Liberal Arts

Home › Oakridge College › Academics & Programs › Liberal Arts

Associate of Arts (A.A.)
Total Credits Required: 60

The A.A. in Liberal Arts is a 60-credit program designed to provide students with a broad academic foundation in communication, writing, critical thinking, cultural understanding, and historical awareness. The program supports continued education, transfer opportunities, professional development, and entry into workplaces that value adaptability, clear communication, and sound judgment.

The program combines general education with focused coursework in literature, writing, history, humanities, social understanding, quantitative reasoning, and cultural interpretation. Students complete a wide foundation of study intended to strengthen their ability to read carefully, write clearly, think critically, understand different contexts, and communicate effectively across academic and professional settings.

Together, these requirements are intended to prepare students for a wide range of future pathways by developing the transferable skills expected in college study, public-facing work, administrative environments, creative fields, community organizations, and professional settings where communication, analysis, and judgment matter.

Program Structure

• General Education Requirements: 30 credits
• Liberal Arts Core Requirements: 18 credits
• Approved Liberal Arts Electives: 9 credits
• Capstone or Academic Portfolio: 3 credits

General Education Requirements

Students complete a broad block of foundational coursework intended to support written communication, quantitative competence, social understanding, scientific awareness, cultural literacy, and responsible academic conduct. This portion of the program gives students the academic breadth expected of an associate-level liberal arts education.

Rather than immediately narrowing into one profession or discipline, the general education block helps students build the habits needed to move between fields, understand unfamiliar material, and communicate effectively in different settings.

Liberal Arts Core Requirements

The core of the program provides structured study in literature, writing, history, humanities, cultural studies, research practice, and critical interpretation. These courses establish the academic foundation of the degree and give students a stronger understanding of how language, history, culture, and human experience shape public and professional life.

The core requirements are intended to help students develop useful intellectual habits: close reading, clear writing, careful research, organized argument, historical awareness, and the ability to interpret complex information with discipline.

Approved Liberal Arts Electives

Students complete an elective block within the department or approved related fields. This allows the program to support broad academic interests while remaining within the framework of liberal arts study.

Possible areas of emphasis may include literature, writing, history, cultural studies, communication, humanities, public-facing cultural work, archival interpretation, introductory social sciences, or approved interdisciplinary coursework.

This elective structure allows students to shape the degree toward different future goals without turning the program into a narrow professional track.

Capstone or Academic Portfolio

In the final stage of the degree, students complete a capstone project or academic portfolio designed to bring together writing, research, communication, interpretation, and general academic development.

This requirement may take the form of a research paper, reflective portfolio, public presentation, writing collection, humanities project, or faculty-approved academic capstone. Students are expected to demonstrate their ability to organize ideas, communicate clearly, and apply what they have learned across several areas of study.

Graduation Requirements

• Completion of at least 60 credit hours
• Successful completion of all required departmental coursework
• Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0
• A grade of C or higher in all core program requirements
• Completion of the capstone or academic portfolio requirement

Program Overview

The A.A. in Liberal Arts is intended for students seeking a broad and flexible academic foundation within Oakridge’s Department of Literature. The program prepares students for continued study, transfer pathways, professional development, public-facing work, administrative roles, creative fields, community service, or other areas where communication, analysis, and adaptability are valuable.

Rather than presenting itself as a narrow career program, the degree provides students with a versatile foundation in writing, research, history, culture, reasoning, and interpretation. Within Oakridge’s Department of Literature, this program serves students who want to build a broad skill set before choosing a more specialized academic, professional, or creative direction.