-thumb.png)
NOTE: Prior to 2024-2025, this program was known as Liberal Arts.
Degree Quick Facts
- Instructional School: Arts and Humanities
- Department: Integrated Studies
- Program Code: LIBART.AA
- Program Type: Academic Transfer
- Available Fully Online: Yes
- Eligible for Federal Financial Aid: Yes
NOTE: Courses required for this program may have an additional fee; more information can be found on the Special Course Fees web page.
Degree Requirements
| Course | Course Title | Min Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | ||
| CWI 101 | Connecting With Ideas | 3 |
| Global Perspectives course | 3 | |
| GEM 1 - Written Communication course | 3 | |
| GEM 1 - Written Communication course | 3 | |
| GEM 2 - Oral Communication course | 3 | |
| GEM 3 - Mathematical Ways of Knowing course | 3 | |
| GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course 2 | 4 | |
| GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course 3 | 3 | |
| GEM 5 - Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing course | 3 | |
| GEM 5 - Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing course 3 | 3 | |
| GEM 6 - Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing course | 3 | |
| GEM 6 - Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing course 3 | 3 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| CWI 290 | General Studies Capstone | 1 |
| Select a General Studies Research and Writing course from the list below | 3 | |
| Select two 200-level elective courses | 6 | |
| Select additional elective courses to bring the total credits earned to a minimum of 60 | 13 | |
| Minimum Credit Hours Required | 60 | |
- 1
Students must select an “E” designated course to fulfill one of their general education requirements.
- 2
Must include a lab component.
- 3
Course must come from a different discipline.
*All requirements for this degree or certificate may be completed fully online.
General Studies Research and Writing Courses
The following list notes the courses that will fulfill the Research and Writing requirement for an Associate of Arts in General Studies from CWI. Students should choose at least 3 credits of coursework from the following:
| Course | Course Title | Min Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 220 | Indigenous Peoples of North America | 3 |
| COMM 273 | Media News Writing and Reporting | 3 |
| CRIJ 190 | Writing for Criminal Justice | 3 |
| ENGL 201 | Persuasive Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 202 | Technical Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 211 | Literary Analysis | 3 |
| EXHS 201 | Cultural, Historical, and Philosophical Foundations of Physical Activity | 3 |
| HIST 190 | Introduction to the Study of History | 3 |
| HIST 210 | History Through Biography | 3 |
| HIST 220 | Great Ideas in History | 3 |
| HIST 230 | Themes in U.S. History | 3 |
| HIST 239 | United States Military History | 3 |
| HIST 240 | Themes in Western History | 3 |
| HUMA 207 | Exploring the Arts and Cultures of the World | 3 |
| PHIL 211 | Philosophical Writing | 3 |
| PHIL 230 | Political Philosophy | 3 |
| POLS 230 | Political Philosophy | 3 |
| POLS 240 | American Constitutional Foundations | 3 |
| PSYC 190 | Writing for the Social Sciences | 3 |
| PSYC 201 | Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| SOC 230 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| SOC 270 | Social Movements | 3 |
| SOC 280 | Sociological Research | 3 |
Degree Plan
The course sequence listed below is strongly recommended in order to complete your program requirements. Please register for each semester as shown using the Student Planning tool in myCWI. Plans may be modified to fit the needs of part-time students by adding additional semesters. Consult your advisor for any questions regarding this course sequence plan.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| CWI 101 | Connecting With Ideas | 3 |
| GEM 1 - Written Communication course | 3 | |
| GEM 2 - Oral Communication course | 3 | |
| GEM 3 - Mathematical Ways of Knowing course | 3 | |
| GEM 6 - Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing course | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEM 1 - Written Communication course | 3 | |
| GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course 1 | 4 | |
| GEM 5 - Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing course | 3 | |
| Global Perspectives course | 3 | |
| Elective | Select an elective course 2,3 | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course 4 | 3 | |
| GEM 5 - Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing course 4 | 3 | |
| GEM 6 - Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing course 4 | 3 | |
| Research and Writing course | Select one course from the list below 3 | 3 |
| Elective | Select any 200-level elective course 2 | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CWI 290 | General Studies Capstone 5 | 1 |
| Elective | Select any 200-level elective course 2 | 3 |
| Elective | Select elective credits to bring the total credits earned to a minimum of 60 2 | 10 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Minimum Credit Hours Required | 60 | |
*Students must select an "E" designated (Ethical Reasoning) course to fulfill one of their General Education requirements.*
- 1
Must include a lab component.
- 2
Select electives based on interest, career goals, transfer institution requirements, and background.
- 3
General Studies majors are encouraged to select their Research and Writing course early because some of these courses have prerequisites. The needed prerequisites may be taken as GEM courses or as electives. Consult individual course descriptions for a listing of prerequisites to the Research and Writing courses.
