“I am enormously grateful to CUNY BA’s interdisciplinary approach for affording me the opportunity to explore multiple disciplines – and through that approach, become a widely more dynamic and confident thinker.”
— Catherine Ryan, Social and Political Theory
Area of Concentration
Your Area of Concentration (AOC) is the title and courses for your unique course of study (major) in CUNY BA.
CUNY BA asks that you submit a detailed Area of Concentration (AOC) Proposal as part of your application so that we can assess how we can help you meet your academic goals.
** Students applying to CUNY BA don’t need a faculty mentor when submitting the application. However, once accepted, students will be required to have a mentor and submit their official area of concentration (AOC) form by the end of their first semester in CUNY BA
Please follow these steps:
1. Propose a working title
2. Propose at least 8 actual courses if you plan to do a Single Area of Concentration OR Propose at least 6 actual courses in each if you plan to do a Dual Area of Concentration (like a double major)
3. Use intermediate or advanced courses in your Proposal (not introductory)
4. Use courses from bachelor’s granting departments at senior colleges
5. Provide all the details: College, Dept, Course No., Course Title, Number of Credits
* You can view all CUNY courses, college by college, department by department at this link; every course description is available:
Search for CUNY classes: CUNY Global Search Class Schedule
Browse CUNY Catalog: Browse Course Catalog
Applicants should be aware that courses in certain schools and departments are off limits to CUNY BA students.
Some AOC examples are below (you don’t have to pick from the list here or in the application).
Sample Areas
African American and Jewish Studies
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| City College |
BLST |
14700 |
Civil Rights Movement |
3 |
| City College |
BLST |
19000 |
Malcolm X |
3 |
| City College |
BLST |
17100 |
Roots: Seminar in Black History |
3 |
| City College |
BLST |
31106 |
Personal Finance and Black Entrepreneurship |
3 |
| City College |
JWST |
31111 |
Jewish Humor in Film |
3 |
| City College |
JWST |
31113 |
The Hollywood Jew |
3 |
| City College |
JWST |
31316 |
The Jewish Mesiahs |
3 |
| City College |
JWST |
31511 |
Introduction to the Talmud |
3 |
| City College |
THRT |
43000 |
Theatre Workshop |
3 |
Biotechnology
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Medgar Evers |
BIO |
302 |
Genetics |
3 |
| Medgar Evers |
BIO |
320 |
Cell Biology |
3 |
| Medgar Evers |
BIO |
465 |
Microbiology |
3 |
| Medgar Evers |
BIO |
472 |
Molecular Biotechnology |
3 |
| Medgar Evers |
CHM |
303 |
Organic Chemistry I |
3 |
| Medgar Evers |
CHM |
304 |
Organic Chemistry II |
3 |
| York |
BIO |
241 |
Instrumental Analysis in Biotechnology |
3 |
| York |
BIO |
412 |
Biochemistry |
3 |
Buddhist Studies
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Antioch College |
ASGS |
300 |
Buddhist History (Study Abroad) |
3 |
| Antioch College |
ARELS |
350 |
Buddhist Meditation Traditions (Study Abroad) |
3 |
| Antioch College |
ABUDD |
396 |
Independent Study (Study Abroad) |
3 |
| Hunter College |
PHIL |
201 |
Knowledge and Reality |
3 |
| Hunter College |
PHIL |
336 |
Philosophy of Mind |
3 |
| Hunter College |
REL |
251 |
Eastern Religions |
3 |
| Hunter College |
REL |
320 |
Hinduism |
3 |
| Hunter College |
REL |
321 |
Buddhism |
3 |
| Hunter College |
REL |
324 |
Mysticism |
3 |
| Hunter College |
REL |
336 |
Zen |
3 |
Contemporary Global Issues
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Baruch |
POL |
2011 |
The U.S. in the Age of Globalization |
3 |
| Baruch |
POL |
3104 |
Politics of the Third World |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
POL |
76.7 |
Human Rights and World Politics |
3 |
| Hunter |
POL |
221 |
U.S. Immigration Policy |
3 |
| Hunter |
POL |
281 |
Drugs, Politics and Public Policy |
3 |
| Hunter |
POL |
373 |
Contemporary Issues in International Politics |
3 |
| Hunter |
POL |
375 |
International Law |
3 |
| Hunter |
POL |
376 |
