Overview
Narrative
If you're ready for college, but you are still exploring career choices, an associate's degree in General Studies can be a good way to start your education. Northampton's General Studies major allows you to explore a variety of fields and to discover what subjects suit you best. We'll provide you with a well-rounded selection of studies in social, cultural, behavioral, scientific and computer-related subjects. Upon completion, you will be prepared to transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor's degree in the major of your choice.
Features
Our General Studies program is specifically designed so that you can transfer your credits to a four-year college or university. Schools that are a part of the Pennsylvania state college and university system will accept all of your credits; however, if you wish to attend another school, we suggest you choose elective courses that are transferable to the institution of your choice. We encourage you to work closely with your academic advisor, as well as the transfer advisor in the Office of Academic Advising, to ensure your greatest opportunity for a smooth and successful transition to a four-year institution.
NCC students have transferred to: East Stroudsburg University, Kutztown University, Moravian College, DeSales University, Cedar Crest College, Pennsylvania State University, Temple University
Electives
Communications Electives (3 credits)
These courses enhance communication skills and offer students the opportunity to pursue an interest in the arts as communication.
| ARTA161 | Ceramics | 3 credits |
| CMTH104 | Mass Media and Society | 3 credits |
| THEA111 | Acting I | 3 credits |
| THEA115 | Technical Theatre and Design | 3 credits |
| CMTH126 | The Communication Arts | 3 credits |
| CMTH205 | Public Speaking | 3 credits |
| THEA206 | Directing | 3 credits |
| THEA212 | Acting II | 3 credits |
| CMTH214 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 credits |
| CMTH215 | Intercultural Communication | 3 credits |
| CMTH220 | Introduction to Film | 3 credits |
| CMTH225G | Scriptwriting | 3 credits |
| CMTH230G | Introduction to Communication Theory | 3 credits |
| CMTH231 | Small Group Communication | 3 credits |
| ENGL253 | Creative Writing | 3 credits |
| JOUR201 | Feature Writing | |
| JOUR204 | Newswriting | 3 credits |
| MDLA102 | Elementary French I | 3 credits |
| MDLA112 | Elementary French II | 3 credits |
| MDLA122 | Intermediate French I | 3 credits |
| MDLA103 | Elementary Spanish I | 3 credits |
| MDLA113 | Elementary Spanish II | 3 credits |
| MDLA123 | Intermediate Spanish I | 3 credits |
| MDLA133 | Intermediate Spanish II | 3 credits |
| MDLA105 | Elementary Chinese I | 3 credits |
| MDLA115 | Elementary Chinese II | 3 credits |
| MDLA125 | Intermediate Chinese I | 3 credits |
| MDLA135 | Intermediate Chinese II | 3 credits |
| MDLA107 | Elementary Arabic I | 3 credits |
| MDLA117 | Elementary Arabic II | 3 credits |
Business/Technology Electives (3/4 credits)
These courses are the most generally valuable introduction to business and technology. They are neither too specialized, nor too technical in nature and should prove both interesting and accessible to the non-major.
| CISC104 | Information Systems and Resources | 4 credits |
| CISC115 | Computer Science I | 4 credits |
| ACCT101 | Financial Accounting I | 3 credits |
| BUSA101 | Introduction to Business | 3 credits |
| BUSA115 | Introduction to International Business | 3 credits |
| BUSA232 | Principles of Marketing | 3 credits |
| ECON201 | Macroeconomics | 3 credits |
| ECON251G | Microeconomics | 3 credits |
Social Science/Cultural Studies Electives (15 credits)
These courses inform students about society and culture, past and present. They will help the student to place problems in a broad perspective and to make informed choices about the conduct of their lives. In fulfilling the 15-credit social science/cultural studies elective requirement, no more than nine credits may be earned from either the Social and Behaviors Understanding and American Experience group or the World Experience and Cultural Understanding group.
