General Education

SUNY General Education empowers students to meet the changing demands of the 21st-century by creating a system-wide framework-applicable to all SUNY undergraduate degree programs-that addresses the fundamental aims of postsecondary undergraduate education, including proficiency with essential skills and competencies, familiarization with disciplinary and interdisciplinary ways of knowing, and enhancement of the values and disposition of an engaged 21st century global citizenry.

 New Requirements starting Fall 2023

New SUNY General Education requirements became effective with the start of the fall 2023 semester- all new first-time students entering AA- and AS- degree programs in or after the fall 2023 semester will be subject to these requirements.

Continuing, returning, and transfer students who first entered SUNY as new students prior to the fall 2023 semester, who have not had an interruption of study lasting more than two academic years, are subject to the General Education requirements in place at the time of first enrollment. Previous General Education requirements are available HERE. These students also have the option of choosing the new General Education requirements.

Returning students who had an interruption of study lasting more than two years have the option to choose either the requirements in place at the original time of matriculation, or the requirements in place at time of re-entry. Students who enrolled as non-matriculated prior to fall 2023 are subject to the requirements in place at the time of matriculation. .

SUNY General Education Requirement for A.A. and A.S. Degrees

The SUNY General Education (GE) Requirement is the 30-credit requirement for SUNY baccalaureate, A.A. and A.S. degree recipients, which supports academic excellence as well as student choice, mobility and degree attainment by expecting students to demonstrate achievement of SUNY-wide learning outcomes.

30 credits in a minimum of 7 of 10 SUNY GE knowledge and skills areas are required for all students in programs leading to A.A., A.S. and baccalaureate degrees.

Courses in each of the 4 SUNY- GE knowledge and skills areas of Mathematics; Written and Oral Communication; Natural Sciences; and Diversity: Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice are all required. Courses in at least 3 of the remaining 6 areas are also required. In particular, courses in Social Science and the Humanities are strongly encouraged, as these areas are required in nearly all bachelor’s degree general education programs, giving students who complete them the maximum flexibility for transfer options. 

General Education Knowledge and Skills Areas

COMMUNICATION - WRITTEN AND ORAL

Students will research a topic, develop an argument, organize supporting details, and demonstrate coherent college-level communication (written and oral) that informs, persuades, or otherwise engages with an audience, while also demonstrating the ability to revise and improve written and oral communication. They will additionally evaluate communication for substance, bias, and intended effect.

DIVERSITY: EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Students will describe the historical and contemporary societal factors that shape the development of individual and group identity involving race, class, and gender, and will analyze the role that complex networks of social structures and systems play in the creation and perpetuation of the dynamics of power, privilege, oppression, and opportunity. They will also apply the principles of rights, access, equity, and autonomous participation to past, current, or future social justice action.

MATHEMATICS (AND QUANTITATIVE REASONING)

Students will demonstrate mathematical skills and quantitative reasoning, including the ability to interpret and draw inferences from appropriate mathematical models such as formulas, graphs, tables, or schematics, and will employ quantitative methods such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, or statistics to solve problems. They will represent mathematical information symbolically, visually, numerically, or verbally as appropriate.

NATURAL SCIENCES (AND SCIENTIFIC REASONING)

Students will demonstrate understanding of the methods scientists use to explore natural phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of mathematical analysis; and application of scientific data, concepts, and models in one of the natural sciences.

HUMANITIES

Students will demonstrate knowledge of the conventions and methods of at least one of the humanities, and recognize and analyze nuance and complexity of meaning through critical reflections on text, visual images, or artifacts.

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Students will describe major concepts and theories of at least one discipline in the social sciences, and will demonstrate an understanding of the methods social scientists use to explore social phenomena.

THE ARTS

Students will demonstrate understanding of at least one principal form of artistic expression and the creative process inherent therein.

US HISTORY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Students will demonstrate understanding of United States’ society and/or history, and apply historical and contemporary evidence to draw, support, or verify conclusions. They will also demonstrate understanding of the diversity of individuals and communities that make up the nation, and understand the role of individual participation in US communities and government.

 WORLD HISTORY AND GLOBAL AWARENESS

Students will demonstrate knowledge of a broad outline of world history and/or the development of the distinctive features of at least one civilization or culture in relation to other regions of the world. They will also demonstrate an understanding of the structures, systems, and interrelationships among civilizations and cultures within historical and/or contemporary contexts, and their impact on wellbeing and sustainability.

