General Education Requirements

Enrolled SUNY Students

In January 1998, the Joint Task Force on General Education of the State University of New York, Faculty Senate and Faculty Council of Community Colleges issued a report expressing the need to enhance General Education curricula and recommended the adoption of common, system-wide learning goals. In December 1998, the State University of New York Board of Trustees responded by adopting Resolution 98-241 establishing General Education guidelines for state-operated institutions of the State University of New York. The specific courses and content comprising this curricula at the State University campus became the responsibility of the campus faculty and administrators.

These requirements apply to all state-operated institutions offering undergraduate degrees. It requires baccalaureate degree candidates, as a condition of graduation, to complete a General Education program of no fewer than 30 credit hours specifically designed to achieve the student learning outcomes in ten knowledge and skill areas and two competencies. Basic communication skills are also required.

The knowledge and skills areas include Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, American History, Western Civilization, Other World Civilizations, Humanities, the Arts, Foreign Language and Basic Communication.

The competencies include Critical Thinking (Reasoning) and Information Management.

The General Education requirement should be completed by all undergraduate baccalaureate degree candidates within their first two years of study. Community college students wishing to transfer to a four-year SUNY institution should complete these requirements while earning their associate degree.

Details of the general education programs, including the number of required courses and amount of choice, are related to the student’s major and whether they are enrolled as a freshman or transfer student. Certain degree programs (BPS in architecture, health-related professions, management, nursing, BFA in art, dance, theatre or music theatre) do not have a language requirement.

The General Education requirements typically take four semesters to complete. Some exemptions to requirements may be made because of AP or IB coursework or college credit courses taken before matriculation.

Community college students who have not completed the General Education requirement in two years are eligible to transfer to a four-year SUNY college or university. However, they are required to fulfill the General Education requirements while at the four-year school. They are advised to complete these requirements at the community college level to make room for academic major requirements at the four-year level.