Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

at State University of New York College at Brockport USA

Political Science is the study of the state and of power relations within and among states, as they are and as they ought to be. It seeks a better understanding of political and governmental behavior and institutions in order to enable society to use its collective resources more effectively for the general welfare. The principal sub-fields of the discipline are: American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Students should have a college level understanding of American Government
• Students should have a fundamental understanding of the politics of at least 1 country/region/ system of government outside of the US
• Students will have a working familiarity with social science methodologies common to PLS/INS (including Theory and Quantitative methods)
• Students should have writing and speaking skills commensurate with BA/BS at SUNY Brockport

Anthropologists study human behavior and thought in both the past and the present with the goal of improving our world. We holistically draw on sociocultural, archaeological, and biological approaches to engage with humanity’s current challenges: the outcomes of the humanity-environment relationship; human rights abuses and the need for social justice; and the complexities of human heritage and identities. Whether through ethnographic fieldwork, archaeological excavation, biological lab work, or visual and material cultural analysis, our students and faculty collaborate closely to learn and improve our knowledge of human variation. This is an invaluable resource for our students as they prepare for a more complex future.

The Anthropology Major consists of 24 required course credits plus 12 elective credits that allow students to augment their education with a dual major or minor in another field applicable to their goals and needs.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Knowledge base. Students gain an understanding of the broad knowledge base of human biocultural diversity through time and across cultures, as provided through archaeology, biological and cultural anthropology.
• Methods. Students gain knowledge and skills in the different anthropological research methods used in the sub-fields of archaeology, biological or cultural anthropology.
• Theory. Students learn to define and describe anthropological theory as used in current and past practice by anthropologists, in archaeology, biological and/or cultural anthropology.
• Critical Thinking. Students develop the ability to question, reflect and critique the data and arguments upon which evaluations of human diversity, behavior and change are made.
• Analysis. Students learn to apply theories and methods to explain or interpret anthropological problems, including cross-cultural patterns of social behavior, human evolution, and social change over time and space.
• Ethics. Students learn the appropriate procedures and protocols for obtaining informed consent or access permissions, in order to avoid harm or wrong to one’s human or non-human subjects and descendants.

Develop the knowledge and skills required of a public health professional with exciting courses in programming planning and evaluation, health communication, leadership, and a full-semester professional internship.

Undergraduate students in the Department of Public Health & Health Education can choose from one of two programs:

• Public Health
• Consumer Health

Student Learning Outcomes

The Public Health Education program is aligned with the seven Areas of Responsibility as defined by the National Commission on Health Education Credentialing.

Public Health Major

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Assess individual and community needs for health education
• Plan health education strategies, interventions, and programs
• Implement health education strategies, interventions, and programs
• Conduct evaluation and research related to health education
• Administer health education strategies, interventions, and programs
• Serve as a health education resource person
• Communicate and advocate for health and health education

Consumer Health Concentration

The Consumer Health concentration is aligned with three of the seven Areas of Responsibility as defined by the National Commission on Health Education Credentialing.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Administer health education strategies, interventions, and programs
• Conduct evaluation and research related to health education
• Serve as a health education resource person

The criminal justice program is for students interested in studying the causes, prevention and control of crime, as well as the theories and policies relative to the structure and operation of various law enforcement (policing), correctional and judicial organizations. The criminal justice major prepares students for criminal justice careers in professional justice agencies. Careers in criminal justice can be categorized by a variety of organizations (e.g. state and local police; correctional organizations for adult and juveniles; legal and judicial organizations; federal law enforcement; private security organizations, etc.).

Criminal justice is both a professional and a liberal arts program. The major curriculum consists of three components: 1) criminal justice proficiency courses (required); 2) criminal justice electives, which can be grouped into specialty areas or not, at the student’s option; 3) non-criminal justice courses (co-requisites), many in related liberal arts disciplines, which can be taken during the first two years of college.

What You’ll Learn

Find out why people commit crimes and how police, courts, and corrections operate to control them. You'll gain a greater understanding of the criminal justice system.

Our degree helps you reach your goals through diverse faculty expertise, comprehensive learning, hands-on experiences, and internships. Choose classes that align with your career goals across a range of issues.

Chemistry is used in fields as varied as medical and criminal investigations, pollution remediation or conservation, and preserving cultural treasures including rare books and documents and fine art.

Our chemistry degree will give you a foundation in organic, inorganic, analytical, and physical chemistry to prepare you for a wide range of careers. With electives, you can build on these bases and tailor your education to your goals.

