Liberal Arts and Sciences

Click here for Plan of Study Form in PDF format 

Associate in Arts
Program Leader: Peter Patsouris- 860-892-5703

The Liberal Arts and Sciences Associate in Arts degree program is designed primarily for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to continue studies toward a baccalaureate degree in the liberal arts and sciences. It is also suitable for students who wish to engage in an educationally challenging experience for personal growth and intellectual development. The requirements and distribution of courses in this A.A. degree program are similar to the general education requirements in many Liberal Arts and Sciences baccalaureate degree programs. However, since there are variations in the requirements at different four-year institutions, students are advised to check carefully the specific requirements of the institution to which they intend to transfer.

There are specific pathways within the Liberal Arts and Sciences degree program to help students use this degree as a first step toward a long term goal, such as transferring to Eastern Connecticut State University, transferring to the University of Connecticut, or pursuing selected majors. Your academic advisor will have the details you need. You may also secure a copy of the Pathway Guides for transfer to specific programs and universities at the Student Development Office. Call (860)-383-5217 for information.

Specific information on courses which meet elective requirements is also available from Student Services advisors and academic advisors.

LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES CURRICULUM

° Course has a prerequisite. Students should check course description. 
+ It is important to note that no fewer than 61 credits are needed to complete the degree. If the one credit speech option is selected, students must be careful to take two four-credit courses somewhere in the program or take an extra course.
$ First Year Experience course equivalents are Perspectives in Criminal Justice (CJS* K100) and Perspectives in Nursing (NUR* K108).
Students who are planning on transferring to a four-year institution should check with their advisors, their future schools, or refer to the Selecting Electives list regarding General Education Requirements.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
In selecting courses, each student must fulfill the following requirements:

International/Intercultural Requirement
All degree-seeking students must complete one course which emphasizes a global, cross-cultural or multicultural perspective and encourages students to think beyond the boundaries of traditional Western European cultural perspectives.

Courses which satisfy this requirement are:

Oral Communication Requirement
All degree-seeking students must complete one course to develop competency in oral communication; the courses which meet this requirement are:
COM* K109 Speech Practice  1 credit
COM* K173 Public Speaking   3 credits

These requirements do not increase the total number of credits needed to complete the degree; they can be met within the 60-61 credits of the degree program by choosing appropriate electives.

Program Outcomes and Statement of Core Values

Three Rivers Community College is committed to the belief that the best preparation for life, and especially for careers that require specialized training, is a broad acquaintance with human knowledge. The Liberal Arts degree program is designed to give students the opportunity to explore knowledge from multiple perspectives. Students are challenged to become intellectually curious, aesthetically aware and critically perceptive, and to develop their communicative and quantitative skills. Through the study of the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities, the Liberal Arts degree program gives students the flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of the workplace and the foundation necessary for lifelong learning and personal growth.

At the core of the Liberal Arts and Sciences is not any one discipline or knowledge base, but rather an attempt to perceive the interrelatedness of knowledge and the connectedness of human experience. In addtiion to exploring the traditions of thought and the central questions within selected areas of study, students completing the Liberal Arts and Sciences program will develop the ability to:
                            • think critically and creatively
                            • work collaboratively as well as independently
                            • communicate effectively both in speaking and in writing
                            • reason quantitatively as well as verbally
                            • value artistic expression
                            • move beyond a narrow focus and recognize broader historical, cultural,
global and scientific perspectives.
                            • understand and reflect searchingly upon one's values and  the values of others.

Liberal Arts and career education are interactive components. They enrich each other by helping students to make career choices in keeping with their understanding of themselves and their world. Together, they provide the skills and perspectives that make possible the dignity of work and social contribution. They cultivate a framework of meaning, value, ethical purpose and commitment that enrich every aspect of life. They foster an attitude of critical inquiry, curiosity, openness and wonder that enables a spirit of lifelong learning.