2024-2025 Student Catalog 
    
    Dec 05, 2024  
2024-2025 Student Catalog

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Liberal Arts and Sciences: Mathematics and Science, A.S.



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Contact Information

Program Requirements

Typical Program

Degree/Certificate:    Associate in Science
HEGIS Code:             5649
SUNY Code:              0645
Major Code:              LAMS

The SUNY Niagara Approach

The Liberal Arts and Sciences: Mathematics and Science program is both exciting and challenging. SUNY Niagara 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. 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 SUNY Niagara.

For students entering SUNY in Fall 2023 or later, to earn a SUNY associate degree, one must earn 30 credits selected from SUNY approved general education courses.  These courses are posted on the College website: SUNY Approved SUNY Niagara General Education Courses .  The 30-credit hours must include courses selected from the following ten Knowledge and Skills Areas: 4 required areas: Mathematics &  Quantitative Reasoning (MATH); Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, & Social Justice (DVRS); Natural Science & Scientific Reasoning (NSCI); Basic Communication (COMW); as well as the following 6 areas: The Arts (ARTS); Humanities (HUMN); World Language (WNLG); World History & Global Awareness (GLBL); Social Science (SOCS); US History & Civil Engagement (USCV).  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. 

Note:  If you entered SUNY before Fall 2023, the SUNY-GER are different. 

For details on the SUNY General Education policy, see the SUNY General Education website: http://system.suny.edu/academic-affairs/acaproplan/general-education/.

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 Buffalo State University Canisius College
SUNY College at Brockport Daemen University
SUNY College at Fredonia Niagara University
SUNY College of Environmental Science  
 

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:

  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.
  2. Students will have the opportunity to enter into a Dual Admissions agreement with a transfer institution.
  3. Students will have the opportunity to use articulation agreements between SUNY Niagara and transfer institutions to select courses which can be used towards earning a baccalaureate degree.
  4. 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.
  5. 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:

  1. 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
  2. Students will complete a minimum of 46 credit hours in liberal arts.
  3. 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:

  1. Students will meet the SUNY General Education requirements in Mathematics and Natural Science (2 of 10 requirements) through required coursework in the LAMS curriculum.
  2. 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.
  3. Students will have the opportunity to meet all 10 of the SUNY General Education Requirements. 

Program 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.

Program Requirements (LAMS)


  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. Mathematics and Sciences: A minimum of 28-credit hours to include A, B, and C below:

    A)  Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning:  A minimum of 8-credit hours to include:
    MAT 120 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I  
    MAT 121 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II  

    B)  Natural Science & Scientific Reasoning:  A one-year sequence in a laboratory-based science.  A minimum of 8-credit hours to include:
    General Biology Sequence (8-credit hrs)
    BIO 109 - General Biology I  
    BIO 109L - General Biology I Lab  
    BIO 110 - General Biology II  
    BIO 110L - General Biology II Lab  
    OR
    Anatomy & Physiology Sequence (10-credit hrs)
    BIO 213 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I  
    BIO 213L - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab  
    BIO 214 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II  
    BIO 214L - Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab II  
    OR
    Botany & Zoology Sequence (8-credit hrs)
    BIO 201 - Botany  
    BIO 201L - Botany Lab  
    BIO 205 - Zoology  
    BIO 205L - Zoology Lab  
    OR
    General Chemistry Sequence (10-credit hrs)
    CHE 120 - General Chemistry I  
    CHE 111L - General Chemistry I Lab  
    CHE 121 - General Chemistry II  
    CHE 113L - General Chemistry II Lab  
    OR
    General Physics Sequence (8-credit hrs)
    PHY 131 - General Physics I  
    PHY 131L - General Physics I Lab  
    PHY 132 - General Physics II  
    PHY 132L - General Physics II Lab  
    OR
    Calculus-Based Physics Sequence (8-credit hrs)
    PHY 171 - Calculus-Based Physics and Mechanics  
    PHY 171L - Calculus-Based Physics and Mechanics Lab  
    PHY 172 - Calculus-Based Physics II  
    PHY 172L - Calculus Based Physics II Lab  

