• What is Liberal Arts Icon

    What is Liberal Arts

    Liberal Arts is a broad term that includes the study of history, literature, writing, philosophy, sociology, psychology, creative arts, and more. More broadly speaking, students earning a liberal arts degree learn to formulate effective arguments, communicate well, and solve problems.





  • Why Major in Liberal Arts


    Provides a wide variety of course options

    options to allow you explore your academic and career interests – you can customize your degree! We also have several specialized Liberal Arts option programs for you to consider such as Political Science, Deaf Studies, and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.


    Prepares you for transfer

    into many different majors at a 4-year college.


    Prepares you to work in a variety of jobs.

    . This is different from other types of education where students develop professional or vocational skills for a specific job.


    Appeals to employers.

    Employers like liberal arts graduates because they have the skills necessary to adapt in a changing workplace. Employers desire transferable skills (skills employees take with them to any job) typical of a liberal arts education. These include written and verbal communication skills and the ability to solve complex problems and work well with others.


    Provides an excellent foundation for graduate study

    in healthcare, law, business, or other fields. Graduate schools look for candidates who will succeed in graduate-level study. Students with a liberal arts background are appealing, because they demonstrate an ability to learn across a diverse field of studies.


    Creates graduates who are equipped with the skills to become valuable community members.

    The value of a liberal arts education goes far beyond its economic value. Graduates understand problems, generate solutions, and communicate those solutions to others. In many ways, a liberal arts education is education for life. It prepares graduates who can adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world.






  • Design Your Own Degree


    The Liberal Arts and Sciences Programs are designed for students who want to continue their education at senior colleges and to engage in studies leading to careers in the arts and sciences. Students in these programs choose from a wealth of courses offered by the Education and Language Acquisition, English, Humanities, Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science, Natural Sciences and Social Science Departments.

    DESIGN YOUR OWN DEGREE in either Social Science & Humanities OR Mathematics & Science by choosing courses that match your interests or transfer plans OR CHOOSE FROM ONE OF OUR TEN LIBERAL ARTS OPTIONS!





  • Liberal Arts Programs at LaGuardia


    The Liberals Arts major has two broad majors, Liberal Arts Social Sciences and Humanities and Liberal Arts Mathematics and Science, as well as 10 Options students can add to their major (nine for Social Science and Humanities and one for Mathematics and Science). Options are sub-programs that offer a coordinated grouping of courses, typically 21 credits, representing a specialization or emphasis within a major field. Speak to your advisor if you are interested in one of these options below.


  • Liberal Arts: Social Science and Humanities A.A


    For students who want an early start in planning for a liberal arts-related career, the program offers a number of courses offered in such areas as art, music, media, literature, theater, film, philosophy, journalism, and Latin American studies, to choose from.
    View catalog.
    View Degree Map.
    View Liberal Arts Social Science and Humanities Program Core Electives


    Deaf Studies Option (A.A degree)

    Enables students to learn American Sign Language (ASL), and to understand the complexities of deaf communities. Students receive a broad liberal arts background for further study in ASL/English interpreting, special education, social work, rehabilitation counseling and related fields.
    View catalog.
    View Program Page.


    History Option (A.A degree)

    Designed for those students who have a strong personal interest in learning more about History, and for students who plan to become History majors in four-year institutions. Students who major in History have a variety of career choices available, and the Option prepares students for advanced work in historical studies by training them in reading comprehension and textual analysis, critical thinking skills, and research methodologies. History classes help train students to appreciate a wide variety of writing styles and rhetorical strategies, thus exposing them to a greater diversity of literature. In addition, Writing Intensive Classes in History train students to conduct research and cite sources in accordance with standard scholarly practices.
    View catalog.
    View Program Page.


    International Studies Option (A.A degree)

    This is an interdisciplinary program that draws on the best resources of LaGuardia to prepare students to become better-informed world citizens and to develop the competencies needed to survive and succeed in the new global economy. Students in the International Studies program learn about cross-cultural understanding, explore global perspectives on various world issues and cultures, become more familiar with distinct regions and cultures of the world, and take at least two cycles of a foreign language. The option in International Studies promotes global awareness, intercultural understanding, and international engagement. The Liberal Arts International Studies Option is articulated with the International Studies interdisciplinary major at City College.
    View catalog.
    View Program Page.


    Japanese Option (A.A degree)

    Enables students to learn the Japanese language and other related disciplines such as Japanese literature, the art of Asia, East Asian history, religions in Asia, and social psychology in Asia. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for transfer to baccalaureate programs in East Asian Studies or Japan Studies. The Liberal Arts Japanese Option is articulated with the East Asian Studies major (Japanese track) at Queens College.
    View catalog.
    View Program Page.


