Social Sciences & Global Studies General Notes for SSGS Pathways

The School of Social Sciences and Global Studies houses two academic departments: Anthropology/History/Political Science/Sociology (AHPS), and Psychology. Below are programs and pathways available within this School.

For advising: Because most transfer programs for students in SSGS pathways require the completion of MTH-160, MTH-161, or MTH-162, students with a math level placement of 4-6 (or those who have earned credit for TRS-094) should take MTH 096, not MTH 098 (unless the student needs/wants Chemistry and requires a higher-level math as a pre-req).

“Need to Know” Information for the School of Social Science & Global Studies

Anthropology/History/Political Science/Sociology Liberal Arts (LAS5)

This pathway is interdisciplinary, meaning that students will take various courses from many academic disciplines. Students may choose to concentrate their studies in one of our four disciplines*. The courses in this pathway will primarily be general education courses to fulfill graduation requirements and prepare students to transfer into a 4-year program. Along the way, students will sharpen their abilities to write and think critically, and communicate effectively.

• Anthropology: the study of human societies and cultures and their development, including human biological and physiological characteristics and their evolution.
• History: The study of the human past as primarily described in the written documents left by human beings. In addition, History involves the whole series of past events connected with someone or something.
• Political Science: The analysis of political activity and behavior, especially as demonstrated through systems of government.
• Sociology: The study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society, including the analysis of social problems, equity, and social justice.

Develop skills like information literacy, ethical reasoning, using knowledge of the local and global world you live in to solve problems, and strong written and oral communication. Anthropology, History, Political Science, and Sociology courses may be taken to satisfy general education such as DEISJ, US History and Civic Engagement, World History and Global Awareness, Social Science and Critical Thinking. Courses may fulfill transfer requirements in a variety of transfer programs, including:

• Anthropology
• History
• Political Science
• Sociology
• Global Studies/International Studies
• African American Studies/Ethnic/Cultural Studies
• American Studies
• Gender and Sexuality Studies
• Urban Studies
• Interdisciplinary Studies

Curricular Requirements

Internships/experiential learning

MCC will help you find community related organizations if there is interest.

Curricular nuances

• Substitutions and waiver options are a possibility

Coursework availability

• Some but not all courses are available online.

Physical Locations/Online Considerations

Multiple campus location requirements

Courses available at Brighton and/or downtown campuses. Most courses available online.

Career Considerations

Types of jobs

This degree will help you in any career of your choice. Below are some examples:

• Work with colleges and universities
• Government and non-government organizations
• Multinational organizations
• Community organizations and advocacy groups – legal service agencies
• Research and development
• Social and community service management
• Finance and banking
• Healthcare
• Urban planning
• Law and criminal justice
• Political science/Political representative
• Environmental studies
• Nonprofit services

Transfer Considerations

Most common transfer school(s)

• SUNY Geneseo, SUNY College at Brockport, University at Buffalo SUNY, Binghamton University
• University of Rochester,
• Rochester Institute of Technology

Recommended course selections for transfer

Advisement will help students to tailor course selections

Co-Curricular Opportunities

MCC student groups, clubs, organizations

• Global Union, the Politicos, The Pride Alliance, Black Student Union, and other cultural student organizations. Students are welcome to begin a club as well.

Psychology A.S. (PC01)

The Psychology A.S. degree program prepares students for transfer to a four-year college or university and to earn a Baccalaureate degree in psychology or a related area by providing foundational courses that parallel the first two years in a four-year institution.

Introduction to psychological science, statistics, and research methods lay a foundation for courses in areas such as developmental psychology, social psychology, and psychopathology. Students will broaden their education by taking additional courses in psychology and other social sciences, writing, humanities, and natural sciences.

This is a transfer program and is not designed to build enough skills to enter a career in psychology with a two-year degree. Students should generally be assigned to this program only if they express a specific interest in psychology and plan to continue to study at the bachelor’s degree level or beyond. People interested in direct support jobs at the associate level are more appropriately directed to a degree in human services.

