The Liberal Arts Department offers an Associate of Arts (A.A.) Degree in Liberal Arts. The Liberal Arts major is designed to integrate an interdisciplinary core of studies with a specialization of courses for those who wish a specialization. Students who do not choose a specialization may take open electives to reach the required 61 credits. A specialization of interest may supplement and enhance entry into a baccalaureate degree program. Available specializations are Business, Information Technology, English, Mathematics, Science/Marine Science, and Social Science.
Associate of Arts (AA) Degree in Liberal Arts
AA Degree in Liberal Arts Program Sheet – Business Specialization
AA Degree in Liberal Arts Program Sheet – English Specialization
AA Degree in Liberal Arts Program Sheet – Information Technology Specialization
AA Degree in Liberal Arts Program Sheet – Marshallese Specialization
AA Degree in Liberal Arts Program Sheet – Math Specialization
AA Degree in Liberal Arts Program Sheet – Science Specialization
Purpose of the Program and Content
In the Liberal Arts Department, we are committed to graduating students with a comprehensive foundation in all issues within the arts, humanities, social sciences and sciences. Our graduates move on to Bachelor’s degrees and graduate degrees in psychology, sociology, literature, history, and every area of humanities. We also cover areas such as Marshallese studies, Science, Math, Business, and Information Technology.
As members of both our local community and the global one, graduates in Liberal Arts bring valuable skills to workplaces both here on the Marshall Islands and abroad. These include professional-level abilities in communication, writing and critical thinking. Our students learn how to draft thoughtful and informative writing to facilitate communication in all kinds of environments—from local development to multinational corporations. They know how effective communication takes many forms in many different contexts with people from every country.
Students in Liberal Arts also know the relevance of history and diversity in the world and are able to interact in all professional settings—where sensitivity to and knowledge of the broader scope of humanity are required. In addition to global cultural issues we take
special interest in environmental ones and how important effective leadership is to warding off the dangers posed by our dire ecological situation. Being the most vulnerable to climate change and other man-made disasters, we have to work the
hardest to be a voice for our natural world.
In our global community, having a grasp of a broad range of skills and issues is imperative. The Liberal Arts Department aims to equip each student with the tools to make a difference.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation a student will:
- Effective Communication: Communicate complex ideas and information effectively to diverse audiences, using a variety of media and genres.
- Civic Awareness, Multicultural Perspectives: Demonstrate civic awareness and an understanding of multicultural perspectives.
- Critical Thinking: Evaluate, analyze, and synthesize information from a variety of sources in order (a) to solve problems and (b) to formulate reasoned and substantiated individual points of view.
- Quantitative/Scientific Literacy: Demonstrate and use quantitative literacy and scientific method to analyze information and solve problems.
- Creative Process: Apply the creative process.
- Independence: Plan projects and complete them independently.
(Approved April 3rd 2017)
Degree Program Requirements
| General Core Requirements | 30 Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
CMI 101 |
College Experience |
3 Credits |
|
|
ENG 105, ENG 111, ENG 112 |
English |
11 Credits |
|
|
|
Humanities |
3 Credits |
|
|
|
Mathematics |
3 Credits |
|
|
|
Science with Lab |
4 Credits |
|
|
|
Social Issues |
3 Credits |
|
|
ICS 101 |
Technology |
3 Credits |
|
|
Liberal Arts Requirements |
19 Credits |
||
|
ENG 220 |
Writing Research Papers |
3 Credits |
|
|
|
Humanities |
3 Credits |
|
|
|
Literature |
3 Credits |
|
|
|
Mathematics |
3 Credits |
|
|
|
Science with Lab |
4 Credits |
|
|
|
Social Sciences |
3 Credits |
|
|
Open Electives or Specialization Courses |
12 Credits |
||
|
|
Business |
|
|
|
|
Information Technology |
|
|
|
|
English |
|
|
|
|
Mathematics |
|
|
|
|
Science/Marine Science |
|
|
|
|
Social Science |
|
|
|
Total Credits |
61 Credits |
||
Sample Course Sequencing
| First Semester | 16 Credits |
|---|---|
|
CMI 101 |
3 Credits |
|
ENG 111 |
4 Credits |
|
ENG 105 |
3 Credits |
|
Math |
3 Credits |
|
ICS 101 |
3 Credits |
|
Second Semester |
16 Credits |
|
ENG 112 |
4 Credits |
|
Math |
3 Credits |
|
Humanities |
3 Credits |
|
Social Issues |
3 Credits |
|
Humanities |
3 Credits |
|
Social Issues |
3 Credits |
|
Elective |
3 Credits |
|
Third Semester |
16 Credits |
|
Literature |
3 Credits |
|
Science |
4 Credits |
|
Humanities |
3 Credits |
|
Social Issues |
3 Credits |
|
Elective |
3 Credits |
|
Fourth Semester |
13 Credits |
|
ENG 220 |
3 Credits |
|
Science |
4 Credits |
|
Electives (2) |
3 Credits |
Courses Offered
American Sign Language (ASL)
ASL 101 – American Sign Language I
Prerequisites:
English 90’s, Placement into Credit English, or Permission of Instructor
Introduces American Sign Language through finger spelling, signs, and comprehensive immersion in the visual language. Teaches basic skills in signed vocabulary using one and two-handed signs, classifiers, shapes, sizes, and location through practical lessons for everyday vocabulary and sign development. Introduces basic issues in Deaf culture
ASL 102 – American Sign Language II
Prerequisites:
C or better in ASL 101
Continues study of intensive signing, finger spelling, and understanding advanced signs through immersion in visual language, inside and outside the classroom environment. Teaches salient issues in Deaf culture and stimulates research in Deafness and Deaf education. Places greater emphasis on expressive and receptive signs exemplified by appropriate facial expressions and real-life interaction with Deaf and hearing signers.
