Through the study of various social sciences and humanities, the Liberal Arts program invites you to deepen your engagement with academics while encouraging your development as an active citizen in a diverse, democratic society.
An associate degree in Liberal Arts is designed to prepare you for successful transfer to a four-year college/university for continued study in the humanities and/or social sciences. At Guttman, your degree in Liberal Arts will give you the academic content and skills you’ll need to transfer to a bachelor’s program.
In the Liberal Arts program, you’ll have the chance to take introductory courses to guage your interest in various academic disciplines. You can then take courses on specialized topics and interact closely with expert faculty. In the process, you’ll gain the conceptual frameworks and various skills required for excellence in further education and your chosen profession.
Contact Us
Humanities and Social Sciences Chair
Dr. Alia Tyner-Mullings, Professor of Sociology
Liberal Arts Program Coordinator
Dr. Lori Ungemah, Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Average yearly salary: $48,000
for Liberal Arts careers in NYC
*With a bachelor’s degree | Source: Lightcast
Philosophy
The Liberal Arts program is committed to developing self-reliant critical thinkers with the knowledge and skills in the humanities and social sciences to meet the challenges of today’s society through the application of evidence-based approaches to complex social, cultural and political issues.
We believe that many elements of a Liberal Arts education translate to careers in a rapidly evolving, global workforce. To promote career readiness within the curriculum, the Program implements course design and experiences that promote and incorporate the National Association of College and Employers (NACE) Career Competencies:
- Career & Self Development
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Equity & Inclusion
- Leadership
- Professionalism
- Teamwork
- Technology
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Liberal Arts Program, you’ll be able to:
- Distinguish the modes of inquiry used within liberal arts and social sciences disciplines (e.g., anthropology, economics, psychology, sociology, literature, history, philosophy, art and music).
- Explain how differences of race, class, gender and sexuality have contributed to the development of contemporary problems of social and economic inequality.
- Combine methodologies from multiple disciplines to investigate large-scale questions about human behavior and society.
- Apply ethical understandings to contemporary social issues.
- Construct effective research questions and apply principles of analysis and synthesis in conducting research.
Experiences
Poetry Abroad Summer Program
Guttman is proud to be among the only community colleges to offer the Poetry Abroad Summer Program. This remarkable opportunity pairs Liberal Arts students with faculty in preparation for typically week-long summer school sessions at prestigious universities overseas. Under the guidance of your faculty mentors, you’ll design and begin a significant research project before you travel and complete it at the summer school destination. Upon your return, you present your accomplishments to the Guttman community.
The inaugural Guttman Poetry Abroad cohort was accepted to the T. S. Eliot International Summer School at the University of London’s Institute of English Studies. During Spring I, the two students worked closely with their faculty mentor, Dr. Ria Banerjee, to develop their knowledge of modernist poetry and identify research questions. In July 2019, they traveled to London, UK, to attend the Summer School. Back in New York City, the students shared their work and experiences at a campus-wide event.
Emerson College: The James Baldwin Writers’ Colony Summer Program
In partnership with Emerson College, students will write, workshop, and revise their own short works of creative fiction and nonfiction. By responding to James Baldwin and other African American expatriate writers, students will think through how their own experiences in a European setting are in dialogue with writers of the past.
This in-residence writers’ colony is based at Kasteel Well, Emerson’s European Academic Center in The Netherlands. Kasteel Well is a national historic monument dating from the 14th century. A double-moated castle surrounded by parks and gardens, it provides an ideal setting for educational programs where comfort and quiet are the necessary ingredients for learning. In addition to room/board at Kasteel Well, the program includes excursions to at least two other European cities where you will engage with a diverse array of writers and other creatives currently living in Europe as well as gain access to the world of contemporary Black arts and culture in the region. The program is taught by Emerson College faculty from the Department of Writing, Literature & Publishing. Students who would like to receive the credits for these classes will need to pay an additional per credit fee and will then be able to request an Emerson transcript upon completion of the program.
In regard to the very last sentence, please note that starting in Summer 2026 we will be restructuring our non-Emerson rates to account for students who may or may not need academic credit for the program. Once we have finalized those rates we will be sure to let you know.
Requirements
The associate degree in Liberal Arts (A.A.) requires the completion of 60 credits. Please refer to course descriptions for pre-requisite, co-requisite, and/or pre-/co-requisite information. For more information on potential paths to degree completion, review the Liberal Arts Degree Map.
Transfer Opportunities
An Articulation Agreement is a written contract or partnership between Guttman Community College and a senior college/university that outlines agreed upon coursework that will transfer over to that particular institution. When you complete your coursework and meet the requirements specified by the receiving institution(s) upon applying, you will be admitted and those completed courses will be applied toward your baccalaureate degree.
The Liberal Arts program has articulation agreements with the following institutions:
- School for Professional Studies (SPS), CUNY (Communication & Media, Psychology (online))
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY (Political Science, Sociology)
In addition to the above articulation agreements, Liberal Arts students at Guttman are also eligible to participate in the CUNY Justice Academy program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. This unique program provides you with robust advising and academic support as you transition to John Jay’s campus. Please see below for more information from the CUNY Justice Academy website:
What Is CUNY Justice Academy?
The CUNY Justice Academy (CJA) is a partnership of six CUNY community colleges with John Jay College of Criminal Justice to help you make the transition to a baccalaureate degree. Being part of the CJA puts you on track to complete your bachelor’s degree at John Jay College.
How Does It Work?
By majoring in a participating program at the CUNY community colleges, you are automatically part of the CJA and receive dual admission into corresponding B.A. programs at John Jay College. When you successfully complete the first 60 credits and meet your community college requirements, you not only receive an associate degree from the partner campus, but you are also rewarded with the option of guaranteed admission to John Jay where you will be on track to complete your bachelor’s degree.
Benefits of the CJA
- Have guaranteed admission to John Jay College. When you successfully complete your community college requirements, you not only receive an associate degree but are rewarded with guaranteed admission to John Jay provided you meet the minimum entrance requirements.
- Avoid forms and fees. As a CJA student, you do not have to fill out an application for John Jay College or pay a seat deposit fee.
- Make your community college credits count. As a CJA member, you can apply your community college credits towards a bachelor’s degree. CJA ensures that you do not waste time and money by taking the wrong courses toward your bachelor’s degree.
- Start at John Jay as a third-year student. As a CJA member, you can transition to John Jay College with your associate degree and start as a third-year student in a bachelor’s degree program.
- Stay connected. Students who stay connected have a better chance of graduating.
Note: The information in the Academic Calendars is subject to change. Please check back frequently for updates.
Liberal Arts Advisory Board
External stakeholders committed to access and excellence in public higher education are vital members of the Guttman community. We value their expertise in Liberal Arts, their contributions to their fields and their support for our Program of Study.
Wynne Ferdinand, Director of Educational Partnerships and General Education, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY
Madeline Fox, Ph.D.: Associate Professor of Children and Youth Studies and Sociology, Brooklyn College, CUNY
Carla Marquez-Lewis, Ph.D.: Distinguished Lecturer and Academic Director, Psychology Program, School for Professional Studies