May 06, 2024  
2022-2023 Rivier University Academic Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Rivier University Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies (Day/Professional Studies)


The Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies provides full-or part-time students with the opportunity to obtain a general, well-rounded education. The course work is distributed, therefore, among the arts, social studies, natural sciences, and humanities. The program also includes the opportunity to supplement this general background in the liberal arts with specialized courses according to student’s own interests. This degree program is intended to be complete in itself. However, it is also an excellent preparation for students who wish to continue study leading to a bachelor’s degree. Such students should consult with their advisors to be sure that their programs, as planned, meet specific requirements for their intended specialization at the bachelor’s level.

Student Learning Outcomes


Students who graduate with a degree in Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies should be able to:

  • Appreciate and defend the inherent and transformative value of a liberal arts education;
  • Assimilate, appreciate, and apply the spirit of Catholic Social Teaching to serve others and to improve the human condition;
  • Develop a capacity for independent thought; the ability to express oneself clearly and coherently both orally and in writing;
  • Demonstrate foundational concepts, methodology, and be familiar with the content of a wide range of disciplines in the arts and humanities and the natural and social sciences;
  • Read, understand, and interpret classical and current literature and history, including the history of ideas, as a backdrop for an understanding of contemporary life and society;
  • Establish a basis for lifelong learning along the various dimensions constituting our shared humanity - intellectual, spiritual, moral, and aesthetic.

Assessment


There are no courses designated as Liberal Studies courses. Because individual courses taken toward the Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies are taught in different departments, procedures and performance objectives may vary from department to department. Course competencies are generally assessed by one or more of the following instruments: examinations, research papers, student  portfolios, student presentations, and interactive student activities.

General Education Requirements (minimum 6 credits)


Major Requirements (36 credits)


  • ENG 200 - One elective
  • Humanities 200 - One course
  • Mathematics - One course
  • Modern Language - Two courses
  • Natural Science - One course
  • Philosophy or Religious Studies - One course
  • Social Science - One course
  • Liberal Arts - Three electives from any of the areas listed above

General Electives (18 credits)


Degree Requirements (60 credits)