California 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.
102 colleges · 13866 sections · 1339 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
The liberal-arts associate at California community colleges is the most common transfer degree in the California CCs 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 13866 sections across 102 California CCs 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 102 colleges in California this term (13866 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person6847 (49%)
- online5777 (42%)
- hybrid899 (6%)
- zoom343 (2%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)4375
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)2426
- Evening (5 PM and after)628
- Asynchronous / TBA6437
Start dates
Sections begin on 74 distinct dates. 12585 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 4210 distinct instructors across 102 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
College of the Desert2 programs
Cuyamaca College3 programs
Evergreen Valley College5 programs
Foothill College2 programs
Grossmont College3 programs
Hartnell College4 programs
San Bernardino Valley College3 programs
San Jose City College3 programs
Sierra College1 program
Full degree sequence — 85 courses, 30 credits
Catalog group: Recommended Course Sequence
- ARTH 0101Art Appreciation(3 cr)14 sections+ plan
- ARTH 0120Survey of Western Art II: Renaissance Traditions(3 cr)2 sections+ plan
- ARTH 0130Survey of Western Art III: Modern through Contemporary(3 cr)1 section+ plan
- ARTH 0132History of Women in Art(3 cr)1 section+ plan
- ARTH 0134History of Photography4 sections+ plan
Source: College catalog
Common Liberal Arts courses
- ENGL C1000Academic Reading and Writing(3692 sections)
- ENGL C1001Critical Thinking and Writing(891 sections)
- HIST C1001HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1877(618 sections)
- HIST C1002HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1865(564 sections)
- ENGL B1AAcademic Reading and Writing(278 sections)
- ENGL C1003Critical Thinking Through Lit(208 sections)
- ENGL C1002Composition and Reading(182 sections)
- ENGL 001AACADEMIC READING AND WRITING(170 sections)
- ENGL C1000EAcademic Reading and Writing(147 sections)
- ENGL 100FAcademic Reading and Writing Formerly: ENGL 100 F College Writing(135 sections)
- ENGL 1000Academic Reading and Writing(115 sections)
- ENGL 101Academic Reading and Writing(92 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 California four-year university?
- If you complete the full associate of arts at a California CCs college, yes — under California'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. California 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 California’s liberal arts programs stack up.
Other programs in California
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.