2024-2025 Catalog
Liberal Arts (LIAR-AA), A.A.
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Associate of Arts
In the Liberal Arts program students select courses from a broad menu including communication, culture and expression, languages, visual and performing arts, problem-solving, social sciences, and natural sciences. This flexible program allows students to explore academic/career interests before choosing a major, take qualifying courses for admission to a career program, or complete general education requirements in preparation for transfer to another college/university. Liberal Arts courses also apply to many bachelor’s programs in the College of Arts, Sciences and Education – such as English, History, Journalism/Tech Comm, Spanish for the Professions, or Applied Speech Communication – or to career programs in the Colleges of Business and Health Professions.
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Program Outcomes
- Students will write and speak clearly and analytically in order to solve problems and make judgments.
- Students will read and listen critically to understand texts and spoken word.
- Students will think independently, using multiple disciplinary conventions, for life-long citizenship.
- Students will use knowledge of human development and behavior, group dynamics, social institutions, social change, and/or cultural diversity to better understand public issues and to act effectively as a citizen and enhance their interpersonal interactions.
- Students will interpret cultural works as a part of a culture and justify those interpretations with an understanding of the interpretive process, in order to gain increased self-understanding.
New Student Admission Requirements
- 2.50 High School GPA (on a 4.00 scale)
- Minimum Composite ACT Score of 17/SAT 900
Transfer Student Admission Requirements
- 2.00 College GPA (on a 4.00 scale)
- At least 12 credits, including an English and Mathematics course
University Requirements - 36 to 38 Credits Required
First Year Seminar Requirement (FSUS 100 or Equivalent) - 0 to 1 Credit Required
All First-Time-In-Any-College Freshmen (FTIACs) must complete a one-credit FSUS 100 course, or its equivalent. Additional information and the definition of FTIAC for FSUS purposes can be found in the: Ferris State University Academic Affairs FSUS Policy
University General Education Requirements - 36 to 37 Credits Required
Courses in this section are required to satisfy the University General Education Requirements for an associate degree. The University General Education requirements can be found on the: Ferris State University General Education Requirements Webpage
Communication Competency - 9 Credits Required (or Their Equivalent)
Quantitative Literacy Competency - 3 to 4 Credits Required (or Their Equivalent)
Natural Sciences Competency - 6 Credits Required
Two courses are required with a minimum of 6 credits: must have at least one lab course.
Culture Competency - 9 Credits Required
Three courses are required with a minimum of 9 credits: must be from two different disciplines and have at least one 200 level or higher course.
Self and Society Competency - 9 Credits Required
Three courses are required with a minimum of 9 credits: must be from two different disciplines, have at least one 200 level or higher course, and at least one Self and Society Foundation course.
College Requirements - 24 to 34 Credits Required
Global Issues Course - 3 to 4 Credits Required
The course chosen may not overlap with course(s) chosen in the Diversity Awareness Course section, Interdisciplinary Courses section, or Interdisciplinary Focus section.
Diversity Awareness Course - 3 Credits Required
The course chosen may not overlap with course(s) chosen in the Global Issues Course section, Interdisciplinary Courses section, or Interdisciplinary Focus section.
Interdisciplinary Courses - 4 to 13 Credits Required
A minimum of three courses is required. Choose one course from three different sections:
- Communication; See the Communication section for a list of courses.
- Culture and Expression; See the Culture and Expression section for a list of courses.
- Languages; See the Languages section for a list of courses.
- Visual and Performing Arts; See the Visual and Performing Arts section for a list of courses.
- Problem Solving and Calculation; See the Problem Solving and Calculation section for a list of courses.
- Human Behavior and Social Sciences; See the Human Behavior and Social Sciences section for a list of courses.
- Natural Sciences; See the Natural Sciences section for a list of courses.
The courses chosen may not overlap with course(s) chosen in the University General Education Requirements section, Global Issues Course section, Interdisciplinary Courses section, or the Interdisciplinary Focus section.
Visual and Performing Arts
Problem Solving and Calculation
Human Behavior and Social Sciences
Interdisciplinary Focus - 6 Credits Required
Choose at least 6 additional credits from one Interdisciplinary Course area that was chosen in the Interdisciplinary Courses section:
- Communication; See the Communication section for a list of courses.
- Culture and Expression; See the Culture and Expression section for a list of courses.
- Languages; See the Languages section for a list of courses.
- Visual and Performing Arts; See the Visual and Performing Arts section for a list of courses.
- Problem Solving and Calculation; See the Problem Solving and Calculation section for a list of courses.
- Human Behavior and Social Sciences; See the Human Behavior and Social Sciences section for a list of courses.
- Natural Sciences; See the Natural Sciences section for a list of courses.
The courses chosen may not overlap with course(s) chosen in the University General Education Requirements section, Global Issues Course section, Interdisciplinary Courses section, or the Interdisciplinary Focus section.
Electives - 8 Credits Required
The credits required may vary depending on courses taken.
In order to graduate with an associate degree, a student must have a minimum of 60 credits. The electives required for each student may vary depending on courses taken. Based on how a student meets the programmatic requirements, they may need more or less than 8 credits of elective courses to meet the required 60 credit minimum.
Notes
- Students who return to the university after an interrupted enrollment, not including summer semester, must normally meet the requirements of the curriculum which are in effect at the time of their return, not the requirements which were in effect when they were originally admitted.
- Credit Variance - Credits required may vary based on course placement, prerequisites, etc. If you have questions, contact your advisor.
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate from Ferris State University, students must meet both University and Programmatic Graduation Requirements.
University Graduation Requirements
These are the minimum graduation requirements for an associate degree at Ferris State University:
- All requirements as specified in the University Requirements section must be met.
- A minimum of 60 credits must be earned.
- A 2.00 or higher cumulative Ferris State University GPA is required.
- A minimum of 15 credits must be earned from Ferris State University to meet the Residency requirement.
Programmatic Graduation Requirements
These are the additional graduation requirements mandated by the program:
- All requirements as specified in the College Requirements section must be met.
Suggested Semester Layout
Consult Advisor to Approve Your Customized Plan in MyDegree Spring Courses
- Interdisciplinary Focus Courses Credit Hours: 6
- Major Courses Credit Hours: 12
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