International Political Economy |
3 |
Counterterrorism and International Relations
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| John Jay |
CRJ |
389 |
Counterterrorism |
3 |
| John Jay |
GOV |
250 |
International Law and Justice |
3 |
| John Jay |
GOV |
260 |
International Relations |
3 |
| John Jay |
GOV |
362 |
Terrorism and International Relations |
3 |
| John Jay |
LAW |
295 |
Terrorism and the Law |
3 |
| John Jay |
LLS |
250 |
Drugs and Crime in Latin America |
3 |
| John Jay |
PSC |
250 |
Criminal Justice in Eastern Europe |
3 |
| John Jay |
PSC |
489 |
U.S. Human Intelligence Operation |
3 |
Cross-Cultural Psychology
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| John Jay College |
Psychology |
240 |
Psychology of Oppression |
3 |
| John Jay College |
Psychology |
531 |
Sex Roles and Work |
3 |
| Brooklyn College |
Psychology |
13.3 |
Psychology of Prejudice |
3 |
| Brooklyn College |
Anthropology |
30 |
Comparative Social Systems |
3 |
| City College |
Psychology |
244 |
Psychology of the Black Experience |
3 |
| City College |
Psychology |
310 |
Independent Study (“Cross-Cultural Concepts of Mental Health”) |
3 |
| City College |
Psychology |
319 |
Cross-Cultural Psychology |
3 |
| City College |
Psychology |
321 |
Experimental Psychology* |
3 |
| City College |
Psychology |
357 |
Community Psychology |
3 |
*Note: for all concentrations in Psychology, Experimental Psychology is required (Students pursuing Psychology will also be required to take Statistics but not as part of the AOC).
Cultural Politics and Social Justice Movements
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Hunter College |
Theatre |
397.87 |
Theatre of Protest |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Media |
328 |
Images of Resistance |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Political Science |
220 |
Globalization and Oppression |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Urban Studies |
403 |
Community Organizing |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Religion |
208 |
Religion and Social Justice |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Asian Studies |
321 |
Asian American Social Protest Literature |
3 |
| Hunter College |
English |
325 |
Post-Colonial Literature |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Women’s Studies |
200 |
Gay and Lesbian Studies |
3 |
| City College |
History |
372 |
Progressivism and Radicalism in 20th Century America |
3 |
Diagnostic and Analytical Psychology
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Brooklyn College |
Psychology |
531 |
Learning Psychology |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Psychology |
223 |
Abnormal Psychology |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Psychology |
225 |
Ethology: Animal Behavior |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Psychology |
242 |
Health Psychology |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Psychology |
250 |
General Experimental Psychology* |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Psychology |
327 |
Motivational Psychology |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Psychology |
328 |
States of Consciousness |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Psychology |
369 |
Drugs and Behavior |
3 |
*Note: for all concentrations in Psychology, Experimental Psychology is required (Students pursuing Psychology will also be required to take Statistics but not as part of the AOC).
Dynamic Web Design
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Brooklyn |
CIS |
53 |
Client-Server Web Programming |
3 |
| City |
CSC |
31100 |
XML Technologies |
3 |
| NYC College of Technology |
CST |
3509 |
Web Page Design and Implementation |
3 |
| NYC College of Technology |
CST |
3609 |
Web Programming |
3 |
| NYC College |
ADV |
2417 |
Advanced Problems in Technology |
3 |
| NYC College of Technology |
ADV |
3650 |
Advanced Web Design |
3 |
| NYC College of Technology |
ADV |
4750 |
Advanced Web Animation |
3 |
| NYC College of Technology |
ADV |
4830 |
Senior Project |
3 |
Electronic and Information Security
