Social Sciences, Human Services and Criminal Justice

The Department of Social Sciences, Human Services and Criminal Justice aims to broaden and deepen understanding of the complex social, economic and political issues which face modern society. To achieve these aims, students are trained in the rational analysis of pertinent phases of human experiences.

Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice Program leads to the Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree and is a joint degree program with John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The program offers a comprehensive general education and provides a solid foundation necessary to continue pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. The scope of courses provides students with a firm foundation of knowledge and skill that will enable them to graduate, continue their education, and pursue the career of their choice and/or seamlessly transfer to John Jay’s bachelor’s degree program in Criminal Justice.

Economics

The major in Economics will lead to an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree. The program reinforces BMCC’s general education outcomes and prepares students for transfer into economics programs at senior colleges. This program has articulation agreements with Brooklyn College, City College and Hunter College.

History

The History Program provides students with the knowledge and tools vital for thriving in an increasingly competitive global world. History is an ongoing engagement with individuals across a range of cultures, traditions and ways of seeing. In addition, the study of history reveals to students that the questions and concerns of the past are often strikingly similar to those with which we wrestle today. Upon successful completion of the program requirements, students earn an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree. The program also facilitates transfer to a senior college, such as John Jay College of Criminal Justice, with 60 credits towards the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Global History.

Human Services

The Human Services Program is designed for students who wish to prepare themselves for careers that focus on helping people solve problems and live more satisfying lives. These careers may encompass jobs in the following general areas: social work, counseling, rehabilitation, recreation, child welfare, public welfare, social security, developmental and physical disabilities, substance abuse and services for older adults and others. Students receive an Associate in Science (A.S.) degree upon successful completion of the program.

Philosophy

The Social Sciences, Human Services and Criminal Justice offers a program in Philosophy for its students leading to an Associate in Arts degree. Philosophy majors learn how to analyze arguments, how to discuss, and how to unfold their imaginations and problem solving in writing and presentations. They know how to come up with new questions, how to read with attention to detail and how to weigh theoretical and practical considerations.

Political Science

The major in Political Science which will lead to an Associate in Arts degree. Political Science is an interdisciplinary field that introduces students to a variety of topics and issues including political parties, media, elections, ancient and modern political theory, and political social movements. Political Science majors will develop a critical understanding of the issues facing our cities (especially but not exclusive to New York City), learn how to conduct political research, perform policy analysis, distinguish between biased and unbiased information, and develop valuable skills including understanding public policy, and writing clearly with the inclusion of critical analysis.

Political Science majors can work for city, state, and federal government offices, in international affairs, as governmental liaisons within a private company, in campaigns, consulting or data analysis, or in the non-profit sector for community- based organizations. Students completing this program can transfer seamlessly into the B.A. in Political Science at Brooklyn College/CUNY without the loss of credits.

Psychology

The major in Psychology  leads to an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree. Students majoring in Psychology can choose between the STEM concentration or the General concentration. The STEM concentration, developed with the assistance of a National Science Found (NSF) grant, prepares students for careers in neuroscience or medicine. .The program will enable students to transfer into Psychology programs at senior colleges. It will also prepare students for a competitive and evolving job market. This program fully articulates with the bachelor’s degree program in forensic psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Sociology

The program in Sociology leads to an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree. This program offers a comprehensive general education preparation and fully articulates with Brooklyn College’s bachelor’s degree program in sociology.

Urban Studies

The major in Urban Studies leads to an Associate in Arts degree. Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary field that introduces students to a variety of topics and issues in urban community development. It draws on a variety of study areas, including sociology, economics, political science, and anthropology, to analyze our global economy and culture. The program examines how urban problems arise, how they have been previously addressed, and how to plan cities of the future. Students learn where cities come from, how they grow, thrive and decline, how they are organized, and how to construct meaningful, inclusive, secure, and sustainable places.

The program will prepare students for a range of future careers in fields such as public administration, law, urban planning, social work, education, business administration, political analysis, non- profit community work, research, and fundraising. Students completing this program can transfer seamlessly into the B.A. degree in Urban Community Studies at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies without the loss of credits.

Interdisciplinary Majors

Gerontology

The Health Studies and Social Sciences, Human Services and Criminal Justice Departments jointly  offer the Associate in Science (A.S.) degree program in Gerontology. The curriculum includes lower division courses in health education, social sciences, humanities, biology and mathematics. This interdisciplinary program introduces students to career fields in aging; prepares students to enter the workforce to care for, treat and serve an increasingly needy aging population; and prepares students for transfer to senior colleges in academically rigorous disciplines such as gerontology, community health, public health, geriatric care management and health services administration. Students completing the A.S. degree in Gerontology can transfer seamlessly into the bachelor’s degree program at York College/CUNY without loss of credits.

Gender and Women’s Studies

The Social Sciences, Human Services and Criminal Justice and Speech, Communications, and Theatre Arts Departments jointly offer an interdisciplinary major in Gender and Women’s Studies leading to an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree. This major focuses on gender as the object of analysis and addresses the many issues, inequalities, social constructions and realities that gender presents in contemporary society and throughout history. It draws on theories and methods from the humanities and social sciences to place women and other marginalized groups at the center of learning and to critically analyze the ways in which gender intersects with race, ethnicity, nationality, class, sexuality, sexual identity, disability and other social categories. This program has articulation agreements with Brooklyn College and John Jay College of Criminal Justice