WORLD LANGUAGES

Students will demonstrate basic proficiency in the understanding and use of a world language and knowledge of the distinctive features of culture(s) associated with the language they are studying.

General Education Core Competencies

Reinforcement of the two core competencies can be found throughout any program of study, however students are required to take courses that are specifically designated as supporting the requirements of these competencies.

CRITICAL THINKING AND REASONING

Students will clearly articulate an issue or problem and develop well-reasoned (logical) arguments to form judgments and/or draw conclusions. They will also identify, analyze, and evaluate ideas, data, and arguments as they occur in their own or others’ work and acknowledge limitations such as perspective and bias.

INFORMATION LITERACY

Students will locate information effectively using tools appropriate to their need and discipline and evaluate information with an awareness of authority, validity, and bias. They will also demonstrate an understanding of the ethical dimensions of information use, creation, and dissemination.

Knowledge Areas

1. Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning)

• MAT 101 - College Mathematics 3 cr.
• MAT 110 - Quantitative Reasoning 3 cr.
• MAT 115 - College Algebra and Trigonometry 4 cr.
• MAT 140 - Foundations of Elementary School Mathematics 3 cr.
• MAT 160 - Pre‐Calculus 4 cr.
• MAT 170 - Calculus I 4 cr.
• MAT 180 - Calculus II 4 cr.
• MAT 203 - Calculus III 4 cr.
• MAT 211 - Elementary Statistics 3 cr.
• MAT 240 - Elem. School Geometry 3 cr.

2. Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning)

• AST 101 - Astronomy of Stars and Galaxies 3 cr.
• AST 102 - Solar System Astronomy 3 cr.
• AST 105 - Ancient Astronomy 3 cr.
• BIO 101 - Biology I for Nonscience Majors 3 cr.
• BIO 105 - General Biology I 4 cr.
• BIO 106 - General Biology II 4 cr.
• BIO 107 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 cr.
• BIO 108 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 cr.
• BIO 109 - Human Biology 3 cr.
• BIO 201 - Microbiology 4 cr.
• BIO 206 - Genetics 4 cr.
• BIO 207 - General Ecology 4 cr.
• CHE 101 - Introductory Chemistry I 4 cr.
• CHE 102 - Introductory Chemistry II 4 cr.
• CHE 103 - General Chemistry I 4 cr.
• CHE 104 - General Chemistry II 4 cr.
• CHE 111 - Energy Alternatives 3 cr.
• CHE 201 - Organic Chemistry I 3 cr.
• CHE 202 - Organic Chemistry II 3 cr.
• ESC 101 - Earth’s Atmosphere & Oceans 3 cr.
• ESC 102 - Planet Earth 3 cr.
• ESC 103 - History of Life 3 cr.
• ESC 104 - Physical Geology 4 cr.
• ESC 105 - Earth History 4 cr.
• ESC 106 - Energy and the Earth History 3 cr.
• ESC 109 - Introduction to Meteorology 4 cr.
• ESC 114 - Geology of the National Parks 3 cr.
• ESC 140 - Earth’s Environment 3 cr.
• ESC 230 - Geology of New York State 3 cr.
• PHY 101 - Physics I 4 cr.
• PHY 102 - Physics II 4 cr.
• PHY 109 - General Physics I 4 cr.
• PHY 110 - General Physics II 4 cr.
• SCI 104 - Environmental Themes 3 cr.
• SCI 110 - Introduction to Food and Nutrition 3 cr.
• SCI 171 - Honors Environmental Themes 4 cr.

3. Social Sciences

• ECO 101 - Introduction to Macroeconomics 3 cr.
• ECO 102 - Introduction to Microeconomics 3 cr.
• ECO 171 - Honors Macroeconomics 3 cr.
• CRJ 230 - Understanding Crime and Criminal Behavior 3 cr.
• POS 201 - American Government 3 cr.
• POS 202 - Comparitive Government 3 cr.
• POS 206 - Introduction to International Relations 3 cr.
• PSY 101 - General Psychology 3 cr.
• PSY 171 - Honors Psychology 3 cr.
• PSY 200 - Psychology Child Development 3 cr.
• PSY 201 - Social Psychology 3 cr.
• PSY 203 - Abnormal Psychology 3 cr.
• PSY 206 - Psychology of Adolescence 3 cr.
• PSY 209 - Forensic Psychology 3 cr.
• PSY 210 - Life Span Development 3 cr.
• PSY 220 - Personality Theory 3 cr.
• SOC 101 - Principles of Sociology 3 cr.
• SOC 203 - Criminology 3 cr.
• SOC 206 - Social Problems 3 cr.
• SOC 207 - Sociology of the Family 3 cr.
• SOC 213 - Cultural Diversity 3 cr.

