Liberal Arts and Sciences

The Degrees

Associate in Arts (A.A.)

Associate in Science (A.S.)

ASSOCIATE IN ARTS (A.A.) DEGREE PROGRAM

The Associate in Arts degree at Finger Lakes Community College is designed for students who intend to transfer to four-year institutions in order to pursue a baccalaureate degree. Courses in the program are equivalent to those offered during the freshman and sophomore years at most four-year colleges and universities.

Students who transfer from FLCC with an A.A. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree pursue bachelor's degrees in a broad range of majors such as:

  • Elementary and secondary education
  • Psychology
  • Political science
  • Pre-law
  • English
  • History

The degree is recognized in transfer agreements with a large number of public and private four-year institutions in New York State and across the nation.

Advisement Areas

This degree program is designed to help you build a solid academic foundation and prepare for successful transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelor's degree. In addition, students who are interested in a specific area of study may focus their education by earning an A.A. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree with an advisement area for transfer in:

ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE (A.S.) DEGREE PROGRAM

The Associate in Science (A.S.) degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences at Finger Lakes Community College is designed to provide students with sufficient background to transfer and successfully compete in a four-year institution. This program is well-suited for students who have a strong interest in science and mathematics and provides courses equivalent to those offered during the freshman and sophomore years at most four-year colleges and universities.

The degree is recognized in transfer agreements with a large number of public and private four-year institutions in New York State and across the nation.

Advisement Areas

Through the A.S. Liberal Arts & Sciences degree, students can focus their studies on, but are not limited to:

The Graduates

Graduates successfully transfer to such four-year institutions as the University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, Cornell University, SUNY Colleges at Brockport, Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse, Buffalo, and Geneseo, in addition to Keuka and St. John Fisher Colleges.*

The range of careers pursued after completion of the baccalaureate program is almost limitless: medicine (including physical and occupational therapy, physician, physician assistant, medical laboratory technician, radiologist), teacher, professor, researcher, statistician, mechanical engineer, agronomist, nutritionist, aquatic biologist, and geologist are some examples.

The Scholarships

The ExxonMobil Corporation provides scholarship money for students in engineering, physics, or chemistry, and the Murray Gardner Award in Engineering supplies additional scholarship money for qualifying students.

The Faculty

Faculty members in the Liberal Arts and Sciences programs at FLCC bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the classroom. They hold master's and doctoral degrees in their fields and are dedicated to providing a blend of theoretical and practical knowledge to help graduates succeed in a variety of settings. Our science and mathematics faculty are experienced researchers who have also worked in the field in many capacities and are experts in the latest technologies. Our liberal arts professors are excellent communicators who inspire creativity and critical thinking in their students. For specifics on the faculty within the Liberal Arts and Sciences, see each individual subject area.

Honors Courses

Our Honors courses, open to all qualified students, provide enhanced educational experiences for students with outstanding ability. Successful completion of Honors courses or an Honors Certificate may increase your transfer options to four-year institutions.

Are you undecided about your major?

Liberal Arts and Sciences could be the ideal place for you to begin your college career at FLCC. You can explore your interests and abilities, while at the same time begin working toward a college degree.

Many new students who are undecided about their college major will apply for admission into the A.A. Liberal Arts and Sciences program. It is more common than you may realize for students to be uncertain about their academic and career goals upon entering college. Even for those students who enter college with a declared major, statistics show that approximately 70% will change their major at least twice before graduating.

The most important advice we can give undecided students is "don't get discouraged." Instead, take these action steps toward your future:

  • High School Juniors and Seniors can attend a Career Exploration Day for Undecided Students, and returning adult students can attend a Career Transitions Workshop at FLCC to explore career interests, learn more about programs of study, and how FLCC can help you get started.
  • Visit the Finger Lakes Community College Career Services Office to learn more about yourself, define your goals, investigate career interests, and decide on what you want in a career. Ask about Discover, a computerized career guidance system which provides occupational information as well as an assessment of your interests, abilities, experiences, and values.

