Tennessee 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.
12 colleges · 2612 sections · 65 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
The liberal-arts associate at Tennessee community colleges is the most common transfer degree in the TBR 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 2612 sections across 12 TBR 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.
Earnings & outcomes for Liberal Arts graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 2401 — Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Liberal Arts
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pellissippi State Community College | 369 | 34 | — | 1741 | $40,135 |
| Motlow State Community College | 298 | 26 | 124 | 1519 | $41,823 |
| Nashville State Community College | 265 | 22 | — | 1037 | $44,360 |
| Columbia State Community College | 255 | 21 | 66 | 1205 | $40,318 |
| Volunteer State Community College | 227 | 19 | 80 | 1447 | $43,630 |
| Northeast State Community College | 210 | 24 | 37 | 962 | $37,744 |
| Chattanooga State Community College | 191 | 29 | 84 | 1130 | $38,262 |
| Walters State Community College | 183 | 29 | — | 1248 | $36,545 |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | 179 | 33 | 9 | 1158 | $38,553 |
| Dyersburg State Community College | 175 | 24 | 75 | 482 | $36,222 |
| Jackson State Community College | 175 | 18 | 54 | 620 | $35,757 |
| Cleveland State Community College | 85 | 18 | 30 | 582 | — |
Liberal Arts Availability Snapshot
How liberal arts sections are being offered across 12 colleges in Tennessee this term (2612 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person2053 (79%)
- online546 (21%)
- zoom13 (0%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)961
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)535
- Evening (5 PM and after)141
- Asynchronous / TBA975
Start dates
Sections begin on 20 distinct dates. 2480 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 359 distinct instructors across 12 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Dyersburg State Community College2 programs
Jackson State Community College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
60 creditsSource: College catalog
Motlow State Community College2 programs
Nashville State Community College2 programs
Southwest Tennessee Community College4 programs
Volunteer State Community College6 programs
Walters State Community College3 programs
Common Liberal Arts courses
- ENGL 1010English Composition I (online, no textbook)(886 sections)
- HIST 2010Early United States History(273 sections)
- ENGL 1020Composition 2(267 sections)
- HIST 2020Modern United States History(148 sections)
- ENGL 0810English Support(104 sections)
- HIST 2310Early World History(83 sections)
- PHIL 1030Introduction to Philosophy(78 sections)
- PHIL 1040Introduction to Ethics(69 sections)
- ENGL 0900Integ LS Writing and Reading(68 sections)
- ENGL 2120Modern American Literature(48 sections)
- HIST 2320Modern World History(48 sections)
- ENGL 0815Writing Support(44 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 Tennessee four-year university?
- If you complete the full associate of arts at a TBR college, yes — under Tennessee'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. Tennessee 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 Tennessee’s liberal arts programs stack up.
Other programs in Tennessee
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.