Anthropology (ANTH)
ANTH 111 - Cultural Anthropology
Prerequisite:
ENG 090s or Placement in Credit English
General introduction to cultural anthropology. Cultural variation, cultural adaptation, and cultural construction will be covered . Special emphasis is given to cross-cultural comparison.
Art (ART)
VART 101- Introduction to Visual Arts
Prerequisite:
C or better in ENG 111
Introduce visual art with a focus on video, camera work and editing. The focus is primarily on documentary work with an anthropological reference.Â
ART 101 - Introduction to Art
Prerequisite:
ENG 060s or Placement in higher level English
Introduces basic art techniques, terminology, art criticism, a variety of media and concepts of art through hands-on projects, art exploration, problem solving and evaluation. Practices the basic techniques of drawing, perspective, pen and ink, color theory, painting, watercolor, and value. Provides basic art information and techniques and encourages application of learning to develop individual artistic abilities.
ART 201 - Art History
Prerequisite:
C or better in ENG 101
Introduces a survey of art history from the Paleolithic era to the Renaissance. Examines, analyzes and evaluates the major stylistic periods, time periods, movements, and trends in the visual arts. This course will acquaint students with the critical processes in how to achieve a well-balanced appreciation for art and its influence on cultural development.
College Experience (CMI)
CMI 290 - Liberal Arts Capstone
Prerequisite:
Student must have completed 30 credits toward their Liberal Arts degree, completed or concurrently enrolled in ENG 220 and have an approved proposal.
Acts as a culminating experience for Liberal Arts majors who are in the year of graduation. Applies student research to a service learning and a writing/presentation component.
English (ENG)
ENG 105 - Fundamentals of Speech
Prerequisite:
ENG 90s or Placement in Credit English
Develops concepts of oral communication, with practice in speaking for formal and informal occasions. Provides development of critical listening skills as well as objective evaluation of other’s oral presentations.
ENG 111 - English Composition I
Prerequisite:
ENG 90s or Placement in Credit English
Introduction to composition emphasizing the composition process and the application of basic rhetorical patterns and organization strategies. Applies the concepts or purpose, audience, and tone in writing. Stresses unity, development, organization, coherence, and other basic skills necessary in college writing.
ENG 112 - English Composition II
Prerequisite(s):
C or better in ENG 111 and ENG 105
Continuation of English Composition I. Designed to develop critical thinking, reading, writing, construction of academic argument, and research skills beyond the level of English Composition I.
ENG 151 - Pacific Literature
Prerequisite:
C or better in ENG 111 and ENG 105
Explores how different Pacific cultures and histories produce various forms of Pacific literature including oral lore, short stories, novels, poems, and plays. Consider how questions of cultural identity, migration, and postcolonialism appear in regional texts.
ENG 201 - Creative Writing
Prerequisite:
C or better in ENG 111
Introduces techniques/approaches to creating original prose and verse. Investigates conventions, devices, and techniques – both traditional and contemporary – in the actual writing of poems, essays and stories. Develops students’ critical sense of writing and the process of revision. Allows students the opportunity to publish.
ENG 210 - Introduction to Literature
Prerequisite:
C or better in ENG 111
Introduces the conventions, styles, structures, and techniques of four major literary genres: poetry, the short story, the novel, and drama. Students read, analyze, and interpret modern and contemporary works from all four genres.
ENG 211 - Children’s Literature
Prerequisites:
C or better in ENG 111 and ENG 105
Designed to provide students with a foundation in children’s literature and literacy processes. Examines the historical background and development of works written for young people. Concepts and strategies will be highlighted to help cultivate children’s love of reading appropriate literary works. A variety of genres will be explored, created, and taught through field experiences and classroom work.
