Purpose:
The Liberal Arts (AA) and Social Sciences (AS) degrees are two-year programs
designed for those who plan to transfer to a four-year college or
university to complete a bachelor’s degree in the humanities or social sciences.
The curricula consist of courses in general education (including a foreign
language, natural science, and social sciences) typically required in the
first two years of a baccalaureate curriculum in the humanities or social
sciences.
Students from
the AA degree program transfer into a wide variety of majors at senior institutions
including,
but not limited to, the following :
anthropology
humanities
art
mass communications
library science
journalism
English/literature
philosophy
foreign languages
pre-law
Students from the AS degree
program transfer into a wide variety of majors at senior institutions
including,
but not limited to, the following:
anthropology
pre-law
history
social work
economics
government/political
science
mass communications
sociology
psychology
speech-language pathology
education/Deaf studies
ASL: interpretation/linguistics
The programs are designed
to provide transfer paths that will match the requirements of senior institutions
(four-year colleges and universities); however, senior institutions differ
in their requirements, so students are strongly urged to work with their
assigned advisor and to acquaint themselves with the requirements of the
major department in the college or university to which they plan to transfer.
The Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts is intended for students
seeking the bachelor of arts (BA) degree, generally awarded in such fields
as philosophy, foreign languages, literature (including English), archaeology,
art history, and religious studies. This program includes two years of
coursework in the
same foreign language. The Associate of Science degree in Social Sciences
is intended for students seeking the bachelor of science (BS) degree,
generally awarded in such fields as anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology. This program
includes one year of coursework in the same foreign language.
Students should understand that the line between the humanities and social
sciences is not always clear and that some colleges and universities award
BA degrees in what are usually considered the social sciences. Each
student admitted to the program is assigned an academic advisor to help
plan the appropriate course of studies to transfer to the student’s choice
of a four-year college or university. Students who complete the program
generally transfer as juniors.
The ASL/Deaf Studies specialization is designed for students who plan
to transfer to a four-year college or university in a major that requires
a background in American Sign Language and Deaf persons as a cultural group.
These expanding fields include speech-language pathology, deaf education,
ASL instruction, interpretation, interpreter education, linguistics and
Deaf studies (e.g., history, literature, research, etc.).
The Teacher Preparation specializations are
designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university
in a major that requires a background in the liberal arts or social sciences,
and who plan to teach at the elementary, middle, or secondary school level.
The Teacher Preparation specializations enable the student to participate
in two field experiences in area schools.
Note to prospective teachers: Students who wish to be licensed to
teach in Virginia should earn a baccalaureate degree in a liberal arts or
science field. Students should consult with their advisor regarding
elective choices that match their desired teaching endorsement area(s).
While enrolled at the community college, students should prepare for and
successfully complete Praxis I, the initial teacher licensure
examination.
Admission Requirements: General college curricular admission
Program Notes: The following high school units are strongly recommended:
three units of college preparatory mathematics and two years of a foreign
language.
Computer Competency Requirement: Students in the Liberal Arts and
Social Sciences degree programs will meet the college’s computer competency
requirement by successfully completing
ITE 115 or
CSC 155. Students can also meet this requirement by passing the college’s
computer competency exam, administered in the testing centers on each campus,
in which case they will receive college credit for
ITE 115 or
CSC 155. Students not passing the computer competency exam may retake
the exam only once.
Total Minimum Credits for AA Degree in Liberal Arts
61
1
Students should
consult their advisor and transfer institution about which math
courses to take.
MTH 163 followed by
MTH 240 or
MTH 270 are more universally transferable. Students planning
to transfer to VCU may take MTH 170. MTH 151 and MTH
152 do not transfer to most institutions, and they do not
fulfill the requirements of this curriculum track. MTH 120
does not fulfill the requirements of this curriculum path.
2A list of approved general education electives (humanities/fine
arts, social/behavioral sciences, mathematics, science, and
wellness) is provided in the General Education section of the
catalog under Curriculum Planning and Design.
3Students
must take the same foreign language through the 202 level. Students
who have satisfactorily completed two years of a foreign language
in high school may petition for advanced placement to the intermediate
level of this foreign language. Students who place at the
intermediate level of foreign language study will then need to
complete eight (8) additional credit hours of Approved
Electives. Proficient students may receive course credit
for foreign language through the CLEP exam. Students should consult their
transfer institution about language requirements. Some BS programs
require intermediate level foreign language. Many colleges
and universities accept American Sign Language as a foreign language
credit. Students are advised to clarify transfer opportunities
with their transfer institution.
