Liberal Arts, A.A.

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College’s Liberal Arts Program features a balanced and flexible curriculum with coursework in communication, scientific and quantitative reasoning, and social and cultural awareness in addition to content, transfer, or career-specific coursework in six different concentrations designed to meet the needs of a diverse group of Liberal Arts majors.

The Communication Studies concentration can be completed in the Guided Accelerated Pathway in just 15 months for students who qualify. New cohorts begin each summer.

Program Overview

The Open Transfer Concentration offers the most flexibility in course selection and options to tailor the curriculum to the individual student’s aspirations.  Additional concentrations provide an in-depth study of specific content areas and/or articulate to content-related four-year degree programs.  The Communication Studies Concentration is designed for students who want to gain proficiency in interpersonal and professional communication skills or prepare for transfer programs such as public relations, communications, journalism, or management.  The English Concentration is designed for students who desire an in-depth study of literature and composition.  The History Concentration is designed for students who wish to specialize in history and/or plan to transfer to a four-year degree program in history.  The Mathematics Concentration is designed for students who intend to pursue a math-intensive degree program or career.  Finally, the Natural Science Concentration, with its emphasis on biology and/or chemistry, is designed for students who intend to pursue a four-year degree/career related to the natural sciences.  With such diverse options, the Liberal Arts Degree positions students for success in a variety of careers or university majors. Degree completion demonstrates to employers and transfer institutions that liberal arts graduates are knowledgeable individuals with the ability to communicate, reason, and thrive in diverse workplaces and educational environments. 

A.A. Liberal Arts Mission/Program Goals:

• Assist students in gaining a better understanding of themselves and their relationships with others.
• Encourage students to become and remain informed citizens.
• Inspire students to become lifelong learners to keep pace with today’s global economy.
• Support students in their efforts to understand and embrace diversity in an ever-changing, complex world.
• Provide the tools and experiences necessary to successfully transition into other educational institutions or into the workforce.

A.A. Liberal Arts Learner Outcomes:

• Students will demonstrate the interpersonal and evaluative skills necessary to effectively participate in a group and both provide and receive constructive feedback.
• Students will identify ways in which lifelong learning and aesthetic interests are important for living a balanced, enjoyable life.
• Students will exhibit the academic and social skills necessary for successful transition to other colleges/universities or into the workforce.
• Students will apply ethical principles in both written and oral communication.
• Students will assess the historical and political issues that have shaped our culturally diverse country and articulate the importance of their roles as informed and participatory citizens.
• Students will express insight into an appreciation of the arts and evaluate their relevance in today’s society.
• Students will cultivate an understanding of the complex cultural texture of today’s world.

Career Opportunities

The flexibility of the Liberal Arts Open Transfer Concentration allows students to work with their academic advisors to select courses relevant to a broad range of prospective university transfer programs or careers.  The more specialized concentrations offer focused study in the disciplines of Communication Studies, English, History, Mathematics, or Natural Sciences and prepare students for success in the respective university transfer programs or content-related career fields.  No matter the chosen concentration, the Liberal Arts Program hones the skills necessary for students to become critical thinkers, effective communicators, well-informed citizens, and valuable employees.