ENG 220 - Writing Research Papers
Prerequisite:
C or better in ENG 112
Masters skills needed in writing college-level research papers, methods of gathering and evaluating primary and secondary resource materials, and presenting research.
ENG 230 - Critical Thinking in Film
Prerequisite:
C or better in ENG 111
This course introduces methods of viewing and analyzing film, emphasizing the ability to think, theorize and argue critically. It will focus on viewing, interpreting and communicating concepts about various aspects of film styles. While the course is an English and art-appreciation class it is also a course in which you will hone your critical thinking and written communication skills.
ENG 199/299 Special Topics
Courses ending in –99 represent courses taught as occasion demands and/or an instructor is available. In such cases, an approved course outline and syllabus are required
Social Science & Humanities
SOC 130 - Introduction to Sociology
Prerequisite:
English 90’s or placement into Credit English
Introduce basic sociological theories, concepts, and contributions to the modern field of sociology and prepare students to utilize these concepts to show how culture relates to the world as a whole and to the individual citizen. Using scientific methods, sociology explores the relationships between individuals, social groups, institutions, and cultures. This class teaches the core theories of sociology and how they apply to life in the Marshall Islands and around the world. Students will examine interconnectedness of human experience and the vast diversity of cultural construction and expression.
SOC 140 - Contemporary Social Issues in Micronesia
Prerequisite:
English 90’s or placement into Credit English
Explores and analyzes critical social problems and other issues related to cultural values and changes in Micronesia.
ETH 101 - Ethics
Prerequisite:
ENG 090s or Placement in Credit English
Examine and discuss theories about what makes right and wrong. Explore questions such as the following: Why do good people do bad things? Do businesses have responsibilities other than maximizing profits? What is a government’s responsibility to its people? At the end, students will discover the strengths and weaknesses of each ethical theory and be able to decide for themselves what justice is in society, what justice is in the world of business and finance, and what it means to be a good person.
SOJ 101 – Introduction to Social Justice
Prerequisite(s):Â
ENG 90s or placement intro Credit English
Provides students with an introduction to what social justice means in different
contexts and how it can be advanced and attained through various mediums including but not limited to
innovation, forward thinking, reformation, and tolerance and empathy for the underprivileged.
Â
GEO 110 - Introduction to Geography
Prerequisite:
C or better in ENG 111
General introduction to Physical and Human Geography.
GEO 120 - Introduction to Human Geography
Prerequisite:
ENG 090s or Placement in Credit English
Introduction to geography emphasizing the relationships between humans and the environment.
GEO 121 - Pacific Geography
Prerequisite:
ENG 090s or Placement in Credit English
Surveys the physical and cultural geography of the Pacific region, including weather and climate, natural history and features, past and present human migration and settlement patterns, human-environment interaction, regional and sub-regional concerns and problems, economics, and politics.
HIS 132 - History of the Marshall Islands
Prerequisite:
ENG 090s or Placement in Credit English
Explore the history of the Marshall Islands before its written history to the present day. Learn about the life of the Marshallese before the arrival of the Europeans, the contact with the early European explorers, the copra trade and its impact on the Islands, the missionaries and the spread of Christianity, the occupation of the Germans and the Japanese, the Trust Territory Era and the nuclear weapons testing, and finish with the establishment and development of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
HIS 201 - World History I
Prerequisite:
C or better in ENG 111 and ENG 105
Introduction to world cultures and civilizations from prehistory until the medieval period. Provides opportunities to see how the world developed through its different cultures.
HIS 202 - World History II
Prerequisite:
C or better in ENG 111 and ENG 105
Introduces trends and influences of civilization from the 1600s through modern times. Investigates modernization resulting from improved transportation, communication and the Industrial Revolution.
HIS 290 - US History I
Prerequisites:
C or better in ENG 111 and ENG 105
Interpretive survey of American History covering the major social, political, economic, and cultural developments from pre-history to the present.
Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS)
IDS 140 - Introduction to Popular Culture
Prerequisite:
ENG 090s or Placement in Credit English
Introduces students to a variety of approaches for thinking critically about popular culture in personal, social, and global contexts. Students will consider the production, distribution, and consumption of various popular cultural genres, such as music videos, movies, cartoons, and advertisements.
IDS 170 - The Genre of Climate Fiction
Prerequisite:
C or better in ENG 111
Explores fictional depictions of climate change and disaster. In recent years, as awareness of the dangers of unchecked climate change has spread and science has explored in greater depth the interconnectedness of humanity and the environment, a new genre, climate fiction, has emerged. This course examines examples of this genre. Students will also create their own narratives within the genre.
Japanese (JPN)
JPN 101 - Japanese I
Prerequisite:
ENG 090s or Placement in Credit English
Introduces the principal elements of spoken Japanese. Develops vocabulary for devising simple sentences. Presents aspects of Japanese culture.
