2023-2024 Student Catalog 
    
    Oct 05, 2024  
2023-2024 Student Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Science, A.A. (See program addendum for new requirements effective Sp. 2024)


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Contact Information

Program Requirements

Typical Program

Degree/Certificate:     Associate in Arts
HEGIS Code:             5649
SUNY Code:              1120
Major Code:              LAHS

The NCCC Approach

The Humanities and Social Science curriculum at Niagara County Community College includes the foundation courses for many college majors. The information, concepts and attitudes conveyed in these courses are easily applied to any career goal.

The Humanities and Social Science curriculum is designed to allow maximum flexibility in creating a program. Such a broad-based liberal arts curriculum is appropriate for students who plan to transfer into a bachelor’s degree program in fields such as anthropology, economics, English, history, modern languages, philosophy, psychology, social sciences, sociology or international studies. The majority of graduates from this curriculum transfer to complete a bachelor’s degree.

The Humanities and Social Science curriculum is also appropriate for students with a more specific career direction. Careers such as architecture, childhood education, chiropractic, exceptional education, government or legal studies, management science, occupational therapy, physical therapy and secondary education begin with a liberal arts base.

The flexibility of the Humanities and Social Science curriculum is also appropriate for students who are undecided on a career pathway and who wish to explore several academic areas.

Suggested Associate in Arts 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: Humanities and Social Science degree may prepare for transfer to upper-division study in subject areas such as those listed below:

American Studies
Anthropology
Childhood Education
Criminal Justice
Dance
Economics
English
Exceptional Education
Health Education
History
International Studies
Management
Modern Languages
Philosophy
Physical Education
Pre-Law
Psychology
Secondary Education
Sociology
Urban Planning

These study areas are provided as examples of ways in which a student can pursue individual academic interests in a variety of fields. The student’s choice of study within the Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Science degree is not restricted to the interest areas listed. Individual plans of study can be constructed in consultation with the student’s academic adviser. In addition, the student should meet with his/her academic adviser with regard to course sequences, prerequisites and completion of degree requirements.

Admission

Students admitted in fall, spring and summer.

The Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Science (LAHS) program is offered as a full-time day program, part-time evening program or online program. Because of the sequencing of courses, it may take longer than eight semesters to complete the part-time evening program or four semesters to complete the full-time day program if a student begins in a spring or summer semester. The LAHS program is also available as a degree that can be completed through distance learning.

Dual Admissions

SUNY Buffalo State University
SUNY College at Brockport
SUNY College at Fredonia
SUNY at Buffalo
SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome
Niagara University

Articulation Agreements

SUNY Buffalo State University
SUNY College at Brockport
SUNY College at Cortland
SUNY College/Empire State
SUNY College at Fredonia
SUNY College at Oneonta
SUNY College at Oswego
SUNY at Buffalo

SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome
Canisius College
Hilbert College
Niagara University
Palmer College of Chiropractic Medicine

Program Goals and Objectives

  • While pursuing the AA degree, students achieve a general knowledge of the liberal arts by taking a variety of courses from several Liberal Arts disciplines. LAHS students have opportunities to develop their abilities to think critically, to learn research methods using a variety of data bases, to work cooperatively with others and to synthesize and communicate the knowledge and skills they have acquired in their study of the LAHS.
  • Students are given the opportunity to receive in-depth instruction in a specific discipline within LAHS. Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences provides students with a wide range of opportunities for understanding and analyzing human behavior and individual experiences. In this manner students may grasp the inter-connectedness of these disciplines while investigating the perspectives of their chosen field of study. Such study embraces past, present and future human societies as legitimate objects of inquiry.
  • Graduates are prepared for acceptance as transfer students into a bachelor’s degree program.
  • Students have the opportunity to meet all of the SUNY General Education Requirements through careful advisement and choice of electives.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate a capacity for critical response to texts and for reasoned analysis and logical thinking. Students will recognize arguments supported by observation and experience. They will recognize and use the fundamental methods of the disciplines, including application as well as analysis and synthesis.
  • Students will demonstrate effective communication skills. They will assimilate ideas and shape them clearly and accurately, so they are appropriate for the audience and purpose. Effective communication includes the use of spoken and written Standard English. This goal presupposes effective listening and reading–skills that are included under the outcome of critical thinking.
  • Students will demonstrate research skills. They will be proficient in the library and with the online techniques of the Information Age. They will be able to locate relevant information and be able to evaluate their sources.
  • Students will demonstrate an appreciation of cultural diversity. The LAHS curriculum is designed for the study of diverse cultures and subcultures within American Society as well as cultures throughout the world.
  • Students will demonstrate an appreciation for an historical perspective. History is an essential component of a liberal arts education because the ideas and events of the past determine to a large extent how people think and live today.
  • Students will demonstrate aesthetic appreciation and development. Students will find new avenues for self-expression and a richer understanding of the human condition by exploring the artistic dimensions of life. The comparative study of the fine arts and literature yields deep and useful insights into cultural patterns and diversity of expression.
  • Students will demonstrate an integrated perspective on mathematics and science. Mathematics and scientific advancement has been a cornerstone of Western Civilization since the Renaissance. They are rapidly becoming a hallmark of a larger World Civilization.
  • Students will demonstrate an appreciation for physical health and well-being. Since ancient times, there has been an appreciation of the necessary link between a healthy body and an active, inquiring mind. LAHS students will develop this appreciation through course work that extends their understanding and practice of techniques promoting personal well-being and a healthy lifestyle.