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| City College |
BME |
15100 |
Biomedical Signal Processing |
3 |
| John Jay |
MATH |
375 |
Operating Systems |
3 |
| John Jay |
MATH |
470 |
Database Systems in Criminal Justice |
3 |
| Queens |
CSCI |
211 |
Object-Oriented Programming in C++ |
3 |
| Queens |
CSCI |
343 |
Computer Architecture |
3 |
| Queens |
MATH |
120 |
Discrete Math for Computer Science |
3 |
| York |
CS |
261 |
Data Communications 1 |
3 |
| York |
CS |
495 |
Cryptography and Network Security |
3 |
| York |
MATH |
121 |
Calculus |
3 |
Exercise Science and Athletic Training
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Lehman |
EXE |
264 |
Physical Fitness and Exercise |
3 |
| Lehman |
EXE |
417 |
Kinesiology and Biomechanics |
3 |
| Lehman |
EXE |
900 |
Motor Learning and Performance |
3 |
| Lehman |
EXE |
550 |
Exercise Physiology 1 |
3 |
| Lehman |
EXE |
650 |
Exercise Testing and Prescription |
3 |
| Lehman |
EXE |
334 |
Exercise Physiology 2 |
3 |
| Lehman |
EXE |
3288 |
Principles and Practices of Fitness |
3 |
| Queens |
FNES |
168 |
Athletic Training |
3 |
| Queens |
FNES |
253 |
Psychology of Sports Participation |
3 |
Folklore Studies
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Hunter College |
ENGL |
250 |
Arthurian Literature |
3 |
| Hunter College |
ENGL |
337 |
Literary Aspects of Folklore |
3 |
| Hunter College |
RGST |
254 |
Tribal Religions |
3 |
| Hunter College |
RGST |
262 |
Ancient Religions |
3 |
| Hunter College |
RGST |
262 |
Religions of Early Europe |
3 |
| Hunter College |
RGST |
308 |
Religion and The Arts |
3 |
| Hunter College |
ENGL |
352 |
Shakespeare Survey |
3 |
| Hunter College |
RGST |
335 |
Myth and Ritual |
3 |
Holistic Health Care
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Hunter College |
Health Science |
200.79 |
Writing for Health |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Health Science |
333 |
Nutrition Education |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Health Science |
342 |
Nutrition for Human Development |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Health Education |
201 |
Women and Health |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Health Education |
301 |
Mental Health for the Health Educator |
3 |
| Baruch College |
Physical Education |
2313 |
Techniques for Lifetime Fitness |
3 |
| Baruch College |
Physical Education |
3800 |
Foundations of Physical Fitness |
3 |
| Baruch College |
Psychology |
3062 |
Psychology of Stress Management |
3 |
Human Services
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| John Jay |
PSYC |
242 |
Abnormal Psychology |
3 |
| John Jay |
PSYC |
255 |
Group Dynamics: Chemical Dependency Counseling |
3 |
| John Jay |
PSYC |
266 |
Psychology of Alcohol and Substance Abuse |
3 |
| John Jay |
PSYC |
268 |
Therapeutic Intervention in Chemical Dependency |
3 |
| John Jay |
PSYC |
350 |
Advanced Topics: Chemical Dependency Counseling |
3 |
| John Jay |
PSYC |
480 |
Ethical and Professional Issues in Chemical Dependency Counseling |
3 |
| John Jay |
SOC |
161 |
Chemical Dependency and the Dysfunctional Family |
3 |
| NYC Coll Tech |
HUSV |
305 |
Field Practicum I |
3 |
| NYC Coll Tech |
HUSV |
405 |
Field Practicum II |
3 |
Immigrant Community Organizing
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Hunter |
ASST |
251 |
Asian American Social Protest Literature |
3 |
| Hunter |
ASST |
390 |
Asian American Civil Rights and the Law |
3 |
| Hunter |
P SC |
221 |
Immigration Policy |
3 |
| Hunter |
P SC |
317 |
Special Topics in American Politics |
3 |
| Hunter |
P SC |
341 |
Constitutional Law: Civil Rights |
3 |
| Hunter |
SOC |
217 |
Race and Ethnicity |
3 |
| Hunter |
SOC |
309 |
Social Movements and Social Change |
3 |
| Hunter |
WGS |
206 |
Gender and Immigration |
3 |
| Grad Center |
SOC |
82800 |
Immigrant/Ethnic Entrepreneurship |
3 |
Independent Documentary Production
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Hunter College |
Media |
292 |
Basic Reporting |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Media |
299 |
