Students in Ike Lea
Associate in Arts

LBRT

Liberal arts education refers to the disciplines of literature, languages, philosophy, history, mathematics, psychology, and science. Coursework in these areas satisfy the General Education requirements for career and technical programs at UH Maui College.
Kaaike Building Lobby with Students

Program Overview

UH Maui College offers several curricula based upon liberal arts courses. These include Associate in Arts degrees in Liberal Arts and in Hawaiian Studies and the Associate in Science degree in Natural Science with two concentrations.

See Program Map

The liberal arts are those subjects that in classical antiquity were considered essential for a citizen to know in order to take an active part in civic life. The aim of these studies was to produce a virtuous, knowledgeable, and articulate person. The scope was extended to include arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy in the Middle Ages, and eventually became the educational foundation for schooling in Europe.

Today liberal arts education refers to the disciplines of literature, languages, philosophy, history, mathematics, psychology, and science. Coursework in these areas satisfy the General Education requirements for career and technical programs at UH Maui College.

Liberal arts also refers to studies on a degree program. UH Maui College offers several curricula based upon liberal arts courses. These include Associate in Arts degrees in Liberal Arts and in Hawaiian Studies and the Associate in Science degree in Natural Science with two concentrations.

Program Information

In addition to the College-wide Academic Student Learning Outcomes, graduates who qualify for the A.A. degree in Liberal Arts perform the following skills in multiple fields of study at a level that shows readiness for upper division college coursework:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of theories, practices, histories, and key issues of a field of study using essential terminology and concepts of the discipline.
  2. Use theories, concepts, and practices of a field of study to analyze evidence, artifacts, and/or texts and produce interpretations, hypotheses, evaluations, or conclusions.
  3. Apply theories and/or methods of a field of study to perform practical, scholarly, and/or creative tasks that respond to social, cultural, environmental, or economic issues.

The Associate in Arts degree program in Liberal Arts prepares students for transfer to a baccalaureate degree program at a four-year college or university.

The AA degree in Liberal Arts requires 60 semester credits in courses numbered 100 or higher. The curriculum instills foundational skills and a broad scope of knowledge that fosters academic success in upper division coursework, effective citizenship, and an appreciation for lifelong learning. Special emphasis on global and Hawaiʻi perspectives encourages respect and appreciation of cultural diversity. Opportunities to apply learning through service to the community are integrated throughout the curriculum.

Graduation Requirements Students planning to transfer should consult an academic counselor

  • Credits: Minimum Applicable: 60 credits, 100-level or higher
  • Grades: Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.0
  • Residency: Minimum UHMC: 12 credits (May be waived for cause or credit-by-exam with Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs approval.)
  • Writing Intensive (WI): Two courses

Hawai’i Emphasis (HI): One course from this list
AG 253, 265; ANTH 165; BOT 105/HWST 211; BIOL 105, 200; ENG 257E; GEOG 122; GG 103; HAW 101, HAW 102, 104 (former HAW 100), 201, 202, 221, 261, 262; HIST 284; HWST 100BCD, 107, 111, 205A, 205E, 205I, 207, 213, 222, 231, 262, 270, 286, 291; HWST 176/MUS 176; HWST 211/BOT 105; MUS 114H; PACS 108; POLS 180; REL 205.

Note: Topics courses offered in HAW or HWST will fulfill this requirement. For UH Mānoa or West O’ahu transfer, check with an academic counselor to meet HAP requirement. For UH Hilo transfer, check with an academic counselor to meet HPP requirement.

Oral Communication in English: One course from this list
BUS/COM 130, COM 145, 210, COM 215/PSY 253; COM 353/PSY 353, COM 459; DRAM 221, 222; SP 151, 251.

Note: The UHMC Oral Communication requirement does not satisfy the UH Mānoa Oral Communication requirement. Selected courses may satisfy the UH West O’ahu Oral Communication requirement. Check with an academic counselor.

Foundations Requirements– Courses used for Foundations Requirements may not be used in any other category.

