Academic Programs and Services

Liberal Arts – Leadership Studies Option

The Liberal Arts degree program is for liberal arts students planning to transfer to baccalaureate programs or professional schools after study at Community College of Philadelphia; for students seeking a non-specialized associate’s degree; for students planning to enter certain select programs at a later date; and for students undecided about their long-term educational goals. Students are expected to consult with an academic advisor or counselor upon entry to the program and in subsequent semesters. Transfer planning should begin early so that the student can gain the most benefit from the curriculum. Students who follow the Liberal Arts curriculum and plan to attend a specific four-year college after graduation should choose elective courses that duplicate as closely as possible those in the first two years of the program of that college.

The Leadership Studies Option is appropriate for students who desire to study leadership issues and prepare for leadership roles while pursuing a liberal education and qualifying to transfer to a baccalaureate degree-granting institution.

Note: Many, but not all, transfer institutions require some knowledge of a foreign language (from one semester to two years of study at the college level or the equivalent). Some accept American Sign Language and some allow non-native speakers of English to count proficiency in their primary language, or to count English as their language. Students planning to transfer should be aware of foreign language requirements which may affect their acceptance into certain colleges and programs.

Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this program graduates will be able to:

• Develop greater insight into their past and present experiences as followers and leaders, and into their own leadership strengths, tendencies and aspirations.
• Improve their ability to understand and assess the talents of other people within an organization, and to motivate and organize them in the pursuit of common goals.
• Communicate effectively through oral and written means, including supportive and critical listening, group decision making, public speaking, and producing essays, research papers, press releases, grant proposals and other written forms.
• Demonstrate ability to compare and apply major leadership theories, as well as models, styles and practices of leadership that are effective in civic, professional, business, political and other kinds of organizations.
• Understand how perceptions of race, ethnicity, class, gender and other significant social differences affect organizations and communities, and how leadership can help people modify faulty perceptions and bridge differences.
• Demonstrate critical analysis of cases of leader/follower behavior, taking into account power dynamics and methods of influence, and recognizing and evaluating arguments and other attempts to persuade, along with their assumptions, logic, evidence and use of emotional appeals.
• Demonstrate enhanced ability to create or maintain an organization through the use of mission statements, committee and/or team work, productive meetings, effective planning and delegation, accountability and conflict management.
• Integrate learning gained from advanced or sequential social science and humanities courses with knowledge gained in Leadership courses, and demonstrate a leader’s ability to apply theoretical social science and humanities-based knowledge to practical situations.

Program Entry Requirements:
Students are typically required to take the College’s placement tests at their time of entry. Students identified as needing developmental course work must satisfactorily complete the appropriate English and mathematics courses as a part of their degree program. It is highly recommended that students entering the Leadership Studies Option program as new students take the Freshman Orientation Seminar, FOS 101.

Program of Study and Graduation Requirements:
To qualify for the Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree in Liberal Arts, a student must complete a minimum of 61 credit hours as prescribed and attain a grade point average of 2.0 ("C" average).

Download a printable degree description (PDF File) that includes a recommended course sequence grid.