not for overall human or social decisions.