Documentary Video |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Media |
299 |
Advanced Documentary |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Media |
371 |
Television Culture |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Media |
385 |
Media and Society |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Media |
399 |
Criticism of Documentary |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Media |
751 |
Developing the Documentary (Graduate course) |
3 |
| Hunter College |
Media |
751 |
Digital Editing Work (Graduate course) |
3 |
Japanese Translation Studies
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Hunter College |
JPN |
201 |
Intermediate Japanese I |
3 |
| Hunter College |
JPN |
202 |
Intermediate Japanese II |
3 |
| Hunter College |
JPN |
251 |
Japanese Culture I |
3 |
| Hunter College |
CLA |
240 |
Japanese Culture II |
3 |
| Hunter College |
JPN |
301 |
Advanced Japanese I |
3 |
| Queens College |
JPN |
211 |
Classical Japanese I |
3 |
| Queens College |
JPN |
212 |
Classical Japanese II |
3 |
| Queens College |
JPN |
250 |
Modern Japanese Fiction in Translation |
3 |
| Queens College |
JPN |
305 |
Advanced Modern Japanese I |
3 |
| Queens College |
JPN |
306 |
Advanced Modern Japanese II |
3 |
Jazz Theory
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Hunter College |
MUS |
361 |
Jazz Theory |
3 |
| Hunter College |
MUS |
461 |
Jazz Theory and Improvisation |
3 |
| Hunter College |
MUS |
331 |
Musicianship 4 |
3 |
| Hunter College |
MUS |
217 |
History of Jazz |
3 |
| Hunter College |
MUS |
249 |
Jazz Ensemble |
3 |
| City College |
MUS |
352 |
Jazz Arranging 1 |
3 |
| City College |
MUS |
357 |
Jazz Harmony and Improvisation 1 |
3 |
| City College |
MUS |
358 |
Jazz Harmony and Improvisation 2 |
3 |
| City College |
MUS |
452 |
Jazz Arranging 2 |
3 |
Language, Space and the Body
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| City |
PHYS |
208 |
General Physics II |
3 |
| Queens College |
LCD |
220 |
Syntax II |
3 |
| Queens College |
LCD |
288 |
Voices of New York |
3 |
| Queens College |
LCD |
205 |
Sociolinguistics |
3 |
| Queens College |
MATH |
618 |
Foundations of Geometry |
3 |
| Queens College |
DANC |
271 |
Choreography |
3 |
| Queens College |
DANC |
398 |
Light in Performance |
3 |
| Queens College |
DANC |
395 |
Independent Project |
3 |
Merchandise Marketing
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Brooklyn |
BUS |
46.7 |
Marketing Research |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
BUS |
53 |
Fashion Marketing |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
BUS |
76.4 |
International Business and Marketing |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
BUS |
97.5 |
Independent Study : Sustainable Social Entrepreneurship |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
BUS |
97.6 |
Fieldwork II |
3 |
| Lehman |
BBA |
367 |
Consumer Behavior |
3 |
| Lehman |
BBA |
467 |
Marketing Research |
3 |
| Medgar Evers |
MKT |
331 |
Marketing Management |
3 |
| Medgar Evers |
MKT |
434 |
Product Management |
3 |
Modern European Thought
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Brooklyn |
CMLT |
3607 |
Modern European Novel |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
PHIL |
3121 |
Modern Philosophy |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
PHIL |
3502 |
Philosophy of Beauty |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
POLS |
3302 |
Comparative Political Systems: Europe |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
POLS |
3413 |
Islam and Modernity |
3 |
| Hunter |
ANTH |
351 |
Language in Culture and Society |
3 |
| Hunter |
GERM |
321 |
Readings in Modern German Literature |
3 |
| Hunter |
HIST |
332 |
Modern Culture from 18th to 20th Centuries |
3 |
| Hunter |
PHIL |
218 |
Revolutions in Modern Philosophy |
3 |
Music Management
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| City College |
Music |
380 |
Rhythm Seminar |
3 |
| City College |
Music |
231 |
Theory 2 |
3 |
| Baruch College |
Music |
3032 |
Electronic Music |
3 |
| Baruch College |
Music |
3044 |
History of Music |
3 |
| Baruch College |
