The Liberal Arts Program is a transfer program that seeks to help students determine:
- An academic focus area (AFA) in either liberal arts or in another academic focus area leading to a degree or a certificate offered by NCC; or
- A transfer to a four-year college via existing articulation agreements (such as the 2+2 transfer to a New Hampshire state college) or other student application and transfer process; or
- A career path which leads them to transfer to another 2-year degree or certificate program outside NCC
Course Sequencing
First Year – Fall Semester
First Year – Spring Semester
Second Year – Fall Semester
Second Year – Spring Semester
The Liberal Arts Program is a transfer program that seeks to help students determine:
- An academic focus area (AFA) in either liberal arts or in another academic focus area leading to a degree or a certificate offered by NCC; or
- Transfer to a four-year college via existing articulation agreements (such as the 2+2 transfer to a New Hampshire state college) or other student application and transfer process; or
- A career path which leads them to transfer to another 2-year degree or certificate program outside NCC.”
Upon completion of the AA degree in Liberal Arts, graduates will be able to demonstrate competency in the general education outcomes:
- Communicate effectively and fluently; read with comprehension; listen, speak and write competently.
- Develop skills in reflection, analysis, logical reasoning, and evaluation to formulate judgments, reach conclusions, and solve problems.
- Evaluate and utilize quantitative and qualitative data and apply mathematical and scientific principles and methods.
- Utilize technology to locate, evaluate, organize, and utilize information accurately and responsibly.
- Acquire knowledge and skills to function effectively as informed and responsible citizens.
- Acquire knowledge and skills that will enable respect for diversity as well as an awareness of global interdependency.
- A minimum of 60 credits must be earned in the required categories to complete the program of studies.
- A minimum of 15 credits must be earned at NCC, and 8 of those 15 credits must be earned in courses at the 200 level.
This program can be completed in four full-time semesters.
Applied Career Focus
ANTH105 enables students to explore the world of work and careers while learning research methods and skills. These include querying national, regional and local employment data bases; data collection and analysis; interview planning and interviewing; and gaining an understanding of how to approach and assess the job market at various levels. The research that students conduct in this course becomes a key component in developing coherent and cohesive academic and career pathways, whether or not they wish to transfer to a four-year program. The skills acquired in this course are both useful for later career exploration efforts and for conducting research in other disciplines throughout their college career.
As discussed above, students who enter college without deciding on a college major are encouraged to enroll in the Liberal Arts Program. During their first year, most students choose an Academic Focus Area (AFA) that also aligns with a career pathway. These students then follow a core curriculum of courses within their chosen AFA, such as: Communications, English, History/Social Sciences, Mathematics, Psychology, or Science. Those intending to follow a four-year Liberal Arts program as well as those who remain undecided continue to follow the Liberal Arts core curriculum in their second year.
Aligning with the 21st Century Workplace
In meeting the needs of the 21st century workforce, the Liberal Arts Program also provides considerable exposure to essential “soft skills,” also known as “core career skills.” These skills are often highlighted by employers as essential for workplace success and employability in the business community, the service sector, education, health care and many other fields. More specifically, these skills include: creativity, communication, critical thinking/problem-solving; teamwork and collaboration, professionalism and ethics, leadership, adaptability and flexibility, and emotional intelligence. These skill sets dovetail nicely with the Liberal Arts Program Outcomes, detailed below.
From the Professor:
“The Liberal Arts foster the development of a broad range of knowledge and skills for the 21st century workplace, such as clear communication, critical thinking, and the ability to collaborate. Our program helps students identify potential career paths and develop the ability to research the educational and training programs that will lead them there.” —Virginia G (Gini) Egan |
Student Testimonial
Nashua Community College has provided me with a multitude of resources, experiences, and skills that will all benefit me in the future. Even simple tasks such as making sure I have gas in my car to attend my classes, scheduling shifts that work around my class times, and meeting deadlines for assignments have given me a sense of adulthood that I would not have found if I was not attending a community college.” — [Exploratory Liberal Arts student with an AFA in Social, Educational and Behavioral Sciences, who will transfer to a four-year college after completion of an associate’s degree at NCC.] |
Social, Educational and Behavioral ScienceIn its 2018 report on Liberal Education and the Future of Work, the Association of American Colleges and Universities reported that:
. . . employers place a great deal of value on many of the “soft skills” that a liberal education provides. The key findings from the report indicate that at least 75% of hiring managers value oral communication, teamwork skills, critical thinking and reasoning skills, information literacy, written communication, and complex problem-solving skills. These are skills that are provided by a liberal arts education.”