Liberal Arts and Sciences/Mathematics and Science A.S. – Biology Concentration

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 2022 to Summer 2023. 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.

Program Description

The Liberal Arts & Sciences/Mathematics and Science (LAMS) program leads to the Associate in Science (A.S.) degree. The LAMS concentration in biology mirrors the first two years of a four-year biology program with an emphasis in majors-level mathematics and natural sciences. Qualified graduates of this program most often continue their studies at four-year colleges and universities in baccalaureate programs in biology, or further their education towards a one of a number of allied health programs 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 transferring seamlessly into four-year programs in the Biological Sciences.

Advice for Graduates Transferring to Bachelor’s Programs in Biology

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 interested in transfer programs related to biology (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.

Program Map

The academic map below presents the recommended plan of study and will guide you through your program in a timely manner. Click the course abbreviations for full course descriptions. A course may be critical because it is a pre-requisite, requires a minimum grade, or because it is only offered once a year. Missing a critical course may push back your graduation date. Meet with an Academic Counselor or Faculty Advisor to ensure you are on track to complete your program.

Critical Courses should be taken in the order shown to stay on track and graduate on time.

Semester 1

Course (click for more information)	Critical Course	Pre-reqs or Co-reqs	Credits	Notes
ENG 101	✔	✔	3
BIOL 115	✔		4
CHEM 107	✔	✔	5
Social Sciences Gen Ed Elective			3
Semester Total Credits			15

Semester 2

Course (click for more information)	Critical Course	Pre-reqs or Co-reqs	Credits	Notes
ENG 102	✔	✔	3
BIOL 117	✔	✔	4
CHEM 111	✔	✔	5
The Arts, Foreign Language, or Other World Civilizations Gen Ed Elective			3
Semester Total Credits			15

Semester 3

Course (click for more information)	Critical Course	Pre-reqs or Co-reqs	Credits	Notes
MATH 181	✔	✔	4
CHEM 201	✔	✔	5
American History or Western Civilization Gen Ed Elective			3
Semester Total Credits			12

Semester 4

Course (click for more information)	Critical Course	Pre-reqs or Co-reqs	Credits	Notes
MATH 191	✔	✔	4
CHEM 205	✔	✔	5
MATH 140		✔	4
Free Elective			3
Free Elective			2
Semester Total Credits			18

Minimum Total Credits: 60

Transfer Opportunities

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.

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