If you're the kind of person who’s curious about the world, interested in many subjects or still exploring which major is right for you, a liberal arts education offers the flexibility and foundation to figure it out. It gives you the tools to explore, adapt and grow, and gives you broad, practical knowledge. Liberal arts degrees also build on everyday skills, such as writing clearly, solving problems and making informed decisions, while helping you stay focused on your goals.
At NOVA, the Associate of Science (A.S.) in Liberal Arts offers an affordable way to start your college journey. You'll meet transfer requirements, explore electives that align with your interests and gain support from faculty who understand your goals, all while earning credits that will count toward your bachelor’s degree. If you want to go straight into the workforce, the skills you build — like critical thinking, communication and problem solving — can prepare you for a wide range of roles that rely on these strengths.
Defining a Liberal Arts Education
So, what is a liberal arts education? Liberal arts is a classical learning tradition that has endured for centuries. The term originally referred to the classical education of ancient Greece and Rome, which was centered on grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy — fields considered essential for civic participation and personal development.
Today, a liberal arts education builds on that foundation, offering a broad and flexible approach to learning. You’ll study subjects like literature, world languages, mathematics, humanities, and the arts and sciences, all while developing skills you can use in any field. A liberal arts degree prepares you to write clearly, solve problems, think critically and work with people from diverse backgrounds.
Rather than funneling you into a single profession, this type of education equips you with a strong intellectual toolkit that applies across industries. In Northern Virginia Community College’s Associate of Arts in liberal arts program, you’ll deepen your knowledge and strengthen your ability to analyze, communicate and approach challenges creatively.
Why Choose a Liberal Arts Education?
Choosing liberal arts gives you space to explore while building skills that apply almost anywhere. If you're still figuring out what you want to study or do for work, the flexibility of liberal arts lets you try different paths.
For this reason, liberal arts is also a strong option if you’re looking to transfer into a wide range of bachelor’s degree majors. Its flexible elective options let you explore different subjects while fulfilling general education requirements, giving you structure and freedom.
What courses will you take? A strong liberal arts education includes extra elective credits that let you explore different subject areas, discover your interests and hone your goals — all while earning credits that work for a variety of majors and fields.
NOVA’s program equips you with foundational knowledge across multiple disciplines in coursework like:
- World language electives: Learn a second language to build cross-cultural communication skills that are an asset in today’s global workforce. Options include Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, German and American Sign Language.
- Science lab electives: Gain hands-on experience in science courses, enhancing scientific literacy and practical knowledge for safely conducting lab research. Courses include Biology and Environmental Science.
- Humanities and fine arts electives: Use creativity and critical thinking to explore human culture, history and thought. Options include American Literature, Introduction to Philosophy and History and Appreciation of Art.
- Social or behavioral sciences electives: Examine human behavior, social structures and economic systems to develop a deeper understanding of society. Choices include Principles of Psychology, Principles of Sociology and Principles of Macroeconomics.
- Quantitative or statistical reasoning: Strengthen your analytical thinking by learning to interpret data, solve mathematical problems and apply logic to everyday situations.
NOVA’s courses help you build a broad knowledge base while developing essential academic and professional abilities. Most students use the degree to transfer into a four-year program, but the skills you gain can also apply to a range of entry-level positions.
Where Can a Liberal Arts Degree Take You?
The versatility of liberal arts keeps your options open, giving you a strong base to transfer into a bachelor’s degree program or step into the workforce. Here are a few entry-level roles that liberal arts graduates often pursue:
- Human resources representative: Support recruiting, onboarding and employee communication in business or nonprofit settings.
- Communications specialist: Create and manage content for public relations, marketing or corporate communication teams.
- Public administration assistant: Assist with public programs or support local government offices.
- Research or editorial assistant: Conduct background research, write content or support publishing and assist publishing or media teams.
- Customer service representative: Help customers resolve issues, process orders or understand services across various industries.
- Administrative assistant: Provide clerical and organizational support, manage schedules and maintain records in office environments.
- Lab assistant: Support scientific research or academic labs by preparing materials, maintaining equipment and recording data.
There are strong job prospects in these roles. According to Lightcast, a labor market analytics firm, there are 954 entry-level positions related to liberal arts available in NOVA’s service area with median salaries ranging from $53,000 to $67,000.
In addition to job opportunities, the liberal arts also prepare you for transferring to a four-year institution. Some of the most common educational paths after liberal arts include:
- English: Focuses on literature, writing and critical analysis, preparing you for careers in education, publishing or communication.
- Political science: Examines government systems, public policy and international relations, leading to roles in law, public administration or advocacy.
- Psychology: Explores human behavior and mental processes, offering pathways to careers in counseling, research or social services.
- Business administration: Provides foundational knowledge in management, finance and marketing, equipping you for leadership roles in various industries.
- History: Studies past events and their impact on society, leading to opportunities in education, museum work or research.
- Communications: Develops skills in media, journalism and public relations, preparing graduates for careers in marketing, broadcasting or corporate communications.
A liberal arts degree can be your starting point or your stand-alone credential, but if you want to pursue a bachelor's degree, NOVA offers support to help you transfer.
Transfer Opportunities and Prior Learning Credit
One of the most valuable aspects of NOVA’s liberal arts education is its strong transfer support. If you're planning to pursue a bachelor's degree, NOVA has agreements with four-year institutions including:
- Articulation agreements: These ensure your courses transfer to specific four-year partner colleges, removing the risk of credit loss and helping you stay on track.
- Guaranteed admission agreements (GAA): GAAs take articulation even further by guaranteeing admission to partnership colleges when you meet specific requirements.
One standout option is ADVANCE, NOVA’s partnership with George Mason University. This program offers a streamlined path to a bachelor’s degree with dedicated support, aligned coursework and co-enrollment at both institutions, making your transfer experience even more seamless.
In addition to transfer agreements, NOVA offers credit for prior learning for relevant experience, so you may not have to start your liberal arts degree from scratch. This can shorten your timeline and reduce tuition costs.
Why Start Your Liberal Arts Education at NOVA?
Now you can answer “What is a liberal arts education?” — but why choose NOVA? We designed our liberal arts program to provide the support, flexibility and quality education you need, without the high cost. We offer: