SUNY General Education Requirement
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).
Effective Fall 2023, SUNY has updated the General Education (GE) Framework system-wide for all Baccalaureate, Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degree programs. Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) degree programs must implement the new SUNY General Education requirements beginning in Fall 2024.
SUNY General Education Knowledge and Skills Areas
A minimum of 7 of 10 categories of knowledge and skills are required for all Baccalaureate, AA, and AS degree programs, effective Fall 2023, and for AAS degree programs, effective Fall 2024.
The following four knowledge and skills areas are specifically required for all undergraduate degree programs:
- Communication: Written (GCW) and Oral (GCO)
- Diversity: Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice (GDV)
- Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (GM)
- Natural Science and Scientific Reasoning (GNS)
In addition, a minimum of three of the following six knowledge and skills areas are required for all Baccalaureate, AA, and AS degree programs:
- Humanities (GH)
- Social Science (GSS)
- The Arts (GA)
- US History and Civic Engagement (GUS)
- World History and Global Awareness (GWH)
- World Languages (GFL)
SUNY General Education Core Competencies (both required for all undergraduate degree programs):
- Critical Thinking and Reasoning (CTR)
- Information Literacy (IL)
In addition to completing the SUNY General Education Requirements, some degrees require additional general education credits in the Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS).
| Degree | SUNY GE Credits | SUNY GE Knowledge & Skills Areas | SUNY GE Core Competencies | Additional LAS Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate in Occupational Studies | - | 4 Embedded and/or Freestanding | 2 Embedded and/or Freestanding | - |
| Associate in Applied Science | 20 | 4/10 | 2 | - |
| Associate in Arts | 30 | 7/10 | 2 | 15 |
| Associate in Science | 30 | 7/10 | 2 | - |
| Bachelor of Technology | 30 | 7/10 | 2 | - |
| Bachelor of Business Administration | 30 | 7/10 | 2 | - |
| Bachelor of Science | 30 | 7/10 | 2 | 30 |
The following courses satisfy the SUNY General Education Requirements and/or Liberal Arts and Sciences Requirements.
SUNY General Education – Communication Written (GCW)
- COMM 105 Research & Communication
- COMP 101 Composition & Research
- COMP 102 Writing about Literature
- COMP 110 Technical Communication
- COMP 220 Writing in the Disciplines
- COMP 221 Advanced Composition & Research
- COMP 310 Advanced Technical Communication
- COMP 310 Advanced Technical Communication
SUNY General Education – Communication Oral (GCO)
- COMM 105 Research & Communication
- COMM 111 Introduction to Speech
- COMP 110 Technical Communications
SUNY General Education – Diversity: Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice (GDV)
- ENSC 261 Environmental Justice
- HUMN 241 Diversity & Humanities: Special Topics
- HUMN 341 Diversity & Humanities: Special Topics
- LITR 241 Diversity in Literature: Special Topics
- LITR 341 Diversity in Literature: Special Topics
- SOCI 261 Environmental Justice
SUNY General Education – Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (GM)
- AGSC 137 Agricultural Statistics
- MATH 102 Intermediate Algebra with Trigonometry
- MATH 103 College Algebra with Trigonometry
- MATH 123 Elementary Statistics
- MATH 127 Mathematical Reasoning
- MATH 141 Statistics
- MATH 145 Discrete Mathematics
- MATH 147 Selected Topics in Pre-calculus
- MATH 149 Elementary Linear Algebra
- MATH 151 General Calculus A
- MATH 152 General Calculus B
- MATH 153 Business Calculus
- MATH 161 Calculus I
- MATH 162 Calculus II
- MATH 261 Calculus III
- MATH 262 Differential Equations
SUNY General Education – Natural Sciences and Scientific Reasoning (GNS)
- AGEN 161 Basic Hydraulics
- AGRO 110 Soil Science
- AGRO 215 Soil Fertility & Fertilizers
- AGSC 132 Computer Applications in Precision Farming 1
- ASTR 101 Solar Astronomy
- ASTR 110 Stellar Astronomy
- BIOL 101 Introduction to Biology
- BIOL 102 Botany: Form & Function of Seed Plants
- BIOL 103 Botany: Plant Diversity
- BIOL 105 Human Biology
- BIOL 107 Topics in Contemporary Biology
- BIOL 109 Biology & Literature
- BIOL 120 General Biology I
- BIOL 121 General Biology II
- BIOL 135 Myology I
- BIOL 136 Myology II
- BIOL 137 Neurology
- BIOL 150 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
- BIOL 151 Human Anatomy & Physiology II
- BIOL 230 Human Genetics
- BIOL 260 Principles of Zoology
- BIOL 285 General Microbiology
- BIOL 300 Biology of Normal and Neoplastic Cells
- BIOL 301 Pathophysiology
- BIOL 302 Epidemiology
- BIOL 405 Basic Immunology
- CHEM 101 Basic Chemistry
- CHEM 110 Contemporary Chemistry
- CHEM 121 General Chemistry I
- CHEM 122 General Chemistry II
- CHEM 141 Chemical Principles I
- CHEM 142 Chemical Principles II
- CHEM 220 Introduction to Organic Chemistry
- CHEM 241 Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 242 Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 361 Biochemistry
- DANS 110 Dairy Breeding
- DANS 120 Anatomy and Physiology of the Dairy Cow
- ENGR 201 Statics
- ENGR 202 Dynamics
- ENGR 210 Electrical Systems
- ENGR 212 Mechanics of Materials
- ENSC 101 Agricultural Science
- ENSC 102 Botany: Form & Function of Seed Plants
- ENSC 103 Botany: Plant Diversity
- ENSC 125 Environmental Chemistry
- ESCI 110 Equine Anatomy & Physiology
- ESCI 305 Equine Reproduction & Breeding Management
- HORT 150 Fruit & Vegetable Production
- HORT 201 Plant Propagation
- HORT 241 Plant Protection
- MECH 120 Engineering Materials
- MECH 211 Analytical Mechanics (Statics)
- MECH 213 Strength of Materials
- NATR 101 General Ecology
- NATR 115 Forest Ecology
- NATR 140 Geology
- NATR 145 Introduction to Environmental Technology
- NATR 152 Fish Reproduction
- NATR 153 Marine Biology
- NATR 160 Principles of Arboriculture
- NATR 210 Dendrology
- NATR 221 Invasive Species Management
- NATR 232 Wildlife Ecology and Management
- NATR 250 Aquatic Ecology
- NATR 252 Fish Ecology and Management
- NATR 254 Fish Health Management
- NATR 260 Principles of Zoology
- PHYS 107 Introductory Physics I
- PHYS 108 Introductory Physics II
- PHYS 127 General Physics I
- PHYS 128 General Physics II
- PHYS 154 University Physics I (Mechanics)
- PHYS 155 University Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism)
- PHYS 254 University Physics III (Sound and Thermodynamics)
- PHYS 255 University Physics IV (Optics and Modern Physics)
- PSCI 101 Physical Science
- RENG 102 Renewable Energy Resources
SUNY General Education – Humanities (GH)
- AGSC 320 Contemporary Issues in Agriculture
- COMM 121 Theories of Interpersonal Communication
- COMP 102 Writing about Literature
- HUMN 230 Rural Studies
- LITR 241 Diversity in Literature: Special Topics
- HUMN 261 Games, World Build, Story
- LITR 341 Diversity in Literature: Special Topics
- LITR 203 American Literature to 1900
- LITR 204 American Literature 1900 to the Present
- LITR 205 English Literature to 1800
- LITR 206 English Literature 1800 to the Present
- LITR 207 Western World Literature
- LITR 208 Eastern World Literature
- LITR 211 Black American Writers
- LITR 221 Literature of Gender
- LITR 231 Modern Literature
- LITR 232 Major American Novels
- LITR 233 Literature & the Environment
- LITR 234 Aspects of Contemporary Literature
- LITR 241 Diversity in Literature: Special Topics
- LITR 343 Biology & Literature
- LITR 341 Diversity in Literature: Special Topics
- LITR 342 Science Fiction
- MUSI 102 History of Jazz
- PHIL 201 Introduction to Philosophy: The Basic Issues
- PHIL 211 Modern Ethics
- PHIL 311 Professional Ethics
- PHIL 320 Contemporary Issues in Agriculture
- STS 401 Advanced Topics in STS
SUNY General Education – Social Science (GSS)
- AGBS 225 Environmental Economics
- ECON 100 Introduction to Macroeconomics
- ECON 140 Introduction to Microeconomics
- ECON 300 Money, Banking and Financial Markets
- ECON 370 International Economics
- ENSC 261 Environmental Justice
- POLI 101 American National Government
- POLI 111 State and Local Governments
- PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology
- PSYC 161 Social Science and Pseudoscience
- PSYC 211 LIfespan Development
- PSYC 221 Biological Psychology
- PSYC 241 Child Development
- PSYC 242 Adolescent Development
- PSYC 243 Adult Development
- PSYC 251 Abnormal Psychology
- PSYC 255 Psychology of Personal Adjustment
- PSYC 284 Psychology of Gender
- PSYC 291 Human Diversity Social Context
- PSYC 304 Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- PSYC 381 Personality
- PSYC 384 Group Behavior
- PSYC 386 Social Psychology
- SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology
- SOCI 201 Social Problems
- SOCI 220 Marriage & the Family
- SOCI 221 Death & Dying
- SOCI 250 Social Gerontology
- SOCI 261 Environmental Justice
- SOCI 270 Drugs, Society & Behavior
- SOCI 360 Social Movements and Community Change
- SOCI 390 Urban Sociology
- STS 101 Values of Science & Technology
- STS 301 Human VS. Nature
- STS 316 Investigating Cyberculture
SUNY General Education – The Arts (GA)
- ARCH 141 Architectural Design I w/Lab
- ARCH 142 Architectural Design II w/Lab
- ARCH 151 Architectural Pre History to 1800
- ARCH 182 Architectural Graphic Communications
- ARCH 243 Architectural Design III w/Lab
- ARCH 244 Architectural Design IV w/Lab
- ART 110 Introduction to the Visual Arts
- ART 120 Introduction to Drawing
- ART 121 Introduction to Painting
- ART 131 Introduction to Photography
- CITA 113 Introduction to Game Design & Development
- COMP 230 Creative Writing: Short Story
- COMP 231 Creative Writing: Poetry
- COMP 233 Creative Writing: Nonfiction
- HORT 403 Planting Design
- HUMN 210 The Film Experience
- MUSI 101 Introduction to Music & Art
- MUSI 102 History of Jazz
- MUSI 150 Ensemble I
- MUSI 155 Ensemble II
- MUSI 160 Ensemble III
- MUSI 165 Ensemble IV
- THEA 124 Introduction to Theater
- THEA 125 Play Production
- THEA 150 Theater Production Lab
SUNY General Education – US History and Civic Engagement (GUS)
- HIST 101 United States History to 1800
- HIST 102 United States History from 1800 to 1900
- HIST 103 United States History from 1900 to the Present
- HIST 220 African American History
- HIST 225 Women in the United States
- HIST 320 History of New York State
SUNY General Education – World History and Global Awareness (GWH)
- ANTH101 Introduction to Anthropology
- GEOG 101 Introduction to World Regional Geography
- HIST 151 World History to 1600
- HIST 152 World History from 1500
- HIST 161 European History to 1684
- HIST 162 European History from 1500
- HIST 171 Environmental History
- HIST 172 Latin American & Caribbean History
- HIST 181 History of Technology to 1800
- HIST 182 History of Technology from 1750
- HIST 351 The World Since 1914
- HIST 371 The World Wars
- HIST 372 The Cold War
- HIST 375 Russian History
- HUMN 220 Introduction to Islam
- HUMN 231 Native American Studies
- LITR 208 Eastern World Literature
- POLI 151 Introduction to Comparative Government
SUNY General Education – World Languages (GFL)
- AMSL 101 American Sign Language I
- AMSL 102 American Sign Language II
- CHIN 101 Beginning Mandarin Chinese I
- CHIN 102 Beginning Mandarin Chinese II
- SPAN 101 Beginning College Spanish I
- SPAN 102 Beginning College Spanish II
- SPAN 125 Spanish for Heritage Speakers
- SPAN 201 Intermediate College Spanish I
- SPAN 202 Intermediate College Spanish II
Courses Fulfilling the Liberal Arts and Sciences Only (LAS)
- AGEN 120 Water Supply & Sanitation
- ARCH 102 Introduction to Architecture
- ARCH 151 Architecture: Prehistory to 1800
- ARCH 252 Architecture: 1800 to Present
- CJUS 101 Intro to CJUS Systems
- CJUS 235 Juvenile Delinquency
- COMM 101 Critical Reading
- COMM 131 Small Group Discussion
- COMP 100 Introduction to College Writing
- COMP 232 Creative Writing
- COMP 240 Editing 1
- COMP 241 Editing 2
- COMP 242 Editing 3
- HIST 221 History of the Vietnam War
- HIST 251 Topics in 20th Century World History
- MAGN 106 Real-World Mathematics
- MAGN 107 Mathematical Literacy
- NATR 158 Fish Nutrition
- PLAS 121 Introduction to Plastics
- POLI 113 American Judiciary System