Academic Programs

A strong foundation for a career in law enforcement.

In partnership with the Little Falls Police Department, Herkimer College offers Phase I Pre-Employment Police Basic Training. This first phase of pre-employment training is open to civilians and sworn police officers as an alternative to the conventional manner of conducting the Basic Course for Police Officers. The program will prepare students to begin preparation for a career as a police officer prior to being hired by a law enforcement agency. As a further benefit, the program provides law enforcement agencies and municipalities with a diverse pool of trained police officer candidates.

State-of-the-art Law Enforcement Training Center

Herkimer College now offers a state-of-the-art Law Enforcement Training Center featuring a VirTra® virtual reality training system. The training system has hundreds of scenarios that allow for realistic training in areas like de-escalation, use of force, interacting with mentally ill people, and more. The system helps students hone their communication and decision-making skills in stressful situations.

Herkimer’s V-300® solution includes five large screens for a 300-degree immersive training environment. Outcomes are based on the actions taken by the police officer in real-time with multiple responses from on-screen persons. The immersive environment recreates psychological stressors like an elevated heart rate and high levels of adrenaline that officers experience during intense training.

Turn your curiosity into a career.

Have you ever wondered why people behave in certain ways? Do you love solving practical or theoretical problems? Or maybe you’ve always dreamed of making a real difference in other people's lives? Earning a degree in psychology might be a great choice for you.

An associate degree in psychology can be an excellent starting point for further study. Herkimer College's associate degree in psychology is designed to provide a solid foundation in psychological studies which will prepare students for a successful transfer to a four-year college or university. Graduates of psychology programs can find career opportunities in fields such as clinical psychology, social work, counseling, educational psychology, art therapy, security, human resources, business management, advertising, and public relations. Earning an associate degree in psychology can help you make an informed choice on the direction of your career goals.

This program is designed for transfer to a four-year institution such as SUNY Plattsburgh or SUNY Polytechnic Institute for more specialized study before entering the workforce.

Develop critical skills needed for successful quality management.

Interested in quality management? At Herkimer, you’ll explore the concepts of quality assurance and control, and develop the basic skills to succeed in a management or technician role in a variety of private sector industries, such as manufacturing, health services, food and drug production, and environmental/construction services. 

With your Herkimer College degree, you’ll be able to devise, implement, and track adherence to procedures. You’ll also be able to compile data for record keeping and reporting purposes, and determine the root cause of incidents.

Transfer Information:

Upon graduation from this unique program, you’ll have the opportunity to transfer into the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program at Morrisville State College or SUNY Cobleskill.

Develop quality assurance and quality control skills.

From business management to a technician role within a variety of private sector industries—manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, health services, food and drug production, and environmental/construction services—your Quality Assurance degree will prepare you for real-world application.

Successful graduates from this program will be prepared for entry-level positions in quality assurance and for transfer to a four-year college or university.

The scientific knowledge, skills, and values you need to thrive.

Herkimer College’s Science A.S. program prepares students for transfer to four-year college and university science programs. The program mirrors the first two years of a four-year science degree program. Class sizes are small, so students enjoy a more personal academic experience. While designed for transfer, some graduates secure employment in positions that do not require advanced degrees.

Graduates are prepared to:

• Demonstrate analytical abilities in organizing, data gathering, synthesizing, and evaluating
• Demonstrate an ability to use the scientific process to solve problems
• Demonstrate an understanding of value systems
• Write a scientific research paper
• Discuss and evaluate current science issues such as health, medical, environmental, and biotechnological problems

Take your management skills to the next level.

New to business? This one-year certificate program in Small Business Management will help you gain key foundational principles and skills to enter the job market. And, if you already have a background in business, this is the perfect program to elevate your career. 

With a Small Business Management certificate from Herkimer, you’ll be able to prepare budgets, maintain accounting records, supervise employees, and interpret contracts, and more—which will unlock access to positions in retail, service and manufacturing businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and government agencies.

The first step to starting your own business.

Attention all aspiring entrepreneurs: This is the program for you. 

Designed for students who would like to own and operate their own business, Herkimer’s Small Business Management A.A.S. provides the essential entrepreneurial tools needed to get a business up and running. 

As a Herkimer graduate, you’ll be able to write solid business plans, use relevant business software applications, organize a sole proprietorship, form a partnership and incorporate a small business, and prepare budgets—all of which will also set you up for success in entry-level business management positions.

An exploration into the sources of human behavior.

The social sciences deal with human society and social relationships. Coursework includes various topics, including:

• History
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Geography
• Economics
• Anthropology

Through your studies, you'll understand more fully topics like prejudice, family life, democracy, human personality, crime, poverty, and unemployment.

A degree in Social Science from Herkimer College prepares you for careers in law, government, social work, and teaching. It is also designed for students who plan to transfer to four-year institutions.

Hit the ground running in the business of recreation.

With focused coursework in business, health, recreation, and liberal arts, Herkimer’s Sports & Recreation Management A.A.S. gives you the practical knowledge and skills to step into entry-level positions in public and private recreational facilities. 

As a graduate of our program, you’ll be confident in your ability to own and operate a small sports or recreation business, coach a variety of sports, implement recreational programs at treatment facilities, and more. 

From resorts, golf courses, and fitness centers to sporting goods stores, campgrounds, parks and recreation departments, and youth services, a degree from Herkimer gives you open access to a wide variety of career options. 

Students have also continued their education at SUNY Brockport, SUNY Cortland, Ithaca College, and St. John’s University.

Fill a growing demand. Increase your earning potential.

Supply Chain Management is a system approach to managing the entire flow of information, materials, and services from raw material suppliers through factories and warehouses to the end-customer. 

Supply Chain Management represents a philosophy of doing business that stresses processes and integration resulting in operational efficiency and profitability.

Herkimer College's Supply Chain Management A.A.S. program will prepare students for a variety of supervisory roles in logistics. Successful graduates will be prepared to perform business functions required to successfully maintain an effective supply chain management process, create and maintain effective and updated regulatory standards necessary, and follow standard operational procedures.

This program can be completed online, and most courses can also be completed on campus.

Or, take the first step with our new Logistics Management Essentials microcredential.*

Establish yourself in the field or take your first step toward the Supply Chain Management A.A.S. with an online microcredential.

This 12-credit program includes four different foundational courses, so it’s a great starting point for new supply chain professionals to build fundamental industry knowledge.

The program prepares students with the fundamental knowledge required for a variety of jobs in logistics or supply chain management, including in purchasing, transportation, inventory, and warehousing.

Successful participants will learn to manage the workflow of information, materials, and services from raw material suppliers through factories and warehouses to the end-customer. 

*Students taking this microcredential may be eligible for NYS Part-Time Tuition Assistance for Non-Degree Credentials.

Contact Associate Dean William McDonald for more information: mcdonalwh@herkimer.edu | 315.866.0300 x8241.