Program Requirements
Typical Program
Degree/Certificate: Associate in Science
HEGIS Code: 5649
SUNY Code: 0645
Major Code: LAMS
The NCCC Approach
The Liberal Arts and Sciences: Mathematics and Science program is both exciting and challenging. The required courses provide students with a strong mathematics and science background while offering an introduction to other disciplines in the liberal arts as well. The program parallels the first two years of a baccalaureate program at many four-year institutions. Students in this curriculum are highly successful in transferring to baccalaureate programs in mathematics, sciences or engineering after completion of their studies at Niagara County Community College.
For students entering SUNY in fall 2015 or later, to earn a SUNY associate degree, one must earn 30 credits selected from SUNY approved general education courses. (For students who entered SUNY prior to fall 2015, these requirements differ.) The 30-credit hours must include courses selected from the following ten Knowledge and Skills Areas: 2 required areas: Basic Communication (BC), Mathematics (M); and 5 of the following 8 areas: American History (AH), Arts (AR), Foreign Language (FL), Humanities (H), Natural Science (NS), Other World Civilization (OW), Social Science (SS), and Western Civilization (WC). Additionally, students must meet the two SUNY Competencies of Critical Thinking and Information Management. This will be done by completing courses embedded throughout the curriculum. A student who earns the Liberal Arts and Sciences: Mathematics and Science degree will satisfy the SUNY General Education requirements. For details on the SUNY General Education policy, see the SUNY General Education website: http://system.suny.edu/academic-affairs/acaproplan/general-education/.
NCCC is distinguished by its nationally recognized faculty and modern teaching methodologies dedicated to the study of mathematics and science.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences: Mathematics and Science curriculum is a broad-based program designed to educate students in the basic principles of mathematics and science and enable them to successfully transfer to four-year institutions.
Suggested Associate in Sciences Study Areas or Fields of Academic Interest
By appropriate course selection in consultation with an academic adviser, a student pursuing the Liberal Arts and Sciences: Mathematics and Science (LAMS) degree program may prepare for transfer to upper-division study in major subject areas such as those listed below:
Adolescent Education
(mathematics or science subject areas) |
|
| Biochemistry |
Mathematics |
| Biology |
Pharmacy |
| Chemistry |
Physics |
| Engineering |
Pre-Medicine |
| |
|
Admission
Students admitted in fall, spring and summer. Because of the sequencing of courses, it may take more than four semesters of full-time study if a student begins this program in a spring or summer semester. Students needing additional coursework in preparation for Calculus and their science sequence may take more than four semesters to complete the program.
Dual Admissions
| SUNY College at Brockport |
Canisius College |
| SUNY College at Buffalo |
Daemen College |
| SUNY College at Fredonia |
Medaille College |
| SUNY at Buffalo** |
Niagara University |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science |
** All Dual Admissions agreements at SUNY at Buffalo are currently under review.
Articulation Agreements
Consult with the Admissions Office.
Program Goals and Objectives
Goal # 1
Students will be prepared for successful transfer to baccalaureate programs in mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering or related areas of study.
Objectives for goal #1:
- Students will transfer into a wide variety of baccalaureate programs upon completion of the Liberal Arts and Sciences: Mathematics and Science, Associate in Science degree.
- Students will have the opportunity to enter into a Dual Admissions agreement with a transfer institution.
- Students will have the opportunity to use articulation agreements between NCCC and transfer institutions to select courses which can be used towards earning a baccalaureate degree.
- Students can begin mathematics study below Calculus I and at a level appropriate to their ability. This option may not be available to them at the freshman level at a four-year college or university.
- Students will demonstrate competency at a level needed for transfer in computer applications.
Goal # 2
Students will be provided with a well-rounded liberal arts education.
Objectives for goal #2:
- Students will complete coursework in the following areas of the liberal arts (as defined by the NYS Department of Education):
1. Mathematics
2. Natural Sciences
3. Humanities/Arts
4. Social Sciences
- Students will complete a minimum of 46 credit hours in liberal arts.
- Students will complete a maximum of 12 credit hours in free electives.
Goal #3
Students will be able to meet 7 of the 10 SUNY General Education requirements.
Objectives for goal #3:
- Students will meet the SUNY General Education requirements in Mathematics and Natural Science (2 of 10 requirements) through required coursework in the LAMS curriculum.
- Students will be able to meet a minimum of an additional 5 of the 10 SUNY General Education Requirements through liberal arts and free electives.
- Students will have the opportunity to meet all 10 of the SUNY General Education Requirements.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will use differential or integral calculus to identify patterns and relationships that are linear, polynomial, exponential or periodic in nature when given numerical data or graphs.
- Students will use differential or integral calculus to draw meaningful conclusions, construct mathematical models and extract relevant information from given situations in the areas of physical sciences, business, engineering or the social and biological sciences.
- Students will use the methods employed by scientists to explore natural phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence and employment of mathematical analysis.
- Students will apply scientific data, concepts and models in one or more of the natural sciences.
- Students will demonstrate effective communication skills.
- Students will demonstrate a capacity for critical response to texts and for reasoned analysis and logical thinking.
- Students will demonstrate library research and information management skills.
- Students will integrate data from other applications into a computer spreadsheet or program and perform analysis consistent with the requirements of college-level mathematics and science courses.
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