4. US History and Civic Engagement

• HIS 103 - American History I 3 cr.
• HIS 104 - American History II 3 cr.
• HIS 206 - Immigration and Ethnicity in American History 3 cr.
• HIS 265 - African-American History 3 cr.
• HIS 266 - Native American History 3 cr.  

5. World History and Global Awareness

• ART 101 - Introduction to Visual Arts I 3 cr.
• ART 107 - Art History I 3 cr.
• ART 108 - Art History II 3 cr.
• ART 110 -  20th Century Art History 3 cr
• ART 220 - History of 20th Century Design 3 cr.
• COM 219 - World Cinema 3 cr.
• ENG 214 - Contemporary World Literature 3 cr.
• ENG 222 - African Literature 3 cr. 
• FAS 130 - Costume History 3 cr.
• HIS 101 - Western Civilization I 3 cr.
• HIS 102 - Western Civilization II 3 cr.
• HIS 171 - Honors History I 3 cr.
• HIS 173 - Honors History II 3 cr.
• HIS 213 - Ancien Rome: Republic and Empire 3 cr.
• HIS 223 - The Early Middle Ages 3 cr.

6. Humanities

• ART 107 - Art History I 3 cr.
• ART 108 - Art History II 3 cr.
• ART 110 - 20th Century Art History 3 cr.
• BUS 249 - Business Ethics 3 cr.
• COM 124 - Media and Society 3 cr.
• COM 171 - Honors Public Speaking 3 cr.
• COM 203 - Oral Interpretation 3 cr.
• COM 209 - Art of the Film 3 cr.
• CRJ 233 - Ethics in Criminal Justice 3 cr.
• ENG 102 - English Composition II 3 cr.
• ENG 201 - British Literature I 3 cr.
• ENG 202 - British Literature II 3 cr.
• ENG 203 - American Literature I 3 cr.
• ENG 204 - American Literature II 3 cr.
• ENG 206 - Literature: Selected Topics 3 cr.
• ENG 207 - Contemporary Literature 3 cr.
• ENG 212 - The Short Story 3 cr.
• ENG 215 - Shakespeare 3 cr.
• ENG 218 - Classics of Children’s Literature 3 cr.
• ENG 220 - Introduction to Drama 3 cr.
• ENG 223 - Introduction to Poetry 3 cr.
• ENG 225 - Creative Writing 3 cr.
• ENG 245 - Multiethnic Literature 3 cr.
• HUS 103 - Intro to Human Services 3 cr.
• HUS 209 - Ethics and Standards for Human Services 3 cr.
• MUS 101 - Music Theory I 3 cr.
• MUS 102 - Music Theory II 3 cr.
• MUS 105 - Music Appreciation 3 cr.
• THE 101 - Introduction to the Theatre 3 cr.