    • A Career Services counselor can also help you with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory, self assessment and career guidance tools that help with career planning and offer insight into personal and professional development. Make an appointment at the Career Center to learn about these and other career guidance resources currently available. After you complete an assessment, your scores will be interpreted for you and discussed with you at an individual appointment.

  • When selecting your course schedule (with the help of your advisor), try to choose courses in a variety of disciplines. After a few courses, students often get a clearer picture of their favorite and least favorite subject areas.

A.A. Liberal Arts and Sciences

Curriculum Requirements

The student is required to complete a minimum of 64 credit hours, with a grade point average of not less than C (2.0).

All associate degree programs require English 101 Freshman English and English 102 Introduction to Literature. Students must pass skills assessment for entrance into these courses. Students who are well prepared may substitute ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors for ENG101 and ENG102. Students who are considering the English Honors sequence should consult the Director of Honors.

The student must successfully complete:

Humanities

  • ENG 101 Freshman English and ENG 102 Introduction to Literature
    or
    ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors
  • COM 110 Public Speaking or COM 115 Interpersonal Communication.
  • 3 credit hours of humanities electives

Social Science

  • 3 credit hours of HIS history electives
  • 9 credit hours of social science electives

Mathematics/Science

  • 9 credit hours (must include at least on math and one science course)

Liberal Arts Electives

  • 9 credit hours
  • 3 credit hours from Arts

Information Management

  • 3 credit hours of computer science electives

Health/Physical Education Elective

  • 4 credit hours

General Electives

  • The remainder of the required credit hours must be made up of approved electives. In many cases the student may wish to study to prepare for transfer into specific subject area degree programs at four-year colleges and universities. By appropriate course selection in consultation with a faculty advisor, students pursuing the AA Liberal Arts and Sciences degree may prepare for transfer to upper-division study.

Students who are transferring to four-year institutions should follow the general education course requirements for transfer to SUNY and non-SUNY schools. View the general education requirements for more details.

A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences

Curriculum Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 64 semester hours, with a grade point average of not less than C (2.0).

All associate degree programs require English 101 Freshman English and English 102 Introduction to Literature. Students must pass skills assessment for entrance into these courses. Students who are well prepared may substitute ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors for ENG101 and ENG102. Students who are considering the English Honors sequence should consult the Director of Honors.

Students must successfully complete:

Humanities

  • ENG101 Freshman English and ENG 102 Introduction to Literature
    or
    ENG104 English I Honors and ENG105 English II Honors
  • COM 110 Public Speaking OR COM 115 Interpersonal Comm.

Social Science

  • 3 credit hours of HIS history electives
  • 6 credit hours of social science elect.

Science and Mathematics
24 credit hours (minimum)

  • Minimum of one of the following sequences:
    BIO 121 and 122 General Biology I & II
    OR
    CHM 121 and 122 Chemistry I & II
    OR
    PHY 151 and 152 Physics I & II
    OR
    BIO 171 and 172 Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II
  • MAT 145 College Algebra**
  • MAT 152 Pre-Calculus**

Information Management

  • 3 credit hours of computer science electives

Health/Physical Education Elective*

  • 4 credit hours

General Elective

  • The remainder of the required credit hours must be made up of approved electives. In many cases the student may wish to study to prepare for transfer into specific subject area degree programs at four-year colleges and universities. By appropriate course selection in consultation with a faculty advisor, students pursuing the A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree may prepare for transfer to upper-division study.

Students who are transferring to four-year institutions should follow the general education course requirements for transfer to SUNY and non-SUNY schools. View the general education requirements for more details.

**If this competency has been met before entering the program, the student must select at least 6 credit hours in other higher mathematics courses approved by their advisor.

To successfully complete the A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree and transfer to an upper-division institution at full junior status in mathematics or the sciences may require the student to start at Finger Lakes Community College at the Pre-Calculus or Calculus level of Mathematics. High School students are encouraged to contact their guidance office and make use of the Mathematics Alert Program to become more familiar with the requirements in mathematics to pursue specific college degrees. If the student lacks sufficient mathematics and science preparation, the student may receive instruction at FLCC, but it may take more than two years to complete the A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree.