- 4
Course must come from a different discipline.
- 5
In order to register for CWI 290, students must have completed or be currently enrolled in their chosen Research and Writing course (3 credits required). Additionally, it is strongly recommended that students register for this course during their final semester at CWI.
General Studies Research and Writing Courses
The following list notes the courses that will fulfill the Research and Writing requirement for an Associate of Arts in General Studies from CWI. Students should choose at least 3 credits of coursework from the following:
| Course | Course Title | Min Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 220 | Indigenous Peoples of North America | 3 |
| COMM 273 | Media News Writing and Reporting | 3 |
| CRIJ 190 | Writing for Criminal Justice | 3 |
| ENGL 201 | Persuasive Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 202 | Technical Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 211 | Literary Analysis | 3 |
| EXHS 201 | Cultural, Historical, and Philosophical Foundations of Physical Activity | 3 |
| HIST 190 | Introduction to the Study of History | 3 |
| HIST 210 | History Through Biography | 3 |
| HIST 220 | Great Ideas in History | 3 |
| HIST 230 | Themes in U.S. History | 3 |
| HIST 239 | United States Military History | 3 |
| HIST 240 | Themes in Western History | 3 |
| HUMA 207 | Exploring the Arts and Cultures of the World | 3 |
| PHIL 211 | Philosophical Writing | 3 |
| PHIL 230 | Political Philosophy | 3 |
| POLS 230 | Political Philosophy | 3 |
| POLS 240 | American Constitutional Foundations | 3 |
| PSYC 190 | Writing for the Social Sciences | 3 |
| PSYC 201 | Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| SOC 230 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| SOC 270 | Social Movements | 3 |
| SOC 280 | Sociological Research | 3 |
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Understand the methods of inquiry and research that will prepare them to navigate upper-division coursework.
- Write effectively in a variety of rhetorical contexts, paying attention to audience, voice, and style appropriate to an academic research setting.
- Demonstrate higher-order thinking skills including analysis, synthesis, and creativity.
- Reflect on their learning experiences and create a project that synthesizes and communicates what they have learned over the course of their program of study.
- Contemplate and communicate diverse perspectives from multiple disciplines within their field of study.
Z-Degree Pathway For General Studies Majors
The courses included in a Z-degree Pathway below offer at least one class section that uses one of the following types of course materials/textbooks:
| Classification of Instructional Materials | Cost to Student |
|---|---|
| Open Education Resources (OER) | $0 |
| Low-Cost Textbook | $30 or less |
- Open Education Resources: According to the Idaho State Board of Education, Open Education Resources (OER) are "teaching, learning, and research materials that reside in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual property license, such as a Creative Commons license, that permits free use and repurposing by others." OER have no cost to students and are available on the first day of class.
- Low-Cost Textbooks: Required textbooks and/or other course materials that cost the student a total of $30 or less (excluding special course fees) per class and may be purchased at the CWI Bookstore.
Please note that not all sections of a particular course will utilize OER, as notated in the table below. Students can verify that a specific section uses OER or low-cost textbooks by looking for the following symbol next to the section listing in Student Planning at the time of registration:
IMPORTANT: There may be changes to the courses utilizing OER or low-cost textbooks throughout the academic year. Students should always refer to Student Planning in myCWI for the most up-to-date Z-degree class information.
| Course | Course Title | Min Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| CWI 101 | Connecting With Ideas | 3 |
| Global Perspectives course | 3 | |
| GEM 1 - Written Communication course | 3 | |
| GEM 1 - Written Communication course | 3 | |
| ||
| GEM 2 - Oral Communication course | 3 | |
| GEM 3 - Mathematical Ways of Knowing course | 3 | |
| GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course | 4 | |
| GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course | 3-4 | |
| GEM 5 - Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing course | 3 | |
| GEM 5 - Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing course | 3 | |
| GEM 6 - Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing course | 3 | |
| GEM 6 - Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing course | 3 | |
| ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| CWI 290 | General Studies Capstone | 1 |
| Select 3 credits from the General Studies Research and Writing course list (see Requirements tab for full list) | 3 | |
| Select 6 credits of 200-level elective credits 2 | 6 | |
| Select 12-13 additional elective credits to bring the total credits earned to 60 2 | 12-13 | |
| Minimum Credit Hours Required | 60 | |
- 1
This course fulfills the Ethical Reasoning requirement for an associate degree from CWI.
- 2
Students can select from OER or Low-Cost Textbook options listed above or search Student Planning for additional course options.
IMPORTANT: Unless otherwise noted, all of the courses required for this degree are taught using OER.