    Journalism Option (A.A degree)

    The program prepares you for journalism and other media careers through teaching the fundamentals of the news gathering process, from developing story ideas, conducting secondary research and in-person interviews, to writing and editing and publishing stories. You will learn the ethics and responsibilities of journalists, and the process of interviewing sources and writing news in a variety of formats including print, online and radio broadcast. Besides learning the format and techniques of writing hard news stories, you will be exposed to different kinds of journalism including features writing for newspapers, magazines and online formats; plus, you will explore using the personal voice in literary journalism in such genres as blog posts, personal essays, memoirs and autobiography. You will also gain an insight into the new media of digital journalism and become both a critical consumer and producer of news.
    View catalog.
    View Program Page.


    Latin American Studies Option (A.A degree)

    Addresses the need for student preparation in the areas of Latin American, bicultural studies with prospective applications in the fields of education, diplomacy, business, cross-cultural studies and health care.
    View catalog.
    View Program Page.


    Political Science Option (A.A degree)

    Seeks to educate and empower students to become civically informed and engaged global democratic citizens. To this end, we consider the ways that politics has developed over time, including some of the foundational ideas and institutions that make up government including nation states, international organizations or the sub-units of government such as states, counties, districts, etc. In the process, we address the following questions: What counts as political? What is political power? What is political authority? What makes political authority legitimate or illegitimate? What is the purpose of government? What should it be? What roles do government institutions, political parties, social movements, and interest groups play in a constitutional democracy? Power and conflict are frequent topics of study but so are the means used to make collective and policy decisions such as elections and legislative voting. In studying these topics, political scientists use philosophical, historical, legalistic and quantitative methods.
    View catalog.
    View Program Page.


    Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages TESOL/Linguistics Option (A.A degree)

    This option provides the foundation for a career in TESOL in a diverse range of English teaching settings. The option is designed for students interested in pursuing teaching English as a New Language (also called English as a Second Language or English as a Foreign Language) in private and public-school contexts, both in the United States and abroad. Students graduating from LaGuardia with an AA in TESOL/Linguistics will be able to transfer and enroll in the Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Linguistics: TESOL at our partner institution, Queens College.
    View Program Page.


    Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Option (A.A degree)

    Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies engages students in the critical discovery and exploration of culture and society through the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, class, age, ability, religion, region, and nationality. The option is designed for students who have a strong interest in learning about key debates and theoretical concepts central to WGS, and for students that plan to major in WGS or related fields at four-year institutions. As an interdisciplinary option with faculty from Social Sciences, English, and Humanities, WGS prepare students to become better equipped to tackle the systemic implications and outcomes of particular local, national, and global forces that affect women and LGBTQ people.
    View catalog.
    View Program Page.




    Liberal Arts: Math and Science A.S


    For students interested in pursuing a career in mathematics, the sciences, engineering, medicine or allied health fields. The science and mathematics courses are designed specifically to meet the requirements of those students who wish to continue their education beyond the Associate degree.
    View catalog.
    View Degree Map.


    Applied Mathematics Option (A.S degree)

    The Applied Math option at LaGuardia Community College mainly focuses on Data Science. Data science is a field of study and practice that is focused on obtaining insights from data, and it is the result of a merger between two fields: statistics and computer science. Practitioners of data science use programming skills, statistics knowledge, and machine learning techniques to mine large data sets for patterns that can be used to analyze the past or predict future events. The Applied Mathematics option articulates to the Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics: Data Science and Cryptography at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY.
    View catalog.
    View Program Page.




    “Learn more about the Liberal Arts Options from the Program Directors!”