Earth science majors must earn a minimum of 36 core and elective credits (in Earth Science and Geology) and an additional 12 credits in related lab sciences and mathematics. The core and elective courses that constitute the curriculum of this interdisciplinary major embody the knowledge base and methodologies of geology (solid earth and its resources), meteorology (the atmosphere and its movement), and hydrology (water and its cycling through the environment). As such, this major offers a flexible and broadly based program of study that is well suited for students who are preparing for a career in environmental regulation, resource management or park service. By supplementing the major-related course work with additional electives, or an appropriate minor, a student may structure her/his study toward a special interest area, such as journalism, technical writing, business, or graduate study in geography, resource management, urban planning, or museum science.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Explain the manner with which variables and data, relevant for earth science, are properly collected using discipline appropriate methodology (fieldwork, instrumentation, remote sensing, or derived products from models).
• Properly interpret earth science data using discipline-accepted qualitative analysis
• Properly interpret earth science data using discipline-accepted quantitative analysis.
• Define a scientific question and develop a methodology for answering it.
• Locate, evaluate and interpret primary source scientific literature.
• Effectively express earth science concepts and research results following the accepted written format for the discipline.
• Explain earth science concepts and communicate research results following the accepted oral format for the discipline.

Chemistry is used in fields as varied as medical and criminal investigations, pollution remediation or conservation, and preserving cultural treasures including rare books and documents and fine art.

Our chemistry degree will give you a foundation in organic, inorganic, analytical, and physical chemistry to prepare you for a wide range of careers. With electives, you can build on these bases and tailor your education to your goals.

Administered by the Department of Journalism, Broadcasting and Public Relations, the major in Journalism and Broadcasting (JRB) prepares students for careers in online, TV, radio, newspaper and magazine journalism; public and community relations; public information; advertising; corporate communications; television and radio station sales, promotions and management, independent and corporate production studios, corporate media centers and government service.

What You’ll Learn

The media impact our politics, economy, and culture. Prepare yourself to enter the fast-growing field of journalism, broadcasting, and public relations. Learn to craft compelling stories, research sources and subjects, pitch stories to the media, and perform production work in the field and the studio.

Choose from four concentrations: Multimedia Journalism, Media Production, Media Studies, or Public Relations.

Meteorology majors must earn a minimum of 43 credits in required core courses, and complete three semesters of calculus and differential equations, two semesters of calculus-based physics, and one semester each of chemistry and computer programming.The major in Meteorology prepares students for careers in weather forecasting, atmospheric research, environmental consulting and air quality management. The strong physical science orientation of the program allows students to compete in related fields, such as environmental and computer science, hydrology, and alternative energy utilization. The major meets the federal guidelines for meteorologists, enabling graduates to begin careers in federal, state and private employment.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Explain the manner with which variables and data, relevant for meteorology, are properly collected using a discipline-appropriate methodology (fieldwork, instrumentation, remote sensing, or derived products from models).
• Properly interpret meteorology data using discipline-accepted qualitative analysis.
• Properly interpret meteorology data using discipline-accepted quantitative analysis.
• Define a scientific question and develop a methodology for answering it.
• Locate, evaluate, and interpret primary source scientific literature.
• Effectively express meteorology concepts and research results following the accepted written format for the discipline
• Explain meteorology concepts and communicate research results following the accepted oral format for the discipline

An in-depth understanding of mathematics is of great importance to many careers in our technologically complex society. Moreover, the study of mathematics promotes analytical and critical thinking skills, and therefore is a valuable part of any program of study. The major in mathematics is designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue graduate study or to support career goals in a range of professions. Recent graduates who have majored in mathematics have found rewarding careers in business, teaching, computing, government, law, engineering, actuarial science and medicine. A study of mathematics is a natural complement to the study of physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, earth science, business, economics, computer science, philosophy, and the social sciences. Mathematics is also a fitting major for pre-law and pre-med students.

To complete a major in mathematics, students take 10 required courses that provide a thorough foundation in several central areas of mathematics, a computer science course that emphasizes the design of algorithms, and a minimum of three advanced courses chosen to give special depth in at least one area.

More details concerning the mathematics major, including sample programs of study and information on advisement for majors, student awards, computing facilities, library holdings, and the Mathematics Club, can be found in the department website.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Discuss and utilize mathematics as an intellectual discipline, including its problems, algorithms, and applications.
• Carry out the creative and explorative processes of mathematics, including conjecture, generalization, and the construction of mathematically rigorous proofs.
• Use mathematics to model and analyze real world problems, and utilize technology as appropriate to help solve mathematical problems and judge the reasonableness of results.
• Communicate mathematics effectively.
• Actively engage with mathematics beyond the classroom.