4
Students should
consult their advisor and transfer institution about the computer
literacy course to take. Students who have good backgrounds in
computers may petition for credit by examination.
5For the AA
degree, students may take any 200-level LITERATURE course. ENG 215 and 217 do NOT satisfy the requirement. For
transfer purposes, students should consult their advisor and
transfer institution about their literature selections. Degree requirements may be fulfilled by students taking
sequential or non-sequential courses in the same or different
subject area.
6Degree requirements
may be fulfilled by students taking sequential or non-sequential
courses in the same or different subject area. Students are advised
to check the requirements of their transfer institution.
7A
list of approved courses is available in the Humanities and
Social Science office.
8A list of approved general education electives (humanities/fine
arts, social/behavioral sciences, mathematics, science, and
wellness) is provided in the General Education section of the
catalog under Curriculum Planning and Design.
NAS and 01-level sciences do not satisfy this
requirement. Students
are advised to check the requirements of their transfer
institution. A frequent transfer option for Liberal Arts
students is BIO 106 or BIO 107 followed by GOL 105.
Total Minimum Credits for AA Degree in Liberal
Arts, Teacher Preparation Specialization
62
1Students should consult their advisor and
transfer institution about which math course to take.
MTH 163 followed by
MTH 240 or
MTH 270 are more universally transferable. Students
planning to transfer to VCU may take MTH 170. MTH 151 and MTH
152 do not transfer to most institutions, and they do not
fulfill the requirements of this curriculum track. MTH 120 does
not fulfill the requirements of this curriculum path.
2A list of approved general education electives (humanities/fine
arts, social/behavioral sciences, mathematics, science, and
wellness) is provided in the General Education section of the
catalog under Curriculum Planning and Design.
3Students must take the same foreign language
through the 202 level. Students who have satisfactorily completed two years
of a foreign language in high school may petition for advanced placement
to the intermediate level of this foreign language. Students who
place at the intermediate level of foreign language study will
then need to complete eight (8) additional credit hours of
Approved Electives. Proficient students may receive course
credit for foreign language through the CLEP exam. Students should
consult their transfer institution about language requirements.
Some BS programs require intermediate level foreign language. Many colleges and universities accept American Sign Language as
a foreign language credit. Students are advised to clarify
transfer opportunities with their transfer institution.
4Students should consult their advisor and transfer
institution about the computer literacy course to take. Students
who have good backgrounds in computers may petition for credit by
examination.
5Students may take any 200-level LITERATURE course.
ENG 215 and 217 do NOT satisfy this requirement. For
transfer purposes, students should consult their advisor and
transfer institution about their literature selections.
6A list of approved general education electives (humanities/fine
arts, social/behavioral sciences, mathematics, science, and
wellness) is provided in the General Education section of the
catalog under Curriculum Planning and Design.
Future elementary teachers are recommended to take one semester
of physical science and one semester of biological science.
NAS and 01- level
sciences do not satisfy this
requirement.
Students are advised to check the requirements of
their transfer institution. A frequent transfer option for
Liberal Arts students is BIO 106 or BIO 107 followed by GOL
105.
CURRICULUM
Social Sciences — Associate of Science
Click here to view Curriculum
for Social Sciences AS American Sign Language/Deaf Studies Specialization
Click here to view Curriculum
for Social Sciences AS Teacher Preparation Specialization
Total Minimum Credits for AS Degree in Social Sciences
61
1
A list of approved general education electives (humanities/fine
arts, social/behavioral sciences, mathematics, science, and
wellness) is provided in the General Education section of the
catalog under Curriculum Planning and Design.
2
A list of approved foreign language courses is provided in
the Approved Electives section of the catalog under
Curriculum Planning and Design. Students
must take the same foreign language through the 102 level. Students
who have satisfactorily completed two years of a foreign language
in high school may petition for advanced placement to the intermediate
level of this foreign language. Students who begin at the
intermediate level of foreign language study will then need
to complete two (2) additional credit hours in Approved
Electives. Proficient students may receive course
credit for foreign language through the CLEP exam. Students should consult their
transfer institution about language requirements. Some BS
programs require intermediate level foreign language. Many colleges and universities accept American Sign Language
as a foreign language credit. Students are advised to
clarify transfer opportunities with their transfer institution.