  • Social Science and Humanities Courses List

    Program Core Electives


    Note: Courses taken in the Pathways Flexible core which are also in the
    approved list for this category can be used to satisfy this requirement.
  • Modern Language or Literature: 3 Credits
    ELA101: Elementary Arabic 1 ELA102: Elementary Arabic 2 ELA103: Intermediate Arabic 1 ELA104: Intermediate Arabic 2 ELA105: Arabic for Heritage Speakers
    ELA201: Modern Arabic Literature ELC101: Elementary Modern Chinese 1 ELC102: Elementary Modern Chinese 2 ELC103: Intermediate Chinese ELC104: Intermediate Chinese 2
    ELC105: Chinese for Heritage Students ELC106: Chinese for Heritage Speakers 2 ELC201: Modern Chinese Literature ELC202: Contemporary Chinese Literature ELC203: Classic Chinese Literature
    ELF101: Elementary French 1 ELF102: Elementary French 2 ELF103: Intermediate French 1 ELF104: Intermediate French 2 ELF105: French for Heritage Speakers
    ELF201: French Literature from a Global Perspective ELI101: Elementary Italian 1 ELI102: Elementary Italian 2 ELI103: Intermediate Italian 1 ELI104: Intermediate Italian 2
    ELJ101: Elementary Japanese 1 ELJ102: Elementary Japanese 2 ELJ103: Intermediate Japanese 1 ELJ104: Intermediate Japanese 2 ELJ105: Japanese for Heritage Speakers
    ELJ201: Modern Japanese Literature ELK101: Elementary Korean 1 ELK102: Elementary Korean 2 ELK103: Intermediate Korean 1 ELK104: Intermediate Korean 2
    ELK105: Korean for Heritage Speakers ELM101: American Sign Language 1 ELM102: American Sign Language 2 ELM103: American Sign Language 3 ELM104: American Sign Language 4
    ELP101: Elementary Polish 1 ELP102: Elementary Polish 2 ELP103: Intermediate Polish ELP105: Polish for Heritage Speakers ELP201: Modern Polish Literature
    ELR101: Elementary Russian 1 ELR102: Elementary Russian 2 ELR103: Intermediate Russian ELR105: Russian for Heritage Speakers ELS101: Elementary Spanish 1
    ELS102: Elementary Spanish 2 ELS103: Intermediate Spanish 1 ELS104: Intermediate Spanish 2 ELS105: Spanish for Heritage Speakers 1 ELS106: Spanish for Heritage Speakers 2
    ELS200: Latin American Literature 1 ELS201: Latin American Literature 2 ELS204: Latin American Civilizations ELS209: Spanish Grammar and Usage ELT101: Elementary Tibetan 1
    ELT102: Elementary Tibetan 2 ELT105: Tibetan for Heritage Speakers ELU101: Elementary Uzbek 1 ELU102: Elementary Uzbek 2 ELU105: Uzbek for Heritage Speakers
    ELV101: Elementary Bengali 1 ELV102: Elementary Bengali 2 ELV103: Intermediate Bengali ELV105: Bengali for Heritage Students ELV201: Modern Bengali Literature
    ELY101: Elementary Haitian Creole 1 ELY102: Elementary Haitian Creole 2 ELY105: Haitian Creole for Heritage Students ELZ101: Elementary Portuguese 1 ELZ102: Elementary Portuguese 2

    Modern Language or Literature: 3 Credits


    ELA250: Modern Arabic Literature in Translation ELC250: Chinese Literature in English Translation ELF250: Modern French Literature in Translation
    ELJ250: Japanese Literature in Translation ELK250: Modern Korean Literature in Translation ELS250: Latin American Fiction in Translation
  • English Literature: 3 Credits
    ENG204 Asian American Literature ENG205 The Bible as Literature ENG225 Afro-American Literature ENG235 Cultural Identity in American Literature
    ENG245 Images of Women in Literature ENG247 The Woman Writer: Her Vision and Her Art ENG248 Latino/Latina Writing of the United States ENG250 The Short Story
    ENG252 Sexuality in Literature ENG256 Humor in Literature ENG260 The Novel ENG261 LGBTQ Literature
    ENG265 The Drama ENG266 Shakespeare ENG268 The Immigrant Experience in American Literature ENG269 Contemporary Black American Fiction
    ENG270 Introduction to Poetry ENG272 Literature and Film ENG275 The Great Writer ENG280 Children’s Literature
    ENG289 Introduction to Literary Studies ENG290 British Literature I ENG291 British Literature II ENG292 American Literature I
    ENG293 American Literature II ENG294 Classical Literature ENG295 World Literatures Written in English ENN240 Literature of the City
  • Philosophy: 3 Credits
    HUP 101 Introduction to Philosophy HUP 104 Ethics and Moral Issues HUP 105 Philosophy of Religion
    HUP 106 Social and Political Philosophy HUP 107 Philosophy of Art HUP 108 Environmental Ethics
  • Humanities Elective Course: 3 Credits
    HUA 101 Introduction to Art HUA 165 Art History: Prehistoric Through Gothic HUA 130 Beginning Photography HUA 202 History of Photography
    HUC 101 Introduction to Communication Studies HUC 106 Public Speaking HUC 150 Art of Film HUC 270 American Film
    HUM 101 Introduction to Music HUM 170 Guitar I HUT 101 The Art of Theater HUT 110 Acting I
  • Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science or Economics: 3 Credits
    SSA100 Introduction to Anthropology SSA101 Cultural Anthropology SSE103 Introduction to Microeconomics SSE104 Introduction to Macroeconomics SSP101 U.S. Power and Politics
    SSP250 Political Ideas and Ideologies SSS100 Introduction to Sociology SSN103 Introduction to Labor and Community Organizing SSY101 General Psychology SSY112 Introduction to Dis/Ability
  • History: 3 Credits
    SSH101 Themes in American History to 1865 SSH102 Themes in American History since 1865 SSH103 Western Civilization from Ancient Times to the Renaissance
    SSH104 Western Civilization from the Renaissance to Modern Times SSH105 World History from Ancient Times to 1500 SSH106 World History from 1500 to the Present
    SSH110 East Asia Civilization and Societies SSH113 Modern Chinese History SSH114 Modern Japanese History
    SSH121 Ancient Greek Civilization SSH122 History of the Roman State and People SSH131 Latin American History 1
    SSH132 Latin American History 2 SSH151 Women and Gender in US History SSH153 History of US Foreign Policy & International Relations
    SSH171 The World Since 1900 SSH231 Afro-American History SSH232 Survey of Latin American and Caribbean History

