The Liberal Studies program is designed to fulfill the needs of those students who:

• seek to complete the first two years of an undergraduate degree in a community college environment prior to transferring to a four-year institution;
• are undecided about their educational goals and need an opportunity to explore their interests; or
• may be interested in obtaining only a two-year liberal studies degree.

The Liberal Studies program offers an associate degree that is equivalent to the first two years of a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree program. The program’s rigorous curriculum prepares students for transfer to four-year degree programs at the University of the District of Columbia as well as other institutions. Additionally, the program is designed to allow room for additional liberal arts/general education requirements that may be required in a four-year program to which the student may decide to transfer. This flexible design also proves opportunities for students to explore an area of concentration or a special interest.

Students may choose either an Associate of Science (A.S.) or an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree. Students interested in focusing on mathematics or the sciences should choose the Associate of Science degree. Students interested in focusing in the arts or humanities should choose the Associate of Arts degree. Students unsure of their major may choose either degree or make the selection toward the end of their program. Both programs give students the flexibility to fulfill the lower-division general education requirements for transfer and to pursue a major interest or fulfill prerequisites.

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Conceptualize, apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information from a variety of sources.
• Recognize scientific problems and apply reason to navigate a wide array of authentic contexts and everyday life situations.
• Make a presentation before an audience with confidence, skill, and a command of the material presented
• Write a clearly organized paper with an identifiable thesis and logical argument; prepare a descriptive paper that is understandable and free of grammatical errors.
• Produce a research paper using primary and secondary sources and limited scholarly articles and publications.
• Use the computer and other technologies to support personal and professional objectives.
• Be aware of one’s place in the world as a global citizen, open to and attentive to diversity across the spectrum of differences.

View Program of Study »

Please contact the Division of Student Achievement for more information or call 202.274.5830