JPN 201 - Japanese II
Prerequisite:
C or better in JPN 101
Enhances contemporary usage in expression of ideas, vocabulary development, and grammar. Emphasizes vocabulary enrichment and conversational fluency through intensive practice in context. Focuses on the connection of verbal and non-verbal language.
JPN 202 - Japanese III
Prerequisite:
C or better in JPN 201
Enhances listening and speaking strategies and fosters an appreciation for Japanese culture in a variety of situations, including daily conversations. Emphasizes reading and writing of Japanese characters.
Linguistics (LIN)
LIN 201 - Introduction to Linguistics
Prerequisite:
C or better in ENG 112
This course is an introduction to linguistic precepts for those with an interest in languages. It outlines the larger areas of linguistic inquiry including phonetics, phonology, morphology, and grammar (both sentence level and discourse). It will also explore the difference between theoretical and applied linguistics.
Music (MUS)
MUS 101 - Music Appreciation
Prerequisite:
ENG 90s or Placement in Credit English
Introduces the fundamentals of music and provides for an appreciation of music and an overview of music history in various periods and countries around the world.
MUS 199/299 Special Topics
Courses ending in –99 are not described in the catalog. They represent courses taught as occasion demands and/or an instructor is available. In such cases, an approved course outline and syllabus are required.
Pacific Issues (PI)
PI 122 - Issues in Pacific Studies
Prerequisite:
ENG 90s or Placement in Credit English
Provides a comparative study of newly independent Pacific nations facing the challenges of socio-economic and political development and of globalization. It describes contemporary challenges in Pacific Island(s) settings in the post-colonial age. It will highlight challenges of political and economic independence as well as confront contemporary issues pertinent to the Pacific region and its unique circumstances. This course will concentrate mainly on the Oceanic region, which includes the subregions of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia.
PI 260 - Nuclear Tests in the Pacific
Prerequisite:
C or better in ENG 111
Designed to examine the history of nuclear weapon testing in the Pacific region, and to consider the consequences of testing on the local people and their environment. Compares Japanese and French Polynesian case studies to events in the Marshall Islands.
Philosophy (PHIL)
PHIL 101 - Introduction to Philosophy
Prerequisite:
ENG 90s or Placement in Credit English
The course asks five important questions: what is real, what is knowable, what is good, what is beautiful, and where are we headed? The last question is how should we live? Students develop a personal philosophy.
PHIL 199/299 Special Topics
Courses ending in –99 are not described in the catalog. They represent courses taught as occasion demands and/or an instructor is available. In such cases, an approved course outline and syllabus are required.
Political Science (POL)
POL 101 - Introduction to Political Science
Prerequisite:
ENG 90s or Placement into Credit English
Introduces basic terminology, typologies, and development of Western political thought, as well as the contributions of various political and non-political groups to the structures and practices of the contemporary state.
POL 290 - Politics of Development
Prerequisites:
C or better in ENG 111 and ENG 105
An introduction to the origins, purposes, and prospects of global and regional development. Examines issues of political, social, and economic development as well as the effects of western development agendas on the non-western world. It is recommended that students take POL 101 before taking this course.
Psychology (PSY)
PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology
Prerequisite:
C or better in ENG 111
Prepares students to survey the fundamentals of Psychology including modern theories, research and relevant topics.
PSY 201 - Human Growth and Development
Prerequisite:
C or better in PSY 101
Surveys human growth and development with emphasis on the prenatal period throughout the life span. Emphases the physical, cognitive, emotional and moral issues related to each developmental stage.
PSY 199/299 Special Topics
Courses ending in –99 are not described in the catalog. They represent courses taught as occasion demands and/or an instructor is available. In such cases, an approved course outline and syllabus are required.
Religion (REL)
REL 198 - Religions of the World
Prerequisite:
ENG 90s or Placement in Credit English
A comparative study of contemporary Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism, with brief examinations of other religions or religious movements. The role of religion in human culture will be emphasized.
REL 199/299 Special Topics
Courses ending in –99 are not described in the catalog. They represent courses taught as occasion demands and/or an instructor is available. In such cases, an approved course outline and syllabus are required.
REL 198 - Religions of the World
Prerequisite:
ENG 90s or Placement in Credit English
A comparative study of contemporary Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism, with brief examinations of other religions or religious movements. The role of religion in human culture will be emphasized.
SOC 199/299 Special Topics
Courses ending in –99 are not described in the catalog. They represent courses taught as occasion demands and/or an instructor is available. In such cases, an approved course outline and syllabus are required.
Spanish (SPN)
SPN 101 - Spanish I
Prerequisite:
ENG 090s or Placement into Credit English
Introduces basic grammar structures of Spanish to build sentences and a basic working vocabulary and conversation skills.
