Sciences, Liberal Arts and Business

Dr. Phillip Taylor III

Dean, Professor

518-327-6272

The Science, Liberal Arts and Business division offers several baccalaureate degrees: Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, a , a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurial Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies in Nature and Culture. Associate of Arts are also offered in: Liberal Arts Environmental Studies and Liberal Arts General Studies Concentration. The division provides both the general education core and advanced upper division courses in mathematics, sciences, English composition, social sciences and humanities required of Paul Smith's students in degree programs, and course work in accounting, business and management, components of many of the degree programs across the academic divisions.

Situated in the heart of the Adirondacks in northern New York State, Paul Smith's College offers a challenging and stimulating education on a campus of more than 14,000 acres of breathtaking natural beauty amid forests, streams, wetlands, fresh air, and lakes. The eight programs in the Sciences, Liberal Arts and Business Division offer a multitude of career options to students. Paul Smith's is the perfect place - with its 14-1 student-to-instructor ratio, its "family" atmosphere, and its recognition that students are individuals - for those who are not yet sure what they wish their careers to be, and want to start at a place where they can get special attention and advice as they determine their professional and personal goals.

The baccalaureate program in Biology, with three concentrations, well prepares students for graduate studies in the health sciences, natural and physical sciences, and toward careers in natural resource conservation, education, health services and related fields. The baccalaureate program in Liberal Studies, a program new to the College, offers students opportunity to study the intersection of nature and human culture from a standpoint of philosophical, rather than scientific inquiry, and serves as a springboard for advanced studies in the humanities, the social sciences, and other fields of human endeavor.

The associate degree programs in General Studies work best as transfer degrees. The General Studies Concentration often helps students discover their professional interests and potential. In General Studies students can design a course of study to fit their transfer needs. While some Ecology and Environmental Technology students may go directly into the work force, others join the Environmental Studies graduates in continuing in the Natural Resources baccalaureate program listed above.

The diverse programs of the Sciences, Liberal Arts and Business Division offer a firm foundation in traditional disciplines and experiential course work in the most relevant issues of the new century.

Biology, B.S.

In addition to providing the required knowledge base, Paul Smith's B.S. program in Biology teaches students how to formulate questions, how to observe and record natural phenomena, how to analyze and evaluate data, and how to draw conclusions from scientific results. In the spirit of our hands-on, experiential approach to learning, Paul Smith's students have full access to a unique "living laboratory" which includes 14,200 acres of college-owned forests, wetlands, lakes, and streams. They are encouraged to study natural habitats and environmental issues first-hand, often within walking distance of their residence halls. The Concentration in Ecology & Field Biology prepares students for entry-level positions that involve activities such as species and habitat assessments, whereas the Concentration in Conservation Science qualifies students to design and implement strategies for sustainable use and restoration of biological resources such as forest ecosystems or even entire landscape complexes. The General Biology Concentration allows students to design their own specialization including the foundation coursework required to pursue post-baccalaureate programs in the health-related professions.

Pre-Health Sciences: Students planning to pursue a graduate degree in the Health Sciences most often choose biology as their pre-professional field of study. Within the Biology program, Paul Smith's College offers all of the prerequisite courses needed for graduate-school entry in order to pursue careers in Health Science fields such as Physical Therapy, Pharmacy and Medicine.

*MAT 125: College Algebra or higher

**Pre-Professional Students should include PHY 242: Physics II, CHM 242: Organic Chemistry II and MAT 241: Calculus as General Electives in preparation for meeting the entrance requirements of graduate programs or professional schools (e.g. physical therapy school).

Biology B.S.: Environmental Science

A broad science foundation and technical expertise characterizes the bachelors in Biology - Environmental Science. In addition to building foundational knowledge and skills in Biology and Chemistry, students will gain expertise with Geographic Information Systems technology. This technology is used in a wide variety of situations to store and analyze geographic data related to human use of land and other natural resources. A variety of upper-division electives allows students to tailor their course work to their interests within this broad field of science.

Pre-Health Sciences: Students planning to pursue a graduate degree in the Health Sciences most often choose biology as their pre-professional field of study. Within the Biology program, Paul Smith's College offers all of the prerequisite courses needed for graduate-school entry in order to pursue careers in Health Science fields such as Physical Therapy, Pharmacy and Medicine.

*MAT 125: College Algebra or higher

**Pre-Professional Students should include PHY 242: Physics II, CHM 242: Organic Chemistry II and MAT 241: Calculus as General Electives in preparation for meeting the entrance requirements of graduate programs or professional schools (e.g. physical therapy school).

Business Management and Entrepreneurial Studies, B.S.

A Paul Smith's entrepreneur is a person who is pro-active and excited about the potential of business to create new ideas and opportunities. They are people who identify challenges and create profitable solutions for themselves and for others using the four pillars of PSC entrepreneurship: Leadership, Innovation, Stewardship and Tradition.

