Program Overview
This 60 credit program has been designed to provide both breadth and sufficient depth in the liberal arts at the associate degree (A.A.) level. Only 12 semester hours are allowed to be taken outside of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Students whose long-range goal is a bachelor’s degree should consult with an advisor in the Continuing Education Program to determine the transferability of this program to one of the baccalaureate degrees offered by Rider.
Curriculum Overview
The flexible curriculum is designed to enable students to choose from a myriad of academic disciplines. Choosing an emphasis or concentrated area of study allows students to explore a specific discipline in depth.
Admissions Requirement
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
Degree Offered
- A.A. in General Studies
Contact
Brooke Hunter, Ph.D.
Associate Dean
College of Arts and Sciences
Lynch Adler Hall, #117
609-896-5378
bhunter@rider.edu
Program Website: A.A. in General Studies
General Studies A.A. Program Requirements
(60 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Studies Core | ||
| LIB 200 | Intro to Liberal Studies 1 | 3 |
| Basic Core | ||
| CMP 120 | Seminar in Writing and Rhetoric | 3 |
| CMP 125 | Seminar in Writing and Research | 3 |
| COM 104 | Speech Communication | 3 |
| Quantitative Course Elective 2 | 3-4 | |
| Information technology 3 | 3 | |
| Areas of Knowledge | ||
| Select courses from the Areas of Knowledge to complete the credit requirements for the Perspectives as shown below: | ||
| Historical Perspective | 6 | |
| Artistic and Intellectual Perspective | 6 | |
| Contemporary Perspective | 6 | |
| Natural World | 3-4 | |
| Emphasis | ||
| Students select a concentrated area of study from a liberal arts department. An appropriate introductory course from a department may be included. Students are encouraged to consult the CAS Dean's Office to select an emphasis | 15 | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Free elective hours may be taken in any department, provided the student meets any prerequisites and requirements imposed by the department offering the course. | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 60-62 | |
- 1
LIB 200 is waived for students who transfer 30 or more credits in Liberal Arts. A free elective will be added.
- 2
The quantitative skills requirement can be met by successfully completing one course in college-level mathematics or statistics. For students who don't transfer such a course to Rider, popular offerings include MTH 102 Finite Mathematics, MSD 104 Intro to Quantitative Methods, MSD 105 Quantitative Methods for Business, MSD 205 Business Statistics, BDA 201 Introduction to Business Analytics, POL 230 Methods of Political Analysis, PSY 105 Introduction to Research in Psychology, PSY 201 Statistics and Research Design, or another mathematics course approved by an advisor.
- 3
The information technology requirement may be fulfilled by completing CIS 185 Information Systems Essentials. Students who possess sufficient computer experience can gain credit for CIS 185 through assessment.
Courses and Descriptions
CMP 120 Seminar in Writing and Rhetoric 3 Credits
Students will increase their competence in the critical reading of challenging college-level texts that engage significant ideas and in writing effective essays that advance a clear and meaningful thesis while demonstrating understanding of those texts. The second of the department’s three-course composition sequence, This course counts towards the fulfillment of the Essential Competencies element of the CLAS general education curriculum.
CMP 125 Seminar in Writing and Research 3 Credits
Introduces students to the process of library research and documented writing. Emphasis will be on the refinement of critical reading, thinking, and writing strategies applied to multiple sources and documented papers. This course counts towards the fulfillment of the Essential Competencies element of the CLAS general education curriculum.
LIB 200 Intro to Liberal Studies 3 Credits
Introduces students to the various perspectives and methods of the disciplines in liberal studies: natural and social sciences, humanities, and the arts. Students learn the multifaceted questions and answers offered by each discipline. They study the historical development of the university and the rise and transformation of liberal studies disciplines.