Nevada 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.
4 colleges · 771 sections · 76 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
The liberal-arts associate at Nevada community colleges is the most common transfer degree in the NSHE 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 771 sections across 4 NSHE 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 →
| College | Sections | Courses | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Southern Nevada | 516 | 54 | 264 |
| Truckee Meadows Community College | 142 | 29 | 82 |
| Great Basin College | 75 | 26 | 25 |
| Western Nevada College | 38 | 13 | 17 |
Liberal Arts Availability Snapshot
How liberal arts sections are being offered across 4 colleges in Nevada this term (771 sections total).
Delivery format
- online388 (50%)
- in person327 (42%)
- hybrid56 (7%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)189
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)122
- Evening (5 PM and after)41
- Asynchronous / TBA419
Start dates
Sections begin on 6 distinct dates. 53 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 205 distinct instructors across 4 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 Southern Nevada1 program
Communications (6-8 Credits)
6 creditsChoose 3 credits from 7 approved courses
Catalog group: Humanities (3 Credits)
Choose 3 credits from 4 approved courses
Catalog group: Fine Arts (3 credits)
Choose 3 credits from 8 approved courses
Catalog group: Natural Science (3 Credits)
Choose 3 credits from 8 approved courses
Catalog group: Social Science (3 Credits)
Choose 4 credits from 8 approved courses
Catalog group: U.S. and Nevada Constitutions (4-6 Credits)
Source: College catalog
Western Nevada College1 program
General Education (21 credits)
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Common Liberal Arts courses
- ENG 101Composition I(157 sections)
- ENG 100Composition Enhanced(112 sections)
- ENG 102Composition II(107 sections)
- PHIL 102Critical Thinking and Reasoning(47 sections)
- HIST 101U.S. History to 1877(35 sections)
- ENG 231World Literature I(32 sections)
- HIST 102U.S. History Since 1877(28 sections)
- HIST 100Historical Issues and Contemporary Society(25 sections)
- PHIL 101Introduction to Philosophy(25 sections)
- ENG 110Composition I for International and Multilingual Students Expanded(20 sections)
- ENG 223Themes of Literature(19 sections)
- ENG 232World Literature II(14 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 Nevada four-year university?
- If you complete the full associate of arts at a NSHE college, yes — under Nevada'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. Nevada 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 Nevada’s liberal arts programs stack up.
Other programs in Nevada
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.