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Liberal Arts: Women's and Gender Studies Concentration, Associate in Arts

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

Outcomes

Graduates of the program will:

  • Understand the historical and cultural contexts of contemporary civilization.
  • Evaluate and discuss diverse points of view.
  • Communicate ideas effectively.
  • Speak and understand a modern language other than English.
  • Retrieve, evaluate, and apply information from a range of sources.
  • Develop strategies for solving both abstract and practical problems.

Courses

First Semester

COLS101College Success

1 credits

COMM101Introduction to Communication

3 credits

ENGL101English I

3 credits

HUMA140GIntroduction to Women and Gender Studies

3 credits

MATH
Mathematics Elective (QL)

3/4 credits

 

SOCA102Cultural Anthropology

3 credits

OR

SOCA103Principles of Sociology

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:16-17

Second Semester

ENGL151LEnglish II

3 credits

HIST
History Elective ++

3 credits

 

THEA110Introduction to the Theatre

3 credits

OR

MUSC101Introduction to Music

3 credits

OR

ARTA101Art History Survey

3 credits

OR

DANC101Dance History

3 credits

 

Science Elective (SCI)

3/4 credits

Concentration Elective*

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15-16

Third Semester

ENGL257G20th 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

PHIL201Introduction to Philosophy

3 credits

OR

PHIL202Ethics & 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 COMM and any CMTH except CMTH180, CMTH182, CMTH185, CMTH240, CMTH252

·         Computer Information Science: CISC101, CISC114CISC115

·         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

       Theatre: any THEA

 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

·         POLS210G American Constitutional Law

·         POLS150 Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution

·         POLS110  American National Government

·         POLS202  International Relations

·         POLS205 Women and Politics

·         POLS251 State and Local Government

*For a Concentration Elective in:

NOTE: Regarding majors in liberal arts - A student following one of the concentrations in liberal arts listed below or a student planning to major in another field will find it necessary to begin taking courses in that major field early in the program during the first year, and move the free elective to the second year.

English

Literature Elective and 3 other courses from the following:

ENGL201GBritish Literature I

3 credits

ENGL203GShakespeare

3 credits

ENGL205GAmerican Literature I

3 credits

ENGL211GPlays: Classical to Contemporary

3 credits

ENGL215GMulticultural Adolescent Literature

3 credits

ENGL250GLatin American Literature

3 credits

ENGL251GBritish Literature II

3 credits

ENGL253Creative Writing

3 credits

ENGL255GAmerican Literature II

3 credits

ENGL256GModern Poetry

3 credits

ENGL257G20th Century Literature by Women

3 credits

ENGL258Fiction Writing

3 credits

ENGL260GContemporary Literature

3 credits

ENGL264GIrish Literature

3 credits

ENGL265GAfrican-American Literature

3 credits

ENGL267Poetry Writing

3 credits

Environmental Studies

Select 4 courses from the following:

BIOS104Field Ecology

4 credits

GEOG121Environmental Sustainability

3 credits

GEOG140Investigating Climate Change

3 credits

GEOG271Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

4 credits

HUMA150Nature of the Environment

3 credits

BIOS104: if this course is used as a Science elective, it cannot also be counted toward the concentration elective.

GEOG121: this course cannot also be used as a Science elective.


History

History Elective and 3 other courses from the following:

HIST103Ancient and Medieval History

3 credits

HIST113American History I

3 credits

HIST121The Black Experience

3 credits

HIST123African Civilizations

3 credits

HIST140Modern Chinese History

3 credits

HIST153Foundations of Modern European History - 1300-1815

3 credits

HIST163American History II

3 credits

HIST165The American Experience of Warfare

3 credits

HIST166Civil War and Reconstruction

3 credits

HIST168History of the Middle East

3 credits

HIST173Modern European History - 1815-Present

3 credits

HIST210History of Modern Science

3 credits

HIST211History of Pennsylvania

3 credits

Philosophy

PHIL201 and 3 other courses from the following:

PHIL111On Death and Dying

3 credits

PHIL121World Religions

3 credits

PHIL202Ethics & Moral Problems

3 credits

PHIL204Asian Philosophies

3 credits

PHIL211Ancient Philosophy

3 credits

PHIL215Modern Philosophy

3 credits

PHIL220Existentialism

3 credits

PHIL225What is Freedom?

3 credits

Political Science

POLS101 and 3 other courses from the following:

POLS210GAmerican Constitutional Law

3 credits

POLS110American National Government

3 credits

POLS150Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution (Study Abroad)

3 credits

POLS170Politics of Modern Turkey (Study Abroad)

3 credits

POLS202International Relations

3 credits

POLS205Women and Politics

3 credits

POLS251State and Local Government

3 credits

Sociology

SOCA102, SOCA103, and 2 courses from the following:

SOCA105American Ethnicity

3 credits

SOCA125Sociology of Families

3 credits

SOCA150Deviance

3 credits

SOCA160Issues in Contemporary Genocide and Mass Violence

3 credits

SOCA204Social Problems

3 credits

SOCA210Sociology of Gender

3 credits

Women's and Gender Studies

Select 4 courses from the following (and/or Special Studies in various disciplines):

ENGL257G20th Century Literature by Women

3 credits

HUMA140GIntroduction to Women and Gender Studies

3 credits

POLS205Women and Politics

3 credits

PSYC265Psychology of Sex & Gender

3 credits

SOCA210Sociology of Gender

3 credits