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 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. with a concentration in Psychology at SUNY Westchester Community College offers a strong foundation in the study of human behavior, mental processes, and the science behind how people think, feel, and act. Through a variety of psychology courses, students explore topics such as mental health, human relationships, personality, and development across the lifespan. This program prepares students for seamless transfer to four-year psychology programs and careers in fields such as counseling, social work, education, business, and healthcare.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students in this program 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): 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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