Liberal Arts – Social Science Option, Associate of Arts

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Social Science, an option of the Associate of Arts degree program in Liberal Arts, is primarily designed to prepare students to transfer into the junior year of a baccalaureate degree program in anthropology, criminology, political science, psychology or sociology. In addition, students seeking admission into pre-law, social work, or public administration programs would receive a solid academic foundation on which to build.

The social sciences faculty is strongly committed to providing students with an introduction to a variety of disciplines within the social sciences. This broader perspective is desirable because it provides students with a better understanding of human behavior and social groups than can be provided by simply focusing on one academic discipline. Students who wish to major in a particular discipline (e.g. psychology) after transferring can still graduate with a total of 12 credits in that discipline; however, transfer institutions which grant the bachelor of arts degree prefer students to take most of the coursework in the major at their institution. Students seeking employment immediately after graduation also benefit from the program, in view of the increasing emphasis many employers place on a liberal arts education.

Students enrolled in associate of arts degree programs who intend to transfer to four-year colleges or universities are strongly advised to discuss the General Education Foundation of Courses with a counselor. Selection of these courses will facilitate full transfer of general education credits completed toward the degree.

Graduates are able to:

apply critical thinking strategies across the disciplines
write research-based essays that analyze and synthesize sources to support a thesis
organize and deliver effective oral presentations
forge a practical linkage between learning in the classroom and applying that learning to real-world problems
demonstrate cultural competence by communicating effectively and efficiently in cross-cultural and multicultural situations
analyze a specific phenomenon utilizing the differing perspectives of one or more of the disciplines represented by the social sciences

Raritan Valley Community College Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degree programs are designed to comply with the New Jersey Community Colleges General Education Foundation which supports transfer of courses to NJ Public four-year colleges and universities. Students who intend to transfer to a NJ college or university can further improve the transfer of courses by using the Recommended Transfer Program (RTP) feature in NJTransfer.org.

NOTE: Students considering transfer to Rutgers University should choose a Global & Cultural Awareness (GCA) General Education course not replicated elsewhere in their curriculum. Students who have already fulfilled the GCA requirement for their Associates of Arts (AA) degree should select an additional Social Sciences or Humanities General Education course.

Curriculum – A.A. Degree

First Semester

ENGL 111 - English Composition I 3 Credits
History 3 Credits ³
Foreign Language 3 Credits ¹
Mathematics 3-4 Credits ^2,3
SOCI 101 - Introduction to Sociology 3 Credits

Second Semester

ENGL 112 - English Composition II 3 Credits
History 3 Credits ³
Foreign Language 3 Credits ¹
Technological Competency 3-4 Credits ³
PSYC 103 - Introduction to Psychology 3 Credits

Third Semester

Humanities 3 Credits ³
Social Science 3 Credits ⁵
Science (lab) 4 Credits ³
Appreciation of the Arts 3 Credits ³

FITN 115 - Dynamics of Fitness & Wellness 1 Credit ⁴
POLI 101 - Introduction to Political Science 3 Credits

Fourth Semester

Communication 3 Credits ³
Mathematics or
Science 0-4 Credits ^3,7
Social Science 3 Credits ⁵
Global & Cultural Awareness 3 Credits ⁶
ANTH 101 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3 Credits or
ANTH 102 - Human Origins 3 Credits

Total Credits 61 - 65

¹ A two semester sequence is required. Placement by examination is required for students who wish to continue studying a language previously studied. Students may not take courses below their placement level. For more information, see Foreign Language Placement Testing and Degree Requirements .

² Mathematics by official placement test. Students may not take courses below placement level. Exceptions by permission of department chair.

³ Select a course from the appropriate category of the General Education list. For the Math, Science and Technological Competency General Education requirements, students must take a minimum of 12 credits. This must include at least one lab science course, one math course and satisfaction of the technological competency requirement by either passing the technological competency test (no credit) or taking a technological competency general education course. If a student passes the technological competency test, another course must be selected from Math, Science or Technological Competency General Education, so that the student has earned at least 12 credits in those categories.

⁴ FITN 142Elements of Physical Fitness or FITN 146Exercise Physiology & Body Mechanics may be substituted.

⁵ Any course from ANTH, ECON, GEOG, POLI, PSYC, or SOCI.

⁶ Any General Education course that is listed as a Global and Cultural Awareness (GCA) course. If a course satisfies both the Global and Cultural Awareness Requirement and another General Education requirement in Social Science or Humanities, the student may select any course from the General Education list. However, Students planning to transfer to Rutgers University should choose a Global & Cultural Awareness General Education course, or an additional Social Sciences or Humanities General Education course with the GCA designation.

⁷ If the student has already completed 12 credits in the Math, Science and Technological Competency categories, the student does not need to take a course here.