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Associate Degree in Liberal Arts Online

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Register By: June 24 Classes Start: June 26

Earn Your AA in Liberal Arts Degree

  • $320/credit (60 credits)
  • Gain credentials needed to enter the field
  • Transfer up to 45 credits toward your associate degree
  • 100% online instruction
  • Finish your degree faster
  • Prepare to earn your bachelor's degree

Associate in Liberal Arts Degree Online Program Overview

Strengthen your communication and critical-thinking skills by earning an Associate of Arts (AA) in Liberal Arts from Southern New Hampshire University. If you need general education to seek entry-level employment in business, social services, administration or management, earning your liberal arts degree could help put you in a position to excel and move up in your career. It can also be a meaningful milestone on your journey toward a bachelor's degree or a springboard into the working world.

The AA in Liberal Arts curriculum and experienced faculty will inspire you to explore a range of subject areas as you broaden your understanding of the world. During this process, you'll learn to analyze issues, formulate reasoned conclusions and effectively communicate your analysis – valued skills in the classroom and at work.

Have you earned a significant number of college credits already? This associate degree is primarily made up of general education and elective courses. This makes it a great program for maximizing your transfer credits and getting your degree faster.

Learn how to:

  • Interpret humanity and the world through multiple disciplines
  • Communicate effectively to a variety of audiences
  • Research using both quantitative and qualitative reasoning
  • Collaborate effectively with individuals of diverse backgrounds
  • Engage civically by examining relevant issues and hearing a variety of perspectives
  • Apply problem-solving techniques to academic and professional challenges

Career Outlook

Whether you need a degree to go further at a job you love or you really aren't sure what your calling is yet, this online liberal arts degree is a great next step in your education. Earning an associate degree can make an impact on your career and finances by opening doors to new opportunities.

Priscilla Hobbs with the text Priscilla Hobbs"More and more employers require a degree for eligibility for career advancement opportunities," said Priscilla Hobbs, SNHU’s associate dean of general education and interdisciplinary studies. "Having an associate degree helps you start in your career."

In fact, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows associate degree holders were less likely to face unemployment than those with just a high school education.1 And in 2021, the BLS reported that people with high school diplomas made median weekly earnings of $809 while those with associate degrees made $963. For those who continued on to earn their bachelor's degrees, that number jumped to $1,334.1

The online liberal arts degree provides a broad, flexible foundation, preparing you for entry-level positions in a variety of roles and industries.

Autumn Jones-Cox with the text Autumn Jones-Cox"I already have a job offer for a legal assistant position that will be great in using my problem solving and research skills that I acquired from my liberal arts degree program," said Autumn Jones-Cox '21.

Some other jobs you could consider pursuing include:

  • Administrative assistant. Keep business operations organized by assisting with paperwork, scheduling meetings and being the office's first point of contact.
  • Customer service representative. Help customers virtually, over the phone or in person by answering questions and responding to complaints.
  • Food service manager. Manage the daily operations of a bar, restaurant, hotel or cafeteria. This is a great option if you've worked in the service industry.
  • Information clerk. Perform clerical tasks such as preparing routine reports, bills, claims, payments or orders. You'll be the go-to when someone needs to know where to find information.

For student Avalon Oneita Juliana, an associate degree is just the first step.

"One day, I would like to be a medical doctor," she said. "I chose to start with an associate of liberal arts as it covered the basics and would lead me to any bachelor’s program I’d like to join."

Earning your associate degree is also the first step toward completing a bachelor's degree and pursuing more management-level positions. At SNHU, we have 100+ on campus and online bachelor's degree programs to choose from.

Start Your Journey Toward an Online Liberal Arts Degree

Courses & Curriculum

Pursuing an associate degree in liberal arts launches a lifetime of learning. General education courses provide the writing, computational and technical skills that will serve a student in any field. The core courses also include a serious introduction into the arts and culture that helps you begin to understand your place in the world.

"What initially attracted me to this program was the ability to explore different subjects with different perspectives," said Autumn Jones-Cox '21.

The liberal arts degree was built to help you find your direction while gaining a solid educational foundation. Our program allows you to explore:

  • Humanities and history
  • Social and behavioral sciences
  • Science, technology and math

In a world where more and more jobs have become automated, the competencies developed through these foundational subjects matter more than ever. Technology and artificial intelligence have limits, meaning they can't be programmed to respond in every situation – especially ones involving emotion. In this online liberal arts program, you'll learn to hone your critical thinking and decision-making skills, making you an asset in these situations.

As a standalone degree or a starting point for more advanced study, an associate degree in liberal arts from SNHU provides a significant educational experience that enhances your knowledge, skills and insight. And with 5 elective courses built in to the curriculum, you can tailor the program to your interests along the way.

Through small classes and personal attention, this online liberal arts degree provides an individualized educational experience that stimulates personal innovation and creativity – elements that are necessary in today’s workplace.

New to online learning? Our associate program includes Success Strategies for Online Learning, a course that highlights strategies for thriving in an online learning environment. To improve your academic success, you'll build skills such as critical thinking and self-advocacy, while learning about all of the support services we have to offer.

Avalon Oneita Juliana with the text Avalon Oneita Juliana"I enjoy the setup of the online schooling," said student Avalon Oneita Juliana. "SNHU made their online program very user friendly."

If you've already taken college courses elsewhere, our associate degree in liberal arts could be the fastest path to a degree credential. Upon graduating, you'll already have all of your general education requirements out of the way. This means you can continue onto a bachelor's program and jump right into the focused courses of your chosen major.

Curriculum Requirements & Resources

  • Technology resources: We provide cloud-based virtual environments in some courses to give you access to the technology you need for your degree – and your career. Learn more about our virtual environments.
  • Earn math credits for what you already know: Save time and tuition with our Pathways to Math Success assessments. Depending on your scores, you could earn up to 12 math credits – the equivalent of 4 courses – toward your degree for less than $50 per assessment. For additional information, or to register for a Pathways to Math Success assessment, contact your admission counselor or academic advisor today.

Tuition & Fees

As a private, nonprofit university, we’re committed to making college more accessible by making it more affordable. That’s why we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

We also offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Undergraduate Programs Per Course Per Credit Hour Annual Cost for 30 credits 
Degree/Certificates $960 $320 $9,600
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)* $675 $225 $6,750

Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually. *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional Costs No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

Frequently Asked Questions

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.

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