Social and Behavioral Understandings and American Experience
Social and Behavioral Understandings
| PHIL111 | On Death and Dying | 3 credits |
| PHIL202 | Ethics & Moral Problems | 3 credits |
| PSYC103 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 credits |
| | |
| PSYC251 | Child Psychology | 3 credits |
| OR | |
| PSYC258 | Developmental Psychology | 3 credits |
| | |
| PSYC255 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 credits |
| SOCA103 | Principles of Sociology | 3 credits |
| SOCA150 | Deviance | 3 credits |
| SOCA204 | Social Problems | 3 credits |
American Experience
| ENGL265G | African-American Literature | 3 credits |
| GEOG151 | Geography of the United States and Canada | 3 credits |
| HIST113 | American History I | 3 credits |
| HIST121 | The Black Experience | 3 credits |
| HIST163 | American History II | 3 credits |
| HIST166 | Civil War and Reconstruction | 3 credits |
| HUMA121 | American Work Experience | 3 credits |
| HUMA140 | Introduction to Women and Gender Studies | 3 credits |
| POLS110 | American National Government | 3 credits |
| POLS251 | State and Local Government | 3 credits |
| SOCA105 | American Ethnicity | 3 credits |
World Experience and Cultural Understanding
World Experience
| ENGL264G | Irish Literature | 3 credits |
| GEOG101 | World Geography | 3 credits |
| GEOG121 | Environmental Sustainability | 3 credits |
| GEOG140 | Investigating Climate Change | 3 credits |
| GLBL130 | Introduction to Global Studies | 3 credits |
| HIST103 | Ancient and Medieval History | 3 credits |
| HIST140 | Modern Chinese History | 3 credits |
| HIST153 | Foundations of Modern European History - 1300-1815 | 3 credits |
| HIST168 | History of the Middle East | 3 credits |
| HIST173 | Modern European History - 1815-Present | 3 credits |
| HUMA250G | Research Methods in the Social Sciences | 3 credits |
| PHIL121 | World Religions | 3 credits |
| PHIL201 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHIL211 | Ancient Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHIL215 | Modern Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHIL220 | Existentialism | 3 credits |
| POLS101 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 credits |
| POLS202 | International Relations | 3 credits |
| SOCA102 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 credits |
| SOCA160 | Issues in Contemporary Genocide and Mass Violence | 3 credits |
Cultural Understanding
| ARCH100 | Architectural History I - Antiquity to 1870 | 3 credits |
| ARTA101 | Art History Survey | 3 credits |
| THEA110 | Introduction to the Theatre | 3 credits |
| THEA211G | Plays: Classical to Contemporary | 3 credits |
| ENGL211G | Plays: Classical to Contemporary | 3 credits |
| CMTH220 | Introduction to Film | 3 credits |
| ENGL201G | British Literature I | 3 credits |
| ENGL203G | Shakespeare | 3 credits |
| ENGL205G | American Literature I | 3 credits |
| ENGL215G | Multicultural Adolescent Literature | 3 credits |
| ENGL250G | Latin American Literature | 3 credits |
| ENGL251G | British Literature II | 3 credits |
| ENGL255G | American Literature II | 3 credits |
| ENGL256G | Modern Poetry | 3 credits |
| ENGL257G | 20th Century Literature by Women | 3 credits |
| ENGL260G | Contemporary Literature | 3 credits |
| MUSC101 | Introduction to Music | 3 credits |
Mathematics/Science Electives (9-11 credits) +
These courses help the student comprehend the process of scientific inquiry, to gain quantitative skills and some of the principles of modern scientific knowledge. Such comprehension is the essential foundation for understanding advancing technology that dominates society and the natural environment in which we live.
| BIOS104 | Field Ecology | 4 credits |
| BIOS105 | Contemporary Biology | 4 credits |
| BIOS107 | Biology I | 4 credits |
| BIOS110 | In Your Genes | 4 credits |
| BIOS115 | Essentials of Biology | 4 credits |
| BIOS126 | Environmental Science | 4 credits |
| BIOS150 | Biology II | 4 credits |
| BIOS160 | Human Biology | 4 credits |
| BIOS202 | Microbiology for Allied Health | 4 credits |
| BIOS204 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 credits |
| BIOS206 | General Ecology | 4 credits |
| CHEM105 | Chemistry in Contemporary Society | 4 credits |
| CHEM120 | General Chemistry I | 4 credits |
| CHEM135 | Chemistry of Life | 4 credits |
| GEOG150 | Astronomy | 4 credits |
| GEOG210 | Weather and Climate | 4 credits |
| GEOL201 | Physical Geology | 4 credits |
| PHYS101 | Physics I | 4 credits |
| PHYS151 | Physics II | 4 credits |
| PHYS152 | Physical Science II | 3 credits |
| PHYS215 | Physics for Science & Engineering I | 5 credits |
| PHYS225 | Physics for Science & Engineering II | 5 credits |
| MATH120 | Nature of Mathematics | 3 credits |
| MATH140 | College Algebra | 3 credits |
| MATH145 | Trigonometry | 3 credits |
| MATH150 | Introductory Statistics | 3 credits |
| MATH160 | Pre-Calculus | 4 credits |
| MATH165 | Applied Calculus | 3 credits |
| MATH175 | Calculus I with Review (Part 1) | 4 credits |
| MATH176 | Calculus I with Review (Part 2) | 4 credits |
| MATH180 | Calculus I | 4 credits |
| MATH181 | Calculus II | 4 credits |
| MATH210 | Calculus III | 4 credits |
| MATH211 | Differential Equations | 4 credits |
+ 3/4 credits must be math; 3/4 credits must be lab science.