Overview
Narrative
The Liberal Arts program offers students planning to complete a bachelor's degree a strong foundation in both general education and a selected field of concentration. The curriculum has been designed to meet the requirements for the first two years of BA programs at many of the schools to which Northampton students commonly transfer. Northampton has also negotiated a number of Liberal Arts transfer agreements, including dual admissions agreements, with many regional colleges and universities.
Liberal Arts majors often go on to careers in communications, management, public relations, marketing, and the arts. Their generalist background makes them readily employable at many levels in a wide range of career choices.
Features
The program is both solid and flexible and provides an excellent, tailored preparation for transfer. Students who are undecided about their future major can explore different options by taking elective courses in various departments. Or electives can be chosen to concentrate in English, History, Philosophy, Sociology, or Women's and Gender Studies, in order to prepare to major in these disciplines at a transfer institution. Students are encouraged to start taking classes in the chosen concentration in the first semester.
Freedom of choice in this major extends to scheduling as well: courses are available both day and evening, on campus or online.
Concentrations
English Concentration
Students may begin their path to a BA in English or a related field by using the elective credits in the Liberal Arts program toward a concentration in English. To complete the concentration students may select four courses from any of the 200 level English courses.
In English courses students learn how to read and analyze pieces of writing and to respond critically in their own words. A major in English is widely applicable to future careers in journalism, publishing, teaching, business and government.
History Concentration
Students may begin their path to a BA in History by using the elective credits in the Liberal Arts program toward a concentration in History. Students may select 12 credits from any of the history courses.
History is a way of studying the past in order to understand the present. It focuses on how societies, cultures, institutions, and even ideas change over time. The richness of a concentration in this field might include learning Ancient, Modern, European, Eastern, and various aspects of American history. Intellectually, historians subject evidence, such as documents and secondary sources, to critical analysis. The reading, thinking, and writing required in the history concentration provide an excellent foundation to a wide range of majors and occupations that value these skills.
Philosophy Concentration
Students may prepare for a BA in Philosophy, or begin a pathway to a variety of degrees and careers including law, teaching, and public service, by using the elective credits in the Liberal Arts program toward a concentration in Philosophy. Students need to complete Introduction to Philosophy, and select three additional courses from the following: On Death and Dying, World Religions, Ethics and Moral Problems, Asian Philosophies, Ancient Philosophy, Modern Philosophy or Existentialism.
Philosophy makes life more intellectually interesting, deeply meaningful, and ultimately rewarding. Training includes analysis, argument, interpretation, judgment, creative and critical thinking. Students learn reading, reasoning, speaking, and writing at advanced levels - all transferable skills, for further academics and employment.
Sociology Concentration
Students may begin their path to a BA in Sociology or a related field by using the elective credits in the Liberal Arts program toward a concentration in Sociology. Students must take Cultural Anthropology and Principles of Sociology, and may select the remaining two courses from American Ethnicity, Sociology of Families, Issues in Genocide & Mass Violence, Deviance, Sociology of Gender, and Social Problems.
Sociology allows students to study the society they live in by examining various groups within societies, cultural traditions, and social problems. Students learn the skills of observation, critical thinking, and writing.
Women's and Gender Studies Concentration
Students may begin their interdisciplinary work in Women's and Gender Studies by applying the elective credits in the Liberal Arts program toward this concentration. To complete the concentration, students may take any four of the following: 20th Century Literature by Women, Psychology of Sex and Gender, Sociology of Gender, Introduction to Women and Gender Studies, and Women and Politics.
Courses in Women's and Gender Studies allow students to understand and develop an awareness of the impact of gender on the human condition as reflected in the sciences and arts as well as in day-to-day life. Students will be able to communicate and use critical thinking skills in evaluating gender theory as they apply it to disciplines including psychology, sociology, literature, political science and others. Given that gender is a universal human condition, a concentration in Women's and Gender Studies is appropriate for students on virtually any educational path, but is especially valuable for those interested in pursuing a career in the social sciences.
Contact the Admissions Office at 610.861.5500 for further information.
