Liberal Arts

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Program Overview

Associate in Arts

Liberal arts education refers to the disciplines of literature, languages, philosophy, history, mathematics, anthropology, psychology, and science. Coursework in these areas satisfies the General Education requirements for career and technical programs at UH Maui College. The cornerstones of a Liberal Arts Education include Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, and Written and Oral Communication Skills.

UH Maui College offers several curricula based upon liberal arts courses. These include Associate in Arts degrees in Liberal Arts, in Hawaiian Studies and the Associate in Science degree in Natural Science with two concentrations. More concentrations within the Liberal Arts umbrella are proposed and will be announced as approved.

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.

See Full Curriculum

Length of Program

  • 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 Academic Affairs approval.)
  • Writing Intensive (WI): Two courses

Program Graduation Rate

  • Total graduates 2019-2020,  239. 
  • Total of 112 transferred to four-year institutions. Completion rate of 75% with a C or better. Of the 112 transfers, 58 students earned the AA in Liberal Arts prior to transfer, and 54 transferred prior to completion of AA in Liberal Arts

Achievements

The Liberal Arts online AA represents innovative student support. UHMC’s campus and student body are unique in that we represent three islands (Maui, Lana’i, and Moloka’i) with Outreach Centers on Moloka’i and Lana’i, and two Outreach Centers on Maui (Hana and Lahaina) from which student travel is often prohibitive. The unusual logistics creates a perfect environment for online learning. Class modalities include both synchronous and asynchronous modalities. This combination is generally determined through advising and depends on the individual’s academic pathway, progress, and success in different modalities, home location, and scheduling needs. The program specifically targets working-age adults in all UHMC locations: Kahului, Lahaina, Hana, Lana`i, and Moloka`i.  

Distance learning modalities offered in the Liberal Arts Program include hybrid courses that employ both synchronous and asynchronous means of delivery, incorporating ZOOM as well as face-to-face time. Zoom has the capabilities of the previous Skybridge mode, with the inherent benefits…such as the synchronous Zoom model provides for our students. With multiple islands and Outreach Centers (Maui, Moloka’i, Lana’i, Hana, and Lahaina), unique challenges to any “one size fits all” model prevail. Many students prefer Zoom (or previously Skybridge) or they may not demonstrate readiness for the completely asynchronous online mode. Zoom provides the  face-to-face interaction with faculty and peers that many students prefer. 

  • Total graduates 2019-2020,  239. 
  • Total of 112 transferred to four-year institutions. Completion rate of 75% with a C or better. Of the 112 transfers, 58 students earned the AA in Liberal Arts prior to transfer, and 54 transferred prior to completion of AA in Liberal Arts

Take The Next Step

Request more information about this program or contact:

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Melissa Kirkendall, Ph.D., Program Coordinator

Assistant Professor Anthropology

Phone: 808 984 3338

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Shane Payba, Counselor

Student Affairs, UH Maui College

Phone: 808 984 3496

Office: Ho'okipa Building

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Wayne Aguiran, Counselor

Student Affairs, UH Maui College

Phone: 808 984 3327

Office: Ho'okipa Building

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Moana Kaho’ohanohano, Counselor

Student Affairs, UH Maui College

Phone: 808 984 3495

Office: Ho'okipa Building

Course Schedules

View a month-by-month schedule of courses, as well as descriptions for each.

Scholarships

View our current scholarship opportunities. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Employment

Explore opportunities, connect with employers, research resources.

Career Outlook

According to the Association of American Colleges and Universities, four out of five employers agree that all students should acquire the broad based knowledge and skills represented by the Liberal Arts. Some of the positions currently filled with Liberal Arts graduates include Elementary and Middle School Teachers, Lawyers, Judges, Magistrates, Managers, Postsecondary Teachers, Chief Executives, and Legislators, Education Administrators, Social Workers, Secondary School Teachers, Counselors, Sales Representatives, Clergy, Retail Sales, Supervisors, Secretaries, and Administrative Assistant. Virtually every employer benefits from graduates with critical thinking and problem solving abilities, and oral/written communication skills, all of which are attained as part of a successful Liberal Arts Program such as that at UHMC.