Arkansas Community Colleges
Liberal Arts Programs
Liberal-arts transfer programs at community colleges in this state. English, history, philosophy, and the social sciences for university transfer.
11 colleges · 550 sections · 83 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
The liberal-arts associate at Arkansas community colleges is the most common transfer degree in the Public 2-year system. It's designed as a complete 2-year general-education foundation — English composition, history, math, lab science, social science, fine arts — that articulates to any four-year university in the state. Students complete two years at community-college tuition rates and arrive at the bachelor's program as juniors with sophomore standing in their declared major.
This term's 550 sections across 11 Public 2-year colleges fill those general-education buckets. The right college often comes down to schedule (online availability, evening sections) and proximity rather than program differences — the curriculum is intentionally similar across institutions to keep the transfer guarantee working. Compare colleges below by section count and transfer agreements.
Colleges offering Liberal Arts
Pick a college to see its full plan — every required course, which ones transfer to the school you want, and what’s open now.
Liberal Arts is a transfer program — community colleges offer the coursework; you earn the degree, and its earnings, at a four-year university. See where it transfers →
Liberal Arts Availability Snapshot
How liberal arts sections are being offered across 11 colleges in Arkansas this term (550 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person272 (49%)
- online253 (46%)
- hybrid25 (5%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)166
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)82
- Evening (5 PM and after)6
- Asynchronous / TBA296
Start dates
Sections begin on 9 distinct dates. 34 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 142 distinct instructors across 11 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
National Park College2 programs
North Arkansas College2 programs
Common Liberal Arts courses
- ENGL 1013English Composition I(118 sections)
- ENGL 1023English Composition II(53 sections)
- ENGL 10103Composition I(34 sections)
- HIST 2003United States History I(30 sections)
- HIST 2013United States History II(30 sections)
- PHIL 2003Introduction to Philosophy(18 sections)
- ENGL 21103World Literature I(14 sections)
- HIST 11103World Civilizations I AV DQ(14 sections)
- HIST 21103US History I AV DQ(12 sections)
- HIST 21203United States History II Concurrent(10 sections)
- PHIL 1003Introduction to Philosophy(10 sections)
- ENG 1003English I(9 sections)
Frequently asked questions
- What is a liberal-arts degree good for?
- Almost exclusively transfer. The liberal-arts AA isn't a career-track degree on its own; it's the first two years of a bachelor's, packaged so you can complete it at much lower tuition before moving to a four-year school. The major you eventually declare at the four-year (English, history, sociology, psychology, business, etc.) determines your career path.
- Will all my liberal-arts credits transfer to a Arkansas four-year university?
- If you complete the full associate of arts at a Public 2-year college, yes — under Arkansas's statewide articulation agreement, the entire degree transfers as a block to any public four-year, giving you junior standing. Where students lose credits is by taking random courses outside the structured AA pathway. Talk to your transfer advisor early.
- Can I save money by doing my first two years at community college?
- Yes, often substantially. Arkansas community college tuition is typically less than half what a state university charges, and the credits transfer 1:1 if you stick to the structured AA. Two years of saved tuition often translates to $20–40k less debt at graduation.
- How long does the liberal-arts associate take?
- Two years full-time (60 credits). Many students complete it in three or more years on a part-time schedule — community colleges build their evening, weekend, and online sections around working students.
Compare Liberal Arts programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Arkansas’s liberal arts programs stack up.
Other programs in Arkansas
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.