A.A. Liberal Arts and Sciences

Sample Schedule

The schedule below shows how the requirements for the AA Liberal Arts and Sciences degree may be met in four semesters. This schedule is an example of one of many possible different schedules. It is included here only as an illustration of the type of schedule that might be followed by a full-time student. Many students attending Finger Lakes Community College who have work and/or family obligations choose a different sequence of courses and take more than four semesters to fulfill the requirements for the AA Liberal Arts and Sciences degree. Similarly, students who find they need to take some additional course work to prepare them to do well in the types of courses included in the AA Liberal Arts and Sciences degree program may plan a schedule that takes more than four semesters to complete the degree. All students should consult their advisors when they plan their schedules.

First Semester (16 - 17 Credit Hours)

  • ENG 101 Freshman English (3)
  • History Elective (3)
  • Mathematics/Science Elective (3/4)
  • Humanities Elective (3)
  • CSC Elective (3)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Second Semester (16/17 Credit Hours)

  • ENG 102 Introduction to Literature (3)
  • Social Science Elective (3)
  • Mathematics/Science Elective (3/4)
  • COM 110 Public Speaking or COM 115 Interpersonal Communication (3)
  • General Elective (3)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Third Semester (16/17 Credit Hours)

  • Foreign Language (3)
  • Social Science Elective (3)
  • Mathematics/Science Elective (3/4)
  • General Elective (3)
  • General Elective (3)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Fourth Semester (16 Credit Hours)

  • Liberal Arts Elective (3)
  • Liberal Arts Elective (3)
  • Liberal Arts Elective (3)
  • Social Science Elective (3)
  • General Elective (3)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences

Sample Schedule

The schedule below shows how the requirements for the A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree may be met in four semesters. This schedule is an example of one of many possible different schedules. It is included here only as an illustration of the type of schedule that might be followed by a full-time student. Many students attending Finger Lakes Community College who have work and/or family obligations choose a different sequence of courses and take more than four semesters to fulfill the requirements for the A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree. Similarly, students who find they need to take some additional course work to prepare them to do well in the types of courses included in the A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree program may plan a schedule that takes more than four semesters to complete the degree. All students should consult their advisors when they plan their schedules.

First Semester (17/19 Credit Hours)

  • ENG 101 Freshman English (3)
  • Mathematics Elective (3)
  • Science Elective (3/4)
  • Mathematics or Science Elective (3/4)
  • History Elective (3)
  • SCI 100 Freshman Orientation to Science/Technology (2)

Second Semester (17/19 Credit Hours)

  • ENG 102 Introduction to Literature (3)
  • Mathematics Elective (3)
  • Science Elective (3/4)
  • Mathematics or Science Elective (3/4)
  • Social Science Elective (3)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (2)

Third Semester (16/18 Credit Hours)

  • COM 110/ COM 115 (3)
  • CSC Elective (3)
  • Mathematics Elective (3)
  • Mathematics or Science Electives (6-8)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Fourth Semester (16/18 Credit Hours)

  • Social Science Elective (3)
  • General Elective (3)
  • Mathematics Elective (3)
  • Mathematics or Science Electives (6-8)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

SUBJECT AREAS FOR TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES

By appropriate course selection in consultation with a faculty advisor, students pursuing the A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree may prepare for transfer to upper-division study in the subject areas listed:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Human Nutrition And Food
  • Mathematics
  • Ornamental Horticulture
  • Physics

To successfully complete the A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree and transfer to an upper-division institution at full junior status in mathematics or the sciences may require the student to start at Finger Lakes Community College at the Pre-Calculus or Calculus level of Mathematics. High School students are encouraged to contact their guidance office and make use of the Mathematics Alert Program to become more familiar with the requirements in mathematics to pursue specific college degrees. If the student lacks sufficient mathematics and science preparation, the student may receive instruction at FLCC, but it may take more than two years to complete the A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences degree.

The articulation agreements which support transfer from Finger Lakes Community College to four-year institutions are discussed in more detail in the "Transfer Opportunities" section of the web site.