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 Note

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 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 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.

Program Requirements

60 credits are required for the degree:

• General Education - 30 credits
• Required Degree Courses - 30 credits

General Education Requirements - 30 Credits

• Communication - Written and Oral (3 credits): ENG 101 Writing and Research  
   
• Humanities (3 credits): ENG 102 Writing and Literature  
   
• Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) (4 credits): Mathematics Option, Part 1: Select from MATH 131 - College Algebra , MATH 161 - Precalculus (Functions and Coordinate Geometry) , MATH 181 - Calculus 1 , MATH 191 - Calculus 2 ,  MATH 230 - Calculus 3  
   
• Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) (8 credits): Natural Science Sequence Part 1 and Part 2
  • Natural Sciences Sequences
    • BIOL 115 - General Biology 1 (and Lab)  AND BIOL 117 - General Biology 2 (and Lab)  
    • BIOL 121 - Anatomy and Physiology 1 (and Lab)  AND BIOL 123 - Anatomy and Physiology 2 (and Lab)  
    • CHEM 107 - Inorganic Chemistry 1 (and Lab)  AND CHEM 111 - Inorganic Chemistry 2 (and Lab)  
    • CHEM 201 - Organic Chemistry 1 (and Lab)  AND CHEM 205 - Organic Chemistry 2 (and Lab)  
    • PHYSC 111 - College Physics 1 (plus required lab and workshop)  AND PHYSC 112 - College Physics 2 (plus required lab and workshop)  
    • PHYSC 121 - Engineering Physics 1 (and Lab)  AND PHYSC 122 - Engineering Physics 2 (and Lab)  
       
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses  
   
• Social Sciences (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses  
   
• The Arts OR World Languages (3 credits): choose from either category, The Arts  or World Languages  
   
• US History and Civic Engagement OR World History and Global Awareness (3 credits): choose from either category, US History/Civic Engagement  or World History/Global Awareness  

Where specific courses are not listed within the categories above, courses must be selected from the list of all general education courses . 

Required Degree Courses - 30 credits

• Mathematics Option, Part 2: select from MATH 131 - College Algebra , MATH 161 - Precalculus (Functions and Coordinate Geometry) , MATH 181 - Calculus 1 , MATH 191 - Calculus 2 ,  MATH 230 - Calculus 3  
   
• Free Electives (6 credits): select any college course(s)
   
• STEM Electives (20 credits)
  • BIOL 115 - General Biology 1 (and Lab)  
  • BIOL 117 - General Biology 2 (and Lab)  
  • BIOL 121 - Anatomy and Physiology 1 (and Lab)  
  • BIOL 123 - Anatomy and Physiology 2 (and Lab)  
  • BIOL 236 - Human Genetics  
  • CHEM 107 - Inorganic Chemistry 1 (and Lab)  
  • CHEM 111 - Inorganic Chemistry 2 (and Lab)  
  • CHEM 201 - Organic Chemistry 1 (and Lab)  
  • CHEM 205 - Organic Chemistry 2 (and Lab)  
  • MATH 131 - College Algebra  
  • MATH 161 - Precalculus (Functions and Coordinate Geometry)  
  • MATH 181 - Calculus 1  
  • MATH 191 - Calculus 2  
  • MATH 215 - Linear Algebra  
  • MATH 230 - Calculus 3  
  • MATH 240 - Differential Equations  
  • PHYSC 111 - College Physics 1 (plus required lab and workshop)  
  • PHYSC 112 - College Physics 2 (plus required lab and workshop)  
  • PHYSC 121 - Engineering Physics 1 (and Lab)  
  • PHYSC 122 - Engineering Physics 2 (and Lab)  

Program Map

The program map is a recommended semester-by-semester schedule of courses based on degree requirements and serve as a general guideline to help students complete their program in two years. Although designed for full-time enrollment, these are easily adaptable for part-time study. For additional, individualized guidance, students should review Degree Works and consult an Academic Counselor or Faculty Advisor to ensure they are on track to complete their program.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

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.

Career Opportunities

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