History and Political Science Track (LAHP)

A Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences

This program is for those who want a strong background in history and political science, and plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a degree in history, political science, or government. With a bachelor’s degree in history/political science, students may pursue a career in government and politics, teaching history/political science, or go on to earn a master’s degree in public policy, management, or a JD to practice law.

Campus/format: A majority of this program can be completed during the day or evening at the Gardner Campus.

Helpful hints: Eligible LAS students should consider entering MWCC’s Honors Program. Honors Program students benefit from a challenging, highly individualized academic experience, a tuition waiver during their final semester, active recruitment by four-year colleges and universities, and the use of the Honors Center. Also, because of the program’s Commonwealth Honors Program status, all MWCC Honors courses are transferable as Honors courses within the Massachusetts public higher education system, and MWCC graduates are guaranteed acceptance into the Honors Programs of these colleges and universities. See page 136 of the college catalog for more information.

Transfer options: This program qualifies for MassTransfer (see page 45 for more information). For a complete list of transfer agreement options visit MWCC’s transfer services website: http://transfer.mwcc.edu and www.mwcc.edu/3plusone.

Special requirements: Technical standards must be met with or without accommodations.

Career options: After earning a bachelor’s degree in history/political science, students may pursue a career in government and politics, teaching history/political science, or go on to earn a master’s degree in public policy, management, or a JD to practice law.

Program Competencies for LAC, LAEL, LAER, LAS, LAX, LAHP, and LAT

Upon graduation from these programs, students shall have the ability to:

• Formulate clear and precise questions about complex problems and ideas relevant to a variety of disciplines—math, science, the humanities, and the social sciences—and gather, assess, and interpret information to arrive at well-reasoned conclusions and solutions.
• Demonstrate an understanding of complex written texts that demand an appreciation of subtext, irony, metaphor, and the subtlety and nuances of language.
• Successfully complete a substantial research paper that demonstrates the ability to formulate a research question, conduct research using the library’s databases, and synthesize information from a variety of sources into a cohesive and in-depth analysis of a topic.
• Demonstrate knowledge of historic, social, and cultural backgrounds necessary for understanding their own and other societies with an emphasis on important ideas and events that have shaped, and continue to shape, their world.
• Demonstrate scientific literacy, which can be defined as the matrix of knowledge needed to understand enough about the universe to deal with issues that come across the horizon of the average citizen, in the news or elsewhere.
• Demonstrate a broad exposure to, and an understanding of, the differences and similarities in the various academic disciplines within their Liberal Arts education.
• Successfully transfer to a baccalaureate degree granting institution if desired, with the proper educational foundation for transition into a chosen field of study.

Capstone Course for LAC, LAEL, LAER, LAS, LAX, LAHP, and LAT

ISC210 Critical Thinking is the required capstone course for all Liberal Arts & Sciences majors and is to be taken after successfully completing English Composition II and 45 credits.