North Dakota 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.
5 colleges · 252 sections · 30 unique courses · Spring 2026 · Updated today
The liberal-arts associate at North Dakota community colleges is the most common transfer degree in the NDUS 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 252 sections across 5 NDUS 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
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 →
| College | Sections | Courses | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck State College | 110 | 14 | 30 |
| North Dakota State College of Science | 59 | 10 | 15 |
| Williston State College | 36 | 14 | 4 |
| Dakota College at Bottineau | 24 | 10 | 11 |
| Lake Region State College | 23 | 12 | 7 |
Liberal Arts Availability Snapshot
How liberal arts sections are being offered across 5 colleges in North Dakota this term (252 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person185 (73%)
- online67 (27%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)94
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)53
- Evening (5 PM and after)4
- Asynchronous / TBA101
Start dates
Sections begin on 7 distinct dates. 233 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 99 distinct instructors across 5 colleges.
Common Liberal Arts courses
- ENGL 120College Composition II(82 sections)
- ENGL 110College Composition I(47 sections)
- HIST 104United States Since 1877(33 sections)
- ENGL 105Technical Communications(10 sections)
- ENGL 125Introduction to Professional Writing(9 sections)
- ENGL 238Children's Literature(8 sections)
- HIST 102Western Civilization II(7 sections)
- PHIL 210Ethics(7 sections)
- PHIL 215Contemporary Moral Issues(7 sections)
- ENGL 100English Fundamentals(6 sections)
- ENGL 211Introduction to Creative Writing (Fiction)(6 sections)
- HIST 103United States to 1877(4 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 North Dakota four-year university?
- If you complete the full associate of arts at a NDUS college, yes — under North Dakota'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. North Dakota 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 North Dakota’s liberal arts programs stack up.
Other programs in North Dakota
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.