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Liberal Arts Program AA Requirements

18 Units of Liberal Arts

Required for AA graduation (up to 18 may be transferred in)

Written Communication (2 courses)

Transfer & exam waiver options available

  • LA108: English Composition for the Artist - required (Effective Spring 2006)
  • LA202: English: Narrative Documentary, or LA280: Perspective Journalism

Art History & Appreciation (2 courses)

Transfer & exam waiver options available

  • LA120: Art History through the 15th Century (required)
  • LA121: Art History through the 19th Century (required)

Employment Communications and Practices (1 course) (Effective Fall 2008)

  • LA291: Designing Careers (required)

Liberal Arts Electives by advisement (1 course)*

*If one or more of the above Liberal Art degree requirements have been waived by exam, take Liberal Art electives as needed to fulfill the LA 18 unit requirement

Above Liberal Arts requirements can be met in the following ways:

  • Take the Academy course and earn a passing grade
  • Transfer* in a comparable course from a previous institution
  • Waiver through comparable non-transferable coursework from previous institution
  • Passing score on AP or SAT exam
  • Passing score on Academy English Placement Exam

*Please note: Students who successfully transfer in required courses from a previous institution will receive Academy units towards graduation for those courses. However, students who place out of a required English or Quantitative course via the Academy Placement Exam, AP, IB, SATs or non-transferable coursework will have that requirement waived but must make up the units with a Liberal Arts elective.

Coursework from a Previous Institution:

Students who transfer in courses from a previous college or university will be placed out of the corresponding Academy course and receive the appropriate unit credit for each course they transfer in. On occasion, when students are unable to transfer in a required course, similar courses from other colleges and universities will be considered for waiver. Please send your transcripts in early to allow for ample processing time.

SAT, AP and IB Scores:

Students who have earned the following SAT and AP scores will automatically place out of LA108. Students with AP or IB exam scores in the appropriate subject may also have Art History requirement(s) waived. Please send your test scores in early to allow for ample processing time:

  • SAT I score (before April 1995) of 510 (written) or higher
  • SAT I score (after April 1995) of 590 (written) or higher
  • SAT II (Writing Subject Test) of 660 or higher
  • Advanced Placement exam score of 3 or higher
  • International Baccalaureates (IB) exam score of 5 or higher

Academy English Placement Exam:

Students who take the Academy English Placement exam will be placed into one of three English courses depending on their score on the exam:

  • Score of 1 or 2, students will place into LA108
  • Score of 3 or 4, students will place out of LA108 and into LA202
  • Score of 5 or 6, students will place out of both LA108 and LA202, into LA110

The Placement Exams are offered weekly during the school year in the Liberal Arts Department and online only students may take the exam at a proctoring site in their area. Please contact the Liberal Arts Department to schedule an exam by calling 415.618.3664.

Upcoming English and Quantitative Placement exams on the Academy campus:

Placement Exam Dates During Spring 2011

  • March 16, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • No Placement Exam Scheduled During Spring Recess
  • April 1, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • April 6, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • April 15, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • April 20, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • April 29, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • May 4, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • May 13, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • May 18, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)

Exams are by appointment (No drop-ins).

Please contact the Liberal Arts Department by calling 415.618.3664 or emailing liberalarts@academyart.edu to reserve a seat.