The SUNY General Education Requirement (SUNY-GER) enables students to acquire knowledge and skills that are useful and important for all educated persons, regardless of their jobs or professions. (SUNY Board of Trustees Resolution, January 2010)
The SUNY-GER is required for all bachelor's degree candidates.* Every four-year SUNY campus has a general education curriculum that reflects the SUNY-GER and is designed to provide a solid foundation for your college education and make transfers within SUNY as smooth and seamless as possible.
If you entered SUNY in fall 2010 or later, to earn a SUNY bachelor's degree, you must earn 30 credits in at least seven of the following ten SUNY-GER subject areas, and demonstrate two competencies.
Basic Communication (required)
Mathematics (required)
American History
Other World Civilizations
Foreign Language
Social Sciences
Humanities
The Arts
Natural Sciences
Western Civilization
*If you entered SUNY between fall 1998 and fall 2009, you may need to complete a course in each of the ten areas, but your advisor may be able to tell you about other options.
If you entered SUNY before fall 1998, the SUNY-GER may not apply. A very limited number of majors at some campuses may not require the entire SUNY-GER. Check with your advisor for more information.
Your academic advisor can help you plan a path to meet your SUNY General Education Requirements, as well as any other general education requirements for your specific campus and major. For the specific campus and major(s) you intend to complete, find out about:
General education requirements vary by campus and by major. However, if you satisfy a SUNY-GER area at one SUNY campus with a grade of C or higher, you will have met that SUNY-GER area at every other SUNY campus. Campuses may make some exemptions to general education requirements because of AP, IB, CLEP, DANTES or ACTFL exams, or prior college credits. Visit Campus Requirements to determine the areas required by each campus and major, and the courses available within those areas.
In general, if you earn a grade of C or higher in SUNY-GER course, you will have satisfied the general education component for that course at every SUNY campus.
If you plan to transfer within SUNY to earn a bachelor's degree, you may want to complete as many SUNY-GER courses as you can before you transfer. Try to complete courses in at least 7 SUNY-GER areas, including the 2 required areas, before you transfer. If you complete SUNY-GER courses that fit the expectations of your transfer campus and major, you will be making good progress toward your bachelor's degree.