Entry-level psychology-related jobs usually require at least a bachelor’s degree and many require a master’s degree or higher. A bachelor’s degree in psychology can also be useful in a wide variety of other fields, such as business or criminal justice. Licensure to practice in clinical and counseling fields in New York and most other states requires a minimum of a master’s degree. More information can be found on the careers in psychology webpage.

There are some limited opportunities for someone with an associate’s degree in psychology to work as a psychiatric technician, a social work assistant, residential staff in human services, drug counselor, or an entry-level practitioner working with children with autism. Those positions usually require additional training or supervised experience outside of an associate’s degree program, however. Opportunities for advancement may also be limited without further education. For example, supervisory positions in human services settings usually require at least a bachelor’s degree.

Students who graduate with this degree will be well-prepared for transfer to a Baccalaureate degree program in psychology. Students who transfer to a SUNY four-year institution will have met the requirements for junior standing in the psychology major.

Curricular Requirements

Required equipment/supplies

• Additional lab and testing fees required of some courses
• Cost of books and supplies will vary by course

Projects – capstone, team-based

• Individual and group projects; varies from class to class

Internships/experiential learning

Must have an open elective within the program:

• taken several program courses
• a program faculty mentor

Additional opportunities for Service Learning and Undergraduate Research, dependent on course and instructor

Curricular nuances

• Substantial reading and studying outside of class time required
• Must earn C or higher in ENG 101 for PSY 108
• PSY 101 is pre-req for PSY 201, PSY 202, PSY 205, PSY 212, and most other 200-level electives
• Must earn C or higher in PSY 101 for PSY 206, PSY 215, and PSY 220
• Must earn C or higher in PSY 101 and PSY 108 and complete MTH 162 or MTH 161 for PSY 220

Follow the four-semester sequence closely to meet course pre-reqs

Coursework availability

Program may be completed 100% online; Few program classes are offered in the evenings

Resources available/academic support

• Tutoring
• Resource center
• Libraries
• Open computer labs

Physical Locations/Online Considerations

Multiple campus location requirements

• All program courses located at the Brighton Campus
• PSY 101, PSY 108, PSY 201, PSY 202, and PSY 212 offered at the Downtown Campus

Career Considerations

Licensures needed to enter profession

• Dependent on specific position

Background checks

• Dependent on specific position and employer

Drug testing required

• Dependent on specific position and employer

Transfer Considerations

Most common transfer school(s)

Based on 2017 and 2018 data:

• SUNY College at Brockport
• SUNY Geneseo
• Nazareth College
• St. John Fisher College

Students who wish to transfer to a private college or university, however, may not be considered for junior standing, as requirements vary by institution.

Comparing PSY 101 Instructional Formats

Face-to-Face

• Have structure of regular class meetings to go over material and answer questions, with required attendance
• Must come to campus to take all your tests: one per unit given in class, optional one more in the Testing Center at the Brighton Campus or Testing Center at the Downtown Campus during specified hours.
• The final grade for this course is based on seven module exams and online homework; but you get two opportunities to take each module exam
• Can get course-based assistance in the Psychology Resource Center at the Brighton Campus/Learning Commons at the Downtown Campus during specified hours

Fully Online

• Never come to campus at all; all work completed on Brightspace from convenience of your own computer (cannot use Chromebooks)
• Only take one required test per module
• The final grade is based on tests, assignments, class discussions, and publisher-provided homework.
• Requires a webcam with a microphone because must take module tests online with proctoring software provided by the College

Psychology (PC01) Program First-Semester Course Guidelines

• English/writing course (3 credits): based on placement
• Psychology course (3 credits):
  • If student places in ENG 101 we recommend PSY 101
  • If places into TRS 100 or 200, PSY 101 is NOT recommended. PSY 100 or PSY 109, are better options for this student.
• Math course if placement necessitates pre-requisite classes (3 or 5 credits):
  • Math Levels 1 to 3: TRS 094
  • Math Level 4 to 6: MTH 096
  • Advisors: Note that the 4-semester sequence in Banner has MTH 162 in Semester 2 rather than in Semester 1. This is to lessen the time gap between learning Statistics for the Social Sciences and applying the statistics in Research Methods for Social Sciences that is taken in students’ final semester. If a student does not need a math pre-requisite class, they should take an open elective in the first semester.