7. The Arts

• ART 101 - Introduction to Visual Arts I 3 cr.
• ART 103 - Drawing & Composition I 3 cr.
• ART 104 - Drawing & Composition II 3 cr.
• ART 105 - Painting I 3 cr.
• ART 106 - Painting II 3 cr.
• ART 107 - Art History I 3 cr.
• ART 108 - Art History II 3 cr.
• ART 110 - 20th Century Art History 3 cr.
• ART 111 - Printmaking 3 cr.
• ART 112 - Fashion Drawing & Design I 3 cr.
• ART 113 - Fashion Drawing & Design II 3 cr.
• ART 114 - Watercolor Painting 3 cr.
• ART 117 - Introduction to Drawing I 3 cr.
• ART 122 - Curatorial Studies 3 cr.
• ART 124 - Introduction to Design Foundation 3 cr.
• ART 130 - Photography I 3 cr.
• ART 131 - Photography II 3 cr.
• ART 150 - Two‐Dimensional Design 3 cr.
• ART 161 - Graphic Design I 3 cr.
• ART 165 - Digital Imaging I 3 cr.
• ART 209 - Life Drawing/Anatomy I 3 cr.
• ART 210 - Life Drawing/Anatomy II 3 cr.
• ART 220 - History of 20th Century Design 3 cr.
• ART 262 - Branding Identity and Strategy 3 cr.
• ART 263 - Digital Visual Narrative 3 cr.
• COM 203 - Oral Interpretation 3 cr.
• COM 204 - Oral Interpretation - Children’s Literature 3 cr.
• COM 209 - Art of the Film 3 cr.
• MUS 101 - Music Theory I 3 cr.
• MUS 102 - Music Theory II 3 cr.
• MUS 105 - Music Appreciation 3 cr.
• MUS 107 - College Chorus 2 cr. *
• MUS 111 - Vocal Ensemble 1 cr. *
• MUS 116 - Small Instrumental Music Groups 1 cr. *
• MUS 117 - Multiple Small Instrumental Music Groups 2 cr. *
• MUS 124 - Introduction to Music Theory 3 cr.
• MUS 126 - Applied Music 1 cr. *
• MUS 127 - Applied Music 1 cr. *
• MUS 128 - Applied Music 2 cr. *
• MUS 129 - Applied Music 2 cr. *
• MUS 136 - Introduction to Guitar 2 cr. *
• MUS 141 - Class Piano I 2 cr. *
• MUS 142 - Class Piano II 2 cr. *
• MUS 153 - The Computer and the MIDI Keyboard I 3 cr.
• MUS 175 - History of Rock Music 3 cr.
• THE 101 - Intro to the Theatre 3 cr.
• THE 109 - Production Participation 1 cr*. 
• THE 110 - Intro to Acting 3 cr.
• THE 121 - Acting I 3 cr.

8. Diverstiy, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice (DEISJ)

• ART 107 - Art History I 3 cr.
• ART 110 - 20th Century Art History 3 cr.
• BUS 208 - DESIJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Socail Justice) in the Workplace 3 cr.
• EDU 203 - Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education 3 cr.
• ENG 203 - American Literature I 3 cr.
• ENG 222 - African Literature 3 cr.
• ENG 245 - Multiethnic Literature 3 cr. 
• HIS 206 - Immigration and Ethnicity in American History 3 cr.
• HIS 265 - African‐American History 3 cr.
• HIS 266 - Native American History 3 cr.
• HUS 103 - Introduction to Human Services 3 cr.
• SCI 104 - Environmental Themes 3 cr.
• SOC 213 - Cultural Diversity 3 cr.

9. World Languages

• SGN 113 - Beginning Sign Language I 3 cr. 
• SGN 114 - Beginning Sign Language II 3 cr.
• SGN 115 - Intermediate Sign Language I 3 cr. 
• SGN 116 - Intermediate Sign Language II 3 cr.
• FRE 101 - Elementary French I 4 cr.
• FRE 102 - Elementary French II 4 cr.
• FRE 111 - Basic Conversational French II 3 cr.
• FRE 115 - Accelerated Elementary French I and II 6 cr.
• FRE 201 - Intermediate French I 4 cr.
• FRE 202 - Intermediate French II 4 cr.
• FRE 207 - Advanced Conversational French 4 cr.
• FRE 208 - Advanced French Grammar and Composition 3 cr.
• FRE 215 - Accelerated Intermediate French I and II 6 cr.
• SPA 101 - Elementary Spanish I 4 cr.
• SPA 102 - Elementary Spanish II 4 cr.
• SPA 110 - Basic Conversational Spanish I 3 cr.
• SPA 111 - Basic Conversational Spanish II 3 cr.
• SPA 112 - Elementary Spanish Review 3 cr.
• SPA 115 - Accelerated Elementary Spanish I and II 6 cr.
• SPA 201 - Intermediate Spanish I 4 cr.
• SPA 202 - Intermediate Spanish II 4 cr.
• SPA 207 - Advanced Conversational Spanish I 4 cr.
• SPA 208 - Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition 3 cr.

10. Basic Communication

• COM 103 - Oral Communication 3 cr. and 
• ENG 101 - College English I 3 cr. 

• COM 105 - Public Speaking 3 cr. and
• ENG 101 - College English I 3 cr.  

