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Liberal Arts with an Area of Emphasis in Arts and Humanities

Liberal Arts with an Area of Emphasis in Arts and Humanities

Contact Information

Chair: Joanne Benschop

Office: Building OCT550, 760.795.6881

Full-Time Faculty

Joanne Benschop

Academic and Career Pathway 

Languages, Communication, and Humanities

Associate in Arts Degree

Liberal Arts with an Area of Emphasis in Arts and Humanities

These courses emphasize the study of cultural literacy, humanistic activities, and the artistic expression of human beings. Students evaluate and interpret the ways in which people through the ages in different cultures have responded to themselves and the world around them in artistic and cultural creation. Students also learn to value aesthetic understanding and to incorporate these concepts when constructing value judgments.

This area of emphasis prepares students for a variety of majors within the humanities discipline, including creative writing, English, humanities and art, linguistics, literature and writing studies, museum studies, religious studies, and philosophy. It also provides lower-division preparation for a wide range of majors within the communication studies discipline.

Graduation Requirements

  • Complete a minimum of 60 degree-applicable units of credit (including major and general education courses).
  • Complete all courses required in the major with a “C” or “P” or better.
  • Complete a general education pattern of courses (see Associate Degrees).
  • Obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.
  • Complete a minimum of 12 units in residence at MiraCosta College.

Program Student Learning Outcome

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to develop communication, critical thinking, and intellectual skills that effectively prepare him/her for lifelong learning and for advanced study in a wide range of majors at the university level.