3Students
should consult their advisor and transfer institution about
the computer literacy course to take. Students who
have good backgrounds in computers may petition for credit
by examination.
4Students may take any 200-level LITERATURE course. ENG
215 and 217 do NOT satisfy this requirement. For
transfer purposes, students should consult their advisor and
transfer institution about their literature selections.
5Degree requirements may be fulfilled by
students taking sequential or non-sequential courses in the
same or different subject area. Students are advised to
check the requirements of their transfer institution.
6
A list of approved general education electives
(humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences,
mathematics, science, and wellness) is provided in the
General Education section of the catalog under Curriculum
Planning and Design. NAS and
01-level sciences do not satisfy this requirement. Students are advised to check the requirements of
their transfer institution.
7A list
of approved courses is available in the Humanities and
Social Science office. For the
Social Science AS degree, students are recommended to complete
six hours in a course or courses designated as having an international
focus. Courses having an international focus are identified
on the approved list in the Humanities and Social
Science office.
Total Minimum
Credits for AS Degree in Social Sciences,
ASL/Deaf Studies Specialization
61
1Students should consult their advisor and transfer institution about
which math course to take. MTH 163 followed by MTH 240 or MTH 270
are more universally transferable. Students may select from MTH
163 or 170 as first course choices. MTH 240 or 270 may be taken
as second course choices. Before registering for these courses,
check to be sure that your transfer institution will accept them.
2A list of approved general education electives (humanities/fine
arts, social/behavioral sciences, mathematics, science, and
wellness) is provided in the General Education section of the
catalog under Curriculum Planning and Design.
3ASL 261 and
ASL 262 satisfy the one-year foreign language requirement.
4Students should consult their advisor and transfer institution about
the computer literacy course to take.
5Students
may take any 200-level LITERATURE course. ENG 215
and 217 do NOT satisfy this requirement. For transfer purposes,
students should consult their advisor and
transfer institution about their literature selections.
6A list of approved general education electives (humanities/fine
arts, social/behavioral sciences, mathematics, science, and
wellness) is provided in the General Education section of the
catalog under Curriculum Planning and Design. NAS
and 01-level sciences do not satisfy this requirement. Students are advised to check the requirements of
their transfer institution.
Total Minimum Credits for AS Degree
in Social Sciences, Teacher Preparation Specialization
62
1Students are
recommended to take one semester of United States, African-American, or Virginia
History and one semester of Western or World Civilization.
2A list of approved general education electives (humanities/fine
arts, social/behavioral sciences, mathematics, science, and
wellness) is provided in the General Education section of the
catalog under Curriculum Planning and Design.
3Students must
take the same foreign language through the 102 level. Students who have satisfactorily
completed two years of a foreign language in high school may petition
for advanced placement to the intermediate level of this foreign
language. Students who begin at he intermediate level of
foreign language study will then need to complete two (2)
additional credit hours in Approved Electives. Proficient
students may receive course credit for foreign language through
the CLEP exam. Students should consult their transfer institution
about language requirements. Some BS programs require intermediate
level foreign language. Many colleges and universities accept
American Sign Language as a foreign language credit. Students are advised to clarify transfer opportunities with their
transfer institution.
4Students should consult
their advisor and transfer institution about the computer literacy
course to take. Students who have good backgrounds in computers
may petition for credit by examination.
5Students may take
any 200-level LITERATURE course. ENG 215 and 217 do NOT
satisfy this requirement. For transfer purposes,
students should consult their advisor and transfer institution
about their literature selections.
6A list of approved general education electives (humanities/fine
arts, social/behavioral sciences, mathematics, science, and
wellness) is provided in the General Education section of the
catalog under Curriculum Planning and Design.
Future elementary teachers are recommended to take one semester of physical science
and one semester of biological science. NAS and 01-level
sciences so not satisfy this requirement. Students are advised to check
the requirements of their transfer institution.
7Students
should choose from one of these areas: Political Science (U.S.
Government recommended), Ethics, Art Appreciation, or Music
Appreciation.