Program Objectives: The Entrepreneurial Studies students will:

• Develop skills in entrepreneurship, strategic management and operational planning
• Take traditional business core courses integrating entrepreneurial studies
• Integrate their liberal arts education with business education to foster life long learning skills
• Develop analytic, reflective thinking, critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Develop skills in team management, conflict resolution and consensus building
• Expand oral, written and listening communication skills
• Develop ethical understanding and reasoning abilities
• Develop a stewardship orientation in business decision-making
• Use information technologies as they influence the structure and process of organizations and economies, and as they influence the roles and techniques of management
• Engage in case analyses of business within a global context

PSC Business Program Mission

The Paul Smith's College business program mission is to be a leader in providing hands-on entrepreneurial learning experiences for our students. We focus our teaching on both the current business climate and teach our students to predict the future of their business and the economy. We serve the community by:

• promoting stewardship as an important part of modern sustainable business practice;
• building on the entrepreneurial tradition of our namesake, Paul A. Smith, who proved that hard work and great entrepreneurial skills can simultaneously create a financial empire and serve the common good;
• fostering innovation by continually challenging ourselves to create new solutions to current problems;
• education ethical, responsible business leaders of the future.

Leading the innovation in entrepreneurship education, our program provides students with the opportunity to study all dimensions of entrepreneurship beginning in their first year of collegiate study and continuing throughout their four years of study at PSC. The Entrepreneurial Studies Curriculum is integrative in nature with each of the four years of study being marked by an expansive Learning Project. This project is supported by core business classes. Assignments from these traditional core business classes will overlap with the Learning Project courses each year.

To complete the B.S. degree program, a minimum of 120 credits must be completed, 60 credits must be in the Liberal Arts and Sciences, and at least 40 credits must be in the upper-division (300- and 400- level courses).

Business Management and Entrepreneurial Studies

Each year of study builds on the Core BMES and General Education curricula from the previous years of study, The recommended sequence of courses is delineated below.

*May be used for General Education requirements

**Business Communications Electives include but are not limited to: COM 101: Speech, COM 105: Technical Business Communications, COM 300: Dispute Management, or COM 210: Technical Writing.

"4 + 1" Articulation Agreement

Students can also consider pursuing a Master's degree in Business Administration, or an M.S. in Human Resource Management, Information Systems or Manufacturing from Clarkson University through a "4 + 1" articulation agreement between Paul Smith's College and Clarkson University, thereby earning both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in only five years.

Nature and Culture, B.A.

The Nature and Culture degree at Paul Smith's College consists of eight traditional semesters, including a Practicum Experience. The Nature and Culture degree focuses on the interaction of humans with the natural world using nature as a subject for intellectual inquiry. Students of Nature and Culture will learn how different cultures view themselves in relation to the natural world and explore how those views impact the living world. The program employs a three-fold thematic approach to build and focus student understanding of the relationship between nature and culture and of the importance of stewardship. The three themes—Nature and Human Expression, Nature and Science, and Nature and Society—represent broad perspectives through which our society's dialogue regarding Nature and Culture can be studied.

The Nature and Culture degree program is built upon the College's already well-established strengths in environmental and cultural stewardship and in the Liberal Arts. The design of the program is flexible enough to allow students to pursue their individual interests while they are also developing a solid foundational experience in the Liberal Arts. Upon graduation a wide range of career opportunities are open to the Paul Smith's Nature and Culture B.A. student. Careers in environmental writing, human resources management, and business are all available. In addition, the students may choose concentration electives that prepare them for further academic study.

Degree Requirements:

Minimum 120 credits for B.A. degree with 36 credits in 300/400 level courses and 90 credits in the Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Liberal Arts, A.A. (Environmental Studies)

The Environmental Studies Program emphasizes the essential role of the humanities and social sciences in solving environmental problems. This program has been designed for those students interested in a less-technical environmental curriculum, one focusing on both human and environmental systems. It is especially appropriate for those who plan to continue their education in the management and policy fields beyond the associate degree.

A few of the many challenging careers in this field include natural resources management, environmental and resource policy, environmental education, land-use planning, and environmental law, all of which are offered in four-year and graduate programs.

Students who wish to complete the baccalaureate program in Natural Resources at Paul Smith's College should plan their course of study with their advisors, follow the directions in the curriculum below, and select those options which fulfill the prerequisites for the appropriate concentration.

A minimum of 62 credit hours is required for completion of this A.A. degree program; three-quarters of the credit hours shall be in the liberal arts and sciences.

*CHM 141: Chemistry I is recommended. Students planning to enroll in the Natural Resources Program must take CHM 141: Chemistry I.

Liberal Arts, A.A. (General Studies)

This A.A. Degree program curriculum is designed for those students seeking a broad and flexible program in the liberal arts and sciences. It includes a basic core with five distinct emphases.

The Basic Core

Minimum Credit Hours Required: 60, of which three quarters shall be in the liberal arts and sciences.