Liberal Arts for Returning Citizens (LARC) is a tuition-free college credit program at Clark University for formerly incarcerated individuals. Through the power of a liberal arts education, students can transform their lives by improving their critical thinking and communication skills. Classes are offered during fall, spring, and summer terms.
Each course is offered on a pass/fail basis, is seven weeks long, and is the equivalent to 0.5 credit hours at Clark or 2 credit hours if the student transfers to a community college or a four-year college. A high school diploma or equivalent is required to enroll in LARC.
While LARC is a non-matriculating program, students receive Clark IDs and can use university services such as the Writing Center, library, and fitness center. LARC students can join student clubs and participate in the vibrant college life on campus with events like the weekly Clark Collective pop-ups and Clark Tank.
John Dobson
Co-Director
Associate Professor, School of Management
Shelly Tenenbaum
Co-Director
Professor, Department of Sociology
Jennifer Plante
Associate Dean of the College
Sarah Barry
Administrative Coordinator
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
August 29 – October 10
Taught by Prof. John Dobson
Successful entrepreneurship begins with a vision. Like an artist, the entrepreneur must be able to translate creative vision into something tangible and real. It is designed to introduce students to the entrepreneurial process so that they may begin to shape their own entrepreneurial vision.
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
August 29 – October 10
Taught by Prof. John Dobson
Successful entrepreneurship begins with a vision. Like an artist, the entrepreneur must be able to translate creative vision into something tangible and real. It is designed to introduce students to the entrepreneurial process so that they may begin to shape their own entrepreneurial vision.
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
August 29 – October 10
Taught by Prof. John Dobson
Successful entrepreneurship begins with a vision. Like an artist, the entrepreneur must be able to translate creative vision into something tangible and real. It is designed to introduce students to the entrepreneurial process so that they may begin to shape their own entrepreneurial vision.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
August 30 – October 11
Taught by Prof. Sally Davidson
Introduces students to important topics in the financial world. Topics include budgeting, income and taxes, banking, credit, credit building and borrowing, saving and investing, mutual funds, ETFs, and the stock market. We will apply mathematical concepts and use financial data to be able to make informed financial decisions.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
August 30 – October 11
Taught by Prof. Sally Davidson
Introduces students to important topics in the financial world. Topics include budgeting, income and taxes, banking, credit, credit building and borrowing, saving and investing, mutual funds, ETFs, and the stock market. We will apply mathematical concepts and use financial data to be able to make informed financial decisions.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
August 30 – October 11
Taught by Prof. Sally Davidson
Introduces students to important topics in the financial world. Topics include budgeting, income and taxes, banking, credit, credit building and borrowing, saving and investing, mutual funds, ETFs, and the stock market. We will apply mathematical concepts and use financial data to be able to make informed financial decisions.
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (online)
October 17 – November 28
Taught by Prof. Shelly Tenenbaum
Explores autobiographies that place race at the center of the authors’ life stories. Students will have the opportunity to write their own autobiographical reflections and make connections between the assigned texts and their own lives.
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (online)
October 17 – November 28
Taught by Prof. Shelly Tenenbaum
Explores autobiographies that place race at the center of the authors’ life stories. Students will have the opportunity to write their own autobiographical reflections and make connections between the assigned texts and their own lives.
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (online)
October 17 – November 28
Taught by Prof. Shelly Tenenbaum
Explores autobiographies that place race at the center of the authors’ life stories. Students will have the opportunity to write their own autobiographical reflections and make connections between the assigned texts and their own lives.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
October 18 – November 29
Taught by Prof. Patricia Ewick
Examines the relationship between law and other aspects of social life. Relying on case studies and other empirical studies of the legal system, particular attention will be paid to the following topics: law and justice, the criminal legal system, the prison-industrial complex, and law and social change.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
October 18 – November 29
Taught by Prof. Patricia Ewick
Examines the relationship between law and other aspects of social life. Relying on case studies and other empirical studies of the legal system, particular attention will be paid to the following topics: law and justice, the criminal legal system, the prison-industrial complex, and law and social change.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
October 18 – November 29
Taught by Prof. Patricia Ewick
Examines the relationship between law and other aspects of social life. Relying on case studies and other empirical studies of the legal system, particular attention will be paid to the following topics: law and justice, the criminal legal system, the prison-industrial complex, and law and social change.