• COM 171 and ENG 101

• NUR 254 and ENG 101
• COM 123 - Resolving Conflict Through Communication 3 cr.
• ENG 227 - Technical Writing 3 cr.

Skill Areas

1. Critical Thinking

• COM 103 - Oral Communication 3 cr.
• COM 105 - Public Speaking 3 cr.
• ENG 101 -  English Composition I 3 cr.

2. Information Management

• LIB 111 - Information Literacy 1 cr.

Note:

* Fewer than 3 credits
 

General Education Requirements for the A.A.S. Degree

SUNY Ulster’s faculty members have adopted the following General Education requirements for students pursuing Associate in Applied Science degrees: Students must complete 19-21 credits in four of the A.A.S. General Education areas. Areas 1: English and Communications and 2: Mathematics are required. *Courses may be used to fullfill only one category, but multiple courses can be taken from the same category.

1. English and Communications 6 cr.

• ENG 101 - College English I 3 cr.
• ENG 102 - College English II 3 cr.
• ENG 171 - Honors English I 3 cr.
• ENG 172 - Honors English II 3 cr.
• ENG 227 - Technical Writing 3 cr.
• BUS 104 - Business Communications 3 cr.

2. Mathematics 3-4 cr.

• MAT 098 - Basic Algebra 3 cr. or any higher numbered MAT course,
• ACC 101 - Principles of Accounting I 4 cr.
• BUS 102 - Mathematics for Business and Industry 3 cr.

3. Social Sciences 3 cr.

• Any course in ECO, HIS, POS, PSY, SOC, or SOS

4. Arts and Humanities 3 cr.

• any course in ART, MUS, THE, PHI, FRE, SPA, or GER,
• COM 103 - Oral Communication 3 cr.
• COM 105 - Public Speaking 3 cr.
• SGN 113 - Beginning Sign Language I 3 cr.
• SGN 114 - Beginning Sign Language II 3 cr.
• SGN 115 - Intermediate Sign Language I 3 cr.
• SGN 116 - Intermediate Sign Language II 3 cr.
• any 200-level ENG course except
  • ENG 205 - Advanced Composition Workshop 3 cr.
  • ENG 227 - Technical Writing 3 cr.
  • ENG 209

5. Sciences 3-4 cr.

• IND 210 - Materials & Manufacturing Processes 4 cr.

or

• any course in AST, BIO, CHE, PHY, ESC, or SCI

6. Information Literacy/Computers/Technology 1 cr.

• LIB 111 - Information Literacy 1 cr.
• BUS 171 - Computer Applications in Business 3 cr.
• BUS 272 - Spreadsheets for Business 3 cr.
• ART 124 - Introduction to Design Foundation 3 cr.
• ART 150 - Two‐Dimensional Design 3 cr.
• ENG 227 - Technical Writing 3 cr.
• GEG 122 - Introduction to Geographic Information Science 3 cr.
• any course in CIS or CSC 

Electives

When electives are specified in the curriculum listings on the following pages, electives may be chosen from the following:

Humanities Electives

Any course from the following disciplines:

• Art (ART)
• Communications and Media Arts (COM)
• 200-Level English (except ENG 227, ENG 209) (ENG)
• French (FRE)
• German (GER)
• Humanities (HUM)
• Music (MUS)
• Philosophy (PHI)
• Sign Language (SGN)
• Spanish (SPA)
• Theater (THE)

Math Electives

Math electives are curriculum-specific. Refer to the curriculum for your program.

Science Electives

Any course in the following disciplines:

• Astronomy (AST)
• Biology (Except BIO 100) (BIO)
• Chemistry (Except CHE 100) (CHE)
• Earth Science (ESC)
• Physics (PHY)
• Science (SCI)

Social Science Electives

Any course from the following disciplines:

• Economics (ECO)
• History (HIS)
• Political Science (POS)
• Psychology (PSY)
• Social Science (SOS)
• Sociology (SOC)

Liberal Arts Electives

Any courses listed above under the following:

• Computer Science (CSC)
• Geography (GEG)
• Humanities
• Math
• Social Sciences
• Science

More information about Liberal Arts courses at SUNY Ulster is available in the Course Descriptions portion of this catalog.

Open Electives

Any credit-bearing courses and a maximum of 2 credits in Physical Education courses (PED).