For liberal arts colleges today, the liberal arts refer both to content areas (math, science, humanities, arts) and to skill areas (critical & creative thinking, speaking, reading, writing, and doing art & science). Liberally educated persons ask good questions, don’t stop at the first answer, and contribute responsibly to their world.

At Mars Hill College, the liberal arts curriculum has three parts:
Liberal Arts in Action (LAA) Commons: exploring central human questions;
The major: providing depth in a field of study; &
The LAA Connectors plus electives: providing breadth of study.

The Liberal Arts in Action Commons explores central human questions:
LAA 111 Challenges: Who are you? What do you want from college? What is a liberal arts education and what learning challenges and opportunities do you have at MHC? Challenges courses have different themes, for which student interest and teacher interest match. All have reading, formal & informal writing, oral presentations, and service-learning experiences. (first year)

LAA 121 Character: What is human nature? What makes good character? How much are we all more alike than we are different? Underneath differences in individual character and cultural differences, how alike are we? What are we like? What makes us tick? How much are we determined by our genes, by our families or culture, by outside forces, and how much freedom do we have? (first year)

LAA 221 Civic Life: How do societies work? What makes a good society? How have human beings across time and cultures organized their lives together? How do geography, religion, politics, athletics, and the arts shape communities? Case studies of different cultures provide context for asking: How does this society work? What makes for a good society? (sophomore year-- fall)

LAA 231 Critique-Faith & Reason: How do we know what is real, true, important? How does this tradition wrestle with scientific and religious questions about the nature of reality, knowledge, and value? From the Greeks to the Geeks – this course explores the narrative of “the western tradition”. (sophomore year-- spring)

LAA 321 Creativity: What is creativity? How do we nurture it in life and work?
This course explores the creative spark – in process and product across disciplines and cultures, across personality and preferences. What is universal about creativity? How can each person bring creative energy, processes, and products into their lives?. (junior or senior year)

Capstone Requirement: How do we put it all together? Senior seminars, internships (pre-approved) or EST 320 (Ethics, Science & Technology : team-taught by scientist and ethicist, exploring the impact of scientific developments on society, and individual and corporate response.) Written & oral presentations.