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 in 18 departments offering majors, minors and interdisciplinary programs that encourage hands-on learning opportunities for every student.

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Academic Departments

Foundation for Her Future

A few hours after receiving her degree in criminal justice—and leveraging the experience of an internship in the probation department at the Oswego County Public Safety Center—Emma Hyde ’24 began a promising job as a park ranger at Selkirk Shores State Park. Now she is looking ahead to a career as a probation officer, a goal that will come to fruition after she completes her advanced degree in mental health counseling.

Road Warrior

As wild animals travel from Canada’s Algonquin Park to the Adirondacks, their lives are in jeopardy at every intersecting road. That’s where Emily Yousey ’25 steps in. This summer she has been working on a road ecology research project to identify the locations where animals are losing their lives to passing cars. The study will inform decisions about where to create wildlife crossings, and lead to the creation of overpasses or underpasses to provide safe passage for the animals in the future.

Tiny Bugs, Big Trouble

The emerald ash borer is decimating northeast forests, but Dr. Jessica Pearson and her student team are getting a step ahead of the threat.

Unearthing Clues from Another Time

Last month, Dr. Hadley Kruczek-Aaron and her students spent four weeks excavating artifacts from Heaven Hill Farm, a historic farmstead in the heart of the Adirondacks. The immersive hands-on experience allowed students like Sebastian Herrera ’25 and Leia’lani Dibble ’26 to use trowels and other tools to uncover food remains, shells, bone, ceramics and glass, and reveal signs of everyday life on the farm over the past 200 years.

The Wild Connection

Jada West ’24 is working with a team of SUNY Potsdam researchers and students to unlock the secrets of pervasive and spreading tick-borne diseases with a goal of providing better information for the public.

Cathartic Brush Strokes

After being diagnosed with Leukemia, José Abel Santiago ’24 has grappled with both physical and emotional side effects, while using his artwork to reflect on his illness. This spring, doctors told him that his cancer is in remission, and he’s now looking ahead to a bright future with his undergraduate degree in hand.

Amazing Places

During the Spring 2024 semester, 11 students joined Dr. Page Quinton, Dr. Mike Rygel and Dr. Christian Schrader on an amazing journey to explore significant geological sites of west Texas and southwestern New Mexico. They plied acres of ground in search of clues and fossilized life forms, climbed 2,000 feet in elevation and hiked 10 miles roundtrip along the way—bringing to life topics discussed in their classes back home.

Fabric of Learning

Weaving together academic research and applied learning experiences, Emily Bailey ’24 and Annabelle Kahle ’26 have been immersing themselves in unique hands-on research projects through the Presidential Scholars Program—examining the history of homespun garment manufacturing and using historical tools to create costumes that their ancestors would have worn.

Liza’s Life in Lines

Liza Paige ’12, a Potsdam native and adjunct instructor of art at SUNY Potsdam, is hard at work on her next project—an interactive optical illusion drawn entirely in outlines, with props chosen to help replicate the feeling of a college dormitory dwelling. The “2D Dorm Room” is an immersive art experience that will be revealed in the Lougheed Learning Commons in time for the 2024 LoKo Arts Festival starting May 1.

Breaking the Mold

In a world with rising education costs, Dr. Michael Rygel and Dr. Page Quinton are at the forefront of reducing financial burdens, while also elevating the academic experience for their students. They recently completed an OER textbook on sedimentary geology, full of photos and illustrations from their own research with SUNY Potsdam students and alumni, which is now part of the curriculum in Rygel’s 300-level course.

Sustainability in Action

Spearheaded by Dr. Jessica Pearson and students from the Department of Environmental Studies, sustainability is taking a major leap forward at SUNY Potsdam this year. Food waste previously destined for the landfill will now be composted at Whitten Family Farms—and in the process the College will be saving money and making a positive impact on the environment.

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