English Communication: 3 credits
FW | ENG 100 – Written Communication

Global Multicultural Perspectives: 6 credits (Two courses from a different group)
FGA | Before 1500 CE: HIST 151
FGB | Since 1500 CE: HIST 152; GEOG 102; SSM 101 (effective SP15)
FGC | Pre-history to present: MUS 107; REL 150

Symbolic Reasoning: 3 credits (Choose one course)
FS – MATH 100, 103, 112, 115, 135, 140, 203, 205, 206, 231, 232; PHIL 110*
*A student who seeks to use PHIL 110 must place into MATH 100, to meet the Collegewide Academic Student
Learning Outcome (CASLO) for Symbolic Reasoning.

Diversification Requirements

Arts, Humanities, Literatures: 5-6 credits (One course from two different groups)
DA | Diversification Arts: ART 101, 105, 107D, 113, 115, 123BCD, 223, 243, 244; ART 161/ICS 161,
ART 205/ICS 205, ART 218/ICS 261, ART 221/ICS 214; COM/BUS 130; DNCE 131, 132, 141, 150,
180; DRAM 101, 221, 222, 260, 280; ENG 104; HAW 104; HWST 205A, 205E, 205I, 222; MUS 108,
114, 114H, 121C, 121D, 121F, 121G, 121Z, 122C, 122D, 123, 124, 132, 180, 203, 216, 253; SP 151,
231, 251; TCOM 261.

DH | Diversification Humanities: ANTH 235/HIST 288; ART 270; HIST 241, 242, 253, 281, 282, 284;
HUM 100, 400; HWST 100BCD, 107, 111, 176/MUS 176, 207, 213, 231, 262, 270, 286, 291; MUS
106, 167, 271, 272; PHIL 100, 101, 102, 109, 301, 323; SPAN 180v.

DL | Diversification Literatures: ENG 209, 210, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 257E, 257F,
257R, 377; FIL 261; HAW 261, 262.; HUM 410.

Natural Sciences: 7 credits (One Biological, one Physical, and one corresponding lab)
DB | Diversification Biological: AG 122, 174, 200, 253, 265; ANTH 215; AQUA 362, 466; BIOL 100,
102, 103, 105, 124, 151, 152, 171, 172, 200, 225, 265, 282, 331, 424; BIOL 101/SCI 121; BOT 101; FSHN
185, 285, 286; MICR 130; PHRM 203; ZOOL 101, 141, 142, 200; SSM 302, 402, 403.

DP | Diversification Physical: ASTR 110; BIOC 241, 244; CHEM 151, 161, 162, 272, 273; GEOG 101; GG 101,
103; OCN 201, 351; PHYS 105, 151, 152, 170, 219, 272; SCI 122; SSM 201, 202, 301, 402, 403.

DY | Diversification Lab: AG 122*, 174*, 200, 265; ANTH 201L; ASTR 110L; BIOL 101/SCI 121, 102,
103, 105, 124L, 152*, 171L, 172L, 200, 225, 424; AQUA 362, 466; BOT 101, 105L/HWST 211L;
CHEM 151, 161L, 162L, 272L, 273L; GEOG 101L; GG 101; MICR 140; OCN 201L; PHYS 105, 151, 152, 170, 219,
272; SCI 122; ZOOL 101, 141, 142, 200.
*If a 3-credit course taken includes a lab, additional credits may be needed to meet the 60-credit
AA requirement. A 4-credit course may include a lab – check catalog.

Social Sciences: 6 credits (Two courses from different disciplines)
DS | Diversification Social Sciences: ANTH 150, 165, 200, 210, 225, 281; BOT 105/HWST 211; COM
145, 210, 215, 353, 459; ECON 120, 130, 131, 150; FAMR 230; GEOG 151; PACS 108; POLS 110,
120, 180; PSY 100, 103, 170, 202, 213, 214, 240, 250, 251, 253, 260, 353; SOC 100, 215, 218, 231,
251; SSM 401.

Electives: To meet 60-credit minimum of 100-level or higher coursework, and other graduation requirements not satisfied previously.*

Hawaiian or Second Language recommended; may be required for a bachelor degree. Consult with academic counselor or program coordinator.
*Interdisciplinary Studies courses do apply. These maximums may be applied: 9 credits Cooperative Education and Work Practicum; 30 credits CR grade.