  • Additional Liberal Arts Electives


    Note: The number of electives you can choose depends on how many of your Pathways flexible core courses also satisfy program core requirements
  • English Department

    All courses listed in program core for English Literature + the following
    ENG 110: English Grammar Syntax ENG 208: Introduction to Digital Journalism ENG 209 Advanced Digital Journalism
    ENG 210: Journalism -Its scope and use ENG 211: Journalism - The Craft of Gathering and Reporting the News ENG 212: Feature Writing for Newspapers and Popular Magazines
    ENG 213: Broadcast Journalism-Writing for Radio ENG 220: Seminar in Teaching Writing ENG238: Screenwriting
    ENG 271: Poetry Workshop ENG 274: Creative Non-Fiction Workshop ENG 276: Fiction Writing Workshop
    ENG 277: Creative Writing: New Media Workshop ENG 288: English Major Internship ENN 191: Art, Politics and Protest
    ENN193: Ideal Societies ENN 195: Violence in American Art and Culture ENN 198: Creative Writing Workshop
  • ELA Department

    All courses listed in Program Core for Modern Languages and Literature:
  • Humanities Department

    All courses listed in Program Core for Philosophy and Humanities + the following
    HUA 103 Beginning Drawing HUA 104 Introduction to Design HUA 110 Beginning Painting HUA 120 Beginning Sculpture HUA 180 Life Drawing
    HUA 166 Art History: Renaissance Through Modern HUA 167 Introduction to African Art HUA 196 Latin American Art HUA 200 Art of the Twentieth Century HUA 212 History of Design
    HUA 214 History of Illustration HUA 215 Art of the Renaissance in Italy HUA 121 21st Century Photography HUC 104 Voice and Diction HUC 108 Professional Communication
    HUC 112 Small Group Communication HUC 113 Oral Communication HUC 117 Communication and Technology HUC 118 Gender and Communication HUC 119 Non-Verbal Communication
    HUC 120 Mass Communication HUC 127 Sports Communication HUC 140 Introduction to Broadcasting HUC 204 Race and Communication HUC/ENG 238 Screenwriting
    HUC 240 Video Production Workshop HUP 102 Critical Thinking HUP 109 Philosophy of Law HUP 112 Logic and Philosophy HUP 114 Medical Ethics
    HUP 116 Latin American Philosophy HUP 117 Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy HUP 118 African Philosophy HUP 121 Eastern Philosophy and Religion HUP 122 Philosophy of Gender and Sex
    HUP 125 Introduction to Philosophy of Science HUP 215 Philosophy of Love HUM 107 Music of Latin America HUM 109 World Music HUM 110 Introduction to Jazz
    HUM 140 Music Theory I HUM 210 American Music HUT 220 Contemporary Latina/o Theatre in the United States
  • Social Science Department

    All courses listed in Program Core for Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, History + the following

