Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Science, A.A.

Contact Information

Program Requirements

Typical Program

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

The SUNY Niagara Approach

The Liberal Arts program at SUNY Niagara offers students two paths for their future. The Traditional curriculum allows room for exploration and discovering one’s passion, while the specialized tracks offer more structure and guidance. Whether a student follows the traditional or specialized track, the goal is to prepare students for transferring to complete a bachelor’s degree.

The traditional Humanities and Social Science curriculum offers students the most flexibility in designing their program. It’s ideal for those who haven’t decided on a specific career path and want to explore various academic areas. This curriculum covers fundamental courses for many college majors, and the knowledge, concepts, and attitudes gained can be applied to various career goals. Graduates from the traditional curriculum have pursued careers in diverse fields such as architecture, chiropractic, exceptional education, government or legal studies, international studies, management science, philosophy, secondary education, and social sciences.

Students with a clear career goal may find a more structured path beneficial. LAHS provides specialized tracks in Anthropology, Economics, Film Studies, History, History Education (secondary), Native Studies, Sociology, and Spanish. Choosing a specialized track means students will receive guidance from an expert in that field, ensuring they have the necessary advantages when transferring into a bachelor’s degree program in one of those fields.

Suggested Associate in Arts Study Areas or Fields of Academic Interest

With guidance from an academic adviser and careful course selection, students pursuing a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Science can prepare for transfer to upper-division study in subject areas such as the following:

American Studies Anthropology Criminal Justice Economics Exceptional Education Health Education History International Studies Journalism Law Enforcement

Library Science Management Modern Languages Philosophy Physical Education Political Science Pre-Law Secondary Education Sociology Urban Planning

These study areas are presented as examples to showcase the diverse academic interests students can pursue within the Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Science degree. The selection of study areas is not limited to those listed, and students can tailor their individual plans of study with the guidance of their academic adviser. It is important for students to consult with their academic adviser to determine appropriate course sequences, prerequisites, and ensure the 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

• As students work towards their AA degree, they gain a broad understanding of liberal arts through different courses in various disciplines. They learn to think critically, use research methods with different sources, collaborate with others, and express their knowledge and skills in verbal and written forms.
• Students have the chance to delve deep into a particular area of study within LAHS. Focusing on Humanities and Social Sciences allows them to explore and analyze human behavior and individual experiences. This approach helps students see how these disciplines are interconnected and lets them explore different perspectives in their chosen field. This kind of study involves examining the past, present, and future of human societies as valid subjects of investigation.
• Graduates are prepared for acceptance as transfer students into a bachelor’s degree program.
• Students will meet all of the SUNY General Education Requirements through careful advisement and choice of electives.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Students will develop well-reasoned (logical) arguments to form judgments and/or draw conclusions.
• Students will demonstrate coherent college-level communication (written and oral) that informs, persuades, or otherwise engages with an audience.
• Students will locate information effectively using tools appropriate to their need and discipline; evaluate information with an awareness of authority, validity, and bias; and demonstrate an understanding of the ethical dimensions of information use, creation, and dissemination.
• Students will analyze the role that complex networks of social structures and systems play in the creation and perpetuation of the dynamics of power, privilege, oppression, and opportunity.
• Students will apply historical and contemporary evidence to draw, support, or verify conclusions.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of at least one principal form of artistic expression and the creative process inherent therein.
• Students will interpret and draw inferences from appropriate mathematical models such as formulas, graphs, tables, or schematics.
• Students will demonstrate scientific reasoning applied to the natural world, including an understanding of the methods scientists use to explore natural phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of data analysis or mathematical modeling.
• Students will demonstrate an ability to apply principals learned in either health or physical education settings. SUNY Niagara students will develop this application through course work that extends their understanding and practice of techniques promoting personal well-being and a healthy lifestyle.

Transfer

To facilitate a seamless transition to bachelor’s degree programs, faculty members at SUNY Niagara have collaborated with faculty at transfer colleges. This collaboration has led to the identification of courses that fulfill the requirements of the Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Science (associate in arts) degree at SUNY Niagara, aligning with the required courses at the transfer colleges.

Recent graduates of the Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Science curriculum have successfully transferred to a diverse array of programs to pursue their bachelor’s degrees. 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 provided 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