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
Mondays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
January 13 – February 24
Taught by Prof. John Dobson
Provides students with an opportunity to develop their entrepreneurship leadership skills. Students will work with local stakeholders to implement projects to help community partners and their clients.
Mondays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
January 13 – February 24
Taught by Prof. John Dobson
Provides students with an opportunity to develop their entrepreneurship leadership skills. Students will work with local stakeholders to implement projects to help community partners and their clients.
Mondays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
January 13 – February 24
Taught by Prof. John Dobson
Provides students with an opportunity to develop their entrepreneurship leadership skills. Students will work with local stakeholders to implement projects to help community partners and their clients.
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
January 14 – February 25
Taught by Prof. John Brown
Introduces economics concepts that are essential for someone involved in a private business. Topics include supply and demand, market types, and the performance of the economy as a whole: growth in the economy (GDP), employment and unemployment, price stability and inflation, and fiscal and monetary policy.
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
January 14 – February 25
Taught by Prof. John Brown
Introduces economics concepts that are essential for someone involved in a private business. Topics include supply and demand, market types, and the performance of the economy as a whole: growth in the economy (GDP), employment and unemployment, price stability and inflation, and fiscal and monetary policy.
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
January 14 – February 25
Taught by Prof. John Brown
Introduces economics concepts that are essential for someone involved in a private business. Topics include supply and demand, market types, and the performance of the economy as a whole: growth in the economy (GDP), employment and unemployment, price stability and inflation, and fiscal and monetary policy.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
January 15 – February 26
Taught by Prof. Heather Macpherson
Focuses on all steps of the writing process, beginning with developing ideas to organizing, writing, and editing.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
January 15 – February 26
Taught by Prof. Heather Macpherson
Focuses on all steps of the writing process, beginning with developing ideas to organizing, writing, and editing.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
January 15 – February 26
Taught by Prof. Heather Macpherson
Focuses on all steps of the writing process, beginning with developing ideas to organizing, writing, and editing.
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
March 11 – April 22
Taught by Prof. Li Han
Provides students with the skills needed to actively engage in personal and professional pursuits in our technology-driven society. Topics include internet basics, social media, data security, and on-line privacy.
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
March 11 – April 22
Taught by Prof. Li Han
Provides students with the skills needed to actively engage in personal and professional pursuits in our technology-driven society. Topics include internet basics, social media, data security, and on-line privacy.
Tuesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
March 11 – April 22
Taught by Prof. Li Han
Provides students with the skills needed to actively engage in personal and professional pursuits in our technology-driven society. Topics include internet basics, social media, data security, and on-line privacy.
Wednesdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
March 12 – April 23
Taught by Prof. Patricia Ewick
Relying on case studies of the legal system, 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)
March 12 – April 23
Taught by Prof. Patricia Ewick
Relying on case studies of the legal system, 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)
March 12 – April 23
Taught by Prof. Patricia Ewick
Relying on case studies of the legal system, attention will be paid to the following topics: law and justice, the criminal legal system, the prison-industrial complex, and law and social change.
Thursdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
March 13 – April 24
Taught by Prof. Sally Davidson
Builds upon Financial Literacy I with a focus on financial assets and portfolio construction; saving for retirement; loans and insurance; homeownership.
Thursdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
March 13 – April 24
Taught by Prof. Sally Davidson
Builds upon Financial Literacy I with a focus on financial assets and portfolio construction; saving for retirement; loans and insurance; homeownership.
Thursdays 6–9 p.m. (in-person)
March 13 – April 24
Taught by Prof. Sally Davidson
Builds upon Financial Literacy I with a focus on financial assets and portfolio construction; saving for retirement; loans and insurance; homeownership.
In the News
Telegram & Gazette
Jordan Santiago explains how LARC courses helped prepare him to be able to run his own business
Boston Globe
In a Letter to the Editor, Jacqueline Scott notes how LARC has challenged her and provided a supportive community
ClarkNow
A look at Nate Bethancourt’s entrepreneurial journey selling homemade juice and how the LARC program opens educational doors
ClarkNow
Clark professor Shelly Tenenbaum discusses her experience teaching in prison with the Emerson Prison Initiative
Challenge. Change. Podcast
LARC (Liberal Arts for Returning Citizens) is a program that offers formerly incarcerated individuals free college courses at Clark University. All books and materials are free for students.
Yes, in order to register for LARC courses, potential students must have a high school diploma or equivalent (such as a GED or HiSET). If you cannot obtain a copy of your high school diploma, we will provide you with a form to complete with this information.
Any person who has been involved with the legal system (e.g., probation, juvenile detention) may apply to LARC.
No, students do not have to live in Worcester, but most classes are offered in person on Clark University’s campus, so students must have transportation to our Worcester campus.
Classes meet one night per week for three hours over the course of a 7-week module. Classes are offered in the evenings, typically from 6 – 9 p.m. Dinner is provided for all classes that are held on the college campus.
We offer classes year-round, including summer.
LARC is a flexible program. Students can take one or more classes during each 7-week module. And if you decide to take a break after a module ends, you can return to LARC when you want to take additional classes. We will continue to keep you informed about classes that are being offered.
While LARC students do not earn degrees by participating in LARC classes, students are awarded transferable credit for passing LARC courses. These credits may be transferable to Clark (should students enroll in a degree-granting program) as well as other colleges, community colleges, and universities.
Yes, credits students earn by completing courses in the LARC program are transferrable to other colleges, universities, and community colleges. LARC students earn .50 units – or 2 credits – for each course they complete, and all classes are graded on a Pass/Fail basis (rather than letter grades).
You do not need a personal computer or laptop to participate in LARC. If you are a LARC student, you will receive a Clark student ID card, which gives you access to computer lab spaces on campus. You may use these computers to complete assignments, check your email, and so on.
LARC students are given a Clark student ID, which grants them access to resources like computer labs, the library, and the athletic facilities. They may participate in student clubs and organizations and may attend university-sponsored functions.
LARC students are considered part-time Clark students. As such, they are allowed to participate in programs, services, and groups open to part-time students. Some programs and services are not offered to part-time students.
Yes, LARC students can use Goddard Library, the Writing Center, and the Fitness Center. Students also have access to Uwill, a program that provides online mental health services.