    SSA103 Introduction to Archaeology  SSA106 Anthropology of Latin America  SSA120 Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean  SSN182 Urban Anthropology SSN-HUN180 Introduction to Intercultural Communications
    SSJ101 Introduction to Criminal Justice SSJ201 Criminology SSN204 Crime and Justice in Urban Society SSE105 International Economics SSE125 World Geography
    SSN189 The Urban Economy SSN183 History of Minorities SSN199 Neighborhood History SSN240 History of New York City SSN190 Leadership
    SSN192 Practical Politics in New York City SSN210 The Politics of Sexuality SSP200 Global Politics SSP220 Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean SSP240 Crime and Punishment
    SSP245 Law and Human Rights in America SSN184 Environmental Psychology SSN280 Urban Black Psychology SSY105 Learning and Education: Childhood to Adolescence SSY200 Personality
    SSY205 Psychology of Women SSY210 Principles of Behavior Management SSY230 Abnormal Psychology SSY240 Developmental Psychology I SSY241 Developmental Psychology II
    SSY250 Social Psychology SSY260 Group Dynamics SSD-BTC105 Computers and Society SSI210 Women in Society SSN103 Introduction to Labor and Community Organizing
    SSN186 Sociology of the Black Community SSN187 Urban Sociology SSN194 Religion and Social Change SSN202 Environmental Sociology SSN-ENN193 Ideal Societies
    SSS102 Social Movements SSS175 Sociology of Organizations SSS185 Sociology of Education SSS190 Sociology of the American Deaf Communities SSS280 Sociology of the Family




  • Your Liberal Arts Journey

    Video: Professor David Stott, Film and Television, Humanities Department





  • First Year Seminar


    During your first semester, your First-Year Seminar (LIF101 or LMF101) instructor will be your advisor. They will help you be sure that you are in the right major and help you plan your course of study at LaGuardia while preparing for transfer or a career. After your first semester, you will be assigned to an advisor, a faculty member, or Student Advising Services advisor, who can help you make choices about courses and your future plans.

    Visit the Advising page to learn more about when to get advised and how to prepare for an advising appointment, and check out the Advising Calendar for information sessions, events and more.


    LIF101 First Year Seminar for Liberal Arts Social Science and Humanities

    The First Year Seminar is required of all new students majoring in Liberal Arts: Social Science and Humanities. Its goals are to introduce students to the liberal arts, help students transition to campus culture, develop a better understanding of the learning process, and acquire essential academic skills. Taught by liberal arts faculty and supported by peers, advisors, co-curricular professionals, this course addresses issues related to contemporary college life and majors within liberal arts.


    LMF101 First Year Seminar for Liberal Arts Math and Science

    LMF101 First Year Seminar for Math and Science: The First Year Seminar is required of all new students majoring in Liberal Arts: Math and Science. Its goals are to introduce students to the disciplines of Mathematics and Science, and to help students transition to campus culture, develop a better understanding of the learning process, and acquire essential academic skills. Taught by math and science faculty and supported by peers, advisors, and co-curricular professionals, this course addresses issues related to contemporary college life and the major.





  • Learning Communities


    Along the way, you will have the opportunity to take learning communities (also called pairs and clusters). These combine your science, math, and humanities courses around a theme and help you make connections. For more information, ask your advisor or visit our website at www.laguardia.edu/clusters.





  • Co-curricular Activities


    Co-curricular activities are wide ranging and include everything from participating in invited speaker’s presentations, workshops, student clubs, and ethnic celebration events. You can also go on a local field trip, watch a theater production in the college theater, or work with faculty on a research project. Your co-curricular experience outside the classroom makes what happens inside the classroom come alive for you. Speak with your professor to learn more about co-curricular activities that you can take part in.





  • Capstone LIB200


    The Liberal Arts Seminar explores aspects of the relationship between humanism, science and technology. Students apply knowledge and critical strategies developed in other courses to significant contemporary and historical issues. The Seminar draws on texts from the Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Sciences as students explore ways developments in science and technology contribute to abuses as well as advances in civilizations. Students also reflect on the responsibilities of citizenship in a diverse society. As a capstone course, this seminar is designated writing intensive.

    For information on course themes for the next semester visit https://www.laguardia.edu/lib200/





  • Career, Transfer and Articulation Agreements


    In college, you’ll learn new subjects and develop new interests, and the Liberal Arts major at LaGuardia gives you the flexibility to explore a wide range of subjects while you are earning your degree! A liberal arts education will teach you to think critically, communicate effectively, and take an active role in your communities: it prepares you for almost any transfer major and for all sorts of jobs, even jobs in fields that don’t exist yet! Explore career possibilities on Career Connect.

    An articulation agreement is an agreement between two schools that allows course credit at one school to be accepted or transferred and applied toward a degree at another school. Check out the articulation website to see which Liberal Arts programs have agreements.