Transfer

To promote smooth transfer to bachelor degree programs, faculty members at NCCC have consulted with faculty at colleges to which our students transfer. Together we have identified courses which meet the requirements of the Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Science (associate in arts) degree at NCCC and which are parallel to required courses at the transfer college.

Graduates of the Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Science curriculum have transferred to a wide range of programs to pursue a bachelor degree. A sample of the colleges and programs to which they have transferred, based on follow-up studies of recent graduates and information from SUNY, is listed below.

Academy of Art College

Fine Arts

Art Institute

Interactive Media Design

Buffalo State University

Childhood Education
Communication
Criminal Justice
Education
Elementary Education
English
Exceptional Education
Geology/Earth Science
Graphic Design
Health and Wellness Education
History
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Political Science
Psychology
Public Communication
Radiology
Secondary Education
Secondary English Education
Secondary Social Studies Education
Social Studies Education
Sociology
Speech Pathology

Canisius College

English

Christ The King Seminary

Youth Ministry

D’Youville University

History Education

Daemen University

Childhood Education
Psychology

Empire State College

Social Science

Ithaca College

English

Mountain State University

Administrator of Criminal Justice

Niagara University

Liberal Arts
English Education
Psychology
Math Education 5-12
Business Administration
Education
Elementary Education
History/Social Work
Special Education
History Education
Accounting
Secondary Education
Political Science
Tourism

Sacramento State College

Early Childhood Development

SUNY at Brockport

Business Management
Journalism
English/Elementary Education
Physical Education
Communication

SUNY at Buffalo

Speech Therapy
Business Administration
Philosophy
Anthropology
Math
Psychology
English
Sports Medicine
Sociology
History
Social Sciences-Legal Studies
Political Science
Secondary Education

SUNY at Cortland

Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education

SUNY at Geneseo

Elementary Education

SUNY at Oswego

Adolescent Education

Trocaire College

Registered Nursing

Program Requirements (LAHS)


  1. A total of at least 62-credit hours with a minimum curriculum grade-point average of 2.0. Academic Foundations courses do not count toward the degree.
  2. Basic Communication - Written (COMW):  A minimum of 6-credit hours to include:
      *
      OR
    ENG 103  -  Writing for STEM  
  3. Basic Communication - Oral (COMO) General Education Approved  Elective:  A minimum of 3-credit hours.
  4. Health/Physical Education Elective : A minimum of 2-credit hours.
  5. Distribution Requirements: A minimum of 3-credit hours from each of the following areas for a total of 18-credit hours:
    1. Arts - General Education Approved Elective  
    2. History (HIS) under US History & Civic Engagement - General Education  OR World History & Global Awareness (HIS) General Education  Elective
    3. Literature (LIT) under Humanities - General Education  Elective
    4. Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning (MATH) General Education  Elective
    5. Science: Biology (BIO), Chemistry (CHE), Physical Science (PHS) or Physics (PHY) under Natural Science & Scientific Reasoning - General Education Approved  Elective
    6. Diversity: Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice - General Education Approved  Elective  
  6. Humanities/Social Science:  Any combination of Humanities  and Social Sciences  electives for a minimum of 15-credit hours. Chosen courses must also be designated Liberal Arts electives.
  7. Liberal Arts  Elective: A minimum of 6-credit hours in any Liberal Arts elective to ensure that 30-credits in approved General Education courses have been earned in 7 of 10 SUNY General Education areas.**
  8. Free Electives: A minimum of any 12-credit bearing hour courses.**

Typical Program


First Semester


Total Credit Hours: 15


Second Semester


Total Credit Hours: 15


Third Semester


Total Credit Hours: 16


Fourth Semester


Total Credit Hours: 16


Note:


*Dependent upon the fulfillment of Academic Foundations requirements.

** Consider selection of courses that fulfill the SUNY General Education requirements. LAHS students considering transferring to a four-year degree SUNY institution are strongly encouraged to complete all SUNY General Education requirements while at Niagara County Community College. This will greatly facilitate your transfer process.

Although a minimum of 3 credit hours each in mathematics and science is required, many academic majors and many careers require more extensive preparation in mathematics and science. Consult the catalog of colleges to which you want to transfer to determine requirements and consult with your academic adviser in selecting appropriate courses.

Scholarship Opportunities


There are several scholarships available to NCCC students. Scholarship deadline dates vary each semester.  For more information, please visit the scholarship webpage at www.niagaracc.suny.edu/scholarships. The NCCC Foundation/Scholarship Office is located within the Foundation Office, A-265 or by phone (716) 614-5910.

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