Course Requirements

Select a minimum of 18 units from the following:
ART 100Drawing and Composition3
ART 101Design and Color3
ART 1033D Design3
ART 157Art Orientation3
ART 158Traditional Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas3
ART 159Pre-Columbian Art3
or ART 159H Pre-Columbian Art (Honors)
ART 201Objects and Ideas in Contemporary Art3
ART 234Kinetic Art3
ART 244Digital Media for the Visual Artist3
ART 254Understanding and Appreciating the Photographic Image3
ART 258Ancient to Gothic Art3
ART 259History of Renaissance to Modern Art3
ART 260History of Modern Art3
or ART 260H History of Modern Art (Honors)
ART 290Landmarks of Art3
COMM 101Public Speaking3
COMM 106Group Communication3
COMM 111Narrative Performance3
COMM 120Principles of Human Communication3
COMM 150Communication, Culture, and Leadership3
COMM 207Interpersonal Communication3
COMM 212Argumentation3
COMM 215Intercultural Communication3
COMM 220Introduction to Mass Communication3
DESN 107History of Western Architecture-A Sustainable Perspective3
DESN 108World Architecture3
DNCE 100Dance Appreciation3
or DNCE 100H Dance Appreciation (Honors)
DNCE 101Dance History3
or DNCE 101H Dance History (Honors)
DNCE 104Dance on Film3
or DNCE 104H Dance on Film (Honors)
DNCE 105Dance Cultures of the World3
or DNCE 105H Dance Cultures of the World (Honors)
DRAM 105Introduction to Theatre3
DRAM 130Acting I3
DRAM 134Introduction to Performance3
DRAM 222Introduction to Black Theater3
ENGL 100Composition and Reading4
or ENGL 100H Composition and Reading (Honors)
ENGL 201Critical Thinking, Composition, and Literature4
or ENGL 201H Critical Thinking, Composition, and Literature (Honors)
ENGL 202Critical Thinking and Composition4
or ENGL 202H Critical Thinking and Composition (Honors)
FILM 101Introduction to Film3
or FILM 101H Introduction to Film (Honors)
FILM 106Study of Cinematic Adaptation3
FILM 111Film History I: 1880-19483
or FILM 111H Film History I: 1880-1948 (Honors)
FILM 112Film History II: 1948-Present3
or FILM 112H Film History II: 1948-Present (Honors)
FILM 211Identity and Film: Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality3
or FILM 211H Identity and Film: Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality (Honors)
FILM 212Women and Film: Representation and Impact3
or FILM 212H Women and Film: Representation and Impact (Honors)
FREN 101Elementary French (First Semester)4
FREN 102Elementary French (Second Semester)4
FREN 121Introduction to French Culture3
FREN 201Intermediate French (Third Semester)4
FREN 202Intermediate French (Fourth Semester)4
GRMN 101Elementary German (First Semester)4
GRMN 102Elementary German (Second Semester)4
GRMN 121Introduction to German Culture3
GRMN 201Intermediate German (Third Semester)4
HIST 100World History to 15003
or HIST 100H World History to 1500 (Honors)
HIST 101World History Since 15003
or HIST 101H World History Since 1500 (Honors)
HIST 103Early European History and Culture3
or HIST 103H Early European History and Culture (Honors)
HIST 104Modern European History and Culture3
or HIST 104H Modern European History and Culture (Honors)
HIST 110United States History to 18773
or HIST 110H United States History to 1877 (Honors)
HIST 111United States History Since 18773
or HIST 111H United States History Since 1877 (Honors)
HIST 115Women in American History3
or HIST 115H Women in American History (Honors)
HIST 116History of the Americas to 18303
or HIST 116H History of the Americas to 1830 (Honors)
HIST 141Mexican American History Through 18773
or HIST 141H Mexican American History Through 1877 (Honors)
HIST 142Mexican American History Since 18773
or HIST 142H Mexican American History Since 1877 (Honors)
HIST 145African American History to 18773
or HIST 145H African American History to 1877 (Honors)
HIST 146African American History Since 18773
or HIST 146H African American History Since 1877 (Honors)
HIST 165California History3
HUMN 101Introduction to the Arts3
or HUMN 101H Introduction to the Arts (Honors)
HUMN 201Cultural Eras in the Humanities: Prehistory to 16003
HUMN 202Humanities of the Western World: The Renaissance to the Twentieth Century3
HUMN 205Women in Western Art and Literature3
ITAL 101Elementary Italian (First Semester)4
ITAL 102Elementary Italian (Second Semester)4
ITAL 121Introduction to Italian Culture3
ITAL 201Intermediate Italian (Third Semester)4
ITAL 202Intermediate Italian (Fourth Semester)4
JAPN 101Elementary Japanese (First Semester)4
JAPN 102Elementary Japanese (Second Semester)4
JAPN 121Introduction to Japanese Culture3
JAPN 123Japanese Anime and Manga3
or JAPN 123H Japanese Anime and Manga (Honors)
JAPN 201Intermediate Japanese (Third Semester)4
JAPN 202Intermediate Japanese (Fourth Semester)4
JAPN 210Intermediate Conversation I and Reading3
LIT 100Introduction to Chicano Chicana Literature3
LIT 101Introduction to Asian American Literature3
LIT 120Introduction to Literature3
LIT 122Introduction to African American Literature3
LIT 250American Literature: First Contact Through the Civil War3
or LIT 250H American Literature: First Contact Through the Civil War (Honors)
LIT 251American Literature: Mid-1800s to the Present3
or LIT 251H American Literature: Mid-1800s to the Present (Honors)
LIT 260English Literature Through the 18th Century3
or LIT 260H English Literature Through the 18th Century (Honors)
LIT 261English Literature: Romantic to Contemporary3
or LIT 261H English Literature: Romantic to Contemporary (Honors)
LIT 265Shakespeare Studies3
or LIT 265H Shakespeare Studies (Honors)
LIT 270World Literature to 16003
or LIT 270H World Literature to 1600 (Honors)
LIT 271World Literature Since 16003
MAT 105History of Graphic Design3
MUS 100Introduction to Music Theory3
MUS 112American Popular Music3
MUS 113The Music of America3
MUS 114History of Rock and Roll3
MUS 115History of Classical Music3
MUS 116A Survey of World Music3
MUS 119Jazz History3
or MUS 119H Jazz History (Honors)
PHIL 100Critical Thinking and Writing3
PHIL 101Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality3
or PHIL 101H Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality (Honors)
PHIL 102Contemporary Moral Problems3
PHIL 221Philosophy of Religion3
READ 100Critical Reading and Thinking3
RELG 101World Religions3
or RELG 101H World Religions (Honors)
RELG 103Religion in America3
RELG 105Eastern Religions3
SOC/CCS 232Critical Issues in Chicana and Latina Studies3
SPAN 101Elementary Spanish (First Semester)4
SPAN 102Elementary Spanish (Second Semester)4
SPAN 201Intermediate Spanish (Third Semester)4
SPAN 202Intermediate Spanish (Fourth Semester)4
SPAN 205Hispanic Film, Literature, and Composition3
SPAN 221Spanish for Native Speakers4
SPAN 222Spanish for Native Speakers II4

Campus Locations

MiraCosta Community Learning Center

1831 Mission Avenue
Oceanside, CA 92058
760.795.8710
888.201.8480
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MiraCosta Oceanside Campus Building

1 Barnard Drive
Oceanside, CA 92056
760.757.2121
888.201.8480
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MiraCosta San Elijo Campus

3333 Manchester Avenue
Cardiff, CA 92007
760.944.4449
888.201.8480
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MiraCosta Technology Career Institute Building

2075 Las Palmas Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92011
760.795.6820
888.201.8480
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