Liberal Arts and Sciences/Mathematics and Science A.S.

School: Mathematics, Science and Engineering
Academic Dept: Biology
HEGIS: 5649

Important Note about Program Requirements

The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program from Fall 2020 to Summer 2021. Students who entered the program during a prior semester will find their specific requirements listed in the Catalog under which they entered. Archived Catalogs are accessible through the dropdown menu above.

Associate of Arts (A.A.) and Associate of Science (A.S.) Degrees Defined

The purpose of the A.A. and A.S. is to build a foundation in a discipline, then continue to higher levels of education by transferring to a four-year institution. The A.A. contains liberal arts credits; including coursework in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and provides flexibility to pursue several careers. Conversely, coursework for the A.S. contains some liberal arts credits and coursework also directly applicable to a clearly defined career path. Click to learn more about the differences among award types.

Second Degrees

A second associate degree for a specific concentration in a discipline which a student has already completed a degree is not academically recognized nor allowable. For instance:

If an Associate in Science: Liberal Arts and Sciences/Mathematics and Science has been earned, an additional Associate in Science: Liberal Arts and Sciences/Mathematics and Science with a concentration (Biology, Chemistry, Health Science, or Mathematics) is not allowed.
If an Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts and Sciences/Humanities has been earned, an additional Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts and Sciences/Humanities degree with a concentration (Art Studio, English, History, Honors, or Spanish) is not allowed.
If an Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts and Sciences/Social Sciences has been earned, an additional Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts and Sciences/Social Sciences with a concentration (Anthropology, Economics, History, Honors, Psychology, or Sociology) is not allowed.

This second associate degree policy also applies to all other degrees with concentrations, including but not limited to: Engineering Science A.S., Liberal Arts and Sciences/Childhood Education A.S., and Business Management A.S.

Program Description

The Liberal Arts & Sciences/Mathematics and Science (LAMS) program leads to the Associate in Science (A.S.) degree. This program, with an emphasis in majors-level mathematics and natural sciences (e.g. chemistry, biology, and physics), allows the student to parallel the first two years of course content for the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in these disciplines. Qualified graduates of this program most often continue their studies at four-year colleges and universities in baccalaureate programs in mathematics and the natural sciences, or further their education towards a one of a number of allied health professions whose competitive admission requirements require coursework in mathematics and/or natural science at the majors-level, such as pre-medicine, pre-pharmacy, physician’s assistant, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will:

Demonstrate proficiency in mathematics that indicates readiness for calculus.
Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific process and how it is applied in the natural sciences.
Demonstrate knowledge of foundational concepts in math and/or science necessary for:

A. Transferring seamlessly into four-year programs in mathematics or in one of the Natural Sciences, OR

B. Applying competitively to four-year nursing or other similar allied health programs with completed prerequisite courses.

Advice for Graduates Transferring to Bachelor’s Programs in Math/Science

The distribution of courses to meet the requirements for the A.S. degree varies depending on the student’s interests, so it is very important that a student review the requirements for the first two years of any colleges to which he or she might transfer. Course selection can then be made with advice from an Academic Counselor or the Liberal Arts Math and Science (LAMS) Curriculum Chair (Chad.Thompson@sunywcc.edu).

Students are also encouraged to consider one of the degree’s concentrations (Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics, and Health Science) in order to seamlessly transfer into similar four-year programs. Students interested in transfer programs related to math and science (i.e. pre-medicine, pre-pharmacy, physician’s assistant, and BSN programs) should also carefully review the admission requirements to those career programs. This will help the student make informed decisions about which specific math and science courses to take within the LAMS program.

Advice for Prospective Students Interested in Allied Health Programs at Westchester Community College

Students with an interest in being accepted into one of the college’s allied health programs (i.e. Nursing AAS, Radiologic Technology AAS, Respiratory Technology AAS) often major in Liberal Arts and Science: Math and Science (LAMS) while they work on their entrance requirements. For these students, it is very important to understand, not only the entrance requirements for the prospective program, but also the specific math and science requirements for the LAMS degree.

In many cases, the entrance requirements for specific allied health programs deviate from the higher level math and science requirements of LAMS. Therefore, it is essential that before a student begins to work on the entrance requirements for a competitive allied health degree, that the student is aware of how the math and science requirements overlap between the two programs, and where they do not. Informed course selections can then be made with advice from an Academic Counselor or the Health Science Counselor (Sabrina.Hochberg@sunywcc.edu).

Program Requirements

General Education Requirements - 31 Credits

Students are required to fulfill a certain number of credits within the specific categories shown below. Where specific courses are not listed within these categories, courses must be selected from the list of SUNY General Education Courses .

Basic Communication (3 credits)

ENG 101 - Writing and Research

Humanities (3 credits)

ENG 102 - Writing and Literature

Mathematics (8 credits)

Select TWO of the following courses:

Natural Sciences (8 credits)

Select one of the following SEQUENCES of courses:

Social Sciences (3 credits)

Social Sciences - see SUNY General Education Courses

The Arts, Foreign Language, or Other World Civilizations (3 credits)

Select a course from ONE of the following categories:

                   The Arts – see SUNY General Education Courses
                    Foreign Languages – see SUNY General Education Courses
                    Other World Civilizations – see SUNY General Education Courses

American History or Western Civilization (3 credits)

Select a course from ONE of the following categories:

American History – see SUNY General Education Courses
Western Civilization – see SUNY General Education Courses

Degree Requirements - 29 Credits

Select either TWO additional Mathematics courses OR an additional Science Sequence (8 credits, see Mathematics and Natural Sciences lists above)
STEM Electives (3 additional elective courses, see STEM Electives List below)
Free Electives (9 credits, any college courses)

STEM Electives List

Select THREE courses. Note that sequences are not required to fulfill the STEM Elective requirement.

Minimum Total Credits - 60

Career Path Opportunities

Are you wondering what careers you can explore with a degree or certificate? Perhaps you are not sure what people do or how much money they make in certain careers that pique your interest? Would you like to know how many jobs are predicted to be available in a particular industry? Or maybe you are unsure whether receiving a degree or certificate would be right for you? Go to https://sunywcc.emsicareercoach.com to explore career paths, their associated job descriptions, salary trends, and jobs trends. Complete a career assessment for additional guidance. Still not sure? Visit www.sunywcc.edu/career for more career resources and contacts.

Transfer Opportunities

Transfer Agreements

Westchester Community College is committed to facilitating a smooth transfer process to ensure that graduates of the college are prepared to transfer with junior status, and are able to complete a bachelor’s degree within two years of full-time study upon transfer. View 4-year institutions’ transfer agreement information by program here.

Getting Started

Are you a prospective Westchester Community College graduate? We look forward to seeing you soon! Apply today, then see the College’s Admissions and Enrollment Checklist.