Liberal Arts and Sciences/Social Sciences A.A.

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 2025 to Summer 2026. 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 and Sciences: Social Sciences A.A. program at SUNY Westchester Community College offers a dynamic foundation for students interested in careers in teaching, law, government, business, social work, and more. This degree emphasizes key disciplines such as anthropology, economics, psychology, and sociology, allowing for personalized coursework and strong transfer opportunities. With a curriculum designed to mirror the first two years of a bachelor’s degree, graduates are well-prepared to transfer seamlessly into top four-year institutions and pursue diverse professional paths.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will:

Demonstrate an understanding of key concepts and fundamental theoretical principles in at least three different social science disciplines, as well as the similarities and differences across disciplines.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research methods used in the social sciences.
Demonstrate an understanding of the historical context of the development of the disciplines studied.
Demonstrate an understanding of the contemporary world and one’s place in it.

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): choose TWO courses from TWO different disciplines from Social Sciences approved Gen. Ed. courses: ANTHR, ECON, GEOG, POLSC, PSYCH, 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
Liberal Arts Category I (6 credits): select TWO courses from the following disciplines
- Anthropology (ANTHR), Economics (ECON), Geography (GEOG), History (HIS), Political Science (POLSC), Psychology (PSYCH), Sociology (SOC)
Liberal Arts Category II (3 credits): select ONE from the following
Free Electives (11 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
Social Sciences Gen. Ed. Course: One of TWO courses from TWO different Social Sciences approved Gen. Ed. courses: ANTHR, ECON, GEOG, POLSC, PSYCH, SOC	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
Liberal Arts Category I: One of TWO courses from ANTHR, ECON, GEOG, HIS, POLSC, OR SOC	3
Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) Gen. Ed. Course OR Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) Gen. Ed. Course	3
Social Sciences Gen. Ed. Course: One of TWO courses from TWO different Social Sciences approved Gen. Ed. courses: ANTHR, ECON, GEOG, POLSC, PSYCH, SOC	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 3

Course	Credits
English or Communications Elective	3
Free Electives	6
Liberal Arts Category I: One of TWO courses from ANTHR, ECON, GEOG, HIS, POLSC, OR SOC	3
World History and Global Awareness Gen. Ed. Course	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 4

Course	Credits
Free Electives	5
Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) Gen. Ed. Course with Lab	4
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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