Tuesdays 6–9 P.M. (online)
January 16 – February 27
Taught by Prof. Janette Greenwood
Explores U.S. history through the writings of Frederick Douglass (c. 1818–1895). A fierce warrior for civil rights, Douglass escaped slavery and rose to prominence as one of the most important Americans of the 19th century. Topics include slavery; the Civil War; Reconstruction; Women’s Rights; the Rise of Jim Crow America; and the ways that Douglass’s legacy endures to this day.
Tuesdays 6–9 P.M. (online)
January 16 – February 27
Taught by Prof. Janette Greenwood
Explores U.S. history through the writings of Frederick Douglass (c. 1818–1895). A fierce warrior for civil rights, Douglass escaped slavery and rose to prominence as one of the most important Americans of the 19th century. Topics include slavery; the Civil War; Reconstruction; Women’s Rights; the Rise of Jim Crow America; and the ways that Douglass’s legacy endures to this day.
Tuesdays 6–9 P.M. (online)
January 16 – February 27
Taught by Prof. Janette Greenwood
Explores U.S. history through the writings of Frederick Douglass (c. 1818–1895). A fierce warrior for civil rights, Douglass escaped slavery and rose to prominence as one of the most important Americans of the 19th century. Topics include slavery; the Civil War; Reconstruction; Women’s Rights; the Rise of Jim Crow America; and the ways that Douglass’s legacy endures to this day.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
January 17 – February 28
Taught by Prof. Heather Macpherson
Focuses on the writing process: prewriting, writing, and rewriting. Discussion and writing activities will include all steps of the writing process beginning with developing ideas and carried out through organizing, writing, and editing. Students will experiment with different techniques and learn to adapt to different college writing situations.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
January 17 – February 28
Taught by Prof. Heather Macpherson
Focuses on the writing process: prewriting, writing, and rewriting. Discussion and writing activities will include all steps of the writing process beginning with developing ideas and carried out through organizing, writing, and editing. Students will experiment with different techniques and learn to adapt to different college writing situations.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
January 17 – February 28
Taught by Prof. Heather Macpherson
Focuses on the writing process: prewriting, writing, and rewriting. Discussion and writing activities will include all steps of the writing process beginning with developing ideas and carried out through organizing, writing, and editing. Students will experiment with different techniques and learn to adapt to different college writing situations.
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
March 12 – April 23
Taught by Prof. Li Han
Introduces students to the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to actively engage in personal and professional pursuits in our technology-driven society. Topics include computer systems, internet basics, social media, data security, online privacy, and emerging technologies.
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
March 12 – April 23
Taught by Prof. Li Han
Introduces students to the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to actively engage in personal and professional pursuits in our technology-driven society. Topics include computer systems, internet basics, social media, data security, online privacy, and emerging technologies.
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
March 12 – April 23
Taught by Prof. Li Han
Introduces students to the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to actively engage in personal and professional pursuits in our technology-driven society. Topics include computer systems, internet basics, social media, data security, online privacy, and emerging technologies.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
March 13 – April 24
Taught by Prof. Dan Thomas
Introduces basic musical concepts: chords and scales, finger picking, strumming patterns, reading notes, and various musical styles and improvisation. The course is appropriate for beginner to intermediate-level guitarists.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
March 13 – April 24
Taught by Prof. Dan Thomas
Introduces basic musical concepts: chords and scales, finger picking, strumming patterns, reading notes, and various musical styles and improvisation. The course is appropriate for beginner to intermediate-level guitarists.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
March 13 – April 24
Taught by Prof. Dan Thomas
Introduces basic musical concepts: chords and scales, finger picking, strumming patterns, reading notes, and various musical styles and improvisation. The course is appropriate for beginner to intermediate-level guitarists.
ClarkNow
A look at Nate Bethancourt’s entrepreneurial journey selling homemade juice and how the LARC program opens educational doors
Clark professor Shelly Tenenbaum discusses her experience teaching in prison with the Emerson Prison Initiative
Challenge. Change. Podcast
