School of Arts & Sciences

Immerse yourself in the sciences, humanities and fine arts, in an environment that prizes creativity and discovery.

The School of Arts and Sciences at SUNY Potsdam exposes students to a variety of fields within the fine arts, sciences, humanities and social sciences. The School’s strong foundation in the liberal arts prizes creativity and inquiry, offering a full palette of study across the departments offering majors, minors and interdisciplinary programs that encourage hands-on learning opportunities for every student.

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Academic Departments

Into the Swarm

Deep in the woods of St. Lawrence County, two SUNY Potsdam students have been hunting mosquitoes in search of data on vector-borne diseases. Aaron Barragan '29 and mentor Ellie Barbolt '27 have been spending their summer collecting samples across four North Country research sites—generating data on West Nile Virus, EEE, and more. Their work is part of an EOP and PIP-funded internship program supporting the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department.

Sportscaster Dreams

A lifelong dream has become a reality for Caramia Carista ’26. The SUNY Potsdam junior was recently hired to be an on-air broadcaster for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Division I Swimming & Diving Championships on ESPN+. From overcoming a career-ending injury to becoming a trailblazer in a male-dominated field, Carista has turned resilience into opportunity, building her voice behind the mic and advocating for greater coverage of women’s sports along the way.

Full-Circle Journey

Nearly 40 years after first enrolling at SUNY Potsdam, Jeff Yette ’26 is finally crossing the finish line. From studio art student to IT leader at Clarkson University and now site manager at Corning, Yette built a decades-long career in technology—all while holding onto one bucket-list goal: earning his degree. Now just one course shy of completion through the College's interdisciplinary studies major, he’s proving it’s never too late to come back, reconnect your passions, and finish what you started.

Bringing Back the Spruce Grouse

A 13-year partnership between SUNY Potsdam and the New York State DEC has helped return endangered spruce grouse to the Adirondacks—strengthening ecosystems, launching careers, and leaving a lasting legacy of research, mentorship and applied learning. Dr. Glenn Johnson and alumna Angie Ross ’02 recently completed the Spruce Grouse Translocation Program, a landmark effort to increase population numbers and improve genetic diversity by relocating birds from remote regions of Ontario and Maine to New York’s boreal forests.

Rock Solid Careers

From classroom labs to North Country mine shafts, SUNY Potsdam geology alumni are building meaningful careers close to home. Their training is helping drive discovery and innovation across our region.

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