Associate in Arts

Bedford Campus and Lowell Campus - Day and Evening

Program Description:

The Liberal Arts and Sciences Associate in Arts degree program is the academic base for many fields of study and work, providing the general education preparation for transfer to a bachelor’s degree program. The program’s extended mission is to prepare students for service, leadership and meaningful lifelong work and learning.  Students in Liberal Arts and Sciences can choose between a general course of study or focus their learning through several options and concentrations. This program qualifies for MassTransfer, which guarantees credit transfer to Massachusetts state universities and the University of Massachusetts.

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Career and Transfer Outlook:

Most students in the Liberal Arts and Sciences program continue their studies toward a bachelor’s degree. Students should check the requirements of the transfer institution and meet with career and academic/transfer counselors at MCC for specific program planning. Students may pursue various careers in areas such as the arts, media, economics, law, mathematics, sciences or teaching professions.

Helpful Hints:

Students should begin their Middlesex experience by taking the foundation-level courses (English and mathematics) prior to, or along with, their electives. Writing and mathematics are fundamental to every subsequent course that students experience in the Liberal Arts and Sciences program. It is also recommended that students sample courses from a variety of discipline areas each semester, rather than focusing on the areas they are most interested in at the beginning of their studies and leaving the courses they find less interesting until the end of their program coursework.

Program Outcomes:

Graduates of Liberal Arts and Sciences programs are prepared to:

• Acquire knowledge appropriate for successful transfer to a baccalaureate institution;
• Master a major field of study as the basis for lifelong learning, service, relationships and work, in a socially diverse context;
• Demonstrate an extensive foundation of knowledge, skills and processes derived from a liberal arts curriculum that are required for systematic study and problem solving;
• Demonstrate the ability to conduct and document meaningful, discipline appropriate research;
• Think critically, comprehend and analyze complex ideas, draw inferences from facts/texts, evaluate and present well-reasoned arguments;
• Apply symbolic reasoning skills to solve problems, evaluate arguments and chains of reasoning, and interpret information;
• Reason scientifically and/or quantitatively, and apply mathematical and/or scientific principles to the inquiry process;
• Communicate effectively by means of listening, speaking, reading, writing and utilizing basic quantitative information and mathematical skills in varied situations;
• Demonstrate knowledge of different groups and organizations in societies, and respect for varied cultural values;
• Be familiar with major artistic, literary and philosophical aspects of world peoples;
• Identify the major historical, economic and political events around the globe;
• Recognize the role of ethnic diversity in U.S. life;
• Identify and analyze individual and societal ethical issues;
• Demonstrate ethical insight and reasoning ability about contemporary issues;
• Recognize and articulate in a reasoned manner the roots and causal basic of contemporary issues;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of effective citizenry and community engagement in addressing social issues and the sustainability of the environment;
• Engage in thoughtful self-assessment and career exploration, in order to select an appropriate major for transfer, leading to a satisfying career in a global society.