How to Get an Online Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts

Not quite sure what you want to do with your life in the long run, but are interested in many different things? A liberal arts associate’s degree might come in handy in helping you narrow down your options and explore a variety of career routes.

A liberal arts degree is extremely diverse and touches on a little bit of everything. For example, you might take classes in astronomy, math, literature, art, writing, chemistry, philosophy, social sciences, and more. By being exposed to all of these subjects, you will be able to learn a little about a lot of things. If you are not sure what you want to major in, starting out with a liberal arts associate’s degree will be perfect because it gives you the chance to take a variety of courses. This, in turn, will expand your horizons and introduce you to courses you might not have otherwise taken on your own. Not only is this program helpful in helping you determine your future course, it will also land you a degree, which will come in handy when looking for an entry-level job or pursuing higher education.


An associate’s degree in liberal arts typically takes two years of full-time study to complete. However, if you choose to earn your credential online, you may be able to complete it earlier. Depending on how many classes you can take per quarter/semester, you may be able to finish a lot quicker.

If you are a busy person looking to attend school while still attending to your personal obligations, pursuing an associate’s degree in liberal arts online could be a great option. Distance learning can work really well for those who are motivated and independent learners. It is essential to make sure that the college you choose is accredited so that the credits you earn can be easily transferred to a four-year college should you decide to continue your education. By virtually attending classes online, you will have access to all course materials and participate in class discussions just like you would normally in a traditional classroom setting. The main difference is that you would be able to log into the classroom portal from anywhere and anytime to complete required coursework and exams. Students can easily communicate with other students and their professors via chat platforms and email.

Common Associate’s in Liberal Arts Curriculum

By enrolling in a liberal arts associate’s degree, you can expect to take classes in the following subjects:

  • Math
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Physics
  • Astronomy
  • English & literature
  • Geology
  • Art
  • Writing
  • World history
  • American history
  • Philosophy
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Of course, there are many other classes not listed above for you to explore, but these are just some of the popular classes available for you to take. Most people that get a liberal arts associate’s degree move on to get their bachelor’s in a specific field once they decide which one is best for them because it is a degree that just does not lend to promising job opportunities by itself. With that said, courses at the associate’s level are designed to prepare students for higher education in a specific field.

In addition to liberal arts-related courses, students will also have general education requirements and electives to complete, which will vary from college to college. These classes will help you develop a well-rounded foundation of knowledge that will be useful in understanding real-life situations and succeeding in whatever career you choose to be in.

Associate’s in Liberal Arts Careers

An associate’s degree in liberal arts will surely give you a well-rounded education. However, when it comes to actually getting a competitive job, this degree alone might not bring you as far as you can be. Coming out with an associate’s degree in this course of study, you might be able to land an entry-level job, but to remain competitive, higher credentials are recommended.

Because this degree program is so general and spreads itself relatively thinly compared to other majors, there’s unfortunately not as much you can do with it on its own. You might learn a lot of interesting things about various topics here and there and get your degree, but most graduates will want to continue to earn their bachelor’s in a specialized field after getting a glimpse of different career paths they might be able to explore. For example, while taking classes for your associate’s degree in liberal arts, you might decide that you love analyzing people and figuring out why people think the way they do. In this case, you might explore psychology a bit more deeply by picking a concentration/major at a four-year college.

At the bachelor’s level, you will gain insight on a subject at a much deeper level than at the associate’s level. The associate’s program is simply designed to shed light on each topic so that you are aware of what is out there and the different majors you can explore that best suit your interests and career goals.