Overview
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Introduction to Liberal Arts
For centuries, a Liberal Arts degree has been a place of self-discovery, personal growth, and prolonged vocational discernment. The degree program at MCC encourages students to consider their academic and career path through this lens: Who am I? What do I value? What do I have to offer to my community and the larger world?
The interdisciplinary nature of a Liberal Arts degree creates space for you to engage with multiple approaches to learning and gain a broad base of knowledge upon which to build. As a Liberal Arts student you will take courses across disciplines, including English and Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics. As you discover areas of interest, you can choose to take electives in those disciplines.
Built into the requirements of the program are touchpoint courses which will ground you in the academic discipline of liberal studies and provide checkpoints for goal setting and reflection, culminating in a comprehensive digital portfolio. The degree program is one of academic and vocational preparation to position you for transfer opportunities and career discernment.
Degree & Certificate Options
DEGREE PATHWAYS
There are two Liberal Arts Associate of Arts degree pathways for students to choose from:
- Liberal Arts (A.A.)
- Liberal Arts – Pre-Nursing Pathway (A.A.)
The general Liberal Arts degree is ideal for those exploring interests or taking pre-requisites or foundational courses required to complete many 4-year degrees.
Students interested in a customizing their Liberal Arts electives for transfer to a 4-year college should meet with the Transfer counselor who can provide resources for custom career pathway exploration. Students are strongly encouraged to consider a Liberal Arts concentration after taking no more than two semesters of the general Liberal Arts degree program.
The Pre-Nursing Track is customized for students who plan to pursue a degree in Nursing. Detailed information and curriculum requirements for the pathway can be found on the tab above.
CERTIFICATES
At this time there are no Liberal Arts certificates.
Program Goals
The Liberal Arts degree at Manchester Community College provides a solid foundation in the Liberal Arts and Sciences so that students may discover and explore academic interests or prepare for future baccalaureate programs.
One goal of the degree program is to graduate well-rounded, lifelong learners who demonstrate the intellectual qualities and global awareness required of good stewards and citizens of our changing world. Another is to provide students with the opportunity to complete an Associate degree as a stepping stone to a 4-year degree. Core requirements for the program are comprised of courses that are the foundation of most 4-year degrees.
Laying a Foundation With Liberal Arts
Curriculum
Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission to the Liberal Arts degree program must comply with general college admission requirements and must also provide a High School Transcript or participate in an interview with an MCC Admissions Counselor.
There are no other specific program admissions requirements.
The Core of the Curriculum
FIRST YEAR ESSENTIALS
Lay the foundation for experiencing your Liberal Arts degree as a period of personal development and vocational discernment. This course provides both a philosophical framework and practical skills.
FOUNDATIONS IN LIBERAL ARTS STUDIES
Experience the interdisciplinary nature of your program of study by exploring language, culture, history, technology and scholarship through four practical projects.
THE SELF, THE OTHER AND THE ARTS
Embark on a reflective journey of engagement with the arts. Grow in insight and empathy by experiencing literature, art and music as a mirror in which to see the Self and a window through which to see the Other.
COMMUNITY, SCHOLARSHIP AND PROFESSION
Make your degree practical beyond graduation by participating in a community based internship, compiling a reflective portfolio of your studies, and planning for your future personal and professional development.
Incoming Transfer Policy
While courses considered for transfer into the Liberal Arts degree will follow general college guidelines, students must be aware that once a concentration is selected, course transfer will be dependent upon the transfer credit policy of the specific degree concentration.
Curriculum: Required Courses
Course Sequencing
Degree Program – First Year
Degree Program – Second Year
Outcomes
Upon earning the Liberal Arts A.A. degree, you will have aquired a solid introduction to a wide range of disciplines, gaining knowledge and skills that will serve you well in every area of life, vocation and citizenship. You will also possess the necessary course requirements to support timely transfer to a 4-year institution to complete a baccalaureate degree.
If you enroll in the Liberal Arts program to explore interests and academic options, after finding an area of focus it is also easy to transfer and complete your degree in a different MCC program.
Acquired Skills
In addition to acquiring a baseline of knowledge across multiple disciplines, as a Liberal Arts degree holder you will have developed skills that include:
- Close reading
- Analytical thinking
- Critical appreciation of the arts
- Creative and academic writing
- Proficiency in research and information literacy
- Goal setting, self-evaluation, and reflection
Employment Opportunities
Liberal Arts graduates will find that the knowledge, skills, and habits developed through their program of study are highly valued by employers, who are increasingly seeking “soft skills,” such as empathy, situational awareness and interpersonal skills. In addition to communication and writing skills, graduates will have learned strategies around self- and other- awareness that are increasingly rare and vital to the workplace.
Outgoing Transfer Opportunities
The NH Transfer Connections program streamlines the transfer process between schools in the Community College System of NH (CCSNH) and schools in the University System of NH (USNH). Some of the transfer opportunities for MCC Liberal Arts degree students include:
- Boston University
- Emerson College
- Keene State College
- New England College (Honors Program Partner)
- Plymouth State University
- Rivier University
- Southern NH University
- University of New Hampshire
- University of Massachusetts
- …and many more!
Requirements for transfer participants are outlined at nhtransfer.org/connections-program. Additional information can also be obtained from MCC’s Career Development & Transfer Services.
Pre-Nursing Pathway
Overview
The Liberal Arts Pre-Nursing Pathway is recommended for those preparing to apply for entry into MCC’s Nursing A.S. degree program. This option gives you the flexibility to take science and other classes while earning transferable academic credit. It is ideal for completing any co-requisite nursing requirements.
If you are interested in the Nursing A.S. degree you are encouraged to attend a Nursing Information Session to learn more about the program and the admissions process.
Pre-Nursing Academic Support
The Academic Advising Center works closely with pre-nursing students to create semester-by-semester plans to prepare you for your nursing applications. For questions, or to schedule an advising appointment, call 603-206-8140 or email Academic Advising.
For current Liberal Arts Pre-Nursing students, Brainfuse, accessible through every Canvas course, offers specific Nursing and Allied Health tutoring including TEAS preparation. There will be an option for live help. Learn more about the TEAS exam and other nursing admissions requirements here.
Curriculum: Required Courses
Course Sequencing
Degree Program – First Year
Degree Program – Second Year
Academics
The object of a Liberal Arts Education, "is not to teach what is particular to any one of the professions, but to lay the foundation which is common to them all." (Yale Report)
