Liberal Arts and Sciences/Social Sciences A.A. – Psychology Concentration

School: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Academic Dept: Social Sciences
HEGIS: 5649

Important Note about Program Requirements

The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program from Fall 2024 to Summer 2025. 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

Students enrolled in this program have an excellent opportunity to explore the various social and behavioral sciences while completing requirements in other academic areas such as the humanities, mathematics, and biological and physical sciences.

The Social Science curriculum with concentration in Psychology is an excellent transfer program that provides the opportunity for the completion of the first two years of study in Psychology and parallels the first two years of most baccalaureate liberal arts programs. Most graduates are able to transfer with sufficient credits to complete their bachelor’s degree in two additional years of full-time study.

The Social Science curriculum is an excellent starting point for students interested in careers in teaching (elementary, secondary, and college), pre-professional programs (such as law and medicine), business, government, social work, non-profit organizations, and international agencies.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students in this program will:

Demonstrate an understanding of key concepts and fundamental theoretical principles in at least 3 different social science disciplines, as well as the similarities and differences across disciplines.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research methods used widely in the social sciences.
Gain a broad liberal education in the social sciences, giving them a broad foundation for later life, flexibility in transferring to baccalaureate programs, and a foundation for job opportunities.
Demonstrate an ability to think critically and apply logical reasoning to practical problems and issues using concepts from the disciplines studied. This will be done through problem solving and research scenarios.
Demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively – orally and in writing – both individually and in group settings. They will be able to express and explain the “great” ideas in each discipline they have studied. They will be able to discuss and debate different points of view within their disciplines.
Demonstrate an understanding of the historical context of their current lives and of the development of the disciplines studied.
Demonstrate an understanding of the contemporary world and develop a sense of their place in a global setting. They will develop an appreciation for the range of human experiences in the world.

Program Requirements

60 credits are required for the degree:

General Education - 34 credits
Required Degree Courses - 26 credits

General Education Requirements - 34 Credits

Communication - Written and Oral (3 credits): ENG 101 Writing and Research OR ENG 101H - Writing and Research - Honors
Humanities (3 credits): ENG 102 Writing and Literature OR ENG 102H - Writing and Literature - Honors
Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses
Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) with Lab (4 credits): choose from this category of general education courses with lab
Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) OR Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) (3 credits)
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (3 credits): choose from ANTHR 101 - Cultural Anthropology , ANTHR 120 - Native People of North America , SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology , SOC 101H - Introduction to Sociology - Honors , SOC 102 - Sociology of Families , SOC 103 - Social Problems OR SOC 206 - Race and Ethnicity in the U.S.
Social Sciences (6 credits): PSYCH 101 - Introduction to Psychology and ONE course from Social Sciences approved Gen. Ed. courses in the following disciplines: ANTHR, ECON, GEOG, POLSC, OR SOC
The Arts OR World Languages (3 credits): choose from either category, The Arts or World Languages
US History and Civic Engagement (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses
World History and Global Awareness (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses

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 - 26 credits

COMM 109H - Speech Communication – Honors , COMM 109 - Speech Communication , COMM 110 - Speech Communication for Non-Native Speakers , OR COMM 111 - Voice and Diction
English or Communications Electives (3 credits): select ONE of the following
Psychology Electives (9 credits)
Liberal Arts Category I (3 credits): select ONE course from the following disciplines
- Anthropology (ANTHR), Economics (ECON), Geography (GEOG), History (HIS), Political Science (POLSC), Sociology (SOC)
Liberal Arts Category II (3 credits): select ONE from the following
Free Electives (5 credits): select any college course(s)

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

Course	Credits
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Gen. Ed. Course: ANTHR 101 - Cultural Anthropology , ANTHR 120 - Native People of North America , SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology , SOC 101H - Introduction to Sociology - Honors , SOC 102 - Sociology of Families , SOC 103 - Social Problems OR SOC 206 - Race and Ethnicity in the U.S.	3
ENG 101 Writing and Research OR ENG 101H - Writing and Research - Honors	3
Liberal Arts Category II	3
Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) Gen. Ed. Course	3
PSYCH 101 - Introduction to Psychology	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 2

Course	Credits
COMM 109H - Speech Communication – Honors , COMM 109 - Speech Communication , COMM 110 - Speech Communication for Non-Native Speakers , OR COMM 111 - Voice and Diction	3
ENG 102 Writing and Literature OR ENG 102H - Writing and Literature - Honors	3
Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) Gen. Ed. Course OR Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) Gen. Ed. Course	3
Psychology Elective	3
Social Sciences Gen. Ed. Course: One course from Social Sciences approved Gen. Ed. courses in the following disciplines: ANTHR, ECON, GEOG, POLSC, or SOC	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 3

Course	Credits
English or Communications Elective	3
Free Electives	3
Liberal Arts Category I: One course from ANTHR, ECON, GEOG, HIS, POLSC, OR SOC	3
Psychology Elective	3
World History and Global Awareness Gen. Ed. Course	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 4

Course	Credits
Free Elective	2
Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) Gen. Ed. Course with Lab	4
Psychology Elective	3
The Arts Gen. Ed. Course OR World Languages Gen. Ed. Course	3
US History and Civic Engagement Gen. Ed. Course	3
Semester Total Credits	15

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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