    C)  Additional Mathematics/Science Electives:  A minimum of credit hours so that the total number of mathematics/science credit hours totals 28-credit hours. Mathematics/science courses are to be selected from the NCCC List of Approved Electives : Mathematics OR Sciences Electives.
  3. Computer/Information Systems: A minimum of 2-credit hours to be chosen from the following:
    CIS 115 - Introduction to Spreadsheets  AND
    CIS 118 - Intermediate Spreadsheet Applications  OR
    CIS  ___  200-level elective or higher by advisement OR
    CPS ___  Elective by advisement
  4. Communication - Written: A minimum of 6-credit hours to include:
    ENG 101 - Writing I  * AND
    ENG 102 - Writing II & Introduction to Literature  OR
    ENG 103  -  Writing for STEM      
  5. Communication - Oral: A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    Communication - General Education  
  6. Diversity: Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice: A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    ___  ___ Diversity: Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice  General Education approved electives
  7. General Education: A minimum of 9-credit hours to be selected from 3 different categories below: 
    The Arts - General Education  
    Humanities - General Education 
    World Language - General Education 
    World History & Global Awareness - General Education ;
    Social Science - General Education  
    US History & Civic Engagement - General Education ;
  8. Health/Physical Education: A minimum of 2-credit hours to be selected from the NCCC List of Approved Electives : Health/Physical Education Electives.
  9. Free Electives: A minimum of 9-credit hours.  It is strongly recommended that electives are chosen to meet SUNY General Education  Requirement.

Typical Program


First Semester


Total Credit Hours: 13/15


Second Semester


Total Credit Hours: 14/15


Third Semester


  • Mathematics/Science elective 4/5 Cr.
  • Mathematics/Science elective 4/5 Cr.
  • Diversity: Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice General Education elective 3 Cr.
  • General Education elective 3 Cr.
  • HED/PED elective 1/3 Cr.
  • Free elective 3 Cr.

Total Credit Hours: 18/22


Fourth Semester


  • Mathematics/Science elective 4/5 Cr.
  • General Education elective 3 Cr.
  • General Education elective 3 Cr.
  • HED/PED elective 1/3 Cr.
  • Free elective 3 Cr.
  • Free elective 3 Cr.

Total Credit Hours: 17/20


Note:


* Dependent upon the fulfillment of Academic Foundations requirements.

Transfer


To promote the smooth transfer to a bachelor’s degree program, faculty members at NCCC have consulted with faculty at colleges to which our students transfer. Together, we have identified courses which meet the degree requirements for the Liberal Arts and Sciences: Mathematics and Science degree at NCCC and parallel required courses at the transfer college.

Students in mathematics, engineering or computer science related curricula should consider completing MAT 222: Calculus and Analytic Geometry III, MAT 223: Differential Equations and MAT 230: Discrete Mathematics as part of their mathematics and sciences electives. In addition, engineering students may want to consider certain Computer Science (CPS) electives, as well as certain technology electives. Science electives are available from among the major disciplines of biology (BIO), chemistry (CHE), physics (PHY) and engineering sciences (ENS). The choice of which electives to take depends on the student’s orientation toward a particular career or major.

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

SUNY College at Brockport

Meteorology

SUNY Buffalo State University

Adolescence Education
Biology
Earth Science
Forensic Chemistry
Mathematics

SUNY at Buffalo

Aerospace Engineering
Biology
Business Administration
Business Management
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Science
Forensic Chemistry
Geology
Industrial Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Nuclear Medicine Technology

SUNY at Fredonia

Biology

Cornell University

Animal Science
Mechanical Engineering

Daemen University

Physical Therapy

D’Youville University

Nutrition

New York Institute of Massage

Massage Therapist

Niagara University

Biology
Secondary Education in Math

Rochester Institute of Technology

Biotechnology
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Scholarship Opportunities


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

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