• Health course (3 credits): Any 3-credit course meeting Health and Wellness course, based on student’s interest and schedule. PC01 students should choose one of the following options:
  • HED 116: Issues in Child Development and Health OR
  • HED 115: Death and Dying OR
  • HED 130: Foundations of Personal Health and Wellness OR
  • HED 207: Emotional Wellness OR
  • HED 209: Drugs and Behavior OR
  • HED 210: Integrative Health and Behavior Change Methods OR
  • HED 212: Women’s Health and Wellness OR
  • HEG 215: Global Health and Culture OR
  • PEC 250: Fitness and Wellness
• Select one of these (3 credits):
  • SUNY-ARTS Elective or
  • SUNY-USCV Elective
  • Open Elective (four required for major): Can be any credit-bearing course. We recommend one of these courses based on interest:
    • Business: BUS 104 (Introduction to Business)
    • Clinical/Counseling: PHL 250 (Professional Ethics)
    • Community Engagement: GEG 102 (Human Geography)
    • Developmental/Education: Spanish or American Sign Language
    • Forensic/Law: CRJ 101 (Introduction to Criminal Justice)
    • Health/Wellness: HED 210 (Integrated Health and Wellness)
    • Life Skills: ECO 103 (Personal Money Management)
    • Note: COS 133 (3 credits): All students who are placed into a TRS course are required to take a COS (College Success) course. We recommend the three-credit COS 133 course. COS 133 can fulfill an open elective requirement in the student’s degree.

Transfer Advising for Psychology

SUNY Brockport (PC31) and SJF (PC32):

• Our PC01 program transfers seamlessly.

RIT (LA54):

• MTH 162 is NOT advised but rather MTH 160 & 161 & 165 since students need 3 math courses and some are combined with other courses to fulfill requirements
• BIO 120 and BIO 132 & 133

Roberts Wesleyan College (PC30):

• ENG 101 AND ENG 200 and for SUNY GER elective, ENG 105 is recommended although there are a number of other ENG courses that could apply
• HIS 113 OR HIS 114, and one specific SS elective from their list (POS 101…)

Nazareth (LA46):

• Waives their local gen eds/core curriculum if student transfers with Associate degree
• PSY 101 AND THREE courses from: PSY 150, PSY 200, PSY 201, PSY 202, PSY 205, PSY 206, PSY 222, PSY 230, PSY 261.
• Max. of 12 credits of Human Services would be considered general electives

University of Rochester (LA60):

• ENG 200 with B or higher
• HED 207 OR HED 209 OR HED 212
• MTH 160 OR MTH 162
• PSY 101 AND ONE course from: PSY 150, PSY 201, PSY 202, PSY 205, PSY 206, PSY 220 (Maximum of TWO PSY courses beyond PSY 101)
• Brain and Cog. Science students consult with U of R re: electives
• Grade of “B” required in major coursework

SUNY Fredonia (LA40):

• PSY 101, PSY 220, MTH 162 and second SUNY Gen ED MTH
• Max. 12 credits in PSY, 23 hours in PSY at Fredonia
• These transfer as upper-level courses: PSY 109, PSY 206
• Minor is required and should begin coursework at MCC
• 2.00 GPA in PSY courses
• BS Degree in Psychology – Same as above but select a biology OR chemistry focus:
  • BIO: BIO 155, BIO 156, CHE 151
  • CHEM: CHE 151, CHE 152, and BIO elective

SUNY Geneseo (LA41):

• Waives their local gen eds if student transfers with AS or AA degree
• PSY 101, PSY 201/202/203, PSY 205, PSY 206

SUNY Oswego (LA45):

• At least two but no more than four courses: PSY 101 and up to three courses from: PSY 201, PSY 202, PSY 203, PSY 204, PSY 205, PSY 206
• One course from the following: CIS; MTH 160, 175 or higher; PHL 102.

Note: Some transfer programs remain audited against the LA04 degree. Make sure to look at the second tab on the audit sheet that says “Major Listing Sheet” for major details.

See Transfer Pathway Guides.

Updated March 2023