Liberal Arts

Associate in Arts and Sciences Degree

Program Coordinator:             Carmen Verges, ISC-232, Ext. 2480

Length:                                    Four semesters (two years)

Purpose:  The Associate in Arts and Sciences Degree with a major in Liberal Arts is a degree for persons who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree program, usually the Bachelor of Arts Degree.  This curriculum is designed for students who wish to complete their foreign language requirement while at VHCC.  Liberal Arts is a major especially appropriate for those who are planning careers in law, college teaching, in the humanities, and social sciences.  This program provides a solid general core for transfer to those students who are undecided regarding their majors at four-year institutions, or who must meet a foreign language requirement at their four-year college.

Transfer Objectives:

        Pre-Law

        Teaching in the Humanities and Social Sciences

        Journalism

        Communications

        Music

        Psychology

        Religion

        Foreign Language Careers

        Undecided Majors

Admission Requirements:  In addition to the admission requirements established for the college entry into the Associate in Arts and Sciences Degree program with a major in Liberal Arts requires the satisfactory completion of the following high school units or equivalent as a minimum: 4 units of English, 3 units of college preparatory mathematics, 1 unit of laboratory science, and 1 unit of history. The remaining units are elective courses, but at least two units of a foreign language are recommended.  Students are urged to check the mathematics requirements of the four-year institution to which they plan to transfer to determine the proper mathematics courses to be taken in the community college.  Students who do not meet these requirements may be permitted to correct their deficiencies in the Developmental Program. Those students who meet the specific requirements for this degree program but are deficient in basic skills and understandings in English and/or mathematics will be required to enroll in appropriate developmental courses.

Program Requirements:  This curriculum consists of courses in the humanities including a foreign language, natural sciences, and social sciences usually required in the first two years of a baccalaureate liberal arts curriculum.  Students are urged to acquaint themselves with the requirements of the major department in the college or university to which transfer is contemplated; and further, to consult with their counselors or advisors at Virginia Highlands Community College in planning their program and selecting electives.  In order to help prepare for upper division (junior class) standing at a four-year institution, the student usually must complete a program at the community college which is comparable in length and courses to the first two years of the program at the four-year institution.  Upon satisfactory completion of the four-semester program described, the graduate will be awarded the Associate in Arts and Sciences Degree with a major in Liberal Arts.

Liberal Arts

Notes

Students are urged to acquaint themselves with the requirements of the major department in the college or university to which transfer is contemplated; and further, to consult with their counselors or advisor at Virginia Highlands Community College in planning their program and selecting electives.

The above semester-by semester sequencing of courses may be modified when necessary.  Please refer to the Program Choices section of this Catalog for a discussion of factors, which affect planning and sequencing programs of study.

1. Students are urged to check the mathematics requirements of the four-year college or university to which they plan to transfer to determine the proper mathematics courses to be taken at the community college.      

2.  Students who have successfully completed two years of foreign language in high school may petition for advance placement (with credit) to the sophomore course of this foreign language.  Other foreign languages are acceptable to meet this requirement.          

3.  Recommended social science courses include PSY 201, 202; ECO 201, 202; PLS 135, 211, 212; SOC 201, 202; GEO 210.

4.  Recommended humanities courses include ART 201, 202; MUS 121, 122; REL 200, 210, 230;  SPD 130, 151, 152; PHI 101 and literature.

5.  Students may substitute any HLT (Health) course for Physical Education requirement.  Transfer students should note that four-year institutions may require a PED activity course in the general education core.

6.  Keyboarding skills highly recommended.