Transfer to majors in: English, History, Philosophy, Sociology
NCC students have transferred to: East Stroudsburg University, Kutztown University, West Chester University, Moravian College, DeSales University, Albright College, Cedar Crest College, Penn State, Temple University
Courses
First Semester
| COLS101 | College Success | 1 credits |
| CMTH102 | Introduction to Communication | 3 credits |
| ENGL101 | English I | 3 credits |
| HUMA140G | Introduction to Women and Gender Studies | 3 credits |
| MATH | Mathematics Elective (QL) | 3/4 credits |
| | |
| SOCA102 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 credits |
| OR | |
| SOCA103 | Principles of Sociology | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16-17 |
Second Semester
| ENGL151L | English II | 3 credits |
| HIST | History Elective ++ | 3 credits |
| | |
| THEA110 | Introduction to the Theatre | 3 credits |
| OR | |
| MUSC101 | Introduction to Music | 3 credits |
| OR | |
| ARTA101 | Art History Survey | 3 credits |
| OR | |
| DANC101 | Dance History | 3 credits |
| | |
| Science Elective (SCI) | 3/4 credits |
| Concentration Elective* | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15-16 |
Third Semester
| ENGL257G | 20th Century Literature by Women | 3 credits |
| MDLA | Modern Language + | 3 credits |
| Mathematics (QL) or Science (SCI) Elective | 3/4 credits |
| Concentration Elective* | 3 credits |
| Elective ++ | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15-16 |
Fourth Semester
| PHIL201 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 credits |
| OR | |
| PHIL202 | Ethics & Moral Problems | 3 credits |
| | |
| MDLA | Modern Language + | 3 credits |
| Directed Elective +++ | 3 credits |
| | |
| Concentration Elective* | 3 credits |
| OR | |
| Elective ++ | 3 credits |
| | |
| Elective ++ | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Total Credit Hours: 61-64
·
For the Electives,
students must select one course from the list of approved courses in the
category of Social Science: Societies and Institutions over Time (SIT).
·
The Mathematics (QL) and
Science (SCI) electives must be selected from the list of approved general
education courses in each of those categories.
·
One course should be
designated as Diversity and Global Awareness (D).
·
One General Education
course must be taken in a Writing Intensive (WI) section. In addition, students
must select a second Writing Intensive course in the concentration.
*See
“Women’s and Gender Studies Concentration" tab.
+ Six credits of the same modern language are required
for graduation.
++ Electives for Liberal Arts:
·
Biological Science: any BIOS except not both BIOS105 and BIOS107
·
Chemistry: any CHEM except CHEM011, CHEM121, CHEM135
·
Communications: any CMTH except CMTH180, CMTH182, CMTH185, CMTH240, CMTH252
·
Computer Information Science: CISC101, CISC115
·
Economics: ECON201
·
English: ENGL201G, ENGL203G, ENGL205G, ENGL250G, ENGL251G, ENGL255G, ENGL256G, ENGL257G, ENGL260G, ENGL264G, ENGL265G
·
*ENGL211G, ENGL215G, ENGL253, ENGL258, and
ENGL267 are not
applicable literature electives, but may be used as other electives.
·
Geography: any GEOG
·
Geology: GEOL201
·
History: any HIST
·
Humanities: any HUMA
·
Journalism: JOUR101, JOUR204
·
Mathematics: any MATH except MATH020, MATH022, MATH026, MATH028, MATH103, MATH118, MATH119
·
Modern Languages: any MDLA
·
Music: any MUSC
·
Philosophy: any PHIL
·
Physical Education: any PHED to a maximum of 2 credits
·
Physics: any PHYS except PHYS215, PHYS225
·
Political Science: any POLS
·
Psychology: any PSYC
·
Publishing: any PUBL
·
Sociology/Anthropology: any SOCA
Directed Electives in Liberal
Arts
·
ECON201 Macroeconomics
·
GEOG121 Environmental Sustainability
·
GEOG140 Investigating Climate Change
·
GLBL130 Introduction to Global Studies
·
HUMA140 Introduction to Women and Gender Studies
·
INTS250 Study Abroad
·
POLS101 Intro to Political Science
·
POLS105 American Constitutional Law
·
POLS150 Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution
·
POLS110 American National
Government
·
POLS202 International
Relations
·
POLS205 Women and Politics
·
POLS251 State and Local Government