Fine & Perf. Arts |
2000 |
Arts Administration |
3 |
| Brooklyn College |
Econ/Business |
50.2 |
Marketing |
3 |
| Brooklyn College |
Econ/Business |
50.4 |
Organizational Behavior |
3 |
| Brooklyn College |
Econ/Business |
50.4 |
Consumer Behavior |
3 |
| Brooklyn College |
Econ/Business |
76.4 |
International Business |
|
Neuroscience
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Baruch |
PSYC |
3056 |
Social Psychology |
3 |
| Baruch |
PSYC |
3080 |
Attention and Perception |
3 |
| Hunter College |
CHEM |
350 |
Biophysical Chemistry |
3 |
| Hunter College |
PSYC |
309 |
Sex and Behavior |
3 |
| Hunter College |
PSYC |
396 |
Psychology Honors |
3 |
| Hunter College |
PSYC |
400 |
Neurobiology: Learning and Memory Organization |
3 |
| Hunter College |
PSYC |
471 |
Developmental Neurobiology |
3 |
| John Jay |
PSYC |
311 |
Experimental Psychology |
3 |
| Lehman |
BIO |
435 |
Neurophysiology |
3 |
Nutritional Ethics
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Brooklyn |
HNTR |
26.1 |
Introduction to the U.S. Health System |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
HNTR |
47.0 |
Life Cycle Nutrition |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
HNTR |
51.0 |
Institutional Food Service Management |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
HNTR |
53.1 |
Community Nutrition Education |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
HNTR |
60.1 |
Program Planning and Health Education |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
HNTR |
72.1 |
Health Disparities in the United States |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
PHIL |
15.1 |
Environmental Ethics |
3 |
| John Jay |
HJS |
250 |
Justice in the Western Tradition |
3 |
| John Jay |
HJS |
315 |
Research Methods in Humanities and Justice Studies |
3 |
| John Jay |
HJS |
410 |
Senior Prospectus |
3 |
| John Jay |
HJS |
415 |
Research Project in Humanities and Justice Studies |
3 |
Sustainable Energy
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Baruch |
EES |
3002 |
Energy Conservation |
3 |
| Hunter |
GEOG |
370 |
Sustainable Development in Developing Countries |
3 |
| Hunter |
GEOL |
498 |
Internship (Center for Sustainable Energy, Bronx Community College) |
3 |
| Hunter |
P SC |
244 |
Energy and Environmental Planning and Public Policy |
3 |
| Hunter |
CMHE |
325 |
Environmental Public Health Problems |
3 |
| Hunter |
PHYS |
204 |
Electrical Circuits |
3 |
| Hunter |
PHYS |
221/2 |
Electronics (and Lab) |
3 |
| Hunter |
PHYS |
230 |
Classic Physics Lab |
3 |
| Hunter |
PHYS |
334 |
Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism |
3 |
| Hunter |
PHYS |
453 |
Independent Study (PV Installation) |
3 |
Sustainable Food Studies
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Baruch |
ENG |
2150 |
Food Glorious Food: Writing about Agriculture and Social Justice |
3 |
| Baruch |
JRN |
3800 |
Environmental Reporting |
3 |
| Brooklyn |
HNTR |
7131 |
Recent Developments in Foods (Graduate level) |
3 |
| Hunter |
GEOG |
383 |
Environmental Ethics: Eating, Agriculture and Biotechnology |
3 |
| Hunter |
SOC |
314 |
Culture and Consumption |
3 |
| Hunter |
PH |
77060 |
Food Policy and Political (Graduate level) |
3 |
| Graduate Center |
EES |
79904 |
Planning for Global and Local Food Security |
3 |
| Graduate Center |
PUBH |
86100 |
Independent Study (Urban Food Environments) |
3 |
| NYCCT |
HGMT |
2203 |
Culinary Arts II |
3 |
| NYCCT |
HGMT |
4961 |
Contemporary Cuisine |
3 |
| Queens |
NUTR |
499 |
Food and Culture of Italy (Study Abroad) |
3 |
Zoology
| College |
Department |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
| Baruch |
EES |
3015 |
Tropical Reef Ecology |
3 |
| Hunter |
ANTH |
310 |
Primate Ecology and Behavior |
3 |
| Hunter College |
PSY |
225 |
Ethology: Animal Behavior |
3 |
| Staten Island |
BIO |
313 |
Vertebrate Zoology |
3 |
| Staten Island |
BIO |
222 |
Field Biology |
3 |
| Staten Island |
BIO |
230 |
Marine Biology and Oceanography |
3 |
| Staten Island |
ESC |
601 |
Biosphere and Our Species |
3 |
| Staten Island |
PHIL |
266 |
Environmental Ethics |
3 |
